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Dark Piper
Returning home after ten years, Griss Lugard found Beltane relatively untouched by the annihilating war of the Four Sectors, her inhabitants still immersed in the biological researches on mutation for which the planet had been designated. The destruction of the other worlds in the Confederation meant little to them, nor would they listen to Lugard's warnings of danger from the lawless elements roaming the chaotic off-world.
Only Vere Collis and his nine young friends believed in Lugard and, drawn by his magnetism and his promises of exploring unknown desert caves, were safe underground when a series of explosions rocked Beltane, killing Lugard and sealing them in. In the days that followed, the small group battled fear and despair, as well as enemies more tangible, until they won their way to the surface, there to receive a shattering blow: all other human inhabitants on Beltane had perished. Only strange and possibly hostile mutant creatures remained.
Rich in adventure and excitement, Dark Piper once more displays the superlative imagination and narrative skill that have put Andre Norton among the top writers of science fiction.
Only Vere Collis and his nine young friends believed in Lugard and, drawn by his magnetism and his promises of exploring unknown desert caves, were safe underground when a series of explosions rocked Beltane, killing Lugard and sealing them in. In the days that followed, the small group battled fear and despair, as well as enemies more tangible, until they won their way to the surface, there to receive a shattering blow: all other human inhabitants on Beltane had perished. Only strange and possibly hostile mutant creatures remained.
Rich in adventure and excitement, Dark Piper once more displays the superlative imagination and narrative skill that have put Andre Norton among the top writers of science fiction.
221 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1968
7 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
Andre Norton
690 books1,392 followersAndre Norton, born Alice Mary Norton, was a pioneering American author of science fiction and fantasy, widely regarded as the Grande Dame of those genres. She also wrote historical and contemporary fiction, publishing under the pen names Andre Alice Norton, Andrew North, and Allen Weston. She launched her career in 1934 with The Prince Commands, adopting the name “Andre” to appeal to a male readership. After working for the Cleveland Library System and the Library of Congress, she began publishing science fiction under “Andrew North” and fantasy under her own name. She became a full-time writer in 1958 and was known for her prolific output, including Star Man’s Son, 2250 A.D. and Witch World, the latter spawning a long-running series and shared universe. Norton was a founding member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America and authored Quag Keep, the first novel based on the Dungeons & Dragons game. She influenced generations of writers, including Lois McMaster Bujold and Mercedes Lackey. Among her many honors were being the first woman named Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy and SFWA Grand Master. In her later years, she established the High Hallack Library to support research in genre fiction. Her legacy continues with the Andre Norton Award for young adult science fiction and fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 22, 2025
This is a story of survival against the odds – but those fighting for survival are children.
After a savage galactic war that has left the Confederation a collection of damaged and blasted worlds, Griss Lugard, a battered and maimed war veteran, returns to his home planet of Beltane with permission to settle at the old stronghold of Butte Hold. Beltane, as a planet dedicated to scientific research, has remained physically untouched by the war though it is struggling to maintain its previous economic standards. Lugard warns the planet's authorities that trouble is coming – perhaps with insider information – as groups of armed refugees and mercenaries are out in the space lanes seeking safe hideaways. The authorities refuse to listen and when the first refugee ship approaches they give it permission to land.
Lugard is a deeper personality than an old soldier retreating from conflict. There are stories that, before the war, he had found Forerunner treasure in the caves riddling the lava fields behind Butte Hold and that was why he had returned. In fact he has a plan, or perhaps it is foreknowledge, to gather together a group of children and protect them from the coming holocaust. This is where the rather misleading title of Dark Piper comes in. Lugard uses a musical instrument he has picked up on his travels to lure the children into the Hold, somewhat in the manner of the Pied Piper, but without evil intent. After that brief musical interlude the fantastical idea seems to be dropped and science fiction adventure takes over, as the children and Lugard enter the Norton-style dark caves and tunnels.
The expected attack happens. Lugard dies in a rock fall and the children become trapped underground. They are able to find Lugard's pre-prepared bunker but, being heroes all, they cannot rest and must seek a route to the surface to see what has survived. This involves two more Norton standard devices: the fight with, in this case two, scary subterranean monsters, and the discovery of some workable Forerunner weapons that are used to kill the beasts. When the children make it out of the caves they slowly find that Beltane is a changed world. The refugees have attacked and destroyed the settlements but not before uncovering the existence of a deadly virus which they unleash with all the uncontrollable effects of poison gas: it not only kills the remaining Beltanians but it also infects the refugees themselves.
