period of nearly constant civil war, in which the Darkovans seem determined to exterminate themselves. Walter Breen's The Darkover Concordance indicates that the Ages of Chaos period begins about a thousand years after the colonization of the planet and lasts a full thousand years. Books describing this era: Stormqueen! (1978 - by Marion Zimmer Bradley) Thunderlord! (2016 - by Deborah J. Ross) The Hundred Kingdoms Many of Bradley's books, and a large number of the short stories, are set at the tail end of the Ages of Chaos, in a period she called the Hundred Kingdoms. The distinction between The Ages of Chaos and The Hundred Kingdoms is not well-defined, creating controversies about the chronology. By this era, the laran breeding programs had been abandoned, and the many small principalities were beginning to consolidate into the seven domains that survived into Darkover's modern era. Bradley's innovation, the adoption of "The Compact", is a turning point in the development of Darkover's social order. The Compact, promulgated by the recurring historical character Varzil the Good, bans all weapons that can be used without bringing the user into equal danger, effectively banning laran weapons, but allowing swords and knives. The Hundred Kingdoms may be read as commentary on the use of weapons of mass destruction in Earth's own endless conflicts. Books describing this era: Hawkmistress! (1982) Two To Conquer (1980) The Fall of Neskaya (2001 - with Deborah J. Ross), Book One of the Clingfire Trilogy Zandru's Forge (2003 - with Deborah J. Ross), coincides with Hawkmistress!, Book Two of the Clingfire Trilogy A Flame in Hali (2004 - with Deborah J. Ross), Book Three of the Clingfire Trilogy The Heirs of Hammerfell (1989) Recontact (Against the Terrans: The First Age) Eventually Darkover is rediscovered by the Terran Empire, which establishes a spaceport, first at Caer Donn, and later at Thendara, the only large city on Darkover. This re-contact takes place a little more than 2,000 years after the events described in Darkover Landfall. Books describing this era: Rediscovery (1993 - with Mercedes Lackey) The Spell Sword (1974) The Shattered Chain (1976) The Forbidden Tower (1977) Nominated for a Hugo Award. Thendara House (1983 - with Jacqueline Lichtenberg, uncredited) City of Sorcery (1984) Star of Danger (1965) The Winds of Darkover (1970) After the Comyn (Against the Terrans: The Second Age) Books describing this era: The Bloody Sun (1964, revised 1979) The Heritage