New Releases by Andre Norton

After an unusual mission trading catnip to the catlike Salariki of planet Sargol, Dane Thorson and other low-ranking crew members of the Solar Queen watch in horror as the rest of their crew falls mysteriously ill. Only the four men left standing—and maybe the Captain’s bizarre pet Hoobat—can save their ship from drifting through space for all time, condemned as a plague ship. Originally published by Gnome Press in 1956 under the name Andrew North, Plague Ship is the second installment in the Solar Queen series of science fiction novels by Andre Norton, the male pseudonym of Alice Mary Norton.

This book edition has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. Plague Ship follows the adventures of Dane Thorson, a Cargo-master-apprentice on the Free Trader rocket ship the Solar Queen. Free Traders take on trading contracts on remote and recently discovered planets, which can be dangerous and unpredictable. The Solar Queen has recently obtained a valuable trading contract on the planet Sargol and are building a relationship with one of the races on the planet, the cat-like Salariki. The process goes slowly till the Salariki discover that the Solar Queen is carrying catnip and other plants from Terra that are unknown on Sargol. The traders exchange what little of the plants they have for the rare and valuable Koros stones and collect a native red-colored wood to exchange at home. A few days after leaving the planet, several members of the crew suffer from attacks, which start with severe headaches and end in a semi-coma state. Only 4 of the younger members of the crew are unaffected, including Dane Thorson. Upon exiting hyperspace on return to the vicinity of Terra, the crew discovers that they are pariah and have been declared a plague ship.

Star Born Andre Norton - The saga begun in The Stars Are Ours! continues as the growing human colony settles onto their new home world only to discover an unforeseen enemy. . .Generations after landing on the planet Astra, humankind is still working alongside the friendly aquatic native merpeople to survive and thrive. But young Dalgard Nordis is yearning to see more. Taking his man-journey, he sets out to find and explore the ruins of a city rumored to have belonged to the Othersthe mysterious beings whom the merpeople despise and fear. With this feat of bravery he hopes to prove his worth to the Council of Free Men. But instead his courage will prove costly, as the long-unknown Others are on their way back to the city. Even more daunting is the news that a starship has just arrived on Astra, carrying those who forced the colonists to flee centuries ago: the people of Earth.

A fast-moving suspense tale, full of unusual detail and unexpected turns. Several highlights make the book really shine: the sunset gorp hunt on the reefs of an oily sea; a raid on an asteroid''s emergency station; and a landing in the Big Burn, resulting in an encounter with the mutant life-forms that reside there...

When Shan Lante returns to base camp he discovered that it has been burnt to a crisp, leaving him the only living human being on the planet Warlock. Now he must find a way to keep alive and avoid both the Throgs who destroyed the Terran base and the aliens native to Warlock. With few options, Shan will learn his limits and the secrets of this strange planet in his quest for survival.

Steena of the spaceways—that sounds just like a corny title for one of the Stellar-Vedo spreads. I ought to know, I''ve tried my hand at writing enough of them. Only this Steena was no glamour babe. She was as colorless as a Lunar plant—even the hair netted down to her skull had a sort of grayish cast and I never saw her but once draped in anything but a shapeless and baggy gray space-all.

As the Civil War rages, young fifteen-year-old Drew Rennie decides that he must enlist and fight for the Confederate cause. Barely old enough to shave, he runs off and joins General Morgan''s campaign against the North. Drew has courage and bravery to spare and he will need every ounce of it.

When Andas Kastor awakens in an alien land, he must figure out if he’s the true emperor of his home world or an evil double In a stark, arid wasteland, a man awakens from a frozen state. As he stares out his narrow slit of a window, he has no memory of how he got there—or why. All he knows is his name: Andas Kastor, Imperial Prince of Inyanga. But instead of the luxurious trappings of his royal palace, he’s in a hellish, storm-lashed place punctuated by howling winds and shattering streaks of lightning. And he’s not alone. In this uninhabited world, he meets five other survivors, also of noble birth. They include the scaled, emerald-haired Elys of Posedonia and clawed, fanged Lord Yolyos of Sargol. They all speak the same Basic language, as befits those from neighboring spheres. Were they abducted, spirited to this alien planet, and held in mind-lock while evil doppelgangers ruled in their places? After a daring escape, Andas returns to Inyanga—only to discover that decades have passed and another sits on his throne. Now, hunted across barriers of time, Andas must fight external and internal enemies to save his civilization and uncover the truth about his identity.

The “imaginative . . . intriguing” far-future novel about the telepathic bond of friendship between human and animal—from the New York Times bestselling author (Booklist). Exiled after his home planet was turned into a military outpost following an interstellar war, Troy Horan is relocated to the planet of Korwar. Under the watchful eye of the police state, he lives in the Dipple, a restricted area for subcitizens. He works as a day laborer in an interplanetary pet shop and has no idea why animals from Terra, a third-rate power, have been imported to Korwar—or why he has the ability to silently communicate with them, especially the kinkajou. But a murder forces him to flee with his animal friends into the Wild, where mysterious, sealed ruins conceal Korwar’s most fiercely guarded secret. With no one he can trust and an entire government under siege, Troy leads his extraordinary band of warriors in a final bid for freedom none of them may survive.

A gem trader and a feline mutant unite to find the truth behind a mysterious stone rumored to be the key to all the power in the universe. Apprentice gem trader Murdoc Jern lives on Angkor, a thriving hub of interstellar trade. One day, a furtive visitor brings him a ring discovered on an alien corpse. It’s made of age-pitted metal surrounding a dull and lifeless stone. Yet it exerts a powerful hold on Murdoc. And when his father is killed, Murdoc begins a quest, taking with him his only legacy, the mysterious ring, which he knows is the key to his dad’s death. Accompanied by Eet, a feline mutant with paranormal powers, Murdoc hurtles through space, where he’s pursued by a religious order called the Green Robes. His journey takes him to distant planets and once-great armies marooned on vanished worlds. In a desperate battle to learn the ultimate meaning of the Zero Stone, Murdoc must bargain for his freedom—and his life—and confront the fate that befalls seekers of knowledge.

In the “excellent” sequel to The Zero Stone, Murdoc Jern searches for the source of the mysterious gem that leaves violence in its wake (Kirkus Reviews). The Zero Stone is the greatest treasure—and the greatest curse. It holds all the power of the universe, and such power is worth killing for. The seemingly dull, lifeless rock is Murdoc Jern’s sole inheritance from his father, who himself was murdered over the stone. But to uncover its power, he first has to figure out the secret of its origins. With no choice but to run for life and limb while trying to solve the mystery of the Zero Stone, Murdoc and his feline mutant companion, Eet, travel across the galaxy—business class, of course—hopping from world to world and bad situation to worse in their quest. All they have to do now is duck the lethally unforgiving Thieves Guild, avoid the never-give-up law enforcement corps of the Patrol, and somehow manage to stay alive if they want to unleash the most awesome power the universe has ever seen . . . Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Andre Norton’s “version of hallucinatory and telepathic events is excellent and the . . . duo is inspired.” Along with The Zero Stone, these novels are “two of the author’s best” (Kirkus Reviews).

Two full-length novels of the Witch World, set in the time of the greatest and most terrible cataclysm in its history: the Turning. Long ago, the realm of the Witch World was in mortal peril from ruthless, seemingly unstoppable invaders. In a final, desperate bid for salvation, all of the witches of Escarp combined their strength and moved the very mountains to stop the enemy. But in doing so, they forever changed the face of their world, sacrificing themselves and unleashing long-dormant powers upon the lands. Here, in one volume, are two thrilling tales of that chaotic time . . . Port of Dead Ships by Andre Norton: Destree m’Regnant is an outcast amongst the Sulcars, due to the strange circumstances of her birth and her unsettling ability to see the future. But when she joins an expedition south across the sea, her gifts may be the only thing that can save her and her shipmates when an ancient evil that ensnares souls sets its dark eye upon them. Sea Keep by P. M. Griffin: The proud, rough-hewn Falconers and the haughty nobles of the Dales have little to do with each other. But when a fleet of marauding pirates begins ravaging the Dales, the two peoples must look beyond their differences to face their common foe.

This epic fantasy omnibus chronicles the lives of a community of witches fighting to survive hardship and imprisonment after a destructive battle. In the triumphant conclusion to the three-book series Witch World: The Turning, when the Witches of Estcarp combined their powers to prevent the invasion of Karsten, the world was plunged into chaos. Now the survivors struggle to defeat the invaders and rebuild their shattered lives. Praise for On Wings of Magic “Both stories are well crafted and mesh with Norton’s own creations, although this book is no place to start one’s exploration of the Witch World. It does, however, merit a place in any Norton collection.” —Booklist

The adventures of Witch World continue as a cursed hero and his true love struggle for survival in a vast parallel universe of magic and high fantasy. Kerovan of Ulmsdale has long borne the curse of his ancestors’ depredations. After pillaging a sanctum of the Old Ones, his bloodline has been forever marred by painful sickness and death. Kerovan was born strong and hardy, but he walks on hooves instead of human feet and sees through eyes of amber—just as the Old Ones had. Bound in marriage to the beautiful Joisan of Ithkrypt, Kerovan seeks to claim his rightful place as Lord-heir of Ulmsdale. But first, the couple—separated by distance, yet linked in spirit—must unlock the powers held within a mystical necklace Joisan wears. The small crystal gryphon bears secrets that will bring them to the farthest reaches of the wilderness on a quest to save their people and their world from doom. Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Andre Norton’s beloved novels of sword and sorcery have sold millions of copies worldwide. The Crystal Gryphon is the 3rd book in the Witch World: High Hallack Cycle, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

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. Thora is the Chosen One. Pressed against her breast is the sacred jewel, possessing all the powers of the Moon. Makil is the Man of Pure Light, from the valley of enchantment and the swaying, sensual dance. In the golden scabbard at his side is the magical Sword of Lur. Together they descend into an underground world of soulless machines and eternal night. High Priestess and Warrior, Jewel and Sword, they must join in blood and battle against the Dark Lord. To fail would mean the Holy Force would fail, and Thora and Makil would forever be entombed in the flesh of evil.

When an Earth woman travels through a hidden portal to the magical Witch World, she joins a witch and a warrior in an epic battle against evil. Kelsie McBlair has always loved the Scottish Highlands, and assumes responsibility to care for the flora and fauna therein. But when she tries to help an injured wildcat, she takes a fall between two great stones, knocking herself unconscious. She awakens in a world she never thought possible—a world where magic users, mighty heroes, and terrible monsters dwell. When she comes across a dying woman, she doesn’t know what to do. And the feeling only worsens when the woman hands Kelsie a strange glowing jewel many dangerous creatures are after. Soon she finds herself on an incredible adventure accompanied by a cynical witch who doesn’t trust her and a young warrior sworn to protect her. All three will be bound to each other for survival, as they are the only ones who can stem the tide of the Dark forces ravaging the land, and Kelsie—the strange Earth woman—proves to be the only one who can face off against the Lord of the Dark himself . . . In The Gate of the Cat, Andre Norton’s “many Witch World fans will welcome this return to a land of powerful witches, mail-clad warriors, and mysterious Old Ones” (Library Journal). The Gate of the Cat is the 3rd book in the Witch World: Estcarp Cycle, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

The story of how humanity first came to the Witch World—and almost doomed themselves as they discovered the dangers of their new home. Long ago, after the Elder People deserted the place known as Witch World, a portal opened from another realm, bringing the people of Hallack to colonize the abandoned lands. But although the old inhabitants had gone, the Old Gods still existed to confound the new mortals beneath them. This is the story of the first ones: Elron the Clanless and Gathea the Wise Woman, who sought their own separate fates in this new mountainous country; Iynne of Garn whose clan ventured into an unknown land of power and was seduced by sinister magic; and Gunnora, the Amber Lady, and her fight against Raidhan, Lady of the Dark Moon. For any fan of the Witch World novels by Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Andre Norton, this is the must-have origin story for the adventures that have gripped lovers of sword and sorcery for generations. Horn Crown is the 5th book in the Witch World: High Hallack Cycle, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

