Marion Zimmer Bradley started her last Darkover novel Hastur lord before her death in 1999; she was never able to finish it due to her deteriorating health. Her friend Deborah J. Ross completed the Hastur Lord for her after her Death. Ross does a excellent job of melding her work into Bradley’s to the point that you can’t tell the difference. The book is just like all of Bradley’s books are, wonderfully exciting. The main difference is that this one adds in a bit of darkness, along with romance and the age old story, family or your dreams.
Regis Hastur is heir to the throne of Darkover but he wants to travel and see the world instead. His grandfather is dying and the taking over of that position is looming in the near future for Regis. There is a problem going on in the Senate and it could change things for the Terran Empire forever. Some people in the senate wanted to make the change from an empire to a federation but this could cause dire problems for the Terranan. Most Terranan didn’t realize that this wasn’t just a name change for the empire but a change to their political format, which could change their planets status causing them big problems.
The changeover could remove them from being a class D closed planet which meant that, people could exploit the planet for their resources and more. Regis was warned by a close friend, and Darkovan senator, Lew Alton not to fall for what they would say about the new federation would extend autonomy to all member worlds and increase interstellar cooperation and the like. His friend Alton wanted him to know that he had faith that Regis was the one that could keep their Empire safe.
He went to his Grandfather, Danvan Hastur and met with him on the issue that Alton apprised him of. His Grandfather told him that Darkover needed a King to protect them from this and again brought up the subject of marriage. But this time told him that he could at least consider a consort because a king needed a woman by his side. Regis did not want to be King because he did not want that kind of power.
What is Regis going to do to take care of Darkover? Will he become King and will he find a consort or marry instead? What will become of Darkover?
A never-before-published fantasy novel set in Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover universe.
The world of Darkover, a unique, isolated, and protected world, has long avoided becoming part of the technologically advanced Terran Empire. But things are about to change. Regis Hastur, lord of the most powerful of the seven Domains in Darkover, learns that the Empire is about to become a Federation, and is extending an invitation for all of the worlds to join. While the offer seems tempting to his people, Regis knows that Darkover would become little more than a military base, used for its unique planetary position, and will be sapped of its resources. He must now stop at nothing to save his world.