Fantasy Book Club discussion

From Wikipedia:

Andre Alice Norton (Andre Norton), née Alice Mary Norton (February 17, 1912 – March 17, 2005) was an American science fiction and fantasy author (with some works of historical fiction and contemporary fiction) under the noms de plume Andre Norton, Andrew North and Allen Weston. Norton published her first novel in 1934, and was the first woman to receive the Gandalf Grand Master Award from the World Science Fiction Society in 1977, and won the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) association in 1983.

SNIP

In later years, as Norton's health became uncertain, she moved to Florida in November 1966, and then to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. From February 21, 2005, she was under hospice care. She died at home on March 17, 2005, of congestive heart failure.

Her final complete novel, Three Hands for Scorpio, was published on April 1, 2005. She was collaborating with Jean Rabe on the sequel to her 1979 novel Quag Keep, the Greyhawk novel Return to Quag Keep, when she died. Return to Quag Keep was completed by Rabe and published in 2006.

On February 20, 2005, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, which had earlier honored her with its Grand Master Award in 1983, announced the creation of the Andre Norton Award, to be given each year for an outstanding work of fantasy or science fiction for the young adult literature market, beginning in 2006. While the Andre Norton Award is not a Nebula Award, the eligibility requirements and award procedures are the same as those for the Nebula Awards.

Often called the Grande Dame of Science Fiction and Fantasy by biographers such as J. M. Cornwell[6] and organizations such as Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America,[7] Publishers Weekly,[8] and Time, Andre Norton wrote novels for over 70 years. She had a profound influence on the entire genre, having over 300 published titles read by at least four generations of science fiction and fantasy readers and writers. Notable authors who cite her influence include Greg Bear, Lois McMaster Bujold, C. J. Cherryh, Cecilia Dart-Thornton,[9] Tanya Huff,[10] Mercedes Lackey, Charles de Lint, Joan D. Vinge, David Weber, K. D. Wentworth, and Catherine Asaro.

My favorite series by Andre Norton:

Witch World Series


Estcarp Cycle

Witch World (1963)
Web of the Witch World (1964)
Three Against the Witch World (1965)
Warlock of the Witch World (1967)
Sorceress of the Witch World (1968)
Trey of Swords (1977)
Ware Hawk (1983)
The Gate of the Cat (1987)
Ciara's Song: A Chronicle of Witch World (1998) with Lyn McConchie
The Duke's Ballad (2005) with Lyn McConchie (book 2 of Ciara's Song
Witch World: Swords and Spells (omnibus) (SFBC) (1987) contains Trey of Swords, Ware Hawk & The Gate of the Cat
Chronicles of the Witch World (omnibus) (SFBC) (1998) also published as Lost Lands of Witch World contains Three Against the Witch World, Warlock of the Witch World & Sorceress of the Witch World
Lost Lands of Witch World (omnibus) (TOR) (2004) also published as Chronicles of the Witch World contains Three Against the Witch World, Warlock of the Witch World & Sorceress of the Witch World

High Hallack Cycle

Year of the Unicorn (1965)
The Crystal Gryphon (1972) also considered part of Gryphon Trilogy # 1
Spell of the Witch World (1972) collection of stories
The Jargoon Pard (1974)
Zarsthor's Bane (1978)
Lore of the Witch World (1980) Collection of Stories
Gryphon in Glory (1981) also considered part of Gryphon Trilogy # 2
Horn Crown (1981)
Gryphon's Eyrie (1984) with A. C. Crispin also considered part of Gryphon Trilogy # 3
Were-Wrath (1984) Very Rare - Only 177 Copies Printed. Also in Wizards' Worlds
Songsmith (1992) with A. C. Crispin
Silver May Tarnish (2005) with Lyn McConchie
Annals of the Witch World (omnibus) (SFBC) (1994) also published as The Gates to Witch World contains Witch World, Web of Witch World & Year of the Unicorn
The Gates to Witch World (omnibus) (TOR) (2001) also published as Annals of the Witch World contains Witch World, Web of Witch World & Year of the Unicorn

The Turning

Storms of Victory (omnibus) (1991) contains Port of Dead Ships by Andre Norton & Seakeep by P. M. Griffin
Flight of Vengeance (omnibus) (1992) contains Exile by Mary H. Schaub & Falcon Hope by P. M. Griffin
On Wings of Magic (omnibus) (1994) contains We the Women by Patricia Mathews & Falcon Magic by Sasha Miller

Secrets of the Witch World (also part of The Turning)

The Key of the Keplian (1995) with Lyn McConchie
The Magestone (1996) with Mary H. Schaub
The Warding of Witch World (1996)
Secrets of the Witch World (omnibus) (2001) contains Key of the Keplain, The Magestone & The Warding of Witch World - Released as Digital Media Only

Witch World Anthologies

Tales of the Witch World 1 (1987) Anthology of stories edited - Andre Norton wrote Introduction & Of the Shaping of Ulm's Heir
Four from the Witch World (1989) Anthology of stories edited - Andre Norton wrote Introduction
Tales of the Witch World 2 (1988) Anthology of stories edited - Andre Norton wrote Introduction
Tales of the Witch World 3 (1990) Anthology of stories edited - Andre Norton wrote Introduction

I will add links :)

I enjoyed reading the first two Witch World books and never got back to them. Partly because they were not easily found, partly there are just so many books.

I'll be putting them on my (ever longer) TBR list.
:D

:-D


yaaay! I love people reading Andre Norton! I really feel that Andre Norton - unlike some other classic sci-fi/fantasy writers - got pushed to the side as times moved on. I can't help but to think (sometimes) that it was because she was a woman.

She did have one book turned into a movie. The Beast Master (Beast Master was adapted (very) into a movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083630/?...

MrsJoseph wrote: ":-D


yaaay! I love people reading Andre Norton! I really feel that Andre Norton - unlike some other classic sci-fi/fantasy writers - got pushed to the side as times moved on. I can't help but t..."

Then from 1999-2002 there was tv show based loosely on the movie called BeastMaster.

Very true.

Kevin wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: ":-D


yaaay! I love people reading Andre Norton! I really feel that Andre Norton - unlike some other classic sci-fi/fantasy writers - got pushed to the side as times moved on. ..."
I didn't relise it was based on one of her books.

I did not realize that The Beast Master was her's.

Love Dar...Codo?and Podo?
Long time no see. ;)

I read a fair amount of her juvie stuff back in the day -- the Magic books (Lavender-Green Magic &c.) and Forerunner Foray are ones in particular that spring to mind.

Did not realize that the Beastmaster movie was based on her work. And now I'll need to work very hard to erase from my memory the image of Mark Singer in his leather loincloth with his hair extensions and his little paunch. Although I did like that movie back in my younger days.

It looks like a good amount of her stuff is available in eBook format, mostly for about $1.99, at least on Amazon. This includes a healthy chunk of the Witch World books but, sadly, not the first few. (Unless I'm missing them somewhere.)

Joseph wrote: "It looks like a good amount of her stuff is available in eBook format, mostly for about $1.99, at least on Amazon. This includes a healthy chunk of the Witch World books but, sadly, not the first ..."

I feel a spending spree gearing up. :)

I'm glad that there are copies for that cheap...but I can't figure out why the first few aren't available. :(

I assume it's some kind of rights thing, but yes, it's still disappointing. Although I do have a shelf full of paperbacks.

There are a handful of Andre Norton Books free with Amazon right now:

The Gate of the Cat
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081YANL8/?...

Gryphon in Glory
http://www.amazon.com/Gryphon-Glory-W...

And there's at least 5 more scrambled in this list: http://www.amazon.com/Andre-Norton/e/...

I devoured everything by Andre Norton I could get my hands on when I was growing up. When I hear people complain that there are no women SF & F writers, she's one of the first names I drag out.

Jeannette wrote: "I devoured everything by Andre Norton I could get my hands on when I was growing up. When I hear people complain that there are no women SF & F writers, she's one of the first names I drag out."

Ironically, when I was young I got into an argument with my parents -- I said she was a woman and they said, "No, Andre is a man's name."

(To be honest, I don't remember if I knew from reading an author bio or something, or if I just didn't realize that Andre was, in fact, a man's name.)

Joseph wrote: "Ironically, when I was young I got into an argument with my parents -- I said she was a woman and they said, "No, Andre is a man's name."

(To be honest, I don't remember if I knew from reading an author bio or something, or if I just didn't realize that Andre was, in fact, a man's name.)"

That's hilarious.