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Marion Zimmer Bradley

© Debbie Ledesma

Marion Zimmer Bradley is a talented writer and editor that has graced the Fantasy and Science fiction genres for many years. She is best known for her science fiction novels set on the planet Darkover, but has made substantial contributions to Fantasy too, writing in many sub-genres like Historical, Epic and Dark Fantasy. Her vivid characters, thoughtful plots and strong themes create memorable worlds of Fantasy. As writer or editor, Ms. Bradley has much to offer Fantasy readers.

Mists of Avalon, published in 1982, is Ms. Bradley's most famous book. This book tells the King Arthur story through the eyes of Morgan Le Fay and other women. It is a book full of rich detail, where women are shown to be heroic as men in their own ways. A N.Y. Times bestseller once, this book is still on the lists of Locus and bookstores. It will possibly be made into a movie or tv miniseries in the near future. Other books demonstrate the author's talent as well.

House Between the Worlds is a story about a man's journey through two worlds. The author demonstrates her talent for telling a wonderous tale in this fast-paced book. Characters are realistic and believable, helped by the underlying theme of love and determination.

Ms. Bradley ventured into Historical Fantasy again with The Firebrand. This book gives us the story of the Trojan War. Through the eyes of ill-fated Cassandra and other women, the author tells a rich tale of this epic war. She brings the ancient era alive with meticulous details and strong characters.

A collaboration with two other Fantasy writers, Andre Norton and Julian May, presented the world of Trillium to readers. Lady of the Trillium is Ms. Bradley's solo sequel. Readers journey through the vibrant world of Trillium as Haramis the sorceress trains a replacement mage for herself.

One of the most intriguing characters of Ms. Bradley is Lythande the Blue Star mage. She is a mage who must keep the fact she is a woman from the world or lose her magic. Her adventures are told in the book Lythande. Orginally created for a different fantasy series, Lythande shows up in new stories periodically.

Ms. Bradley is an editor too. She has introduced readers to new Fantasy writers with her Sword and Sorceress anthologies, which now are up to sixteen volumes.(See my book review of volume 16 in a previous article.) She is editor of the quarterly Fantasy Magazine that has many entertaining stories in every issue.

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