Because of its women-centered focus and feminist themes, Thendara House is a good choice for women's reading groups and for readers interested in alternative societies and futuristic ideas. The Renunciate Oath taken at the Amazon Guild House is a good starting point for a discussion of competing value systems and alternative views of gender roles.

Many science fiction courses now include units on gender, and Thendara House, like other Bradley works, reflects our society's evolving perceptions of gender. Her balanced viewpoint is one which would probably not offend readers of differing views.

1. What are the key elements of the Renunciate Oath, and what do they suggest about our own social and behavioral norms?

2. In what ways does the Amazon Guild House provide an alternative to both Darkoveran and Terran social structures? How does it balance these competing world views and provide new options?

3. What are the...