The children must accept that they are alone. Well, not quite alone. You see, the Beltane scientists were a hypocritical bunch. While they despised the military and all its personnel, they were conducting secret research that not only produced that virus – specifically designed to kill only humans and then become harmless after the death of the victims, thus being an effective way of depopulating a planet prior to occupation – they were also experimenting on mutating animals, both Beltanian and imported alien species, to produce only enough intelligence to help in human warfare.
At first it seems a world of nightmare and unspeakable danger. But these are Norton children, resilient and resourceful, and they later find that not all the mutants are monsters. With a bit of work and diplomacy, who knows, Beltane may become a flagship of inter-species democracy, though without a guarantee that humans will be on top.
The group of children are well drawn characters. As one might expect Vere, the oldest boy, is the bold and, not quite, fearless hero; while Annet, the oldest girl, is just as brave and resourceful and shows a deep academic interest in biology. There is no prize for guessing, however, who does the cooking, housework and childcare. This is not a book with a happy ending: “[we are] always hoping that someday there will be a breakthrough and our species [humans and mutants] will face one another in friendship. If it is otherwise, our future is as dark as the caves we traveled through. Then we found again the open world and light. Now we ask each day that that may prove again.”
Oh, if anyone offers you a wart-horn as a birthday pet, don't accept it. Before you know, it will be sitting in front of your laptop opening its own twitter account.
After a savage galactic war that has left the Confederation a collection of damaged and blasted worlds, Griss Lugard, a battered and maimed war veteran, returns to his home planet of Beltane with permission to settle at the old stronghold of Butte Hold. Beltane, as a planet dedicated to scientific research, has remained physically untouched by the war though it is struggling to maintain its previous economic standards. Lugard warns the planet's authorities that trouble is coming – perhaps with insider information – as groups of armed refugees and mercenaries are out in the space lanes seeking safe hideaways. The authorities refuse to listen and when the first refugee ship approaches they give it permission to land.
Lugard is a deeper personality than an old soldier retreating from conflict. There are stories that, before the war, he had found Forerunner treasure in the caves riddling the lava fields behind Butte Hold and that was why he had returned. In fact he has a plan, or perhaps it is foreknowledge, to gather together a group of children and protect them from the coming holocaust. This is where the rather misleading title of Dark Piper comes in. Lugard uses a musical instrument he has picked up on his travels to lure the children into the Hold, somewhat in the manner of the Pied Piper, but without evil intent. After that brief musical interlude the fantastical idea seems to be dropped and science fiction adventure takes over, as the children and Lugard enter the Norton-style dark caves and tunnels.
The expected attack happens. Lugard dies in a rock fall and the children become trapped underground. They are able to find Lugard's pre-prepared bunker but, being heroes all, they cannot rest and must seek a route to the surface to see what has survived. This involves two more Norton standard devices: the fight with, in this case two, scary subterranean monsters, and the discovery of some workable Forerunner weapons that are used to kill the beasts. When the children make it out of the caves they slowly find that Beltane is a changed world. The refugees have attacked and destroyed the settlements but not before uncovering the existence of a deadly virus which they unleash with all the uncontrollable effects of poison gas: it not only kills the remaining Beltanians but it also infects the refugees themselves.
The children must accept that they are alone. Well, not quite alone. You see, the Beltane scientists were a hypocritical bunch. While they despised the military and all its personnel, they were conducting secret research that not only produced that virus – specifically designed to kill only humans and then become harmless after the death of the victims, thus being an effective way of depopulating a planet prior to occupation – they were also experimenting on mutating animals, both Beltanian and imported alien species, to produce only enough intelligence to help in human warfare.
At first it seems a world of nightmare and unspeakable danger. But these are Norton children, resilient and resourceful, and they later find that not all the mutants are monsters. With a bit of work and diplomacy, who knows, Beltane may become a flagship of inter-species democracy, though without a guarantee that humans will be on top.
The group of children are well drawn characters. As one might expect Vere, the oldest boy, is the bold and, not quite, fearless hero; while Annet, the oldest girl, is just as brave and resourceful and shows a deep academic interest in biology. There is no prize for guessing, however, who does the cooking, housework and childcare. This is not a book with a happy ending: “[we are] always hoping that someday there will be a breakthrough and our species [humans and mutants] will face one another in friendship. If it is otherwise, our future is as dark as the caves we traveled through. Then we found again the open world and light. Now we ask each day that that may prove again.”
Oh, if anyone offers you a wart-horn as a birthday pet, don't accept it. Before you know, it will be sitting in front of your laptop opening its own twitter account.
October 6, 2009
This was an interesting sci-fi story about a group of children left on a planet devoid of all human life but their own. It had a great theme going and was excellent, but I wish that Norton had expanded more on it.
September 11, 2012
After the intergalactic wars wind down, few return home, but Lugard does. He befriends a group of youth scouts on a peaceful planet, but the remnants of war don't leave them alone.
Written in the 1960s, the science fiction still works.
Recommended
Written in the 1960s, the science fiction still works.
Recommended
January 15, 2018
A small group of children are the sole survivors of a horrific nuclear and biological attack on their planet and must compete against intelligent mutated experimental animals. This book is one of Norton's darkest, if not the darkest she wrote. A desperate and chilling, YA action novel.
February 5, 2014
Darker than normal for a Andre Norton novel - a good departure and as always, a good read for entertainment - keeps you wanting more - could have used a second followup novel.
February 21, 2017
To me, this is one of Norton's best. Perhaps the characters are a bit shallow, but this was written in 1968, after all. Excellent plot, pace and very well written. This one really holds up.
September 25, 2024
I don’t read that much vintage sci-fi, but this one was pretty alright. Dark Piper is the story of the planet Beltane, and how it gets attacked by refugees trying to land on the planet. This attack kills the entire population of the planet, except for our main characters, who hide inside a cave with Lugard. A war veteran who sees the attack coming, but is not believed. From there our main cast of character attempts to survive in this new world.
The main characters are an ensemble of children, with the leaders being the main character, Vere Collins, and Annet, a woman Vere lives with in his adopted family. The rest are the children (I’m not sure if all of them are children, but their ages are never revealed, so some of them are probably older than others).
The characters get the job done, but they are all plain, especially the children. They all pretty much blend together. Vere is the stereotypical male leader, and Annet is the “woman” of the group. She cooks and worries over the kids. Kind of sexist, but the book was written in the 60’s, and it was written by a woman. So no “men writing women’ problems here.
The setting was very interesting, especially whenever the novel discussed the mutants, and how the planet of Beltane operated. I wish this book was more focused on the mutants, and the planet of Beltane itself. In the story itself, these interesting topics are only mentioned in passing, and aren’t elaborated on as much as I would have liked.
Overall the novel was still good. It was thrilling and I always wanted to see where the story went next. It was a decent read, and good for 60’s sci-fi (though I don’t read that much old sci-fi so I can’t be sure what really qualifies as old and good science fiction).
The main characters are an ensemble of children, with the leaders being the main character, Vere Collins, and Annet, a woman Vere lives with in his adopted family. The rest are the children (I’m not sure if all of them are children, but their ages are never revealed, so some of them are probably older than others).
The characters get the job done, but they are all plain, especially the children. They all pretty much blend together. Vere is the stereotypical male leader, and Annet is the “woman” of the group. She cooks and worries over the kids. Kind of sexist, but the book was written in the 60’s, and it was written by a woman. So no “men writing women’ problems here.
The setting was very interesting, especially whenever the novel discussed the mutants, and how the planet of Beltane operated. I wish this book was more focused on the mutants, and the planet of Beltane itself. In the story itself, these interesting topics are only mentioned in passing, and aren’t elaborated on as much as I would have liked.
Overall the novel was still good. It was thrilling and I always wanted to see where the story went next. It was a decent read, and good for 60’s sci-fi (though I don’t read that much old sci-fi so I can’t be sure what really qualifies as old and good science fiction).
July 14, 2024
The thing I like most about this is that it is a reminder of a time when science fiction was more a medium than a genre.
That being said, it is rather messy, unfocused, and dissatisfying. There are strong notes of misanthropy in the story though I am not sure this was intentional. It would pair well with Annihilation by VanderMeer.
My favorite part was the consistent need to stop and describe each new animal or vegetation throughout the final big chase scene. It gave a sense of nature encroaching and taking back the land only to make the same mistakes that humans made.
That being said, it is rather messy, unfocused, and dissatisfying. There are strong notes of misanthropy in the story though I am not sure this was intentional. It would pair well with Annihilation by VanderMeer.
My favorite part was the consistent need to stop and describe each new animal or vegetation throughout the final big chase scene. It gave a sense of nature encroaching and taking back the land only to make the same mistakes that humans made.
November 8, 2021
Exquisitely written and darkly realistic, I unfortunately never developed any fondness for this unlucky gaggle of children. I don't think I was supposed to be more intrigued by the mutants, but I found myself wishing for a chapter or two from their perspective. Ah, well. Overall, I would seek this author out again.
April 25, 2023
Your basic Norton live-another-day travelogue. Although the at the end was kind of strange. Read it when I was a teenager. Seems much better 20 years later. Probably, as the title would imply. this worked on darker themes.
July 18, 2017
It was interesting but not one of Andre's best.
November 8, 2019
A life-long fanof Andre Norton, this has to be my favourite, darkly hauting, but deeply fascinating.
September 15, 2021
Will review at Fantasy Literature.
