The Bloody Sun
Encyclopedia
The Bloody Sun is a science fiction novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley
in her Darkover
book series
. It was first published by Ace Books
in 1964. The novel was substantially rewritten, expanded, and republished under the same title in 1979; Bradley's short story "To Keep the Oath" was included in this edition and all subsequent reprintings.
The expanded rewrite retains the basic plot structure but is more closely connected to several other Darkover books, especially The Forbidden Tower
. It also changes the identity of one of Kerwin's parents, although the later book Exile's Song uses his textually original parentage as background information.
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley was an American author of fantasy novels such as The Mists of Avalon and the Darkover series. Many critics have noted a feminist perspective in her writing. Her first child, David R...
in her Darkover
Darkover series
The Darkover series consists of several novels and short stories set in the fictional world of Darkover as created by science fiction author Marion Zimmer Bradley.-Darkover chronology:...
book series
Book series
A book series is a sequence of books having certain characteristics in common that are formally identified together as a group. Book series can be organized in different ways, such as written by the same author, or marketed as a group by their publisher....
. It was first published by Ace Books
Ace Books
Ace Books is the oldest active specialty publisher of science fiction and fantasy books. The company was founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn, and began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns...
in 1964. The novel was substantially rewritten, expanded, and republished under the same title in 1979; Bradley's short story "To Keep the Oath" was included in this edition and all subsequent reprintings.
Plot introduction
Jeff Kerwin, an orphan born on Darkover and raised on Earth, returns to his home planet Darkover as an adult. He brings with him a mysterious blue stone that he has treasured since the half-forgotten trauma of his early memories, and which proves to be the key to his true heritage and identity.The expanded rewrite retains the basic plot structure but is more closely connected to several other Darkover books, especially The Forbidden Tower
The Forbidden Tower
The Forbidden Tower is a fantasy novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley in her Darkover book series. It was originally published by DAW Books in 1977.-Plot introduction:...
. It also changes the identity of one of Kerwin's parents, although the later book Exile's Song uses his textually original parentage as background information.
Publication history
- 1964, USA, Ace BooksAce BooksAce Books is the oldest active specialty publisher of science fiction and fantasy books. The company was founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn, and began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns...
, Pub date 1964, Paperback - 1966, Germany, Pebel , Pub date 1966, Paperback, in German as Die blutige Sonne
- 1979, USA, Ace BooksAce BooksAce Books is the oldest active specialty publisher of science fiction and fantasy books. The company was founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn, and began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns...
, Pub date 1979, Paperback, expanded and published with "To Keep the Oath" - 1979, USA, Gregg PressGregg PressGregg Press was founded about 1965 by Charles Gregg in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey to distribute in the United States the antiquarian reprints published in the UK by Gregg Press International....
ISBN 0839825137, Pub date 1979, Hardcover, as The Bloody Sun and To Keep the Oath - 1987, UK, Arrow Books ISBN 0-09-917820-6, Pub date August 1987, Paperback, 1979 text without the additional short story
- 1993, UK, Severn House ISBN 0-7278-4446-6, Pub date March 1993, Hardcover, reprints the 1979 edition
- 1994, USA, DAW BooksDAW BooksDAW Books is an American science fiction and fantasy publisher, founded by Donald A. Wollheim following his departure from Ace Books in 1971. The company therefore claims to be "the first publishing company ever devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy." The first DAW Book published was...
ISBN 0-88677-603-1, Pub date February 1994, Paperback, reprints the 1979 edition