Marion Zimmer Bradley Books In Order

Publication Order of Darkover Books

Chronological Order of Darkover Books

Publication Order of Claire Moffatt/Occult Tales Books

Publication Order of Hunters Books

Publication Order of Sixth Sense Books

Publication Order of Avalon Books

Chronological Order of Avalon Books

Publication Order of Web Of Light Books

Publication Order of Trillium Books

Publication Order of Light Books

Publication Order of Glenraven Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Lythande Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Thieves' World Books

Publication Order of Clingfire Books

Publication Order of Children of Kings Books

Publication Order of Darkover Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Marion Zimmer Bradley is an American author who writes in the fantasy and science fiction genres. As an author she is best known for writing the Avalon series which began with The Mists of Avalon.

She was born in 1930 in Albany, New York and started writing at the age of just seventeen. Bradley attended Hardin-Simmons University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts. She then moved to California for her graduate studies at University of California, Berkeley. She made her first sale when she got a story published in Amazing Stories in 1949. She wrote a few more short stories before having her first novel published, Falcons of Narabedla in 1957.

Marion wrote books under a variety of pen name in her career, including as Morgan Ives, Miriam Gardner, John Dexter, and Lee Chapman. She wrote pulp novels and some in the gay and lesbian pulp fiction genres which were considered pornographic at the time, but are more tame by today’s standards. In 1958, she introduced readers to the Darkover planet in The Planet Savers. She would return to the planet of Darkover for many entries in the series over the years.

In addition to her writing, Zimmer Bradley also edited anthologies. She was the long-time editor of the Sword and Sorceress anthology series and also published Darkover anthologies featuring some stories that were submitted by fans.

Marion passed away in September of 1999. After her death she was awarded the World Fantasy Award for lifetime achievement in 2000.

The Firebrand is a standalone novel from Marion Zimmer Bradley. In this book, the author blends archaeological fact with the legends of gods and heroes. The book is a retelling of the tale of the Trojan War which reinvents the original characters as living people in a struggle that dooms both sides. The fate of the warriors is seen through the eyes of Kassandra: a priestess, princess, and passionate woman with the spirit of a warrior.

The Light series begins with Ghostlight. Thorne Blackburn claimed that he could tap into ancient wisdom which gave him magical powers. While others claimed he was fake who was out to steal their money. The truth of the matter may never be known. One night thirty years ago, one of Blackburn’s rituals went wrong leaving a woman dead and shattering his flock. The man vanished and his followers found their way to a new leader, Justin Pilgrim. When Blackburn’s daughter, Truth, finds out about this she returns to the place of her father’s disappearance looking for answers.

Witchlight is the second book in the Light series. Winter Musgrave has a mysterious past with few memories. Now, she seems to be possessed as things break when she walks by and dead animals find their way to her doorstep. Winter can’t shake the feeling that something horrible happened in her past and that those things are now haunting her. She needs help and seeks out the help of Truth Jourdemayne and learns that the key to unlocking her lost memories lies within herself and the circle of friends she made in college. That group broke up long ago, but now Winter must bring them back together is she hopes to save her own life.

The Mists of Avalon is one of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s most popular books and the first book in the Avalon series. This book is a tale of Camelot’s court as told through the eyes of the women who bolstered the king’s rise and schemed for his fall. The story follows these women from their childhoods to the fulfillment of their destinies. While the Knights of the Round Table head on their quest and Merlin and Viviane do their magic, Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar struggle for control over the fate of Arthur’s kingdom.

The Avalon series continues with The Forest House. As Britain is struggling to survive the Roman invasion, Eilan is the daughter of a warleader with the gift of visions. Her fate is to become a priestess of the Forest House, but fate led Eilan to Gaius as well. He is a soldier of mixed blood that was sent by the Romans to subdue the British. Eilan felt a forbidden love for him and she has a terrible secret that will haunt her as she is crowned the new High Priestess. Enemies come to the Forest House shelters to destroy the magic they shelter and Eilan must trust the power to lead them through the labyrinth of her destiny.

Dark Satanic is the first book in the Occult Tales series. In this story, Jamie Melford is about to publish a book about witchcraft which will reveal hidden occult secrets. Unfortunately, there is someone dark and powerful who wants the book and its author destroyed. His wife will do whatever it takes to protect him from these forces, but will her love be strong enough an evil that threatens everything that she holds dear in her life?

The Occult Tales series continues with The Inheritor. The book begins with a woman named Leslie Barnes who just purchased her first home. The house overlooks San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and it feels like the perfect place for Leslie and her sister. It feels like that, but it is not like that because as soon as they move in, a plague of dark events begins to haunt them both.

The Heirs of Hammerfell is one of the key books in the Darkover saga. The book takes place in the age of The Hundred Kingdoms as the feud between the Hammerfell and Storn is boiling over. Their feud leads to the death of the Duke of Hammerfell. His infant twin sons were separated at the time and each grew up to believe that they were the rightful Duke of Hammerfell. Conn was raised in the mountains and continued the fight against teh Storns. While Alastair grew up with his mother and made plans to marry his cousin, Floria. When the twins encounter one another later in life, it will change their lives forever.

One Response to “Marion Zimmer Bradley”

1. Dennis Montgomery: 2 years ago

   Traitor’s Sun is the end of the Darkover series. The Heritage of Hastur (1975) and The Sword of Aldones are essentially the same book though the former is more in depth and complete. Two to Conquer (1980) Zandru’s Forge (With: Deborah J. Ross)
   (2003) A Flame in Hali (With: Deborah J. Ross)
   (2004) Hastur Lord (With: Deborah J. Ross)
   (2010) The Children of Kings (With: Deborah J. Ross) (2013) Ski the Hellers
   (By:Elisabeth Waters,Deborah J. Ross)
   (2020) and The Laran Gambit (With: Deborah J. Ross) are all, as far as I know, from the “Ages of Chaos” or just after and are thus very early cronological Darkover works.

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