by Marion Zimmer Bradley
This blend of fantasy and science fiction was recommended to me by a friend in 10th grade. A male friend I might add. Marion Zimmer Bradley had strong female characters, but in Darkover she also had a swashbuckling appeal that crossed genders. He recommended I start with this Darkover novel, despite...
Background: a human colony ship crash lands on the wrong planet. They name it Darkover and do their best to survive. Over the centuries they forget their origins and develop a vaguely feudal society. The nobility, called the Comyn, is comprised of seven families of red-heads with different psychic g...