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Janus #2
Victory On Janus
From the back cover - "A fantastic, fascinating and complex tale, a mixture of illusion and reality, from the framework of this latest science-fiction by Andre Norton. Set into this framework is a far off never-never land on a planet called Janus which is inhabited by a new race of 'people' known as the Ifts. These green people suddenly find themselves face to face with destruction by an unknown enemy known only as THAT.
How they muster courage to wander across a wasteland in search of this enemy, and what, surprisingly, THAT really is, make for an exciting and suspenseful story. Recommended for all science-fiction fans who like a bit of fantasy." - Catholic Library World
How they muster courage to wander across a wasteland in search of this enemy, and what, surprisingly, THAT really is, make for an exciting and suspenseful story. Recommended for all science-fiction fans who like a bit of fantasy." - Catholic Library World
190 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1966
6 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Andre Norton
695 books1,385 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 - 24 of 24 reviews
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March 4, 2010I've always feld a sneaking sympathy for That Which Abides. I felt it before I even found out what That was--and afterward, I felt even worse for the poor thing. I grant that it did terrible things--but did nobody every TRY to talk to it, and find some compromise? The "Oath of forgetting and
side-sitting" (great name, btw) is just arbitrarily imposed--no discussion, no bargaining. And later, even worse damage is done to It, without so much as a 'by-your-leave'.
What's meant to be represented as a souless monster becomes instead a tragic hero, misunderstood and unable to understand. It's pathetic, really, in the original sense of the word.
Furthermore, if the Iftin are (as described) peace-loving, then why do they have such a social category as 'warrior'? Why does the ineffable Mirror of Thanth commission blood-feuds? Why do we never get more than tantalizing glimpses of normal Iftin life?
Anybody who was suspicious of the motives of the vanished Iftin civilization (?arborization? Society, anyway) might question why the changelings were not indoctrinated with anything but what would incite enmity and violence. The revulsion the changelings feel toward people who were often their close kin, and their frequent indifference to the fate of off-worlders MIGHT be attributable to the fact that historical Iftin were ethnocentric and xenophobic.
The argument that the intention was to prevent changelings from backbreeding with their birth-kin might be true--but why? What harm would arise from the existence of a 'half-breed' population? The changelings are few in number, and likely to become seriously inbred without some recruitment--and that need not be forced alteration by trickery and kidnapping, either. Surely even in a violently prejudiced society like that of the garths, there would be some who would willingly join Iftin society without being force to endure a torturous qualifying ordeal. Indeed, if there weren't, the evidence indicates the changelings wouldn't've fallen prey to the 'treasure traps'.
side-sitting" (great name, btw) is just arbitrarily imposed--no discussion, no bargaining. And later, even worse damage is done to It, without so much as a 'by-your-leave'.
What's meant to be represented as a souless monster becomes instead a tragic hero, misunderstood and unable to understand. It's pathetic, really, in the original sense of the word.
Furthermore, if the Iftin are (as described) peace-loving, then why do they have such a social category as 'warrior'? Why does the ineffable Mirror of Thanth commission blood-feuds? Why do we never get more than tantalizing glimpses of normal Iftin life?
Anybody who was suspicious of the motives of the vanished Iftin civilization (?arborization? Society, anyway) might question why the changelings were not indoctrinated with anything but what would incite enmity and violence. The revulsion the changelings feel toward people who were often their close kin, and their frequent indifference to the fate of off-worlders MIGHT be attributable to the fact that historical Iftin were ethnocentric and xenophobic.
The argument that the intention was to prevent changelings from backbreeding with their birth-kin might be true--but why? What harm would arise from the existence of a 'half-breed' population? The changelings are few in number, and likely to become seriously inbred without some recruitment--and that need not be forced alteration by trickery and kidnapping, either. Surely even in a violently prejudiced society like that of the garths, there would be some who would willingly join Iftin society without being force to endure a torturous qualifying ordeal. Indeed, if there weren't, the evidence indicates the changelings wouldn't've fallen prey to the 'treasure traps'.
July 8, 2021
Will review at Fantasy Literature.
October 18, 2009
A great book! It was a nice conclusion to Judgment on Janus, and as part of the Dipple Series.
June 16, 2018
The book lost momentum badly when, after pressing a solitary quest into the heart of the Enemy's domain, sneaking through, finding weird activity, braving strange perils, the hero gives up and goes back (no problem retracing his steps apparently), then gets a bunch of buddies and returns (freely passing through this time, why not).
There's also a lot of plot which doesn't make much sense. Before attempting the first sneak-in, the hero and his pal decide to try disguising themselves as bad guys ("false Iftin"). So they go find one and kill it, and then just sneak in exactly the way they would have anyway, without trying to take advantage of the false Iftin at all—indeed, just leaving it on the road for anyone to find. What?
The characters occasionally wonder why the Enemy is just letting them in when it could easily destroy them, and is obviously aware of them. This is never adequately explained.
Since all the bad guys are under direct control of IT, the reader expects that some overarching plan explaining all the various activity (people marching to and fro, machines being gathered, false Iftin raids, etc. etc.) will eventually be revealed, but unfortunately, it isn't. (Kind of reminiscent of the 2004 Battlestar Galactica's constant claim that "they have a plan".)
(Spoiler) The big bad Presence turns out to be a ship's computer. This would have more plausibly been a "twist" in 1966, when most people would never have seen or interacted with a computer, but had probably heard of them as "electronic brains". The original Star Trek began the same year, and inimical master computers were a common theme.
It seems like upon learning of electronic brains, the natural thought is that it would be in control of society or a whole planet, and be evil.
In particular, this is an ancient ship's computer that crashed on a planet and went mad—similar to Joan Vinge's World's End (1984), where (spoiler) the AI can manipulate reality (for FTL travel purposes) and creates a horrific nightmare environment covering a large area of the planet Number Four (a wasteland called World's End). Here, the computer has telepathic powers and can control minds and machines over a large area of the planet Janus (the Waste).
More recent treatments of ships' computers seem to be more benign. Ship Minds in Iain Banks's Culture are similarly advanced, large, controlling computers, but they're benevolent (well, not malevolent, anyway (most of the time)), highly valued members of society. There's no sign of fear of being enslaved by computers—but humans in the Culture are infantilized, because so many things are taken care of for them. (They're a lot like the aristocratic Englishmen in Three Men in a Boat, come to think of it.)
Also unresolved: What the heck is Thanth? Just a straight-up magic thing in an otherwise science-fictional book?
There's also a lot of plot which doesn't make much sense. Before attempting the first sneak-in, the hero and his pal decide to try disguising themselves as bad guys ("false Iftin"). So they go find one and kill it, and then just sneak in exactly the way they would have anyway, without trying to take advantage of the false Iftin at all—indeed, just leaving it on the road for anyone to find. What?
The characters occasionally wonder why the Enemy is just letting them in when it could easily destroy them, and is obviously aware of them. This is never adequately explained.
Since all the bad guys are under direct control of IT, the reader expects that some overarching plan explaining all the various activity (people marching to and fro, machines being gathered, false Iftin raids, etc. etc.) will eventually be revealed, but unfortunately, it isn't. (Kind of reminiscent of the 2004 Battlestar Galactica's constant claim that "they have a plan".)
(Spoiler) The big bad Presence turns out to be a ship's computer. This would have more plausibly been a "twist" in 1966, when most people would never have seen or interacted with a computer, but had probably heard of them as "electronic brains". The original Star Trek began the same year, and inimical master computers were a common theme.
It seems like upon learning of electronic brains, the natural thought is that it would be in control of society or a whole planet, and be evil.
In particular, this is an ancient ship's computer that crashed on a planet and went mad—similar to Joan Vinge's World's End (1984), where (spoiler) the AI can manipulate reality (for FTL travel purposes) and creates a horrific nightmare environment covering a large area of the planet Number Four (a wasteland called World's End). Here, the computer has telepathic powers and can control minds and machines over a large area of the planet Janus (the Waste).
More recent treatments of ships' computers seem to be more benign. Ship Minds in Iain Banks's Culture are similarly advanced, large, controlling computers, but they're benevolent (well, not malevolent, anyway (most of the time)), highly valued members of society. There's no sign of fear of being enslaved by computers—but humans in the Culture are infantilized, because so many things are taken care of for them. (They're a lot like the aristocratic Englishmen in Three Men in a Boat, come to think of it.)
Also unresolved: What the heck is Thanth? Just a straight-up magic thing in an otherwise science-fictional book?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2022
As an fan of Andre Norton’s earlier science fiction I found Victory on Janus disappointing. It is not a potentially stand alone sequel to Judgement on Janus, but simply a continuation, and has all of Norton’s flaws and few of the pleasures found in her books. If you have not read the earlier book very shortly before this one it will be quite hard to follow because there is little character development and setting the basis for the story which was fairly interesting and well executed in Janus book number one. Almost all of book two instead is taken up by endless meandering by the protagonist, a magically reincarnated member of a vanquished race of forest dwellers, battling an evil force that long ago took control of Janus. The geography of the fictitious planet becomes confusing and the layout of underground structures important to the ending of the book is similarly confusing and inconsistently described. Both the characters and the narrator lapse in an out of a stilted syntax that is annoying and unnecessary. The plot relies too heavily on magic and the ultimate resolution is somewhat similar to that found on some episodes of the original Star Trek series with which the Victory on Janus is contemporaneous. The ending also leaves too many loose ends and logical holes in the story. But even with these criticisms there is still too much to find entertaining in Norton’s writing (she seems to anticipate technological developments such as 3D printing and has a strong pro environmental outlook) to give a totally negative review. So three stars.
September 24, 2023
Victory was a real slog. It’s a direct continuation from where Judgement ended, but I think she only had enough plot for half a book. The middle plods through an inhospitable landscape and it plodding step is given a paragraph long description. The writing is richly detailed and evocative, but nothing happens to advance the story. Judgement should have been 100 pages longer and had the plot of Victory condensed into those pages.
Judgement was a pre-cursor to Avatar and Speaker for the Dead, while Victory is a precursor to Star Wars and The Grey Prince by Jack Vance. By precursor I really mean share some similar ideas. As the protagonist was slice/melting his way through the sealed metal door with the energy coursing along his sword I did keep thinking at him, use the Force. And for those who have read Jack book similar questions of just whose planet Janus is, are central to Victory.
Victory needs to be read to get the full resolution to the Janus story and when you get past the big dip in the middle the payoff is worth it.
So 5 stars for Judgment, 3 stars for Victory, and 4 stars for the set. Overall worth it, just be prepared for a long slow Victory.
Judgement was a pre-cursor to Avatar and Speaker for the Dead, while Victory is a precursor to Star Wars and The Grey Prince by Jack Vance. By precursor I really mean share some similar ideas. As the protagonist was slice/melting his way through the sealed metal door with the energy coursing along his sword I did keep thinking at him, use the Force. And for those who have read Jack book similar questions of just whose planet Janus is, are central to Victory.
Victory needs to be read to get the full resolution to the Janus story and when you get past the big dip in the middle the payoff is worth it.
So 5 stars for Judgment, 3 stars for Victory, and 4 stars for the set. Overall worth it, just be prepared for a long slow Victory.
January 7, 2025
The Iftin are a dual personality between the native Ift and humans. The Ift are gone. The humans are bent upon destroying the forests where the Iftin live. And set on destroying all is IT.
No one really knows what IT is. Long ago an Iftin made it to IT and, according to legend, made a pact so IT would stay within IT's wasteland. But now, IT is on the move again.
Ayyar is tasked with reaching IT to destroy or, once again, contain this force. He and the other Iftin must pull from their long memories of those they once were to discover what IT is and how to destroy IT.
There are many obstacles for Ayyar to overcome in this quest to save his world. The Iftin are different and drawn as complex characters. However, this is a typical save-the-world scifi quest book. It is fast, easy reading.
No one really knows what IT is. Long ago an Iftin made it to IT and, according to legend, made a pact so IT would stay within IT's wasteland. But now, IT is on the move again.
Ayyar is tasked with reaching IT to destroy or, once again, contain this force. He and the other Iftin must pull from their long memories of those they once were to discover what IT is and how to destroy IT.
There are many obstacles for Ayyar to overcome in this quest to save his world. The Iftin are different and drawn as complex characters. However, this is a typical save-the-world scifi quest book. It is fast, easy reading.
December 21, 2018
second read - 3 November 1982 - *** I waited until I had both novels on hand before starting my re-read of a childhood favorite. It is the story of young Naill Renfro who, changed by an alien artifact, is transformed into a native of his colony world, and sets out to protect the planet of Janus from external threats.
first read - 1968 - ***** I read this book from the library when I was about 13 and loved it.
first read - 1968 - ***** I read this book from the library when I was about 13 and loved it.
January 8, 2021
There's something about the way Norton's mind worked that shuns me. This story is a narrative straightjacket: it resists reflection or digression. Some interesting things happen in the background, but the foreground is a tedious slog through the verbiage. Not for the weak of mind; I am as weak of mind as one can get and still manage to navigate life. YMMV.
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July 5, 2019Interesting read!
October 1, 2023
A fabulous offering by Andre Norton.
...
I started the series 30 years ago, in the school library. Now I finish it!
Of course, it's 70 years old now...
...
I started the series 30 years ago, in the school library. Now I finish it!
Of course, it's 70 years old now...
June 13, 2014
This book was, well, terrible. Perhaps if I'd read the first one, I'd have been more amused. The story focuses on a band of aliens that love nature and live in trees... though they used to be human, and somehow got turned into these guys (guess that was in the 1st book). Apparently the humans are trying to get rid of them, because robots that look like the aliens are attacking their space port..but it's not clear why.
The 'bad guy' is 'THAT WHO ABIDES' (always in caps).. and seems to be some sort of robot who motivations are just that it/he's EVIL. There's some cloning, again, without clear purpose, and the aliens put an end to it. The end.
The characters seem pretty alien, but most just weak, as they can't touch any technology without getting the heebie geebies, except when they have to, then it's fine. It's not clear if the whole race is gone (other than the 6 characters in the book that used to be humans) or not.
Just a real slog.. and I usually like Andre Norton.
The 'bad guy' is 'THAT WHO ABIDES' (always in caps).. and seems to be some sort of robot who motivations are just that it/he's EVIL. There's some cloning, again, without clear purpose, and the aliens put an end to it. The end.
The characters seem pretty alien, but most just weak, as they can't touch any technology without getting the heebie geebies, except when they have to, then it's fine. It's not clear if the whole race is gone (other than the 6 characters in the book that used to be humans) or not.
Just a real slog.. and I usually like Andre Norton.
August 13, 2007
This is probably my least favorite of my childhood Norton collection, which explains why I saved it to read last. While the idea (species survival by infecting others with specially designed artifacts) is interesting, I felt that the author didn't explore it fully. I understand that she tries very hard to avoid the "all-knowing narrator voice" in her books, which usually I appreciate. But in this case, having the main character constantly in the dark became too frustrating for me to enjoy the story. It truly felt more like an unfinished story than a complete novel.
December 24, 2022
It has much more action than the previous novel along with a definitive ending. Should be read together with Judgement on Janus. A weird marriage of psychic powers and hard SF with a dose of technophobia. Classic Norton, a good read.
May 7, 2008
It lost a star in the three decades since I first read it :)
August 8, 2008
the second book in this very good 2 book series. A planet of great trees.
September 19, 2008
Very compelling story. Managed to get a surprise ending, though I was several years younger and easier to surprise.
May 3, 2020
I read this many years ago, and only remember that it left me with an uncomfortable feeling. I wll have to reread it one day.
April 24, 2009
See my comments about Judgment on Janus.
October 25, 2009
I love Andre Norton and this book certainly has ideas, like they all do...I wish it weren't QUITE as tedious with the back and forth trekking...
January 2, 2013
A well done second book in the Janus Series. First book: Judgment On Janus. A good read from the 1960's.
February 2, 2016
I was barely able to finish this; unusual; in a work by Andre Norton. Padded to the max.
March 9, 2015
1980 grade C+
Series book J2
Series book J2
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February 20, 2017Bibliographic info correct (Ballantine/Del Rey) but image (Ace) wrong.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews