Lo, and in those days, Darkover was still a living world, populated by fans, and the Author of the Universe, Marion Zimmer Bradley, was alive and writing. People would adopt Darkovan identities, and even make real-world affiliations out of fictional Darkovan associations. Such were the Free Amazons of Darkover, a group of women who reject traditional marriage and live together in chapter houses, serving as craftswomen, midwives and healers, and mercenary soldiers. I haven't met any Free Amazons for quite a while, and the idea is still attractive. But constantly disorganized fans living together in a kind of secular convent is a recipe for disaster, so perhaps it's better left unrealized in the real world. The best idea was to hire me to paint your portrait as a Darkovan Free Amazon, as this woman did in the long-lost days of 1983.
"Free Amazon of Darkover" is acrylic on illustration board, 8" x 10," November 1983.
3 comments:
She looks familiar!
She IS familiar. During the 80s and early 90s she came to DarkoverCon every year. She was a big Darkover fan and loved my art. Then she got away from fandom, changed her appearance and her name, and I have not seen her in more than 10 years.
Once again I'm born way too late -- I was a baby when my fellow Renunciates were identifying as such, apparently. Long sigh, longing for a time machine. Ah, well. Good to know I'm not entirely cracked. :)
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