The Planet Savers (Annotated) (Darkover Book 1)

Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Planet Savers is the first installment in the Darkover series. Darkover is an alien work with intelligent life that Earth has established contact with. The world has a sophisticated intelligent humanoid life form, but without much advanced technology due to their focus on mental powers and a mysterious branch of science they call matrix mechanics. A horrible disease (that seems periodic on Darkover) has broken out and a possible cure can be find with an obscure second semi-intelligent species known as the tribesman who live in a remote and for the most part inaccessible region of the planet. A party is assembled to make contact and is lead by a human with multiple personalities who is hypnotized for the personality needed for the journey.Little background on the Darkover mental powers as well as the basis for the matrix mechanics is provided. This is mostly a trek tale where obstacles are constantly arising, not the least of which are personality reversions at the wrong times. Overall the sci-fi elements are poorly developed. In the end, the disease, a classic MacGuffin is cured and there hero decides to stick with his alternative personality.

Been reading over the years from one great read to another. Thank you for years of pleasure. Love your Darkover..

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VYBHHW/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_imgI have read all MZB's Darkover novels, and actually the Trailmen are discussed in one more novel, though I don't remember which one. The idea of Darkover was by no means fully developed when this book was written, but the roots were there, and the characters show up later as adults in fully developed and very good books written decades later. I strongly recommend that SF/F fans read this book; if you haven't yet discovered Darkover (though I find that unbelievable), this is a good introduction before you try to jump to The Forbidden Tower, which is an awfully long jump. I try to sort out which books are set in the Age of Chaos, which during the Terran occupation, and which after the Terrans leave and read that way, as MZB didn't write them in any kind of order and admits herself that her geography and history are somewhat muddled.Buy it. Read it. If you don't enjoy this one, you have no imagination whatever and should distance yourself from science fiction, fantasy, and psychology.Especially psychology.

I was so glad to be introduced to this slim volume. I’ve loved the Darkover stories for years and yearned for laran of my own. MZB can really tell a story. She can make you feel the cold wind and the chill of stone keeps.

As Marion Zimmer Bradley says in the preface, this is the first of the Darkover novels, even before there was a Darkover. It helps explain about the Terrans and the Darkover culture and the Trailmen a protohuman culture existing in the trees. It sets the stage for many of the subsequent stories in the series.

I haven’t read a darkover book in years. I’m so glad I picked this one up. This is a good book to introduce people to Regis Haster. If you’ve never read the Darkover books This wouldbe a good place to start

Marion Zimmer Bradley rarely disappoints. In this instance, it's a Darkover novel that doesn't require too much foreknowledge of Darkover. Indeed, this could be a gateway short story that gets the reader interested in Darkover.The Darkover series blends psionics with science fiction if I remember correctly. The native Darkover inhabitants in possession of the psionics and the Terrans (I think, I haven't read much Darkover) largely in possession of advanced technology.In any case, it's inexpensive (if not free), and a novella so it's not a long read. If you don't like it, you haven't wasted much time.

i read from one to 20 every 10 or 15 yrs. amazing! never tire of Darkover or the storys. aaaaa

I have always enjoyed the Darkover series. I like stories of the strange effects the planet has on its inhabitants and how the newer arrivals have learned to survive and cope with the changes amongst themselves. The Planet Savers is a story that explores the deep psychological effects of one of those inhabitants and his battle between two states of his mind. However, he seems to be the best placed person to help save the planet from a deadly disease. Excellent exploration of a dichotomy of personality.

If you go from number one you will love this series, awesome and strange creatures, aliens, planets and everything in between, started reading them a year ago at 27 and got major engrossed in them, if you love vintage sci fi this is your series.

useful if you want all the darkover stories...

Good book

I love all the darkover novels.