"A Flame in Hali" is the last book of the Clingfire Trilogy and, like the first two stories "The Fall of Neskaya" and "Zandru's Forge", is a story conceived by Marion Zimmer Bradley and written by Deborah J. Ross. All three books are set in the final generations prior to the signing of the Compact on Darkover that lead to the "modern" era of the Bloody Sun prior to recontact with their Terran ancestors. Like all stories set in the pre-recontact and pre-Compact era it focuses on the science of matrix technology and its benefits and dangers to Darkovans and its societal distortions. In general, these stories play more to the fantasy side of her work while retaining a well-defined basis for a laran-based civilization. What it, of course, lacks is the clash of cultures that so dominants and enlivens the work of Bradley. It is unclear if the creator of the Darkovan universe simply did not trust anyone to handle that dynamic or if she felt that Ms. Ross should be limited to more well-bounded subject matter. Bradley had nurtured Ross' career so clearly she had a feel for both Ross' limits and her capabilities. Overall the works are a fun read and a good continuation for fans looking for entertainment and a good tale, however, there is nothing groundbreaking here for non-fans. Ms Ross initially was one of Bradley's strongest defenders against revelations of Bradley's sexual abuse of her daughter and other children. However, after a series of responses she had the following to say: "I was wrong about the story, and I was wrong to say what I did. I am deeply sorry for the pain I caused," wrote Ross. "I was shocked and appalled by the story as related by Marion's daughter. I had no prior knowledge of any misdeeds by Marion, and it was completely inappropriate for me to comment. Nothing I have said should be taken as a justification or defence of child abuse. As for Walter Breen, like many others, I was misled into believing that he had not acted on his proclivities. When I found out the truth, I was horrified, and I assisted the police in the investigation of the second set of charges that resulted in his incarceration. I ask for your understanding and patience with me for the time it has taken me to respond. I offer the victims my wholehearted support and prayers for healing."
I enjoyed this tale more so than most of the Darkover series. I couldn't help but feel connected to the world's plight, and Varzill's righteous quest to stop the world's eventual destruction. I enjoyed the parts of Carolin for his futile quest for peace, and how he fought, against all odds, to attain it, and sacrificed so much for its sake. The details of the battlefield and this Matrix magic were as captivating as usual, but there was one detail that I felt set it above the rest. The villain, Eduin, was likeable. Corrupted by his father, who was truly evil, Eduin only fought for his father's sake, he was not truly evil himself. He loved his father, he knew that Carolin's family had put his father into such a terrible state, and he knew that the kingdom was rightfully his and snatched away, (it really wasn't, but that's all he knew.) He had his lover taken away, Varzill took his glory and pushed Eduin into the shadows, and he was trumped and beaten everywhere he went, even though he did truly try to do what was good and right in his eyes. Watching this character fall deeper and deeper into the darkness because of the "just and good" people reminded me of the Nordic tales of Loki, and i became attached to this character. A truly good and depressing read, I enjoyed it.
Do You like book A Flame In Hali (Darkover, #5) (2005)?
Unbearable. If I could give zero stars I would. Deborah J. Ross tries so desperately to inject herself plus the story itself is so un-Darkover in comparison to everything else, it hurts. Nearly all of the short stories by other writers have been more darkover than this.So besides this being a "look at me!!!!" writing, the story line is bad and the details are out of whack. I read it through because I made the mistake to order all of the clingfires as "hei, new material" because the first one at least still kinda read like the Darkover I have known and loved for the last 23 years. If I could I would put up a big warning sign: Don't buy. Too bad - I have been a 'give me everything darkover fan' for over twenty years and was excited that a new story line meant new books to read. But not like this - I will avoid like the plague everything which has that woman's name on it. If other people enjoy it - great. But if you want to read real darkover, go read the originals.
—Nicole Simon
