Stand to Horse

by Andre Norton

Few authors have achieved such renown as World Fantasy Life Achievement honoree and Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Andre Norton. With the love of readers and the praise of critics, Norton’s books have sold millions of copies worldwide.In Andre Norton’s action-filled story Stand to Horse, the tensions of men against men are balanced by the tensions of men against nature, often a cruel and unequal struggle. Throughout it all, the reader senses the nation’s growing unrest as events lead up to the Civil War. Many of the incidents and much of the colorful dialogue are based on actual journals and diaries kept by men who lived through these perilous times. Stand to Horse is fiction of high order that re-creates a dangerous and exciting period in our country’s history.

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical

242 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1956

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

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Pinda-lick-o-yi?” Ritchie twisted his tongue about the word. “White eyes. That’s the Apache name for us. Ours for them—Apache—isn’t much better. That just means ‘enemy’. They call themselves simply ‘The People.’”

Based on memoirs and diaries of actual frontier horse soldiers, this book takes the reader deep into the west as it really was before the Civil War. Told from the point of view of a recruit newly assigned to Santa Fe in the New Mexico territory. Army life, frontier life, interaction with the native Apaches are all melded in.

"Some of the stories set down so matter-of-factly in these pages seem like the wildest romance—yet they are true."

Since Norton assures us all the incidents are true, draw from the accounts of four identified soldiers. The magic of the story is weaving all those events into a coherent whole. Well done.

“I have drunk of these waters; I am a part of this land.”

(The art attached to the newer electronic versions has nothing to do with the story.)

[Rubin Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A GREAT READ

I WILL BE COMPLETLY HONEST
IT TOOK PLOWING THROUGH THREE CHAPTERS
BEFORE I GAINED MOMENTUM AND STARTED TO ENJOY THIS BOOK,
IT IS NOT AN EASY READ AT LEAST TO ME IT WASN'T

IT DOES NOT HAVE QUICK PACING AND
MAYBE THIS IS WHAT THE AUTHOR INTENDED FOR THE READER
SO THEY MIGHT GET THE SENSE OF LIFE ON THE FRONTIER.

IT DOES HAVE TWO ASPECTS THAT MAKE IT WORTH YOUR READING TIME.

ONE :THE WRITER GIVES A GRITY REALISTIC DEPICTION OF LIFE ON THE EARLY FRONTIER,
THE HARDSHIPS AND THE MINDSET OF THE TIME PERIOD, ALONG WITH THE COLLOQUIALISMS OF SPEECH.
WHICH I HAD TO STOP AND RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CHARACTER'S WERE SAYING

TWO: VERY VIVID DESCRIPTIONS OF THE TERRAIN OF THE SOUTHWEST, THE MILITARY DISCIPLINE & EXPERIENCE LEARNED SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES.
THIS I TRULY APPRECIATED 

I THINK MANY MODERN DEPICTIONS OF THE WEST HAVE BEEN  GLOSSED OVER FAR TOO MUCH.

THIS STORY OF A YOUNG SOLDIER'S FIRST YEAR ON THE FRONTIER IS EXTRAORDINARY

IN CONCLUSION: 

THIS BOOK IS CHALLENGING
BUT REWARDING IN THE SENSE OF YOU  EXPERIENCING A PLACE AND TIME YOU WERE NOT BORN INTO
FOR THAT IT'S IN A CLASS OF SLECTED FEW.

[Charles van Buren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Norton transports readers to another time and place., November 5, 2017

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This review is from: Stand to Horse (Kindle Edition)

STAND TO HORSE is another of master writer and storyteller Andre Norton's forays into genres other than science fiction. This one is historical/military/western fiction concerning the Apache wars. Its main characters are scouts and dragoons stationed at Santa Fe, New Mexico in the late 1850's. The characters and actions are based upon real people and events. A bibliography of historical sources is included. Even though military actions are included, the novel is, ultimately, a story of survival against the odds in desperate circumstances and conditions. As usual, Norton doesn't just tell a masterful story, she takes the reader on a journey with her characters.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into reading this not knowing what to really expect - but Andre Norton has yet to disappoint me in a good story. I have to admit I rarely read pre -Civil War era there were a lot of words I found I didn't know. At the end this book is about finding where you belong and if you are lucky and survive a adventure or two you may gain a friend by the end. I liked this rare insight into a era often overlooked.

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprising good western

When I got this book I wasn't sure if it was going to be any good, but it was. Just goes to show you can't judge a book by its author. To me Andre Norton meant science fiction not Westerns. Back when I was a kid was the first time to read this author and I liked the books then. Now years later I have gotten reacquainted with this author. This story is set before the Civil War in the territory of the Apaches. It is more a story of one boy's journey from raw recruit to a seasoned soldier. The pacing of the story was for me very good at one moment a pleasant story of Army life then the sudden change to the harsh realities of the frontier. One thing that struck me was how there was no good guys or bad guys just people, who had to take life as it came to them. For me this book was well worth reading and I think if you enjoy a good Western then this one you should read.

[Mike Little · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we studied history in high school, way back when in history, it was all about memorizing dates and names and not much else. College was better in that I had a great professor and his lectures were all stories that included the whys and hows of events and their interconnectedness. Then there are books like this one. It's a fictionalization of real events from the early days of white people in New Mexico. Once again, I am deeply impressed by how tough people were at that time. I'm not sure that the most resilient adventurer of today could survive the weather, deprivations, and interpersonal strife that people lived through in the mid-1800s. Not to mention being stalked, killed, and tortured by Apaches.

Books like this, for me, add the mortar between the bricks of history. This is not the best I've read but it's quite good and especially so if the history of the opening of the American frontier is interesting to you.

[bytha garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful read

Take a young willing kid put him in the Calvary and then submit him to apache attacks, harsh weather and trying to find his footing as an adult. Then Struggling across country which is dry and hot. Watching his fellow troopers die one by one.to be one of the last to return to the fort.

[Lois Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A priceless story

I first read a story by Andre Norton in the 5th grade and was hooked. It's been a long time since a came across one if her stories that I hadn't read before. Which is why I called this story priceless. Andre has few competitors as an author, she is the measure I hold all other authors to.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A not recently published book but a very different story about Calvary enlisted men stationed in New Mexico with the Civil War on the horizon,enjoyed the book,recommend it if you are interested in the old West

[Hugh Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andre Norton wrote in many genres during her great career. This book was a foray in the western field and can stand up to anything by Louis L'Amour or Zane Gray. This book is a page turner throughout.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Norton is amazing

I never expected this YA Sci-fi writer could pull off this frontier saga. It’s one of the best and, while she may be long gone, this novel stands as testament to her research and ability to make her characters come alive.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this as a kid.

[Bonnye Reed]

Early Bird Books 199

[Phillip Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

good western

Dragoons in the New Mexico territory just prior to the Civil War.
Against insurmountable odds a patrol makes it back to the army post but at a terrific cost.

[Stefan Krt · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

Yeah did not care it read like it was a boyscout troop as opposed to a hardened Calvary troop. It is well written etc

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A TOP NOTCH WESTERN STORY


This is a good book with likeable cowboys, I
personally detest the portion of silly actions
which many authors think it is essential to all
western books and movies.

[D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of Norton's all-too-rare historical novels. It follows the story of Ritchie Peters, a recruit in the First Dragoons, stationed near Santa Fe in the winter of 1859.

Norton does a great job of mixing the historical with the fictional, and shows the brutal and unforgiving conditions and problems facing the men during the time period. It's complicated, of course, by their orders to go after the Apache, no matter what the cost.

Written in 1956, Norton based the novel on the writings and journals of men who lived through the time period, which lends an authenticity to the story that really makes the reader feel as if they were there. The politics are based in colonialism, of course, but Norton's writing from the POV of the American soldiers, so the story is obviously slanted towards their view of the events. Still, she doesn't treat the Apache as one-sided villains, giving them some (admittedly, not a lot) of depth over the course of the book.

There's a great list of sources that would be interesting for anyone intrigued by the era to continue their reading.

Worth tracking down. Unfortunately, it's getting really hard to find. Inter-library loan might be your best bet if it sounds interesting to you.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read this tale of adventure set in the West right before the Civil War, I feel almost like I am reading it for the first time. Since this is about the fifth time I have read it (1st time was back in the 1970's), I know what the story arc is with Ritchie and Sergeant Herndon, I know that the Apaches will attack, that Diego will betray, but I still thoroughly enjoy the tale. The Bibliography at the back makes for interesting reading as well. If you are looking for a good western read, get read it!

[Valerie]

Norton's Civil War-era books are often missed, even by the most avid collectors of her works. I have no copy of this book, and probably never have had--I think I read a library edition.

Too many of these books (I think there're about three with more or less the same characters) are explicit encouragements of terrorism, vigilanteism, and guerilla warfare; both during and after wars. I don't recall exactly, but I would say this is a prime example.