Lord Valentine Series by Robert Silverberg

Valentine, a wanderer who knows nothing except his name, finds himself on the fringes of a great city, and joins a troupe of jugglers and acrobats; gradually, he remembers that he is the Coronal Valentine, executive ruler of the vast world of Majipoor, and all its peoples, human and otherwise... Valentine's journey is a long one, a tour through a series of magnificent environments. Fields of predatory plants give way to impossibly wide rivers, chalk-cliffed islands and unforgiving deserts... moreValentine, a wanderer who knows nothing except his name, finds himself on the fringes of a great city, and joins a troupe of jugglers and acrobats; gradually, he remembers that he is the Coronal Valentine, executive ruler of the vast world of Majipoor, and all its peoples, human and otherwise... Valentine's journey is a long one, a tour through a series of magnificent environments. Fields of predatory plants give way to impossibly wide rivers, chalk-cliffed islands and unforgiving deserts. The prose is unrelentingly dreamlike—no accident given that on Majipoor, dreams rule the minds of great and humble alike. Originally serialized in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in four parts: November 1979, December 1979, January 1980 and February 1980. less

Come to Majipoor, the magnificently exotic planet of Lord Valentine's Castle. Come to Hissune, favorite of Valentine, as he probes the deepest secrets of Majipoor's long past in the depths of the great Labyrinth. Join him as he becomes one with its many peoples--dukes & generals, thieves & murderers, Ghayrogs & Metamorphs--& discovers wonder, terror, longing & love, learning wisdom that will shape his destiny... moreCome to Majipoor, the magnificently exotic planet of Lord Valentine's Castle. Come to Hissune, favorite of Valentine, as he probes the deepest secrets of Majipoor's long past in the depths of the great Labyrinth. Join him as he becomes one with its many peoples--dukes & generals, thieves & murderers, Ghayrogs & Metamorphs--& discovers wonder, terror, longing & love, learning wisdom that will shape his destiny. 2nd book in the series begun with Lord Valentine's Castle, this is a collection of stories set on Majipoor connected by short interludes with Hissune. As the copyright page says: "Portions of this book have appeared in somewhat different form in Omni, Fantasy & Science Fiction & Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine." It adds some interesting details to the history & geography of the big planet, but does not really further the story of Valentine.PrologueThesme & the GhayrogThe Time of the BurningIn the Fifth Year of the VoyageCalintane ExplainsThe Desert of Stolen DreamsThe Soul Painter & the ShapeshifterCrime & PunishmentAmong the Dream SpeakersA Thief in Ni-MoyaVoriax & Valentine(Chapter 11 untitled) less

The national bestselling saga of Robert Silverberg's stunning imagination continues in the first new hardcover "Majipoor" novel in nearly a decade. As a prequel to Silverberg's earlier "Majipoor" novels. "Sorcerers of Majipoor" provides a deep, dark vision for the background of the conflict in Lord Valentine's Castle and Valentine Pontifex... moreThe national bestselling saga of Robert Silverberg's stunning imagination continues in the first new hardcover "Majipoor" novel in nearly a decade. As a prequel to Silverberg's earlier "Majipoor" novels. "Sorcerers of Majipoor" provides a deep, dark vision for the background of the conflict in Lord Valentine's Castle and Valentine Pontifex.Treachery and wizardry run rampant under the reign of the mighty Pontifex, as both the rightful and the unworthy heirs to the throne anxiously await his demise. Korsibar, son of the current Coronal, plots with his twin sister and ambitious companions to seize the power of the Coronal when his father ascends to the throne of the Pontifex.But the burdens of the crown and scepter exact more of a price than Korsibar is prepared to pay. His rival fights to take his appointed place as keeper of his beloved Majipoor...and to resbackse order to the utter chaos that has befallen their world."Silverberg has created a big planet, chock-a-block with life and potential sbacksies." -- "The Washington Post" less