What do you think?
Rate this book
Beast Master / Hosteen Storm #3
Beast Master's Ark
The first new exciting Beast Master adventure in decades!
Danger on Arzor
Beast Master Hosteen Storm has endured great perils to carve out a life for himself on Arzor, the colony planet he's called home since the destruction of Earth by the alien Xik. On a planet with alien life forms and untold secrets from it's pre-Human past, there are always dangers in the wild, especially the vast desert and rugged mountain region known as Big Blue.
But nobody has ever experienced a threat like the devastating scourge the natives call Death-Which-Comes-in-the-Night. Something is killing grazing animals . . . and has begun to attack humans as well, leaving nothing but the bones of its victims behind.
Hosteen, aided by his telepathically linked animals, knows that if he can't stop the killings Arzor will be decimated. His only ally is a young woman who has beast master ability, but was raised to mistrust others with such a power. At stake is the safety of all those on Arzor, and on other colony planets as well. Because Death-Which-Comes-in-the-Night is a scourge that if not stopped here, could spread . . .
Danger on Arzor
Beast Master Hosteen Storm has endured great perils to carve out a life for himself on Arzor, the colony planet he's called home since the destruction of Earth by the alien Xik. On a planet with alien life forms and untold secrets from it's pre-Human past, there are always dangers in the wild, especially the vast desert and rugged mountain region known as Big Blue.
But nobody has ever experienced a threat like the devastating scourge the natives call Death-Which-Comes-in-the-Night. Something is killing grazing animals . . . and has begun to attack humans as well, leaving nothing but the bones of its victims behind.
Hosteen, aided by his telepathically linked animals, knows that if he can't stop the killings Arzor will be decimated. His only ally is a young woman who has beast master ability, but was raised to mistrust others with such a power. At stake is the safety of all those on Arzor, and on other colony planets as well. Because Death-Which-Comes-in-the-Night is a scourge that if not stopped here, could spread . . .
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2002
106 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Andre Norton
696 books1,389 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 4, 2019
A good Beast Master book. As usual, Norton's imagination is the real star. The Beast Master and an untrained friend must save a world from destruction by an ages old enemy. Lots of action, good plot twists. Recommended to Norton fans.
October 7, 2025
Storm and his team face a Xik incursion where they have bred insects that are keyed to eat human flesh. He is joined by Tani who has similar powers and love develops. Tani is accepted by a native tribe and becomes a tribe member. The joining of the two teams creates a potent weapon against the enemy.This is a good addition to the series by the great Andre Norton.
May 6, 2018
A wonderfully creative story, not dulled by time (sometimes this happens as current technology surpasses an older piece of science fiction). The main thrust of this story is human/alien interactions, and those never go out of date.
Unintentionally, this is my first Beast Master book (#3). But even reading out of sequence, this feels like a complete story. There are no glaring plot gaps or missing sequences. It can stand alone.
Unintentionally, this is my first Beast Master book (#3). But even reading out of sequence, this feels like a complete story. There are no glaring plot gaps or missing sequences. It can stand alone.
February 4, 2010
A great continuation of the series. The war is over but how to continue the breeding with Earth gone and the Xiks still stirring up trouble. Tani and her relatives are the answer. Landing on Arzor, Tani and Beast Master Hosteen Storm seem to be on a collision course. And not all conflicts are bad. Keeping this one to reread periodically.
March 7, 2013
I like it. Storm must fight a new penance that kills any animal, including humans and natives. Only one other person can help but Tani hates Beast Masters. Tani learns to overcome this hatred and a little bit of pacifism to fight. Along the way there is romance between Storm and Tani. That was a surprise, I think it could have used some development but the story is sci-fi.
August 13, 2011
Something is killing first the herd aninals and latter the humans and native tribal species on the planet Arzor and stripping the skeletons clean. Beast Master Hosteen Storm is joined by a young female scientist in trying to find the cause and stop the destruction.
August 30, 2015
I know I will be shot but I think this read MUCH better than the original Beast Master books.
July 4, 2023
I liked Andre Norton when I was 13 and I still like her.
July 20, 2017
Excellent read
Andre Norton is truly the grand dame of sci-fi fantasy. Her characters are well developed and the story lines engaging. I would recommend any of her books.
Andre Norton is truly the grand dame of sci-fi fantasy. Her characters are well developed and the story lines engaging. I would recommend any of her books.
August 23, 2017
Beast master
Loved this book . The only thing is it had to end.
I hope to read more of the beast master series.
Loved this book . The only thing is it had to end.
I hope to read more of the beast master series.
June 19, 2018
Great Story
Love Andre Norton and I like the dual auther Lyn McConchie too. I've enjoyed other books they Wrote together. Recommend reading this.
Love Andre Norton and I like the dual auther Lyn McConchie too. I've enjoyed other books they Wrote together. Recommend reading this.
May 24, 2018
A Pleasing Return.
The Beastmaster was the book that hooked me on Science Fiction, so I approached this book with great hopes and on balance I was very happy.
It is obvious that the book was so-written as there are clunky bits that definitely aren't typical of Norton's professionalism. For example there are unnecessary linking sentences like "then he got ready" when the reader knows that was what the hero was doing and in classic Norton she would have polished the text. That said it is a good tale, well told.
My other gripes are a lack of continuity with Norton's universe. For example the use of lasers is wrong in this series as blasters were always her weapon of choice.
One of Andre Norton's great gifts was her ability to describe hidden ways and passages in an atmospheric but quite minimalist fashion and that sense of being there hasn't been duplicated. I am a bit of a Norton fan (what else do you call someone who has over a hundred of her books?) so my criticisms are probably a bit biased.
For all that, this book deserves five stars on its own merits.
The Beastmaster was the book that hooked me on Science Fiction, so I approached this book with great hopes and on balance I was very happy.
It is obvious that the book was so-written as there are clunky bits that definitely aren't typical of Norton's professionalism. For example there are unnecessary linking sentences like "then he got ready" when the reader knows that was what the hero was doing and in classic Norton she would have polished the text. That said it is a good tale, well told.
My other gripes are a lack of continuity with Norton's universe. For example the use of lasers is wrong in this series as blasters were always her weapon of choice.
One of Andre Norton's great gifts was her ability to describe hidden ways and passages in an atmospheric but quite minimalist fashion and that sense of being there hasn't been duplicated. I am a bit of a Norton fan (what else do you call someone who has over a hundred of her books?) so my criticisms are probably a bit biased.
For all that, this book deserves five stars on its own merits.
June 25, 2021
This is the third book in the Beast Master Series. The Arc, containing genetic materials of the plants and animals of earth visits the planet Arzor in an effort to obtain copies of the genetic stock of Hosteen Storm's animals for the Arc. Arzor has again run into some problems with an unknown animal or insect that is killing the native tribes as well as the human settlers of Arzor. They are asked to assist in identifying and combating the pest whatever it is. A young woman, daughter of a Beast Master is one of the Geneticists on the Arc and proves helpful in identifying and eliminating the insect pest introduced by the Empires enemy, the Xik
August 25, 2017
Andre Norton was my hero
Growing up dyslexic, I did not learn to read until almost done with high school. Andre Norton's books were the reason I pushed to break into the wonders of books. Her adventures pulled me in, and I recommend any of her books to those wanting a good old fashioned adventure.
I'm not sure there is much of Andre Norton in this book except the title. I gave up and did not finish, which is something I seldom do even if I do not like the book. I cannot recommend this book to anyone. Read instead, the original Beast Master story by Andre Norton, or reread it.
Growing up dyslexic, I did not learn to read until almost done with high school. Andre Norton's books were the reason I pushed to break into the wonders of books. Her adventures pulled me in, and I recommend any of her books to those wanting a good old fashioned adventure.
I'm not sure there is much of Andre Norton in this book except the title. I gave up and did not finish, which is something I seldom do even if I do not like the book. I cannot recommend this book to anyone. Read instead, the original Beast Master story by Andre Norton, or reread it.
July 24, 2017
This story has Master writer Andre Nortons name but was written by L. Mcconchie.
The story has L. McConchie fingerprints all over it. A young arrogant, idiot female who manages to cause trouble and yet ends up being the heroine and saving the world. Not very believable but interesting enough to read once. Gave it three stars for several inconsistencies and boring characterization of the female character.
The story has L. McConchie fingerprints all over it. A young arrogant, idiot female who manages to cause trouble and yet ends up being the heroine and saving the world. Not very believable but interesting enough to read once. Gave it three stars for several inconsistencies and boring characterization of the female character.
June 14, 2021
Great sci fi adventure, but...
I didn't like Tani at the beginning. She was a thoughtless, spoiled child, and I expected Storm to be the main character, as he was in the first two books, which are among my favorite childhood sci fi books. But Tani's time with the Nitra was fantadtic and earned the book 5 stars.
I didn't like Tani at the beginning. She was a thoughtless, spoiled child, and I expected Storm to be the main character, as he was in the first two books, which are among my favorite childhood sci fi books. But Tani's time with the Nitra was fantadtic and earned the book 5 stars.
February 6, 2023
Published forty years after the previous volume in the series, but it doesn't feel that way. Despite having a collaborator this time, the writing style picks right up where the previous volume left off, with one major difference: there's now two point of view characters, and the second one is a woman!
I really enjoyed this third volume in the series.
I really enjoyed this third volume in the series.
September 28, 2025
Starts well, but quickly sinks into an unctuous mishmash focused almost entirely on the female protagonist. In past renditions of this series have really liked the attention given to the beasts, such attention was superficial at best in this book. I wonder if Ms. Andre Norton donated even a single word, other than her name here. Just struck me as a wordy hollow husk.
March 4, 2017
Fan fiction level
It's got a Mary Sue. It's got a lot of telling instead of showing. And sentence fragments. Lots of them. It's not unreadably awful, but it's nothing special either.
It's got a Mary Sue. It's got a lot of telling instead of showing. And sentence fragments. Lots of them. It's not unreadably awful, but it's nothing special either.
June 28, 2019
Beast Master's Ark
I am re-discovering why I love Andre Norton! Her stories and characters just draw you in. If you enjoy fantasy and science fiction are rolled into one, you must read Andre Norton.
I am re-discovering why I love Andre Norton! Her stories and characters just draw you in. If you enjoy fantasy and science fiction are rolled into one, you must read Andre Norton.
April 1, 2024
good, to great but good
Her characters are well done. My only complaint is that the change of heart for the main female character was a bit too hasty. And I wish she had taken a more active role in the fighting.
Her characters are well done. My only complaint is that the change of heart for the main female character was a bit too hasty. And I wish she had taken a more active role in the fighting.
May 5, 2018
Awesome
As good today as it was when I read it many years ago. A keeper on my Kindle. Looking forward to many more re-reads!
As good today as it was when I read it many years ago. A keeper on my Kindle. Looking forward to many more re-reads!
January 30, 2019
This was a real page turner..
I couldn't put it down. This is one of the best series U have read. I have enjoyed every one of these books.
I couldn't put it down. This is one of the best series U have read. I have enjoyed every one of these books.
October 11, 2019
Superb imagination
It has been a while since I read an Andre Norton story for the first time. I've read most of her books multiple times.
This one doesn't disappoint.
It has been a while since I read an Andre Norton story for the first time. I've read most of her books multiple times.
This one doesn't disappoint.
January 20, 2020
Heart Stopping
Loved this book once started can't put it down.Characters feel real and world is so convincing you step into it and don't want to leave.
Loved this book once started can't put it down.Characters feel real and world is so convincing you step into it and don't want to leave.
January 29, 2020
Beast masters do it best
What can I say Andre Norton has been the gold standard of science fiction and fantasy fo generations. Read this.
What can I say Andre Norton has been the gold standard of science fiction and fantasy fo generations. Read this.
February 25, 2017
Storm has better things to do than cater to the egos of the scientists on the Ark. Some unknown thing is stripping living things down to the bone overnight, and if it isn't stopped soon, the humans and the natives of Arzor might end up warring each other. Tani, a scientist, dislikes the Beast Masters because she thinks they kill their teams. But her help is vital if they hope to stop disaster.
A number of things broke the story, for me. Punctuation was one of my more minor quibbles, but cropped up often enough to be aggravating. Characters would ask each other questions, that are clearly questions, and not use question marks. Some of the dialog felt stilted. The story awkwardly sets up Storm and Tani for a couple well before either of them want anything to do with the other, with even the animals asking if they're going to mate right after she arrives.
And I found Tani extremely unlikable. She's supposed to be 19 but her behavior is really childish. Giving her a tragic backstory is almost an excuse not to think. She's lived through a war: she ought to understand, at the very least, there are two sides, and sometimes choosing not to fight means getting run over. (I have no problem with extreme pacifists who are willing to stake their own lives on that philosophy. It starts becoming a problem when they want to stake everyone else's lives on it too.) This is a big problem with the potential romance angle, because now I'm actively rooting against them getting together.
For something so intrinsic to her character and her upbringing, she changes her mind remarkably easily. The character just never felt right to me. The tragedy felt rather tacked on since once the decision is made that's it.
Other than that, this is a decent enough read. I just couldn't get over how much I hated Tani, which spoiled everything. I rate this book Neutral.
See my reviews and more at https://offtheshelfreviews.wordpress....
A number of things broke the story, for me. Punctuation was one of my more minor quibbles, but cropped up often enough to be aggravating. Characters would ask each other questions, that are clearly questions, and not use question marks. Some of the dialog felt stilted. The story awkwardly sets up Storm and Tani for a couple well before either of them want anything to do with the other, with even the animals asking if they're going to mate right after she arrives.
And I found Tani extremely unlikable. She's supposed to be 19 but her behavior is really childish. Giving her a tragic backstory is almost an excuse not to think. She's lived through a war: she ought to understand, at the very least, there are two sides, and sometimes choosing not to fight means getting run over. (I have no problem with extreme pacifists who are willing to stake their own lives on that philosophy. It starts becoming a problem when they want to stake everyone else's lives on it too.) This is a big problem with the potential romance angle, because now I'm actively rooting against them getting together.
For something so intrinsic to her character and her upbringing, she changes her mind remarkably easily. The character just never felt right to me. The tragedy felt rather tacked on since once the decision is made that's it.
Other than that, this is a decent enough read. I just couldn't get over how much I hated Tani, which spoiled everything. I rate this book Neutral.
See my reviews and more at https://offtheshelfreviews.wordpress....
June 3, 2021
There is little wrong with this story except that it is, how shall I put it – Andre Norton-lite. Where a Norton adventure galloped along this trundles: tidily and neatly, no loose ends left untied, all characters secure in their chosen lives – at least those who haven't been eaten alive by swarming little beasties that seem to be mainly made of a ravenous appetite for living flesh and pulsing blood and teeth that would make a shark envious.
So much of the book seems to be Lyn McConchie, that is, not typical Andre Norton: scientific details of genetic engineering and DNA adaptations, the ditching of the Norton Saturn-rocket style spaceships that mysteriously re-enter planetary atmospheres tail-first without burning up and manage a soft landing, heroes and heroines who are sexually attracted to each other, and action sequences that are planned in advance rather than calculated on the hoof. It is the action sequences that, strangely, seem to slow the pace. The meticulous plans must be followed step by step and then they work, even though it means excitement is pushed to one side.
It was good to see Hosteen Storm behaving as a man rather than an overgrown teenage boy and someone like Tani would have been a welcome addition to the original Beast Master and Lord of Thunder. There is more humanity, or human nature, on display but then Norton was writing for a predominantly male teenage audience when she created Arzor. However, the Xiks bring in a bit of the early Norton experience. Norton went through the Second World War and there are similarities between the defeated Xiks maintaining “holdout groups” on various planets and the defeated Japanese doing something similar on Pacific islands. It was also nice to see an adaptation of a quote usually attributed to Edmund Burke on page 157 of the hardback first edition. I'm guessing it was a McConchie touch.
So much of the book seems to be Lyn McConchie, that is, not typical Andre Norton: scientific details of genetic engineering and DNA adaptations, the ditching of the Norton Saturn-rocket style spaceships that mysteriously re-enter planetary atmospheres tail-first without burning up and manage a soft landing, heroes and heroines who are sexually attracted to each other, and action sequences that are planned in advance rather than calculated on the hoof. It is the action sequences that, strangely, seem to slow the pace. The meticulous plans must be followed step by step and then they work, even though it means excitement is pushed to one side.
It was good to see Hosteen Storm behaving as a man rather than an overgrown teenage boy and someone like Tani would have been a welcome addition to the original Beast Master and Lord of Thunder. There is more humanity, or human nature, on display but then Norton was writing for a predominantly male teenage audience when she created Arzor. However, the Xiks bring in a bit of the early Norton experience. Norton went through the Second World War and there are similarities between the defeated Xiks maintaining “holdout groups” on various planets and the defeated Japanese doing something similar on Pacific islands. It was also nice to see an adaptation of a quote usually attributed to Edmund Burke on page 157 of the hardback first edition. I'm guessing it was a McConchie touch.
May 15, 2023
Beast Master's Ark
Norton, Andre
"xiks are beaten and back, the war is over so they thought. now a new mystery had come to light Death-that-kills-at-night has come out of the big blue and attacked the natives and settlers and herds. but another beast master has come, with the ark which is attempting to preserve the species of the beast masters. Tani is haunted in her dreams, she feels a great hunger and joy in causing pain. THe Death-that-kills-at-night broad casts their hunger and the joy in pain…. How will Storm and his people save the world they love, will the natives cause problems as they run from the death-that-kills-at-night. Will storm finally have his dream, a home, land, and a love. Will the orphaned tami find a family, a clan, a people. can the land survive the terrible devastation.
the story begins with a young orphan child forced into bond labor for a corrupts circus group. The circus is a cover for the thieves guild who have plans that need to be covered. On edge the poor child, Laris has to do things she would rather not do, including steal and be associated with murder. Laris has to find a way out for herself and her best friend Prauo, a strange large cat, who she had found as a child. she had raise Prauo, and her employers used her love for the large cat to keep control of her. She finds herself on Arzor, six months after storm and tani's wedding. and finds her connection to the family may be the way out of her problems. but before she can begin to trust them the circus is moved on to another planet, as one of the members goes back with higher thugs to steal the beast master's animals for the thieves guild. "
Norton, Andre
"xiks are beaten and back, the war is over so they thought. now a new mystery had come to light Death-that-kills-at-night has come out of the big blue and attacked the natives and settlers and herds. but another beast master has come, with the ark which is attempting to preserve the species of the beast masters. Tani is haunted in her dreams, she feels a great hunger and joy in causing pain. THe Death-that-kills-at-night broad casts their hunger and the joy in pain…. How will Storm and his people save the world they love, will the natives cause problems as they run from the death-that-kills-at-night. Will storm finally have his dream, a home, land, and a love. Will the orphaned tami find a family, a clan, a people. can the land survive the terrible devastation.
the story begins with a young orphan child forced into bond labor for a corrupts circus group. The circus is a cover for the thieves guild who have plans that need to be covered. On edge the poor child, Laris has to do things she would rather not do, including steal and be associated with murder. Laris has to find a way out for herself and her best friend Prauo, a strange large cat, who she had found as a child. she had raise Prauo, and her employers used her love for the large cat to keep control of her. She finds herself on Arzor, six months after storm and tani's wedding. and finds her connection to the family may be the way out of her problems. but before she can begin to trust them the circus is moved on to another planet, as one of the members goes back with higher thugs to steal the beast master's animals for the thieves guild. "
April 5, 2015
The previous books in this series were about Hosteen Storm, a battle hardened Beast Master and scout, a Military veteran settling on a remote planet with a harsh environment and alien mysteries.
In this book, we get introduced to Tani. Tani is the most obnoxious Mary Sue I've read in a long time. Tani is totally sheltered and only has her job as a scientist because her aunt and uncle run the ark - but she's really pretty good at it! Tani hates beast masters, but that's okay because it's not her fault. She's also an amazing hunter and archer and even a better beast master than Storm. And everyone loves Tani, even the Nitra, who hate humans, but have magically learned finger speak just to befriend her. And of course she's the only one who can save them all. I bet she even marries Storm, cuz she's like, sooo perfect for him!
Add the choppy terrible writing and its a recipe for disaster. I think I'll just try and forget what Lyn McConchie did to this series and stick with the classics.
In this book, we get introduced to Tani. Tani is the most obnoxious Mary Sue I've read in a long time. Tani is totally sheltered and only has her job as a scientist because her aunt and uncle run the ark - but she's really pretty good at it! Tani hates beast masters, but that's okay because it's not her fault. She's also an amazing hunter and archer and even a better beast master than Storm. And everyone loves Tani, even the Nitra, who hate humans, but have magically learned finger speak just to befriend her. And of course she's the only one who can save them all. I bet she even marries Storm, cuz she's like, sooo perfect for him!
Add the choppy terrible writing and its a recipe for disaster. I think I'll just try and forget what Lyn McConchie did to this series and stick with the classics.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews