Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ancestors of Avalon

BOOK: Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ancestors of Avalon
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Table of Contents
 
 
Praise for the novels of Avalon
Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Ancestors of Avalon
“Paxson fashions an entirely new entry in the Avalon saga. . . . [Her] storytelling features the requisite veins of mysticism, but, like Bradley, she excels at bringing the vast sweep of imagined history to an accessible level. . . . A rich and respectful homage that will dazzle readers longing to revisit Bradley’s sacred, storied isle.”

Booklist
“Once again, Diana L. Paxson has beautifully elaborated on Marion Zimmer Bradley’s beloved Avalon saga with this dramatic new installment. . . . [An] extraordinary journey.”
—SFRevu
“Paxson is an excellent choice as successor to Bradley for this series. Her style and the details of the plot retain the sense of the mysterious past and the feminist awareness that was an underlying theme in the originals.”

Chronicle

Ancestors of Avalon
may be the best of the Avalon tales. The story line stands alone due to the strength of the characterizations . . . yet also interconnects the myriad plots from the previously published books.”

Midwest Book Review
 
Priestess of Avalon
“The message that all religions call on the same higher power should go over well with fans of
Mists
[
of Avalon
]. Paxson’s own skills at bringing historical characters and places to vivid life enriches Helena’s story.”

Publishers Weekly
“Stunning . . . this rich and moving novel merits its place beside Bradley’s fantasy classic.”

Booklist
“Bradley creates a powerful tale of magic and faith that enlarges upon pagan and Christian traditions to express a deeper truth.”

Library Journal
Lady of Avalon
The National Bestseller
“Combines romance, rich historical detail, magical dazzlements, grand adventure, and feminist sentiments into the kind of novel her fans have been yearning for.”

Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
 
“Compelling, powerful.”

San Francisco Chronicle
 
“The prose is as smooth as those sacred stones on which so many interesting things take place.”

Kirkus Reviews
 
“Bradley’s women are, as usual, strong and vibrant, but never before has she so effectively depicted the heroic male. . . . An immensely popular saga.”

Booklist
 
The Forest House
“The setting evokes a fascinating time of change. . . . The mythic elements grow to hint satisfactorily at the Arthurian wonder to come . . . the stuff of legend.”

Locus
 
“A seamless weave of history and myth.”

Library Journal
 
“The sure touch of one at ease in sketching out mystic travels.”

Kirkus Reviews
OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES
The Mists of Avalon
The Forest House
Lady of Avalon
Priestess of Avalon
ROC
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto,
Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
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Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
First Roc Mass Market Printing, October 2006
Copyright © The Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust and Diana L. Paxson, 2004
Map drawn by Jeffrey L. Ward
All rights reserved
REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
eISBN : 978-1-101-09876-9

http://us.penguingroup.com

To David Bradley
 
Without whom this book could not have been written
People in the Story
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT ESCAPE ATLANTIS
Aldel
—of Ahtarrath; an acolyte, betrothed to Elis, killed in rescue of Omphalos Stone
Deoris
[temple name “Adsartha”]—a former priestess of Caratra, mother of Tiriki, wife of Reio-ta
(
Domaris
—a Vested Guardian, priestess of Light, mother of Micail)
Gremos
—a priestess, housemother to the acolytes
Kalhan
—of Atalan; an acolyte, betrothed to Damisa
Kanar
—chief astrologer of the Temple on Ahtarrath, Lanath’s first teacher
Lunrick
—a merchant of Ahtarra
Mesira
—chief of the healers, a priestess of the cult of Caratra
(
Micon
—Prince of Ahtarrath, father of Micail)
(
Mikantor
—Prince of Ahtarrath, father of Micon and Reio-ta)
Pegar
—a landowner of Ahtarrath
(
Rajasta
—mage, priest of Light, and Vested Guardian in the Ancient Land)
CAPITALS
= major characters
( ) = dead before story begins
Reio-ta
—regent of Ahtarrath and governor of the Temple of Light on Ahtarrath, priest, uncle of Micail and stepfather of Tiriki
(
Riveda
—biological father of Tiriki, healer, mage, and chief of the Grey Robe Order in the Ancient Land; executed for sorcery)
PEOPLE AT THE TOR
Adeyna
—wife of the merchant Forolin
Alyssa
[Temple name “Neniath”]—of Caris; a Grey Robe priestess (the Grey Mage), seeress, and adept
Arcor
—of Ahtarrath; a sailor on the
Crimson Serpent
Aven
—an Alkonan sailor on the
Crimson Serpent
Cadis
—an Ahtarran sailor on the
Crimson Serpent
CHEDAN ARADOS
—originally of Alkonath; son of Naduil, an acolyte in the Ancient Land before its fall, former Vested Guardian, and now a mage
DAMISA
—of Alkonath; eldest of the acolytes, a cousin of Prince Tjalan, betrothed to Kalhan
Dannetrasa of Caris
—a priest of Light who assisted Ardral in the library; arrives at the Tor on the second ship
Domara
—daughter of Tiriki and Micail, born at the Tor
Eilantha
—Tiriki’s Temple name
Elis
—of Ahtarrath; one of the acolytes, especially good with plants
Forolin
—a merchant of Ahtarrath and late arrival to the Tor
Heron
—headman of the marsh folk
Iriel
—of Arhaburath; youngest of the acolytes (age twelve at the time of the Sinking), betrothed to Aldel
Jarata
—a merchant of Ahtarrath
Kalaran
—an acolyte, betrothed to Selast
Kestil
—daughter of Forolin and Adeyna, five years old when she arrives at the Tor
Larin
—a sailor on the
Crimson Serpent,
later inducted into the priesthood
Liala
[Temple name “Atlialmaris”]—of Ahtarrath; a Blue Robe priestess and healer
Linnet
—daughter of Nettle, of the marsh folk
Malaera
—a lesser Blue Robe priestess
Metia
—senior saji woman, nursemaid to Domara
Mudlark
—son of Nettle, of the marsh folk
Nettle
—wife of Heron, headman of the marsh folk
Otter
—son of the headman, Heron
Reidel
—of Ahtarrath; son of Sarhedran, captain of the
Crimson Serpent;
later, a priest of the Sixth Order
Redfern
—a woman of the marsh folk
Rendano
—of Akil; a lesser priest in the Temple of Light and a sensitive
Selast
—of Cosarrath; one of the acolytes
Taret
—wisewoman of the marsh folk at the Tor
Teiron
—an Alkonian sailor assigned to the
Crimson Serpent
Teviri
—one of the saji women, attendant to Alyssa
TIRIKI
[Temple name “Eilantha”]—of Ahtarrath; a Guardian in the Temple of Light, wife of Micail; she will become the Morgan of Avalon
Virja
—one of the saji women, attendant to Alyssa

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