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Norrey (Swords) #1
The Sword Is Drawn
Young Lorens van Norreys must save his family legacy from Nazi invasion in this thrilling series opener from the New York Times-bestselling author.
The House of Norreys--those merchants of gems for over three hundred years--faces its greatest crisis the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The old Jonkheer lay dying in his bed when he called his grandson to be with him in the last hours of his life, and at this time, young Lorens van Norreys is entrusted with the future of Norreys. That future lies in the legendary Flower of Orange, a priceless baroque necklace that the Nazi scavengers burn to possess. It is up to Lorens to save the necklace and the House of Norreys. With the first encounter with the Nazi invaders, Lorens faces his challenge as The Sword Is Drawn.
The House of Norreys--those merchants of gems for over three hundred years--faces its greatest crisis the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The old Jonkheer lay dying in his bed when he called his grandson to be with him in the last hours of his life, and at this time, young Lorens van Norreys is entrusted with the future of Norreys. That future lies in the legendary Flower of Orange, a priceless baroque necklace that the Nazi scavengers burn to possess. It is up to Lorens to save the necklace and the House of Norreys. With the first encounter with the Nazi invaders, Lorens faces his challenge as The Sword Is Drawn.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1944
60 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Andre Norton
698 books1,390 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 14, 2020
It's a very curious thing to consider that this is a World War 2 adventure novel, possibly skewing towards the Young Adult audience, that was originally published in 1944, contemporary with the war itself. So yes, it has an abrupt and unsatisfying ending, as the author says "wait until we see how this war thing works itself out".
The story doesn't go smoothly. Lorens may or may not be a reader surrogate, he is so bland, and despite his circuitous travels through the theaters of the war, this is linear. But the action has weird lulls, so the reader neither feels propelled by plot nor lazily exploring the distant lands and peoples. Lorens is in a place so that he can get to another place.
Norton carefully characterizes the Nazis, starting with almost cartoonish villainy in person, but characters later detail a brittleness to the regime and a sense that rot laces the national character. I'm curious how the writing of this lines up with historical events on the European front. On the Pacific front, Pearl Harbor makes a dramatic background appearance as the event that signals the Japanese transition from known threat to aggressive menace.
The story doesn't go smoothly. Lorens may or may not be a reader surrogate, he is so bland, and despite his circuitous travels through the theaters of the war, this is linear. But the action has weird lulls, so the reader neither feels propelled by plot nor lazily exploring the distant lands and peoples. Lorens is in a place so that he can get to another place.
Norton carefully characterizes the Nazis, starting with almost cartoonish villainy in person, but characters later detail a brittleness to the regime and a sense that rot laces the national character. I'm curious how the writing of this lines up with historical events on the European front. On the Pacific front, Pearl Harbor makes a dramatic background appearance as the event that signals the Japanese transition from known threat to aggressive menace.
July 12, 2022
A very interesting novel of early World War 2 espionage in the Netherlands against the Nazis. This is listed as being published in 1944 (while the war was still going) and is one of Ms. Norton's earliest books.
September 30, 2015
Andre Norton's fourth book, after FOLLOW THE DRUM. This time, Norton brings an espionage novel set in the midst of World War Two. It follows the adventures of Lorens van Norreys as he faces the Nazi menace all over the world -- in the Netherlands, the Pacific, America, England, and (finally) back home. Published in 1944, it has an interesting perspective on WW2, and Norton (as always) has really done her homework. Unfortunately, the narrative wanders a bit, and Lorens isn't a particularly memorable protagonist. Still, Norton is a skilled storyteller, and the book is worth reading for some stirring action sequences and Norton's clear prose. Fans of Norton should enjoy it as nearly curiosity, while WW2 fans will enjoy an interesting POV of the conflict.
An interesting bit of trivia: apparently, Norton won a special award from the government of the Netherlands for her depiction of the country's role in the effort against the Nazis!
An interesting bit of trivia: apparently, Norton won a special award from the government of the Netherlands for her depiction of the country's role in the effort against the Nazis!
