Type of bind: Hardcover
Format: Bargain Price
Label: Amazon Remainders Account
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 466
Printing Date: August 01, 2004
Publishing house: Amazon Remainders Account
Sale Popularity Level: 670602
Studio: Amazon Remainders Account
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Product Description:
This brand-new novel of Darkover-a direct sequel to Zandru's Forge and the third book in the Clingfire trilogy-is the result of the late Marion Zimmer Bradley's collaboration with Deborah J. Ross. Set in the era of The Hundred Kingdoms, a lawless time of war and unrest on the planet Darkover, it is the epic tale of a legendary friendship forged between King and Keeper-a friendship that would ultimately bring about the end of all long distance weapons and the beginning of a new destiny for Darkover.
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Rated by buyers 
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The Clingfire Wars trilogy starts with "The Fall of Neskaya", followed by "Zandru's Forge", and finishes with this book "A Flame in Hali". Rather than reviewing each book individually, this compilation will, hopefully, provide a brief overview of the story arc as a whole.
Written around 2001, the stories collectively could be viewed as precognition of events transpiring on our Earth today. In "A Flame in Hali" circumstances of wars and conflict evolve into a complex pattern of politics, prejudices, and lust for power similar to those we see in today's world. This lust is not only for the material, but for the power of the mind over mankind. In this story the events that have defined Darkover during it's "dark ages" culminate in a new direction. Yet, it leaves one to wonder at the cyclical and repetitive nature of humankind perhaps too entrenched in ideologies and agendas to accept change regardless of the intent.
Following years of near genocide an agreement called the "Compact" was created by King Carolin Hastur and Varzil "The Good", Keeper (top psychic) of the rebuilt Tower of Neskaya. It's purpose and function was to prevent further holocaust on Darkover, that had ruined vast amounts of land and it's population. This instrument of Law was signed by the rulers of the 100 kingdoms and heralded a new age of consciousness toward all inhabitants of the planet. The "Compact" stood as testimony for past lessons learned, and served as an "Ideal" toward which all must strive. The terms of the "Compact" were tools for self governance and a guide to all toward peaceful co-existence. It specifically prohibited harm toward one another by any means beyond the reach of a sword. Conflict resolution was up close and personal.
It explicitly forbade the use of long range missiles and chemicals that had wrecked such devastation on land and man. Those forbidden elements that had been created by the mental powers of laranzu'im (psychics) in the Towers were known as "Clingfire", "Lung Rot" and "Bone water Dust". Under orders by petty warfaring kings the chemicals were manufactured, encapsulated in glass vessels and were spewed from laran (psychically) controlled aircraft. They could be seen as analogous to the bombs, ICBMs, biological warfare,etc. used in war throughout our "modern" world. The tasks of making clingfire and so forth were greatly feared and reviled by all lawful Tower inhabitants. Yet even they could not refuse to do the work since they were ruled by petty kings in the lands where their Towers existed. This conflict of mind over matter is the heart of these stories and Keepers such as Coryn, Varzil and others are faced with dire consequences if they forget that their ultimate purpose as Keepers encompass leadership, teaching, healing, and lawful service for the benefit of all.
The second book "Zandru's Forge" introduced the concept of a woman as a "Keeper" in the Towers. It is a concept disputed and territorialized by the males who had it in their heads that women were not emotionally and mentally strong enough to be a "Keeper" even if their laran (psychic) gifts were equal to a male. This archaic mind set is the core of masculine dogma which MZB so brilliantly exposes in these stories as the hogwash that it is. Yet, this reality persists in present society where women still fight the "glass ceiling" in every field of endeavor.
"A Flame in Hali" is deeply complex and fascinating in it's description of the mental manipulation by such powerful individuals gifted with laran and the devastation wrought when wrongly used. Eduin Deslucido is a gifted laranzu (psychic), sent to the Tower as a very young boy to develop his skill. He is seeded with a compulsion to seek his father Rumail Deslucido's revenge against all of the Hasturs over the war that he and his brother King Damien Deslucido and his son had started and lost to King Rafael Hastur in prior decades. The Hasturs, viewed as "gods" in Darkovan lore, are the veritable "thorn in his side" that enrages and torments him. Rumail, as an outcast filled with hate resolves to find a way to settle the "score" for the death of his brother and nephew. He disappears, marries, lives in dire poverty in a remote mountain village and begets Eduin, his heir and instrument for his irrational, bitter revenge against the Hasturs.
During his youthful days at Arilinn Tower where he is a student, Eduin travels with future king Carolin Hastur to Hali where he meets and falls in love with Dyannis. She is a highly gifted leronyn (psychic) and student who later becomes a "Keeper" at Hali. Dyannis is the only sister of Varzil "the Good" who is seen as the greatest and most compassionate Tenerezu, or "Keeper" of all time. Eduin, fueled by his father's compulsion within his mind battles against this love for Dyannis his entire life. Filled with jealousy and bitterness, he believes ... Read More
Rated by buyers 
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I thought this book was great. In fact, all of MZB's books are just phenomenal. So, has anyone else noticed that DAW along with other publishers have switched to low quality materials for their hardcover books? The very first book in the series was alright, but this one won't make you too happy. Take a look at the paper for instance. Just compare this book and the first. You won't be thrilled in about 5 years, when the newer books in this series have begun to orange with age while the very first is still in pristine condition.
I hate this new trend with book publishers just to save a buck. None of us get a deal on the price, but they can sell inferior goods to us because they know we want to read the books anyway. Please watch out and if possible, complain to the company. If enough of us do, they will return to the quality we have come to expect. Just take a look at the very first hardcovers released in the late 90's. Look at the differences between those and this book. There is no comparison.
Rated by buyers -
I have fallen in Love with MZB a while ago and have enjoyed reading her books
I now have the whole darkover series by her and will never give these books away! Personally I think they are the best sci fi books out there! You can read one and still know whats going on or you can read them all and get a sense of the whole Darkover World and how it all plays out!
I have not felt so close to characters in a long time and feel I am right there with them as I read about their adventures, troubles, pains, and loves!
Now all I have to do is buy the anthologies to give me more stories and insights on the characters and about the whole world of Darkover!
Her Avalon Series is one of the best too! She has added more truth than fiction to these stories so you feel that you are a part of the past as you read them
Rated by buyers -
I am glad that Deborah Ross is continuing to write in the world of Darkover, and I think that overall she is doing a fine job. I am excited to see that she is going to release a new trilogy continuing the story of "modern" Darkover, which should tie up the many loose ends from "Traitor's Sun" (the last Darkover novel Marion Zimmer Bradley wrote before her death). If you are a fan of Darkover/MZB, "A Flame in Hali" is a must-read, and a solid effort from Ross. However, it is certainly not the place to begin the series, and does not rank among the best Darkover tales.
This novel mostly suffers from an unlikeable protagonist, Eduin Deslucido. Yes, we pity him because of the compulsion to kill that his father placed upon him. However, he is a self-serving character who goes through life manipulating others as he chooses, completely violating the moral code of Darkover. It is impossible to like him or want him to succeed in his goal of killing King Carolin and Varzil Ridenow, who we grew to love in the second volume of this trilogy. Unfortunately, they only have cameo roles in this book.
More interesting than Eduin is the heroine of the book, Dyannis, Varzil's sister. While she has a tendency to blame herself for everything, she at least has a strong personality and strong values, and we are rooting for her the whole time. Varzil is a wonderful character whenever we see him.
The story progressed slowly, but it never quite dragged. Not as good as the very first two books of the trilogy, or Marion Zimmer Bradley's last Darkovers novels, but "A Flame in Hali" was an entertaining read, and the ending was heartbreaking.
Rated by buyers -
It definitely suffers from mzb being gone, but the characters are good, and the ending is wonderful, and very unexpected. Not in the very first rank of darkover books, but will get you interested enough to read the rest
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