Darkover (planet)

Darkover (aka Cottman IV) is a planet in Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series.

The planet orbits a fictional red giant star ("Cottman"), and has four moons. The planet is relatively dark and is cold, but humanly habitable. A giant mountain range, "The Wall Around the World", cools the planet and affects its axis of rotation.

Species

There are several native sentient species; the planet was settled by humans; and two more species were genetically engineered by humans.

Chierri and Catmen have laran, various psychic powers, and the human settlers on Darkover also developed laran. Laran is occasionally sex-linked.

• Catmen (native species)
• Chieri (native species with semi-hermaphroditic physiology; semi-interfertile with humans)
• Kyrri (genetically engineered species)
• Trailmen (native species)
• Ya-men (native species)
• Cralmac (genetically engineered semi-intelligent species)
• Humans (settlers)

Significant societies

• Settlers
• Comyn - ruling class, with laran
• "Free Amazons" (aka Renunciates)
• Drytowns
• Terrans (after rediscovery)