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Worlds of the Golden Queen

The Golden Queen
by David Farland
Worlds of the Golden Queen (The Golden Queen) by David Farland
  ★ 6.00 / 1
1★2★3★4★5★16★7★8★9★10★

An omnibus of novels.

  • The Golden Queen (1994)
  • Beyond the Gate (1995)

Originally published as two books, Worlds of the Golden Queen is a stellar tale of love, adventure, sacrifice, and war set in a fantastic future.

In the first novel, The Golden Queen, the insectoid Dronons have slain the human queen Semarritte, thowing into chaos the ten thousand worlds over which she reigned. Desperate to save mankind, Lord Veriasse, her near-immortal consort, has created a new queen: Everynne, cloned from the dead original. Hotly pursued, Everynne falls in with cocky bodyguard Gallen O'Day; the pious Orick, an intelligent black bear; and the beautiful orphan Maggie Flynn.

With Gallen and the others newly sworn to her service, the young queen begins the great struggle against the aliens. Leaping from world to world via an ancient system of instantaneous transport gates, the heroes face terrible dangers and great wonders as they seek the heart of the dronon worlds, carrying the battle straight to the enemy.

In the second novel, Beyond the Gate, Maggie Flynn has become, by test of combat, the new Golden Queen. Gallen, Maggie, and Orick face an attack by Dronons on a planet where humans have achieved the pinnacle of genetic engineering. They must stop them while guarding the secret of Maggie's whereabouts, for she is only the Golden Queen until her champion, Gallen, is defeated by a Dronon challenger. In the midst of a slam-bang story, Farland raises and examines deep questions of humanity's definition and identity.

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Standard Shelves
Updated 04/12/2025
Category: Science Fiction
Release date: June 2005

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David Farland

David Farland

David Farland, a pseudonym for Dave Wolverton, was a writer whose influence stretched across multiple generations of science fiction and fantasy authors. Born in 1957 in the United States, Farland’s life journey was anything but ordinary. Before dedicating himself to writing full-time, he wore many hats — from working as a prison guard to serving as a missionary, to managing a business, and even baking pies. Each of these diverse experiences helped shape the distinctive voice that would captivate readers across the globe.

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Farland’s writing is recognized for its depth and nuance, blending epic world-building with intricate character development. His most notable work, The Runelords series, introduced readers to a rich tapestry of cultures, powerful magic, and philosophical themes about power, sacrifice, and the human condition. With a career that spanned decades, Farland became a cornerstone of the speculative fiction genre, respected for both his literary contributions and his mentorship to young, emerging authors.

His breakthrough came with a victory in the prestigious Writers of the Future contest in 1987, which marked the beginning of a prolific career. Over the years, he crafted more than 60 novels, including his Runelords series and works like The Golden Queen and The Court of the Air, each known for their powerful characters and thought-provoking narratives. Farland’s work is not just about adventure and imagination; it’s a deep dive into what it means to be human in the face of immense challenges.

Beyond his own writing, David Farland made a lasting impact on the genre by nurturing new talent. His role as a mentor and teacher helped shape the careers of authors like Brandon Sanderson, Stephenie Meyer, and Brandon Mull. He was a passionate advocate for the craft of writing and shared his wisdom generously, both through his Writing Tips newsletter and as a mentor in the Writers of the Future contest, where he served as a judge.

Farland’s legacy is also marked by his impressive accolades, including a Guinness World Record for the largest single-author book signing. Though he passed away in 2022, his voice continues to echo in the works of countless writers and readers whose lives were touched by his stories and guidance. David Farland was more than an author; he was a mentor, a visionary, and a bridge between the past and future of speculative fiction, ensuring that his influence will be felt for years to come.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The Golden Queen

The Golden Queen consists of three primary books, and includes one additional book that complement the series but is not considered mandatory reads. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

The Golden Queen (The Golden Queen #1)
  ★ 8.00 / 1
Beyond the Gate (The Golden Queen #2)
  ★ 7.00 / 1
Lords of the Seventh Swarm (The Golden Queen #3)
  ★ 8.00 / 1
Worlds of the Golden Queen (The Golden Queen)
  ★ 6.00 / 1

Book Reviews

10/19/2007
Seregil of Rhiminee avatar
Seregil of Rhiminee
3707 books, 260 reviews, 15 posts
★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ 6 / 10

David Farland's Worlds of the Golden Queen consists of two books: The Golden Queen and Beyond the Gate. Worlds of the Golden Queen is a readable science fiction book, but it's not as good as The Runelords saga. I liked this book, but it wasn't an excellent book. If you like David Farland, you'll probably like this book.

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