Darkover Newsletter/Issues 21-30

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==Issue 21 (1980, probably March)==
Darkover Newsletter 21 was published in in 1980, probably March, but it could have been as late as June as per a comment about some fans not receiving the issue in time to learn about Bradley's June workshop.
This issue contains 28 pages. The editor/s are not specified, but it was published and copyrighted by Friends of Darkover. The letters ("Relays") "this time were typed by Joyce Fickies and Lisa Waters, and pasted up by MZB, Cindy McQuillin, and Jo and Phil Wayne of the new Household locally. Harper Hall. (MZB is learning to play the harp.)"
* Bradley has been ill, and she includes a short explanation, see below.
* There is a description of "Midsummer Festival," a gathering planned at the edge of the desert overlooking the Columbia River in South-Central Washington State where there was a full-scale reproduction of Stonehenge. Accommodations were suggested at a hotel in Biggs, Oregon that included queen size beds, phone, color TV, air conditioning, and a heated swimming pool.
* There is a con report for the Fantasy Worlds Festival held in Berkeley in February, see that page.
* There is a mention of the work in progress, "Mistress of Magic" (working title for Mists of Avalon): "At present MZB Is working frantically on MISTRESS OF MAGIC, a novel about the women of Malory— especially Morgan le Fay and the Lady of the Lake, those mysterious figures whom the male-oriented and Christian Thomas Malory tried to keep in the very background of his story."
* "Thendara Council has swollen its ranks" as two other fan writers: Lisa Waters and Cynthia McQuillin, have moved to the Bay Area.
* There is a lot about upcoming publications of both Bradley, and many of Bradley's proteges.
* "Keeper's Tower" by Jacqueline Lichtenberg has some updates. She writes that as of February 1980 there are 98 registered Councils, 75 of which are Chartered ("The difference between Registered and being Chartered is simply that Chartered Councils send me a list of names and addresses of their members, and keep me informed of additions and corrections to the list. For this level of activity, they get a lovely frameable Charter for the organizer of the Council, and blue membership cards for each member.") She also includes some updates of Council activities, many of which discuss "inventing family histories, crests, colors, and a council banner," have parties, and other activities.
* Lichtenberg says the most asked question is "What is your Darkoven name?" She says she has taken one as such, but MZB calls her "Jaelle" (MZB adds a note that "Actually, what I call her is 'Shaya' which is the diminutive or nickname of Jaelle, and also a Darkoven name meaning 'grace' or 'brightness.'" ) Lichtenberg writes: "I think it is great fun to have Darkoven names in use among the Friends, however, it's causing me no end of grief with Keeper's Tower. My records MUST show your legal name, so if you use a Darkoven name, I must record your two names in five places."
* A member of the Chieri Council of Greater Los Angeles area writes an article on how to write a newsletter. It is called "The Council Newsletter: Keep It Simple." One "suggestion" -- "Besides council members, send copies of your publication to national leaders of the Darkover "movement."
* There is announcement that Starstone #4 is at the printers.
* In the Letter from MZB, Bradley addresses some bad behavior that occurred after the very recent con, see Fantasy Worlds Festival Dead Dog Party Incident.
* This issue includes an article called "Virago" by Pat Mathews. It is about comparing the words and concepts of "virago" and "tomboy"
* Several fans discuss the breeds of horses that would be on Darkover.
* Bradley is offering a writing workshop and includes the flyer. It is $45. The workshop was called "Writing to SELL!"
* There is a flyer for Sime-Gen Con #1.
Bradley has been ill: 
The taped speech by Andre Norton at Fantasy Worlds Festival did not turn out well: 
The issue includes a lengthy explanation of what Darkover is, and isn't, and emphasizes its tolerance, and that it is not, despite the word "dark" in the title, not a publication of/for Satanists or Black Magicians: 
A fan, Linda Frankel, does a little white knighting and writes about Darkover fiction outside of Starstone, declaring it a violation of copyright: 
A taste of what some fans' councils were like: 
A fan writes a long, impassioned testimonial about how Friends of Darkover and fannish correspondence has literally saved her life, and goes on to chastise some fans: 
A Star Wars zine editor, Jani Hicks, asks if she can Xerox Bradley's article on writing from Starstone #3 so she could distribute it to her Star Wars writers, some of which could use the pointers: 
Bradley includes a long comment that the "'feminist paradise' where all the men have conveniently died off is almost becoming a genre of its own," cites some examples, says these philosophies don't actually address the problems at their roots, and ends with: 
==Issue 22 (1980, probably Autumn)==
Darkover Newsletter 22 was published in 1980 (month not specified, but appears to around October) and contains 24 pages. The editor explains that the newsletter is quarterly but that it usually doesn't work out that way. The editor is not named.
* The "Keeper's Tower" explains how to start a Council and what a story-robin is.
* "Attention Darkovan Craftswomen (Craftsmen, too -- we're not sexist") is a description of a fan's costuming, Darkover, and Aran Island knitting patterns.
* There is a comment by the editor about The Catch Trap, see that page.
* A fan wants to start a Dorothy Dunnett Round Robin; she says there already is one that's increased from 4 to 10 members in less than a year.
* Several fans comment on the Darkover Concordance, see that page.
* There is a short bit on Bradley's health, and some about the manuscript that was to become The Mists of Avalon: "For those of you who have inquired about the future of MZB and of the Darkover books: Marion has recovered well from her illness (and asks us to thank you all for the cards, letters and such) and is 1011 pages into MISTRESS OF MAGIC, the novel about the women of Malory's King Arthur, Morgan le Fay, the Lady of the Lake, and such." Bradley comments that she hopes to have the first draft done by Thanksgiving.
* There is are flyers for the Third Annual Darkover Grand Council Meeting, Fantasy Worlds Festival #3, and for Mythcon #12
* There is an essay, "An Experiment with Laran" by Nancy Conradt, a fan feels she is "mildly psychic" and writes about it.
* Bradley talks a bit about her convention-attendance.
* Bradley lists some authors she loves to read, and then gives some extensive and casual book reviews for: Stephen King's "The Stand" (she hated it), Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven's "Lucifer's Hammer" (she hated the premise, the logic, and the line "one good thing about Hammerfall —Women's Lib was dead ten seconds after it hit"), F.M. Busby's "Rissa Kerguelen" (she hated it).
From the Letter from MZB: She has been convention-hopping, and says she was caught reading a book during lunch by a fan: 
A fan is grateful: 
Not a winner this time: 
A female fan writes about sex and the ERA and Darkover: 
A fan writes about Bradley's creative generosity: 
More on creative generosity: 
Some comments on books, on health: 
Bradley as a publicity agent: 
A fan votes for keeping men around: 
A fan will do anything for Bradley: 
A chide to those who hassle Bradley for being involved with her fans, and some incomprehensible things about ego, 
==Issue 23 (1980, Spring)==
Darkover Newsletter 23 is undated but appears to be spring 1980 and contains 20 pages.
It has a new editor "so that MZB won't have to worry about the nuts and bolts of getting out the Newsletter." While this editor is not named, it is Ann Sharp who goes on to edit the newsletter until it ends.She confirms this in the very last issue of "Darkover Newsletter]] when she says she edited every issue since #23.
* Bradley will be at Fantasy Faire in LA (July 18), the Sime-Gen Workshop at Westercon, the Darkovercon over Thanksgiving weekend somewhere on the East Coast, a a European convention in Stuttgart, Germany (August 21–23) but not Worldcon in Denver as "the altitude does bad things to her health."
* Some lost and found items at the Fantasy Worlds Festival: one wool scarf, a hair clasp, a chain and an amulet.
* There is an ad for the "Visit Scenic Darkover" bumper sticker.
* This issue includes a logic puzzle.
* A male fan ran into a female one at a bookstore in Georgia, they got to talking, and now he wants to contact her. He lists the three books she bought, says she was thinking of going to the Darkover Grand Council Meeting #3, is in the army, mentioned a malfunctioning air conditioner, and collected science fiction art. He never asked her name, and he wants her to contact him. "If you read this, M'Lady, please write soon, or better yet, send me a vocaletter on cassette."
* There are many letters from fans discussing starstones, matrixes, and crystals, as well as a great deal of other topics.
* There is a flyer for another of Bradley's Writer's Workshops. Parcipiants are requested to bring a hard surface to work on, a few pens, and some paper. "Don't bring that old story you've been sending around for the past five years. If it was any good, it probably would have sold. I don't want to read it any more than the editors who rejected it did."
* There information about the second The Darkover Short Story Contests: there were 39 stories submitting, three were disqualified (two were too long) and one because, while it tied for third place, was anonymous. Bradley also admits she anonymously submitted on herself, and this did not go over well. See Darkover Short Story Contest for much, much more.
Jacqueline Lichtenberg suggests that Walter Breen has been slacking off, but Bradley explained that it was he was now very busy and in demand: 
There are many updates on Bradley's professional books, as well as the zine More Tales of the Free Amazons which will contain Bradley's story Knives. This story is Bradley's attempt at writing a story that doesn't contain "Subject A": 
There is news on Starstone: 
There have been problems with the newsletter's production: 
A fan sticks up for another fan's story: 
A fan is happy that Bradley is feeling better, and sympathizes over Bradley's comments regarding a personal theft: 
A fan offers up a fic for others: 
 Bradley says a book called "Psychic Power: How to Develop Your ESP" published by "Thendara Books/PSI Technologies" is in no way affiliated with Friends of Darkover or Thendara House Publications: 
Devra N'Ha Felizia (Devra Langsam) writes: 
The Caer Donn Guildhouse,, run by Tess Kolney, has agreed to take it over Devra Langsam's discontinued Free Amazon newsletter. Kolney describes her Guildhouse living situation, oath-daughters, and mimeograph machine in detail. She also writes about gender requirements: 
A fan is just grateful to get a newsletter at all: 
A fan writes about Bradley's complaint of fans' nit-picking: 
==Issue 24 (before October 1981)==
Darkover Newsletter 24 undated but before October 1981 and contains 22 pages.
* This issue includes a logic puzzle.
* There is a list of about 60 fans who have had their "Darkover Newsletters" returned in the mail as "undeliverable," and the editor is asking other fans to help find them.
* This issue includes a flyer for Darkover Grand Council Meeting #4
* While this topic hasn't been discussed in this newsletter, it appears there has been some talk of discontinuing Starstone: "Is there any way the general or outland (non-Thendara Council) Darkover fan can help in keeping Starstone going? . . . . I quite understand if the Starstone project must be terminated soon, but it would be a shame if the main official outlet for Darkover fan writing closed down." Another comment from a fan also touches on the newsletter's apparently fragile existence: "I'm glad to see that you sure still around—I feared that you had folded up like many another worthy venture that I can name."
* It includes a reminder of Bradley's offered class: "MZB is offering a weekend writing course, October 16, 17, and 18 -- firm in the belief that ANYONE who can write a literate English sentence can write and sell category fiction."
In a very lengthy Letter from MZB, Bradley describes, in detail, a Darkover dream she had: 
There is a letter reprinted (without comment from the newsletter's staff) from an editor at "Fantasy Book" (Dennis Mallonee Publisher/Executive Editor, Nick Smith Editor/Art Director, Gavin Claypool Consulting Editor, out of Pasadena, CA) saying he wanted to buy fan stories; he doesn't sound very picky: 
Jacqueline Lichtenberg did what she promised and sent out a questionnaire to every Darkover Council. "We've heard from 44 Councils, two of which are officially disbanded... There are yet 67 Councils that have not responded... though the Post Awful seems to have delivered it to them." The newsletter says it is extending the deadline as they felt there were extenuating circumstances: 
A fan lauds Bradley's writing, praises her story "Knives," and is amused that the judges in the Darkover Short Story Contest did not guess that Bradley had entered her own contest under a false name: 
A fan sees some similarities in the writings of several authors (Bradley responds to this letter in the next issue, see Marion Zimmer Bradley Discusses Influences of "The King in Yellow" and Accusations of Plagiarism): 
A fan addresses another fan's letter in the previous issue: 
==Issue 25 ( before April 1982)==
Darkover Newsletter 25 not dated but it was published before April 1982 and contains 22 pages.
* This issue includes a logic puzzle.
* This issue includes a flyer for Fantasy Worlds Festival #4.
The editors comment on a long-time forthcoming Bradley book: 
There is an update on "Mistress of Magic," the book that became The Mists of Avalon: 
"Our side" has a win: 
Bradley responds to several fans' letters about authors "stealing" ideas and words from each other, and the suggestions that she has done the same in a complicated snarl that includes "The King in Yellow." See Marion Zimmer Bradley Discusses Influences of "The King in Yellow" and Accusations of Plagiarism
Bradley has a letter in which she addresses many things about her book "Thendara House" one being its pace and detail, and that she has dropped her co-writer: 
Bradley's statements about "Thendara House" also address the topic of lesbianism: 
Bradley also is distressed by reactions to a peer's reaction to the book "The Dancers of Arun" by Elizabeth Lynn: 
After another fan wrote "I noticed a number of similarities" between one of Bradley's books and a zine by Jean Lorrah, and Bradley replies: I forget who it was that said there were only half a dozen plots in use. }}
==Issue 26 (August 1982)==
Darkover Newsletter 26 is not dated but was published around August 1982 and contains 20 pages.
* there is an article called Confessions of a Terranan Keeper, or, An Untrained Telepath is a Danger to Herself and Everyone Around Her which addresses fans who take Darkover too seriously in their personal lives, the dangers of real psychic powers, and ego
* there is a flyer for Pellennorath, a zine dealing with the geography of created worlds
* there is a flyer for MileHiCon #14
* plans are in the works for a con called Esotericon (January 13, 1983 in suburban New York area, Lichtenberg and Bradley were to be guests, "we hope to include, beyond the usual con activities, intensive teaching workshops in various branches of the occult sciences")
* there is a form for the Darkovan Name Roster, a fan publication that was attempting to create a directory of Darkover fans
* Jacqueline Lichtenberg has a Darkover Council update: 46 councils have been disbanded ("without honor") for lack of communication, 6 councils are disbanded "with honor" (they informed Lichtenberg)
* there are two mentions of computers in this issue: one is by a fan offering to put other fans in touch with each other via computer (see below), and the other is by the producers of this newsletter: "The computerized mailing list for the Friends is now being printed and sorted by computer, this simplifying our mailing tasks considerably."
* there is page of news/progress report about the upcoming Fantasy Worlds Festival
* there is mention that there are two Free Amazon newsletters published "published in alternate months in the Midwest and in California. The Valle d'Oro Guild-House (Sharrie n'ha Verana and T'Pat)... and the second is published by the Narzain Ye Kui Guildhouse... from Tess Kolney in Minneapolis, MN. See Narzain Ye Kui Newsletter. Both newsletters say that if you cannot afford to pay, simply say so; it is their will that no woman shall be denied the newsletter for lack of ability to pay."
* there is a logic puzzle
* it is noted that "for the first time since 1980, ALL FIVE ISSUES OF Starstone ARE AVAILABLE... #6 is in preparation but don't hold your breath waiting for it -- we still need the contest results of issue #5. This is the only fanzine we know of edited by a major profession s-f and fantasy writer; Marion edited all five issues and personally chose the stories... These are likely to be collector's items in the years to come..."
* there is an announcement that John Shimwell is creating a publication "Teach Yourself Casta," a 200-page "teach yourself course of the (unofficial) language grammar from the basic to the subjunctive tense, intimate, personal, and derogatory modes... some Hellers dialect. A companion volume listing some 12,000 Darkovan words should be ready later this year."
* Bradley "bought several boxes of ["The Catch Trap"] when they were remaindered and is offering them book rate for only $5, autographed if requested... This Is a circus novel with strong feminist and gay elements, about a big and very realistic family filled, as one of our readers said, "with the most lovable people I ever met in a book --I sat down and bawled when Papa Tony died!" So buy some of these things —they're cluttering up our office so we can't sweep, and they make splendid gifts."
* It is mentioned that Bradley has suffered a serious injury: "THENDARA HOUSE is in work, but the writing was delayed by an accident to MZB during a candlelight service here In the Centre for Non-Traditional Religion, where her robe was set on fire and she suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns to her left hand."
The very first comments in the newsletter are by Bradley. They address the lack of royalties she is getting from Darkover books, and that she has no idea if previous titles will continue to be published: 
Bradley is also very angry about a submitted book from which she is withdrawing publishing permission: 
Bradley's close-to-the-wire completion of a book was thwarted by a suicidal man ("some nerd"), something with which she mostly felt "frustration"" 
Bradley announces the publication date of Mists of Avalon and reminds fans of what a good deal it will be to purchase: 
More publication news from Bradley: 
A fan has some suggestions for Bradley's series: 
A fan asks Bradley, but gets no reply: 
Two fans in Sacramento, California offer to take over the New York City Darkover Council, Council of the Free Amazons: 
A fan offers to put other fans in touch with each other via computers: 
==Issue 27 (probably spring 1983)==
Darkover Newsletter 27 not dated but likely published in the spring of 1983, and it contains 6 pages. The pages are reduced, the only issue to be printed this way.
* It contains a word find.
* It includes many letters about cats.
* A fan wants to know about the survey she completed (in 1978!): "Whatever happened to the Darkover survey??? I filled it out and returned it. I know I wasn't the only one. What were the results?" This survey was sent to fans as an insert in issue #15/16.
Bradley is irked about some publication decisions: 
This issue contains a letter from Bradley in which she extolls the houses, Greyhaven and Greenwalls, tells of the writers from there that have published books, and then announces that Mists of Avalon has been published: 
==Issue 28 (June 1983)==
Darkover Newsletter 28 was published June 1983 and contains 8 pages.
This was the last newsletter published for three years. While the Bradley and the editors cite lack of funds, it is likely a combination of a bunch of things: the success of The Mists of Avalon bleeding off energy and attention, boredom, the aforementioned lack of funds, and Bradley's admitted poor health.
* Bradley thanks Jan Malin, Ann Sharp, Ten Bryan and Linda Crowe "who did the real work of the newsletter all these years"
* There is an announcement that a letterzine called Relays is in the works.
This issue contains the statement that this is the last issue of the "Darkover Newsletter.": 
Bradley writes: 
==Issues 29 and 30 (skipped entirely)==
These issues do not exist.
When the newsletter began after its three-year hiatus, Bradley began the numbering at #31, skipping these two issues entirely.
==References==
Category:Darkover Zines
Category:1980 Zines
Category:1981 Zines
Category:1982 Zines
Category:1983 Zines