The Ultimate Fantasy Series Ranking

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Cover of The Children of Kings

The Children of Kings

expanded novel 2013 Darkover

Record

First published2013
Original language EN
Work typenovel
Canon statusexpanded
First-edition ISBN9780756407971

Synopsis

A direct continuation of The Alton Gift, this Darkover novel picks up roughly two years later in the era following the Terran Federation's withdrawal from the planet, a period the series treats as Modern Darkover. The story centers on Gareth, heir to both the Elhalyn Domain and the Comyn Crown, as he navigates the political intrigue and rivalries among Darkover's noble Comyn families in a society adjusting to life without direct Terran oversight. Subplots involve courtship and betrothal negotiations among the nobility, the shifting position of Terrans who chose to remain on the planet after the Federation's departure, and the trade and diplomatic entanglements that come with governing in this transitional period. The novel continues the series' long-running exploration of Darkover's succession politics and its uneasy relationship with the wider galaxy.

Where it sits

Notes

  • Darkover continuation novel by Deborah J. Ross, credited jointly with Marion Zimmer Bradley, continuing the Alton/Hastur/Elhalyn political storyline after Traitor's Sun (1999). Registered Expanded Canon; Core Canon remains the 22 novels published under Bradley's own credited authorship (1958-1999), per this universe's existing scope note.
  • From the series record (Darkover: The Ross Continuation Novels): 6 Darkover continuation novels written by Deborah J. Ross, credited jointly with Marion Zimmer Bradley, 2007-2024. Publisher's own announcement names Arilinn (2024) as the final Darkover novel.

Neighbouring works

Publication order and internal chronology are tracked as two separate orderings and are never conflated: a book's place in one says nothing about its place in the other.

  • Publication order, within the series Darkover: The Ross Continuation Novels: position 3 of 6: previous Hastur Lord (2010) · next Thunderlord (2016)

Sources

← Darkover dossier · All universes

Part of the Library. Fields without an identified source are omitted, never guessed.