The Planet Savers, published in 1958, is the first of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover books to be published, though she had previously written about Darkover in a book later published as The Sword of Aldones.
What is it about guys named Jason with memory problems? There is Jason Bourne of The Bourne Identity, and on General Hospital we have the amnesiac mob enforcer Jason Morgan. In this book we have Jason Allison, who discovers, while leading an expedition into the mountains to gain the aid of the alien Trailmen, that a chunk of his own life--- the most recent bits--- is missing.
The truth is that Jason, the adventurous mountain-climber, is a mere personality fragment of the sour middle-aged Dr. Jay Allison, brought out into independent existence by hypnosis. Advanced futuristic hypnosis, of course. Yes, in the future they will discover the cure for NOT having Multiple Personality Disorder.
Dr. Jay Allison has rejected his childhood, when he was raised by the primitive Trailmen. He claims to barely remember how to speak their language. But the Terrans need to send someone in order to prevent an epidemic. So a more suitable man, Jason, is created.
The expedition is a mixed Terran/Darkovan one. Among the Darkovans is Regis Hastur, whose story goes on in many of the other Darkover books. Another of the team is Kyla, a Free Amazon girl--- a member of a society of women who have rejected the option of marriage and dependence on a man.
Along the way to the Trailmen's city, Jason falls for the girl. But he finds out his surly other personality is able to pop out if provoked. He also comes to realize he is a temporary man--- to be sent into a state of non-existence when the mission is over.
Will Jason succeed in getting the Trailmen to aid in preventing the epidemic? Will he find a way to continue existing, and if so, will he get the girl?
Download The Planet Savers and find out!
I find this book, like most of the Darkover series, endlessly re-readable. Though it's the earliest Darkover story published, it has the seeds of many of the classic Darkover themes.
The treatment of women in the story will seem old-fashioned, but remember at the time it would have been considered rather excessive in its rejection of traditional gender roles. The Free Amazons are forerunners of the tough women in later science fiction and fantasy from Xena the Warrior Princess to Captain Janeway.
It's also got some interesting themes about the personality, and the changes the personality goes through as one grows older and, perhaps, more mature.
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