January 24, 2020
I finished this book long ago but I didn't review it. This is one of a trilogy so make sure you read it in the order it is intended. I loved it, as I love all of Andre Norton's work. I just can't get enough of her books, no matter the genre. I love her scifi, I love her fantasy, I love her historical fiction, I just love the way the lady wrote. Anything you can read by her will enrich your brain and make you think about the world in a way that no other writer quite manages. She was one of the most unique humans to grace our world. I miss her.
Read
March 27, 2010Probably the neglect of this quasi-series is justifiable. This was from Norton's earlier work, and it's most definitely not her best stuff. Still, she was a good storyteller, and they're worth checking out--in the interests of thoroughness, if nothing else.
I remember one thing, at least--these books dealt with the participation of the Cherokee and other tribes as scouts and raiders during the Civil War--and that's a subject too much neglected otherwhere.
I remember one thing, at least--these books dealt with the participation of the Cherokee and other tribes as scouts and raiders during the Civil War--and that's a subject too much neglected otherwhere.
Read
July 17, 2015Well written story!
As an early example of Ms. Norton's work. This book illustrates the writing talent she was graced with and continued to improve as her literary talents grew and evolved.
As an early example of Ms. Norton's work. This book illustrates the writing talent she was graced with and continued to improve as her literary talents grew and evolved.
Read
January 29, 2017The Sword is Drawn
Excellent tale, soldiers, spies, Nazis, wandering from Netherlands to Java, America and England and back again. Typos in kindle that aren't in the book, but a good read.
Excellent tale, soldiers, spies, Nazis, wandering from Netherlands to Java, America and England and back again. Typos in kindle that aren't in the book, but a good read.
January 17, 2021
An early (fifth?) published book by Alice Mary Norton aka Andre Norton. Not the sci-fi for which she was known, but rather a YA spy story set in World War Two.
If I was being critical, I would say that the structure is a bit 'jerky' with not too much happening in the middle, but it's still a thoroughly entertaining and well written adventure story. Given that it's set in the occupied Netherlands, I was particularly impressed by the amount of research the author has done to bring it to life. I was also impressed by how well she imagines the grimmer side of the story, such as the suffering of the main protagonist, Lorens, as he flees for his life from the advancing Japanese forces (he heads off to the Dutch Indonesian colonies). I also spotted a reference to one character (Captain Wim Smits) as a 'free trader' aka smuggler, which may have formed the inspiration for the free traders in her Solar Queen series years later?
If I was being critical, I would say that the structure is a bit 'jerky' with not too much happening in the middle, but it's still a thoroughly entertaining and well written adventure story. Given that it's set in the occupied Netherlands, I was particularly impressed by the amount of research the author has done to bring it to life. I was also impressed by how well she imagines the grimmer side of the story, such as the suffering of the main protagonist, Lorens, as he flees for his life from the advancing Japanese forces (he heads off to the Dutch Indonesian colonies). I also spotted a reference to one character (Captain Wim Smits) as a 'free trader' aka smuggler, which may have formed the inspiration for the free traders in her Solar Queen series years later?
January 12, 2022
I got this book very inexpensively and decided to read it on Kindle. I have been in the midst of a lot of reading about WWII and wanted a break and Andre Norton is an author I read some of in my youth, over half a century ago in the area of science fiction. Much to my surprise the book is not science fiction but is rather a book about some Dutch resistance to the Nazis during WWII.
Anyway it was OK - the story was interesting and maybe more so because it was written in 1944. Anyway it seems it is one of a series and although it ended it was a segment - and I am not sure if I will try to get the second book in the series - which I think is only two or three books.
A nice escape read if not totally what I expected.
Anyway it was OK - the story was interesting and maybe more so because it was written in 1944. Anyway it seems it is one of a series and although it ended it was a segment - and I am not sure if I will try to get the second book in the series - which I think is only two or three books.
A nice escape read if not totally what I expected.
February 22, 2021
This book was originally written in 1944, during the height of WW2. It discusses some of the trials and tribulations of those fighting against both Nazi Germany and Imperialistic Japan, told from the point of view of a young, wealthy native of the Netherlands. This is Part 1 of a trilogy, and it most definitely is not SF/F, for which she is much better known. Still a good read, though, and though the language is a little bigoted compared to the present, she still treated most characters with respect and dignity.
August 6, 2022
I enjoyed this series, even though it took me many years to find the first two! I thought I remember reading that she received an award from the Netherlands about the series or about one of the books in the series, but I could not find it searching this evening. The series makes a dramatic change of pace to the Americans being the heroes in WWII books
August 22, 2024
A View of the Future
This work by Norton on World War II foreshadows several elements that will appear in later works, besides the two sequels to this one:
1. The Netherlander trader;
2. The young one forced into a life of danger;
3. The physical handicap that must be overcome;
4. The protagonist who learns, or already has learned, the ways of a different culture.
This work by Norton on World War II foreshadows several elements that will appear in later works, besides the two sequels to this one:
1. The Netherlander trader;
2. The young one forced into a life of danger;
3. The physical handicap that must be overcome;
4. The protagonist who learns, or already has learned, the ways of a different culture.
March 4, 2019
Just OK
Not what I was expecting from a Andre Norton book. It felt like I was reading a very old news feed. I give it a 2.5 at best. I have read almost all the other Andre Norton books this is the weakest effort by far.
Not what I was expecting from a Andre Norton book. It felt like I was reading a very old news feed. I give it a 2.5 at best. I have read almost all the other Andre Norton books this is the weakest effort by far.
October 23, 2023
I never usually read a book of war
But, a book by my favorite authors for over 60 years, is given a try. As always Andre Norton has never disappointed. I only wish the story didn’t end there. I want to see the collaborator get his due in full measure.
But, a book by my favorite authors for over 60 years, is given a try. As always Andre Norton has never disappointed. I only wish the story didn’t end there. I want to see the collaborator get his due in full measure.
January 4, 2022
Sword
Andre Norton is a great storyteller. This book gives a great behind the scenes look at the war. I shall be following the rest of the story soon.
Andre Norton is a great storyteller. This book gives a great behind the scenes look at the war. I shall be following the rest of the story soon.
August 17, 2025
WWII Adventure
One of Norton's best adventure books. You're on the edge of your seat from page one to the end of the story.
One of Norton's best adventure books. You're on the edge of your seat from page one to the end of the story.
March 10, 2017
Some of Andre Nortonʼs earliest work came during and just after World War II, and today is called the Sword Trilogy. The Sword is Drawn came first in 1944; it was Norton’s fifth novel.
The young protagonist Lorens is the grandson of Joris van Norries, head of the House of Norries, renowned jewelers and bankers, but he has been raised as an outcast. In the opening paragraphs, Lorens visits his grandfather’s deathbed and finds that he has been raised away from the family because his grandfather has foreseen the coming of the Nazis and now entrusts Lorens with the location of the family treasure. The Nazi’s are not fooled, and Lorens has to run for his life. He ends up in Java, still a Dutch possession with a House of Norries presence, and there the war catches up to him again as the Japanese invade. He fights his way through the jungle and ends up fleeing by air toward Australia, where his plane is shot down and he is crippled.
Heroes who are physically or emotionally crippled, and fight through anyway seems to be a Norton specialty. Healed, but unable to fight, Lorens finds his way back into occupied Holland, where he recovers the treasure entrusted to him and uses it to advance the Allied cause.
For a longer review, see http://sydlogsdon.com/2016/11/29/261-...
The young protagonist Lorens is the grandson of Joris van Norries, head of the House of Norries, renowned jewelers and bankers, but he has been raised as an outcast. In the opening paragraphs, Lorens visits his grandfather’s deathbed and finds that he has been raised away from the family because his grandfather has foreseen the coming of the Nazis and now entrusts Lorens with the location of the family treasure. The Nazi’s are not fooled, and Lorens has to run for his life. He ends up in Java, still a Dutch possession with a House of Norries presence, and there the war catches up to him again as the Japanese invade. He fights his way through the jungle and ends up fleeing by air toward Australia, where his plane is shot down and he is crippled.
Heroes who are physically or emotionally crippled, and fight through anyway seems to be a Norton specialty. Healed, but unable to fight, Lorens finds his way back into occupied Holland, where he recovers the treasure entrusted to him and uses it to advance the Allied cause.
For a longer review, see http://sydlogsdon.com/2016/11/29/261-...
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews