Shadow Hawk

by Andre Norton

Shadow Hawk Shadowhawk Vintage Ace No 75991 (1971) paperback

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Egypt, Science Fiction Fantasy, Historical

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Andre 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.

Reviews

[Cleo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rahotep, his lands in Egypt taken by the invading Hyksos, is part of a Nubian-Egyptian scout group of archers of excellence whose task is to fend off the fierce wandering Kush warriors from Nubian territory. His father is the Nubian viceroy but upon his death, his brother, Unis, takes this role of power and, because of strife between them, Rahotep decides to serve the Pharoah of Egypt who is still on his throne in Thebes but is threatened from the advancing Hyksos from the north. Rahotep’s adventures are full of battles, betrayal, fealty and discernment as he navigates his destiny in the uncertain world of ancient Egypt.

This book was a wonderful adventure novel but because of many characters and nationalities to keep track of and a few realistic battle scenes, it's better suited to children grade 5 and up, although it would be interesting for adults as well.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good juvenile novel. Although some unusual aspects of Egyptian history are included, these are not the primary focus, more the underlying background. The emphasis is on action and intrigue, with Rahotep, our hero, engaged in battle, spying, and trying to unravel threatening plots amidst the Pharaoh's court.

I have not read any of Norton's other novels, which are primarily fantasy, but I did enjoy this historical fiction tale. I don't know that I would consider it a great educational asset for young readers studying the time period, but it might be a good "treat" that would be of interest to those who already find the setting appealing. Norton describes battles well and the book moves along at a good pace without unnecessary distractions.

[Joseph Brink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book many, many years ago and have read it several times since, because it is such a good book. :)

[Valerie]

Norton skipped from one genre to another. This is another of the backwaters of history: Egypt occupied by the Hyksos, and most of the Egyptians withdrawn to Upper Egypt (which, confusingly, is in the
South--always had trouble with that'n).

If I'd read the blurbs before I read the book, I would have put it down unread. Norton's tendency to glorify warfare has always been one of the things that alienated me most. But there're a lot of things that make the book worth reading: the discussion of Egyptian/Nubian relations, the descriptions of classical Egyptian society, the fact that, despite the hero's isolated state, women really do play a significant part in the story...

There's a tendency to treat Ancient Egypt as if it were an androcratic state, in which the women are off somewhere in sealed courtyard/prisons, playing no part in the action. This runs counter to simple facts like that 'pharaoh' comes from words meaning 'house of rule', that women played a big part not only in court life but in temple life, and that one of the main reasons pharaohs married their sisters was that his child does not inherit--his sister's child does. Facts like that are at least recognized in this book, and others by Norton, and supply a useful corrective to the unwomaned landscapes of too many other novels about ancient Egypt.

This book begins with a genocidal attack on a Kush village in Nubia. The survivors of the murderous attack are (literally) invisible: they're hiding so they won't be killed. This dismissive attitude toward the Kush is never revised, even though the heroes have to depend on a Kush slave later to help some of them escape from a chancy scouting ploy. The Hyksos also are rarely treated as humans. There's no talk between them and the Egyptians at Thebes, and no consideration that if the Hyksos are having trouble with their Asiatic provinces (as is said), they may be amenable to negotiation. The Minoans, though always offstage, are repeatedly referred to as 'warriors', and there's an implication of a stratified society. This is inconsistent with archaeological evidence, which reveals the contemporary Minoans to have been peaceful and egalitarian, enriching themselves and others through an extensive trade network. Norton's prejudices in favor of warfare, slavery, and military serfdom (not even helotism) strongly influence her telling of a story of which even she has to admit little was known. On the other hand, she tends to prefer guerilla warfare to the asembly-line type the Hyksos practice, and her presentations of how awful warfare truly is are fairly realistic: but only to the point of how it affects soldiers: no mention whatever is made of the affect it has on the countryside, and little of its effects on citizens, who are mostly invisible, as well. It's as if the wars were against stuffed dolls: articulated stuffed dolls, that fight back, to be sure: but not real people, with breath and bowels and nervous systems--and farms, and houses, and....

[Darcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy historical fiction, but this one was very difficult for me to get through. Every chapter was exactly the same length (too long), so some were clearly trying to pack too much information into a small space, while others seemed to be stretching out what could have been said more succinctly. As another reviewer has already said, there were far too many scenes in each chapter, making it difficult to follow and digest. Each character was referred by at least 2-3 different names, and those names were not necessarily explained.

The only reason Shadow Hawk receives two stars from me is because the plot was interesting, especially near the end. The other good thing was that my students hated this book so much that they could wait to discuss it each week.

[Shonna Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this at least 60 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. She became my best loved author. I really enjoyed reading it again. this time I had the advantage to cross check the history she used and it was amazingly close to the actual history. the one really bad thing was the gross typos. they weren't there when I first read it and I cross checked it with the hard copy. I would sure like to know the process for producing the digital copy that is so bad.

[Claire Banschbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books. I read it at least once a year. It has heavily influenced my own storytelling. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction or stories of Ancient Egypt.

[Degenerate Chemist · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been trying to finish this little book for two or three weeks and I finally made it.

dull and uninteresting prose, text walls of exposition, and a dull plot.

this novel fell short for me and I am honestly kind of impressed with myself that I bothered to finish it.

[Paul Genesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great adventure set in ancient Egypt. Andre Norton is a masterful author and I loved her characterization and the excellent plot. I flew through this book, which is just over 200 pages and is a really quick read. Shadow Hawk is a must read for those who love novels set in ancient Egypt. You can pick it up used in various places.

Paul Genesse
Author of the Iron Dragon series

[Thomas E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in high school and always remembered it. Found it in a used book store and reread it in two days. Today it would be book one of a trilogy. One of my favorites!

[Linda Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

None of Andre Norton's books should be missed!

I have read and re-read her books for many years (I am 69), I never grow tired of reading them and rereading them.

[Georgette Kaplan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great example of a three-star read. The writing is all serviceable, but it never amounts to more than the sum of its parts.

Don't get me wrong, it's fun pulp writing. Our guy Rahotep gets framed for regicide, tortured, escapes torture, goes undercover as a slave, has to figure out how to capture a besieged city... everything you'd expect of a good Prince Valiant comic, albeit in ancient Egypt rather than Rome or England. It's just that there's not much interiority to him, or anyone else in the narrative. He's just a guy doing his job. There's some stuff about his craven half-brother and his mom, but no family drama or romance rears its head.

It's a bit like a version of Die Hard where John McClane really did just win a raffle ticket to visit Nakatomi Plaza and there's no Holly and he's just fighting Hans Gruber because it's the right thing to do. It'd still be a good movie, yeah, but would you care *that* much about him?

Now Edgar Rice Burroughs was no keen observer of the human condition, but he gave guys a bit of personality, made you feel like they'd burst into flames if they couldn't be with their lady loves. There's potential for that here, with the Egyptians of the time period suffering under the yoke of foreign oppression, but the story never quite makes you feel it. All the plot has is blood and thunder and it doesn't really punch you the way a good Conan would.

So, three stars. Not a bad read, but not the lost classic you'd hope for when you hear Andre Norton did a whole historical epic about the Pharaohs.

[Rodney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a child and recently found it in a thrift store and decided to read it again. I thoroughly enjoyed it the second time around. The story of Rahotep and his fellow desert scouts is one full of action and adventure. I had forgotten about Bis the black leopard cub but that is one of the best parts of the book. I always enjoy a book that pairs a human with an animal partner/team. The Egyptian politics leave plenty of room for plots and subterfuge. Some might object to the many references of the Egyptian mythology but since it is probably accurate I did not mind it. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good action novel set in ancient Egypt.