November 28, 2021
My favorite Andre Norton book
November 5, 2024
While this book lingered in my mind, it was because I was against alot of its foundational ideas and world view.
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March 29, 2010The book gets off to a bad start by arguing that someone suffering from PTSD is a better judge of human character than a society of pacifists. Why SHOULD refugees fleeing devastated homelands be relentless pillagers? It's rarely so, why would it be so here? Perhaps the narrator's unquestioned assertion that his species always feels better with a weapon to hand is a good clue. I don't...do you?
The scientists on Beltane (?who named this planet?) seem to be surprisingly unconcerned with education, and they don't seem to question the 'Rangers' 'shoot first, and don't ever bother to ask questions' mentality when it comes to dealing with wildlife. Maybe they're not so enlightened as they pretend.
As for the survivors, there's essentially no chance that they will be able to form a viable colony. There're only seven of them, and two of them are twins (fraternal, to be sure, but still...). In James White's The Watch Below, a marooned society with four ancestors lasts about a hundred years, with growing loss of fertility, inherited disabilities, etc from inbreeding. Adding three more ancestors probably wouldn't make a substantial difference, even if the three females all produced children from all the males (and you'd probably have to exclude the twins from producing a child together--already too much consanguineity there). Norton seems to've realized this, because in the middle she unaccountably increases the number to 10--not a substantial improvement.
The scientists on Beltane (?who named this planet?) seem to be surprisingly unconcerned with education, and they don't seem to question the 'Rangers' 'shoot first, and don't ever bother to ask questions' mentality when it comes to dealing with wildlife. Maybe they're not so enlightened as they pretend.
As for the survivors, there's essentially no chance that they will be able to form a viable colony. There're only seven of them, and two of them are twins (fraternal, to be sure, but still...). In James White's The Watch Below, a marooned society with four ancestors lasts about a hundred years, with growing loss of fertility, inherited disabilities, etc from inbreeding. Adding three more ancestors probably wouldn't make a substantial difference, even if the three females all produced children from all the males (and you'd probably have to exclude the twins from producing a child together--already too much consanguineity there). Norton seems to've realized this, because in the middle she unaccountably increases the number to 10--not a substantial improvement.
August 2, 2008
This one sort of takes the "children must make their own way after terrible thing happens" story and puts in on a planet inhabited by scientists, after a war. Norton spins a good tale while still bringing up points and themes about humanity and finds a good balance in it all. Action, thinking, sadness, mutants.
What I find a interesting is that Norton's writing style for this book is more formal than in her other work. I think it may be because this is essentially a transcription of an oral history and the world involved is one filled with the progeny of scientists.
What I find a interesting is that Norton's writing style for this book is more formal than in her other work. I think it may be because this is essentially a transcription of an oral history and the world involved is one filled with the progeny of scientists.
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July 27, 2013Graded By: Meghan
Cover Story: Scifictorious
BFF Charm: Hell No
Swoonworthy Scale: 0
Talky Talk: Expository Exposition Exposits Expositorily
Bonus Factor: Cave Hideout
Younger Me Relationship Status: Summer Lovin', Happened So Fast
20-Year High School Reunion Relationship Status: Maybe If It Buys Me Enough Drinks, I'll Forget This Conversation Ever Happened
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Scifictorious
BFF Charm: Hell No
Swoonworthy Scale: 0
Talky Talk: Expository Exposition Exposits Expositorily
Bonus Factor: Cave Hideout
Younger Me Relationship Status: Summer Lovin', Happened So Fast
20-Year High School Reunion Relationship Status: Maybe If It Buys Me Enough Drinks, I'll Forget This Conversation Ever Happened
Read the full book report here.
April 18, 2020
It's difficult to categorize a book half a century old, which I believe this is. Ms Norton writes about a group of children who are the only survivors of a horrible war. The tale makes a few good points, but brings to mind other tales about trying to restart a species with a handful of survivors, which simply doesn't work. Overall, a good tale, but a dark one.
December 23, 2007
read 08.09.84
August 8, 2008
Relatively weak.
July 24, 2010
A LOT better than I even expected! Really impressive. To describe it might be to ruin the exciting plot, so I'll just say that this is what sci fi is ABOUT!!
August 22, 2009
Simple yet imaginative 60's SciFi. I enjoyed every bit of it.
August 13, 2011
I really have fun reading this book, it's just so Retro-SciFi.
March 5, 2015
1978 grade C+
January 6, 2024
4.5 stars
A retelling of the Pied Piper with a sci-fi twist. The cave creatures were suitably frightening if unexplained.
A retelling of the Pied Piper with a sci-fi twist. The cave creatures were suitably frightening if unexplained.
April 29, 2010
Not the best book in her canon
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews