In The Planet Savers, Marion Zimmer Bradley introduces the world of Darkover, where a person with two personalities seeks help from an alien race to save the planet. Year of the Big Thaw - In this warm and fanciful story of a Connecticut farmer, Marion Zimmer Bradley has caught some of the glory that is man's love for man-no matter who he is nor whence he's from. By heck, you'll like little Matt. Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley was an American author of fantasy novels such as The Mists of Avalon and the Darkover series.