[grosbeak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid boy’s-own-adventure historical fiction, with exciting and highly dramatic incidents (Being framed and tortured for and then dramatically absolved of attempted regicide! Using the resulting scars to go undercover as a slave in the enemy city! Giant City Walls Battle!)l really excellent bromances of all kinds both between near-equals and with idealized commanders (the most noble and highest form of crush, as Faramir so wisely noted), and a pet leopard cub. Also really liked the Queens, although they were bit parts.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andre Norton is most known for her books in science fiction and fantasy but she also wrote a number of historical fiction novels for juvenile. This is a very good one, the story stands even after all this time as the characters are fully realized and the historical background is well done. I own a paperback copy of the title but was happy to find this hardcover version at a library book sale and it was an enjoyable re-read.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I literally had to start this book 3 times because the politics and people and places were so complex. But I’m so glad I stuck with it! It painted such a great picture of that time in history. And I loved how well the author described the characters. I felt like I would know them in real life. Her writing is so insightful and rich. The characters showed great masculine tenacity and innovation. I’m excited to read more by Norton.

[Scott Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. Historical fiction is my jam, ancient historical fiction even more so and there aren't a lot of books out there about ancient Egypt, so this scratched a very specific itch. What I loved most, and surprisingly so for my tastes, was how the warfare was few and far between, really heightened the action when it did take place. Definitely going to look more into the Nubian culture, the character Kheti was a blast.

[Al "Tank" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a fine read.

I had trouble with the names (I'm lousy at remembering names) in spite of the guide to names at the beginning of the book. It took me a while to get "into" the story (I'm not big on Egyptian history), but once I was there, I was hooked. Fine finish!

It's obvious that Norton is interested in that period of old Egypt. It was "real" to me.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incomparable Andre

Whether writing of a thousand years in the past or a thousand years in the future Andre Norton captures the imagination with very human but praiseworthy characters and noble causes.

[Christy Gould · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting tale of a time in Egypt maybe less well known. Our history curriculum recommended it for grades 5-8, but the political intrigue was difficult for my 5th grader. I’d recommend it for later in middle school for that reason alone.

[F. Michael McCarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful novel of ancient Egypt.

I found the story very compelling and engrossing. This novel by Andre Norton was the best work I had read by her. It was a very nice reintroduction to her work.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical classic

This holds up well even though 50 years have passed since the last reading. Great characters made me want to read Egyptian history.

[Shari Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very different from other Norton books I have read. No sci-fi at all, more an adventure story of ancient Egypt. Interesting, but not what I was expecting.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ancient Egyptian tale by a sci-fi writer. Good times!

[Anna Love]

I was not the biggest fan of it just because it was a hard read imo

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

As seems to be the norm, this doesn’t live up to my adolescent memories, but I still admire the unique world-building and character designs,

[Tristan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[Clint Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chariot attacks? Check. Desecrated tombs? Check. Vile treachery? Check. Prison breaks, secret temple passageways and a pet panther? Check, check and check.....

[Peter Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm surprised by these high reviews. This book was a dud. It was very difficult to follow.

[Celebrilomiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have adored this story when I was twelve, but unfortunately I read it too late: my exposure to good literature and my knowledge of the craft have expanded a great deal since then, and my reading tastes have matured proportionately. The political intrigue, the history, the battles, and the strategy still appeal to me, but the flaws of the story stand out to me now, even though they would not have before.

The characters were one-dimensional; the plot relied several times on certain characters being in the right place at the right time, which smacked of deus ex machina rather than seeming natural; the writer sometimes seemed to forget that a character's actions would be hampered by an injury sustained earlier; and the writing, though for the most part acceptable, contained tics and minor errors that pulled me out of the story. The greatest irritation was how the author referenced characters by both their names and descriptors. The story is told in third person and the point of view is oriented from the main character, but the text constantly switches between calling him Rahotep and calling him "the captain," even in close POV moments. I wouldn't mind him being referred to as "the captain" if that only occurred when the POV was a very distant third person, but in close third person, when the reader is nearly in his head, referring to him thus is jarring.

Despite my disappointment in the book, I did very much enjoy the history involved. It whet my interest in ancient Egypt again, and I hope I'll be luckier in the next books I read on the subject.