Majipoor series

Robert Silverberg, an American writer, created the Majipoor series, which includes novels and shorter works set on the fictional planet Majipoor. The series blends science fiction and fantasy. It is divided into the Lord Valentine Cycle and the Lord Prestimion Cycle, plus collections of shorter fiction.

The planet Majipoor is much larger than Earth but far less dense, giving it a similar surface gravity. Humans, along with Ghayrogs, Skandars, Vroons, Liimen, Hjorts, and other alien species, have lived there for millennia. The native Piurivar were conquered long ago and now live on a reservation. The planet is governed by a tetrarchy: an adoptive Coronal rules symbolically from Castle Mount; the previous Coronal becomes the Pontifex, head of the bureaucracy in the underground Labyrinth; the Coronal’s mother becomes the Lady of the Isle of Sleep, sending dreams to guide morality; and a hereditary King of Dreams on Suvrael punishes wrongdoers with nightmares. The King of Dreams role is created at the end of *King of Dreams*, while *Valentine Pontifex* ends with a fifth Power representing the Piurivar. Starships visit occasionally, but Majipoor is a backwater. Metals are scarce due to the planet’s light crust. Technology exists but is often ancient and poorly understood; for instance, “mounts” are genetically engineered draft animals whose creation methods are forgotten. Many great engineering works are also ancient. Modern technologies like TV and radio are nearly absent. Most inhabitants live as peasants, with agriculture being common.

Several races inhabit Majipoor in the millions, along with off-world visitors. Ancient laws forbid any race from exclusively occupying a district, so most races appear everywhere, though villages may be monocultures. Sea dragons are indigenous and highly intelligent.

Humans are the primary inhabitants and the ruling hierarchy comes exclusively from human families. Humans were the first colonists, and they dominate the economy, with most nobles, wealthy merchants, and landowners being human. The Coronal, Pontifex, Lady of the Isle, and King of Dreams are all human, along with most of their staffs. Occasionally a Vroon, Hjort, or Su-Suheris becomes a key advisor.

Vroons are small, octopus-like beings, many of whom are wizards skilled in direction-finding and healing. Some have limited future sight.

Hjorts are squat, bipedal,