When mentioning those writers who had a profound impact on my own style of writing, I have to include John Gregory Betancourt.  Many years ago, John was my instructor in the Writer's Digest short story course.  He helped to take a raw, unpolished writer and turn him into somebody who could actually sell his first novel!  John is an accomplished writer and has published many works of fantasy and science fiction as well as action/adventure novels.  Take a moment to peruse the works of this talented author.

• Cutthroat Island   Yes!  This IS the book from which the major motion picture, Cutthroat Island was produced!
  
  
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #11 -- Devil in the Sky  
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #17 -- The Heart of the Warrior  
  
  
• Star Trek: Voyager #5 -- Incident at Arbuk  

No reader's collection would be complete without a least a FEW works from this grand mistress of science fiction!  On the other hand, if I tried to review every book that Ms. Bradley has written, this page would never be finished!  The few works that I have included here should serve as an introduction to the wonderful work of this incredible writer.

• The Bloody Sun: A Novel of Darkover   Although by no means the "first" in the Darkover series, The Bloody Sun gives an introduction to Darkover from the viewpoint of a Terran boy.  As such, it makes a wonderful introduction to the world of Darkover.
  
  
• The Forbidden Tower
   Again, this novel of Darkover is told from the point of view of an offworlder, making it a perfect introductory work for the Darkover series.  In this case, however, the viewpoint character is an adult Terran male and the theme of the book is somewhat more mature.  The Forbidden Tower makes a fine introduction to the world of Darkover.


• Hunters of the Red Moon
   Probably the first novel I ever read by Ms. Bradley.  Hunters of the Red Moon was one of those books which heavily influenced my own writing style long before I ever started writing!  Hunters of the Red Moon tells the story of a human abducted by aliens to take part in a big game hunt -- as the game!  Whereas this theme has been used many times by SF authors, none have ever done it quite like Marion Zimmer Bradley.  If you only read one book by this wonderful author, make it this one!