The Shadow Matrix: A Novel of Darkover (Daw Book Collectors, No. 1065)

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Summary: Please tighten the stories up!
Review: I have and have read all of the Darkover series up until this on an enjoy them all. I enjoyed Exile's Song quite a bit, though it did seem a little different from MZB's usual style. The first half of this book is simply told in order to set up the second part of the book...if there was any reason for it at all. Personally, I could have lived with the first half being told in only one or two chapters. This might have actually created some excitement to that story instead of a boring tedium. The second half of the book, though, was as good as Exile's Song. It's not good enough for me to add this book to my collection, though.

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Summary: It is one of the best books that I've read recently.
Review: I love this book. It was a real joy to read. This book really devopled some of the minor charcters in Exile's Song. I loved all of it!!

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Summary: Great book
Review: I loved Marguerida and Mikhail! Exile's Song was actually the first MZB book I read...and I'm glad! Great books!

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Summary: a halfway amazement
Review: i've loved marion zimmer bradley since i read the "mists of avalon" and i read "exile's song" and loved it but found this one some what dissappointing. i had to literally tredge through the first half of the book. mikhail hastur's little trip to that spooky manor had no point and i found myself bored with each passing page wondering when he and our heroine were going to get together. though the secong half had me simply whipping through the pages and provided much more information i think that marguerdia's point of view was ten times more interesting but we were always religated to mikhail's boring, tediously detailed movements. i still recommend this book as good though alittle slow in getting started. it truly is good!

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Summary: A call for editing
Review: Like its predecessor, Exile's Song, The Shadow Matrix is a decent story that is severely undermined by misspellings and horrible grammar. Plus, you know it's bad when even the author can't keep track of all of the character names (Mikhail's brothers are twice called "Lanart-Alton," and shouldn't "Lanart" be after "Hastur" anyway?). Did anyone actually edit this book, or did it go straight from MZB (& friends) to the printing press? These problems were very distracting and kept the book from being otherwise enjoyable.

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Summary: And the story continues!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: Marion Zimmer Bradley has done it again!! In this novel she has continued the story of Margaret Alton and Mikhail Lanart-Hastur in such a way that one does not wish to put the book down once they start it. Margaret is a strong, mindful character along the lines of Rohana Ardias (The Shattered Chain). And Mikhail is the perfect replacement of the elder Regis Hastur. Their fight for their love and life is the corner stone of this entry in the Darkover series. I do suggest that you read the previous entry in order to get a better understanding of the story line. But each novel stands on it's own merit. Marion Zimmer Bradley's ability to bring old favorites and new ones into the story is surpassed by no one. In this one you get reaquanted with such characters as Varzil the Good and Ashara Alton, as well as the always infuriating and funny Lady Javanne. Regis Hastur and Lewis Alton lend their strong characters to this novel as well. Though the focus is on the younger generation, as in life, the old is replaced by the new. Well done Ms. Bradley!!! I look forward to the next installment of this series.

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Summary: High Fantasy, Lots of love but never sappy
Review: OK. Maybe I'm biased-MZB and Darkover fan that I am-but Margaret Alton is strong and witty, Mikhail even moreso, Javanne a hoot(as always)and awwwww...need I say more? Good adventure-couldn't put it down.

Rating:
Summary: Attempt to stuff two novellas in one book.
Review: The first half of the book is only tangentially connected to the second, and I'm being generous here.

Rating:
Summary: reminds me of a soap opera
Review: The latest enstallment in the Darkover series was mediocre at best. The author relied too much on the characters and their stagnant relationships rather than plot. It took too long to reveal an uncreative ending. The meat of the novel, the male and female leads' relationship, reads like a "trashy" romance novel. Very dissatisfying.

Rating:
Summary: reminds me of a soap opera
Review: The latest enstallment in the Darkover series was mediocre at best. The author relied too much on the characters and their stagnant relationships rather than plot. It took too long to reveal an uncreative ending. The meat of the novel, the male and female leads' relationship, reads like a "trashy" romance novel. Very dissatisfying.