Virgin of Zesh Dual

Two of the "Z" series of Krishna books rolled into one, the Virgin of Zesh and Tower of Zanid cover a period of time before the planet is opened up to outright human access. And one of the big problems with writing a review is that there is so much to Krishna that can be mentioned.The Virgin of Zesh follows the exploits of Althea Kirwin, a nun of the Ecumenical Monotheist religion. Unfortunately she suffers from romantic entanglements: from a big Russsian brute who gets her drunk and married, to fleeing to safety into the Krishnan hinterlands where she meets a brute of a different nature who is far more savage but far more civilized. In between which are encounters with a back-to-nature cult (a must for semi-barbaric planets) and a power grabbing local with plans of conquest.The Tower of Zanid introduces Anthony Fallon, an English adventurer who sets out to become ruler of a kingdom. Unfortunately the locals don't merely roll over and let him have his will, and to boot the local Earth delegates are in there in part to prevent just such shenanigans on the part of would be swashbucklers.If you want to read a book set in a semi-barbaric era where people matter and the people of the book are real, not cookie-cuttter slot jobs, try Krishna. Krishna lacks automobiles and guns, yet remains civilized, with the natives as bright as any people you'd meet on the street (perhaps too bright in some ways).