An orphan girl meets the inhabitants of the mysterious Octagon House—and discovers a portal to America’s past—from the Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy. Lorrie happens upon a strange and fascinating secret! Did a witch live in the eight-sided house? Was it haunted? There were lots of scary stories about the strange house—but none could match the secret Lorrie uncovered. One day, she climbed the high iron gate and escaped into the garden to save a kitten from some cruel boys—and met the mysterious lady of the house. The woman let Lorrie explore all the odd-shaped rooms. In one of them was a rocking horse and a large, eight-sided dollhouse—an exact miniature of the big house. The dollhouse was beautifully furnished—as if someone lived there! It drew Lorrie back into exciting adventures that she had to face with courage and daring!

Stellar exploration—and depredation—in the exciting first novel in the Solar Queen series from a “superb storyteller” (The New York Times). In the future, venturing out into the stars is more than a way for humanity to chart the cosmos—it’s big business. Every time a new planet is discovered, the highest bidder gets first dibs with exclusive property rights for a year. Anything they can find, they can keep. The planet Limbo was considered a waste of rock to most, which is the only reason apprentice cargo master Dane Thorson and the rest of the crew of the Solar Queen could afford to bid on it. But they soon discover that Limbo is far from uninhabited, the Solar Queen is far from the first ship to explore it—and they can never leave . . . With her many beloved series, including the Solar Queen novels, Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Andre Norton remains “one of the most popular authors of our time” (Publishers Weekly). Sargasso of Space is the 1st book in the Solar Queen Series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

In pre–Civil War Santa Fe, a young soldier faces Apache raiders, starvation, and more in “some of the best Western-writing to show up in a long time” (Chicago Tribune). 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.

A brave young woman hires a Falconer to be her guardian on an epic quest to fulfill her destiny in the bestselling Witch World series. Tirtha is the last of her line. The vengeful Duke Yvian and those who hated the Old Race destroyed her clan, and now she alone is destined to bear the burden of fulfilling her family’s destiny. Haunted by dreams that drive her spirit, she knows she must return to her family’s ancient stronghold of Hawkholme. But what she will do once she gets there has yet to be revealed. For protection on her journey, she hires Nirel, once a proud Falconer whose Eyrie was destroyed when the Witch Women moved the very mountains to protect Estcarp from final annihilation. Now a blank shield for hire, he does what he must to survive using his wits, will, and a gift for seeing the future in his dreams. But he cannot see everything. Together, Tirtha and Nirel must brave peril and pain to reach the hold of Hawkholme. But a Dark One is determined to stop them—no matter the cost in magic or murder. Ware Hawk is an unforgettable tale from Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Andre Norton. Ware Hawk is the 2nd book in the Witch World: Estcarp Cycle, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

The epic saga begun in The Crystal Gryphon continues in the Witch World as the destiny of two embattled lovers may decide the fate of all . . . Kerovan of Ulmsdale released his wife, Joisan, of all obligations to him. Though their love is unbreakable, he could not burden her with his unrest as he was beckoned to wander the Waste in search of his true destiny. But Joisan, unable to bear his absence, leaves her refuge to find him. And with both of them gone, the Dales are sure to fall under the power of the Dark as the shadows of evil begin to rise across the land. Even when they are reunited in the Waste, Kerovan cannot open his heart to his beloved. Not as long as the mystery of his lineage remains. Undaunted and guided by the powerful crystal gryphon given to her by Kerovan, Joisan refuses to leave his side. For it will take both of their great wills to confront the horrors of the coming Darkness. Nominated for a Locus Award, this fantastical novel by the Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Andre Norton explores the Witch World land of High Hallack. Gryphon in Glory is the 4th book in the Witch World: High Hallack Cycle, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

“A heady mixture of Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and aromatherapy in this new magical adventure” from the Science Fiction Grand Master (Publishers Weekly). An orphaned child and captive scullery maid, young Willadene possesses an uncanny ability to sense and understand the magical odors that pervade her world. It is this remarkable talent—or curse—that carries her far from the fetid kitchen into an apprenticeship with a revered herbalist and ultimately to the highest circles of the Ducal court. But there is depravity lurking within the castle’s walls, inspiring brazen treacheries and usurpations—and foul abduction as unthinkable as it is unexpected. And an innocent girl finds the heightened sense that has been her fortune is now drawing her down into a maelstrom of evil.

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. Amelia could never have known that the necklace—the delicate filigree butterflies of dead black iron—would become the yoke that could drag her down to death. Amelia Harrach lived with a name blackened by scandal. They said her grandmother’s marriage to a captive Hessian officer during the American Revolution had been false. Moreover, they said Amelia’s father was a bastard. Then came the news that her grandfather was indeed alive and ready to acknowledge Amelia’s legitimacy, and make her heiress to a great fortune in Germany. And so began a journey—a journey into horror and evil that would endanger Amelia and her fortune. Suddenly, she was trapped in a world of drugs and nightmares. But the treacherous way to freedom lay ahead—and so did love . . .

A trilogy of swords, sorcery and spectacular adventure set in the Witch World. Sword of Ice: A simple half-breed serving under Lord Hervon in the unending battle against the Forces of Darkness, young Yonan never thought he was made for warfare. Then he discovers a strange sword: an ancient blade of incredible power that holds the spirit of the ancient hero Tolar that will forge Yonan into the greatest weapon in Witch World. Sword of Lost Battles: Yonan and his loyal friend Uruk have proven themselves as formidable warriors in battle after battle. And now, only they can stop the dreaded Targi—the near-invincible warlock who leads the Darkness. To defeat him, Yonan and Uruk must find Targi’s only vulnerability—a weak point that takes them into the past and the legendary Lost Battle. Sword of Shadows: With Yonan and Uruk still missing in the past, the untrained witch Crytha learns that she alone must hold back the Darkness by countering the power of Laidan, the vile sorceress who has pledged herself to Targi. To overcome such a foe, Crytha will need the help of a lethal, legendary weapon that must be tamed before it can be used. And if she fails to tame the Sword of Shadows, all of Witch World may fall. Trey of Swords is the 1st book in the Witch World: Estcarp Cycle, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

An orphan girl battles an evil mage in this “stunningly vivid” fantasy from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Scent of Magic (Starlog). A mage, seeking to enslave the Valley and destroy the Forest, has brutally sundered a family. A mother has fled into the woods with her infant girl-child, while the depraved sorcerer holds the babe’s twin—a boy—captive in a black tower. The mother dies but the girl survives. Adopted by the strange denizens of the Forest—safe from the mage’s malevolent influence—she grows to young womanhood, cultivating a cherished skill that has been denied the others of her kind: the ability to truly hear the sounds of her world. But her future will be fraught with trial and terror, for only she can smash the chains that shackle the Balley and its inhabitants. It is her destiny to confront sorcerer and demon minions, and to oppose the one she must conquer and free: the magician’s protégé and her most powerful adversary. Her bane and blood. Her brother.

In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona. So when Drew Rennie, newly discharged from Forrest''s Confederate scouts, arrived leading everything he owned behind him--his thoroughbred stud Shiloh, a mare about to foal, and a mule--he knew his business would not be questioned. To anyone in Tubacca there could be only one extraordinary thing about Drew, and that he could not reveal: his name, Rennie.

In The Defiant Agents, prolific science fiction writer Andre Norton offers up the best of both worlds: an action-packed read that is truly thought-provoking, as well. Subjected to an experimental procedure against their will, members of several ethnic groups have reverted back to the ways of their distant ancestors and are forced to try to survive on a primitive planet. Will they comply with the aims of this ethically dubious experiment, or will the test have unforeseen consequences?

Far in the future, the planet Hawaika is a tropical paradise settled by a small group of descendants of modern-day Hawaiians and Polynesians. But Ross Murdock and Gordon Ashe are not there to languish on the planet''s beautiful beaches -- they want to establish a portal to the past. Will they succeed in their quest to find out what became of the ancient civilizations that once thrived on Hawaika?

Though Andre Norton made her name as one of the first female writers to find acclaim in the male-dominated genre of science fiction, Ralestone Luck is one of Norton''s forays into historical fantasy and fiction. This thrill-a-minute tale follows a group of siblings on a quest to retrieve a storied ancient sword that will restore their family''s glory and power.