The Saga of the Renunciates

I read these 3 novels in the late 70's-early 80's and loved them...recently found the 3 novel compendium and enjoyed it more the second time around. What a wonderfully imagined world!! How I wish we had something like the Guild here on Earth! As an old feminist in my 70's, I cannot recommend them more highly...READ!!

I disagree with the last review. I have been collecting all the Darkover novels, which has been difficult considering how most of them are out of print since the 70s. The Age of Chaos omnibus and the Saga of the Renunciates are some of my favorite Darkover books. I like the fact the MZB is not afraid to portray her female characters as strong, intelligent women. The stories in this omnibus are not "women against men" at all. There are strong male characters in all three books, and wonderful relationships between both male and female characters. The world of Darkover is one of women taking a submissive and passive role of keeping hearth and home and bearing children. The Renunciates are a totally different aspect of that world, one that is often disapproved of and shunned by the other part. While other novels have touched on the Renunciates in passing, none have given any of those women a chance to tell their stories of how and why they came to the Guild. These books are the stories of women, their lives, their relationships with men, and their friendships with one another. I would not call these books feminist at all. Unless you call well developed, realistic female characters in a story a feminist movement. I call it good writing.