From Library Journal:   A cautionary tale by Stephen R. Donaldson ("Reeve the Just"), a whimsical ad venture in miniature by Dennis L. McKiernan ("The Halfling House"), and a tribute to the art of storytelling by Charles de Lint ("The Conjure Man") il lustrate the variety of this collection of 19 stories written to celebrate the centennial of Tolkien's birth. Although fans of Middle Earth may be disappointed that none of these tales draw directly from Tolkien's world, discerning readers will find the unmistakable stamp of the master concealed in the heart of each story. All in all, this solid collection of fantasy belongs in most libraries. For a new edition of The Lord of the Rings and more on Tolkien, see Classic Returns, LJ 11/15/91. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Kirkus Reviews: Yet another Festschrift anthology by Greenberg, who has recently edited or coedited tributes to Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and H.P. Lovecraft, this time to honor the much-imitated author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The difficulty with these projects is that the writers must retain the essential flavor of their own work while evoking somehow the style or subject or tone of the revered predecessor, and here--as in the Asimov, Bradbury, and Lovecraft volumes--the quality of the stories varies tremendously. The book leads off with an exceptionally good story by Stephen R. Donaldson, "Reave the Just", in which a legendary hero saves the day in a most unusual fashion. Emma Bull's "Silver or Gold", Peter S. Beagle's "The Naga", Judith Tarr's "Death and the Lady", and Patricia A. McKillip's "The Fellowship of the Dragon'' likewise evoke something of the spirit of Tolkien while offering wonderful, original tales in their authors' own strong voices. Meanwhile, John Brunner, Barry N. Malzberg, and Gregory Benford provide solid stories, but their connection to Tolkien is slight. Much that's unfortunately mediocre, and a few stories (such as Dennis L. McKiernan's "The Halfling House", egregious at 29 pages) that would have made Tolkien himself wince — but, still, the strongest tales here are among the best short-length fantasy of the year. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved

Someone is kidnapping the animals of beast masters' teams. On planet after planet, telepathically gifted people are being attacked-some of them murdered-by a conspiracy to take their precious animals. Laris, an orphan who trains exotic alien creatures for an interstellar circus, knows that somehow her employer is connected to the deadly plot. She also knows that those involved will kill her if she talks. Beast master Hosteen Storm has heard about the plot, but when the circus comes to Arzor, he doesn't realize his mortal peril. The circus, with its many colorful acts, is danger cloaked in the swirling excitement of the show. Laris loves all animals, and is herself able to communicate with them. When she meets Hosteen and becomes friends with him and his family, she desperately wants to warn him, to save him and his animals. But as the circus nears the end of its stay on Arzor, the deadly plotters prepare to strike at those Laris cares about . . . and at her, if she interferes! **

When first published, *The Beast Master* was a new kind of science fiction adventure, featuring a Native American (Navajo) protagonist, Hosteen Storm, a soldier with a unique team—animals with whom he has a telepathic mind-link. The time is the future, when Earth has been devastated by interstellar war with the alien Xik. Storm is now on the planet Arzor. Once the home of an ancient, long-dead alien civilization, it is now inhabited by  human colonists and the indigenous Norbies. Storm and the other Arzorites must fight the Xik, who are intent on to destroying all life but their own. With rousing action and Norton’s unique ability to evoke the strangeness and mystery of ancient alien civilizations, *The Beast Master, *and its sequel, *Lord of Thunder* remain fresh and enthralling, a half-century after their debut. **

Two centuries after an atomic war on earth, a silver-haired mutant sets out on a dangerous search for a lost city of the ruined civilization

The "Solar Queen" is in real trouble. They've just saved thousands of lives in a near disaster and are on the way to cash in on their newfound hero status with some profitable trade. But when they drop out of hyperspace and almost crash into a deserted ship, it's all they can do not to become a wreck like the one they've stumbled across. Luckily, the derelict "Scavenger" has just enough fuel to get both ships to the nearest port, a space habitat that is home to humans and two other races. Unfortunately, when they attempt to file for scavenger rights, a crooked syndicate of bureaucrats takes an interest and threatens to scuttle Captain Jellico's crew and their claim to the derelict

The powerful magic of ruthless Elvenlord masters has for centuries rules the world. Even Shana, the legendary Elvenbane prophesied to deliver the oppressed into freedom, is helpless before such power. She and her ragtag band of outcasts, half-blood wizards, escaped human slaves, and free-thinking dragons have gained only a token victory against the mighty lords. Only the long-forgotten Iron People, a band of human nomads, have escaped the tyranny of the reigning wizards. How have they survived through the centuries? As the winds of change sweep the world, and as tensions seething beneath the surface of Elven society threaten to break into open revolt. Shana meets the ancient tribe. Could an age-old secret free Shana and her people...or will its discovery call down their doom

This is the story of Shana, a halfbreed born of the forbidden union of an Elvenlord father and a human mother. Her exiled mother dead, she was rescued and raised by dragons, a proud, ancient race who existed unbeknownst to elven or humankind. From birth, Shana was the embodiment of the Prophecy that the all-powerful Elvenlords feared. Her destiny is the enthralling adventure of a lifetime

The powerful magic of ruthless Elvenlord masters has for centuries rules the world. Even Shana, the legendary Elvenbane prophesied to deliver the oppressed into freedom, is helpless before such power. She and her ragtag band of outcasts, half-blood wizards, escaped human slaves, and free-thinking dragons have gained only a token victory against the mighty lords. Only the long-forgotten Iron People, a band of human nomads, have escaped the tyranny of the reigning wizards. How have they survived through the centuries? As the winds of change sweep the world, and as tensions seething beneath the surface of Elven society threaten to break into open revolt. Shana meets the ancient tribe. Could an age-old secret free Shana and her people...or will its discovery call down their doom

In this long-awaited new novel in The Halfblood Chronicles, fantasy greats Norton and Lackey tell the enthralling story of the reclusive elvenlord Kyrtian, who emerges as a hero in a world torn by politics and war. When his cousin, Aelmarkin, tries to prove that Kyrtian is unfit to run his estate, the plan backfires, and soon Kyrtian, who doesn't share the venal, greedy nature of his cousin, finds himself with more power than he ever wanted. Like his father before him, Kyrtian has always treated the humans on his estate like servants, instead of enslaving them as other elvenlords do. His father's legacy also leads Kyrtian to learn ancient military skills long since lost to elvenkind through the carelessness of the elvenlords. Kyrtian's rediscovered knowledge piques the interest of the current elvenlords, and soon Kyrtian finds himself appointed the new commander of the army, to the relief of his ruling peers. For the sons of the most powerful elvenlords, the Young Lords, have rebelled against their fathers and are waging war. But by taking advantage of both the privileges of his new command and the help of some unexpected new friends, Kyrtian finally gains the resources to embark on his own, personal quest--resuming his father's search for the Great Portal, the magical doorway through which the original elvenlords entered this world. As war rages between some sons and fathers, Kyrtian searches desperately for his own lost father, hoping to uncover not only the mystery of his disappearance, but also the secret behind the origin of elvenkind

“An exotic blend of Roman and Hindu lore that weaves a curious and convincing tale melding otherworidliness and dire reality,”　 REMEMBER YOU ARE ROMAN The tribune Quintus was once a man of honor. But when Rome’s might is crushed at the battle of Carrhae, Quintus can only watch with honor and hope gone as Rome's Eagles — the golden standards which every Roman believes houses the very essence of the gods - are dragged through the mud by the barbarian hordes. The Eagles will go East as bloody testimony to Rome’s humiliation. But even in Hell, there sometimes lies a path of redemption, Quintus will follow the Eagles and strive to somehow recapture the honor that Rome has lost. He will abandon the logic that is Rome... and travel into the mists of myth and legend, where he wiil see visions of magic unknown to any Roman. And where he will learn to use barbarian magic to win back Rome’s gods... “Vividly realized and a welcome change from traditional forest-oriented fantasy...　 Empire of the Eagle is a wonderful fantasy.”

A spaceship wrecked on Earth in the prehistoric days of the Folsom Man was the bait that drew an American time team back into the past. Travis Fox, a modern Apache, came along to lend them his knowledge of the ways of his ancestors against the elements and the savage beasts. But, just when their mission was nearly accomplished, an accident set off the automatic controls of that mysterious GALACTIC DERELICT and it took off for an unknown world and an unknown time. Thus began a fantastic and dangerous adventure into outer space that, before it was over, was to challenge the courage and ingenuity of Travis to the utmost. ANDRE NORTON, who sometimes writes under the name of Andrew North, is rapidly attaining a very favored status among the readers of science-fiction. It seems to be characteristic of the few women who write in this field that as a rule they are very good at it. And Andre (whose true name is Alice Mary) Norton is one of the very best. She is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and an ardent s-f fan and collector. “All the classic elements are present in full measure in Galactic Derelict, It suffers not at all in being a sequel to Andre Norton’s excellent Time Traders. “The U.S. Army’s race with the Russians through and against Time remains Norton’s background. Both search for abandoned wrecks of a race that had interstellar travel back in Man’s infancy. “Travis Fox, Apache, joins Ross Murdock and Dr. Gordon Ashe, time agents, in attempting the transfer, intact, of an alien ship through 20,000 years to the present. Inadvertently, controls are activated and the group is launched on an involuntary galactic tour. Their efforts to return to Here and Now constitute a top-notch science-adventure yam.”

Una situazione disperata richiede sempre una soluzione disperata. E per lui, ormai non c’era altra alternativa. Ma la via suggerita da Jorge Petronius andava oltre l’immaginabile. Un pianeta apparso per sortilegio, un mondo paradossale. Una dimensione parallela in cui Simon Tregarth sembrava ormai destinato. E in lui c’era il dubbio se preferire la morte a quella strana Terra popolata di streghe. Arrendersi alla misteriosa Siege Perilous, la Pietra del Potere, era come affidare il proprio spirito, la propria mente ad un mondo da cui non ci sarebbe stato ritorno. Nominato per il premio Hugo per il miglior romanzo in 1964

"Imperial Lady, although it is a work of fantasy, is based on an historical incident that has become one of the most beloved of Chinese tales and has served as the inspiration for countless poems and stories: the life of Chao Chun, the concubine who became, first, a princess of the Han dynasty, and, second, the queen of the shan-yu of the Hsiung-nu, the fierce, nomadic people who are, to a great extent, the ancestors of the Huns and Mongols"

In 1866, only men uprooted by war had reason to ride into Tubacca, Arizona, a nondescript town as shattered and anonymous as the veterans drifting through it. 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. Drew had come west from Kentucky to find a father he had thought dead until the year before. Kinship with a man like Hunt Rennie, however—the legendary Don Cazar, owner of a matchless range and prize stallions—was not a claim to be made quickly or lightly. Posing as Drew Kirby the young veteran contrived to get himself and his friend Anse hired as corral hands at Rennie's Range, but he was hardly prepared for the suspicion and danger which stood between him and his father. As hotheaded as his father, Drew was ready to move on to California—until the day all proof of his Rennie name was stolen from him, and his unwarranted arrest for horse-thieving brought on the accusations of the one man whose trust he needed. Andre Norton's Ride Proud, Rebel! dramatically portrayed the last year of the Confederacy, when brave men like Drew Rennie met defeat with honor. In this sequel, Drew's struggle to establish his identity and begin life anew in a raw, unsettled land reflects the courage of thousands of rootless men set adrift by the Civil War

The first new Solar Queen novel in 23 years. This fast-paced adventure launches Captain Jellico and the crew of the Solar Queen--whose previous thrilling exploits include such sf classics as Postmarked the Stars and Sargasso of Space--on their most treacherous expedition yet

E. NORTONE Sargasi kosmosā IZDEVNIECĪBA «ZINĀTNE» RĪGA 1977 A(Amer) No 509 Эндрю Нортон СaРГaССЫ В КОСМОСЕ Серия «В мире фантастики» Издательство «Зинатнe» Рига 1977 На латышском языке Перенод с английского И. Кундзнньш Предисловие А. Стругацкого и Б. Стругацкого Оформление Э. Буровой No angļu valodas tulkojis I. K u n d z i ņ š A. Strugacka un B. Strugacka priekšvārds Noformējusi E. B u r o v a (Ј) Tulkojums latviešu valodā Izdevniecība «Zinātne». 1977 PRIEKŠVĀRDS Amerikāņu fantastikā ir vairāki vārdi, kuri bauda cieņu savā dzimtenē, bet tikpat kā nav pazīstami aiz tās robežām. Izņemot speciālistus, maz pie mums ir tādu, kas dzirdējuši, piemēram, par tādiem rakstnie­kiem kā Margareta Senklēra, Čārlzs Herness, Sems Mervins, Endrū Nortone; ļoti reti pie mums tiek iz­doti Mirēja Leinstera, Ērika Rasela, Gordona Diksona darbi. Taču tie uzrakstīti pietiekami augstā līmenī, un tiem nav nekā kopīga ar «pelēko» bulvāru maku­latūru, kas pārpludina rietumu grāmatu tirgus, to saturs ir patiesi aizraujošs, sižeti asi un labi veidoti, bet aprakstītie notikumi un situācijas liecina par au­toru neparasti spilgto iztēli. Tomēr šos sacerējumus nevar salīdzināt ar tādu meistaru darbiem kā R. Bredberijs, R. Seklijs, A. Azimovs. Sie romāni un stāsti apraksta piedzīvoju­mus, nevis cilvēka un sociālas traģēdijas. To aizsā­cēji ir Hegards un Berouzs, nevis Velss un Capeks. Pretējo spēku izvietojums tajos ir līdz naivumam vienkāršs. Gaišmataini draugi un rudi ienaidnieki, ka rakstīja Cehovs. Ienaidnieki tīko sagrābt varu Galaktikā un pie viena iegūt daiļo varoni, bet draugi cenšas skaistuli aizsargāt un pie viena stāties ceļā ienaidnieku varaskārajiem tīkojumiem. Pirmajās divās grāmatas trešdaļās draugiem klājas slikti, pēdējā trešdaļā sakāvi cieš ienaidnieki. Tāda ir aplūkotās piedzīvojumu fantastikas shēma, un no autora talanta atkarājas tikai tas, lai šī shēma iespējami mazāk durtos acīs. Par šādas literatūras klasisku paraugu, īstenībā par tas ciltstēvu jāuzskata slavenais Edmona Hamiltona stāsts «Zvaigžņu karaļi» (1949). Intriga sākas ar to, ka labais, bet ālrsirdīgais Vidusgalaktikas impērijas valdnieks kopā ar Herkulesa zvaigznāja lodveida ko­pas baroniem, kā arī ar sabiedrotajiem grāfiem un hercogiem atsevišķās zvaigžņu asociācijās stājas nā­vīgā konfliktā ar Tumšo Pasauļu Līgu — zvaigžņu kopu tumša putekļu miglāja dzīlēs. Lai gūtu uzvaru, imperators ir gatavs upurēt pat sava dēla prinča personisko laimi, apprecinot viņu ar nemīlamo Fo- malgautas sistēmas kņazieni… Karš kosmosā risinās virsgaismas ātrumā, lietojot atornartilēriju un vēl fantastiskākus līdzekļus (piemēram, pretinieka ap­šaude caur televizora ekrānu). Stāsts «Zvaigžņu karaļi» uzrakstīts pirms divdes­mit astoņiem gadiem, un ir pilnīgi saprotams, ka tagad tas liek lasītājam pasmaidīt. Taču mūsdienās piedzīvojumu fantastikas autori jau raksta citādi. Titulētas personas viņu sacerējumos vēl laiku pa lai­kam ir sastopamas, taču kosmiskajā arēnā tās vairs tikpat kā neiziet. Starpzvaigžņu valstiskums izpau­žas demokrātiskākās formās — parasti tās ir Savienī­bas, Federācijas, Apvienotās Republikas. Grandiozās simtiem tūkstošu kuģu lielu armādu sadursmes de­vušas vietu necilam divkaujām starp tirdzniecības kuģiem un pirātiem — dažkārt kaujas vietā paspēj ierasties policijas kreiseris. Un vispār, pret bezdibe- nīgajām kosmosa dzīlēm arvien biežāk vērojama cieņas pilna nevērība: autoru augstā literārā meis­tarība ļauj sasniegt nepieciešamo efektu arī mūsu planētas pieticīgajā arēnā vai kādas blakusgalakti- kas noslēpumainajā pasaulē. So sacerējumu valoda ir zaudējusi Berouza retoriskumu un utilitāro lapida- ritāti, varoņu rīcība ieguvusi kaut kādu šķietamu psiholoģisku, bet dažreiz arī sociālu motivējumu, un — kas ir 'ļoti svarīgi — paši varoņi no augstākās sabiedrības sfērām nolaidušies pašā dzīves mutulī; šī dzīve bieži vien ir diezgan dīvaina, pat rēgaina, un tomēr, pēc tīras piedzīvojumu literatūras mērauklas, īsta tautas dzīve. īsāk izsakoties, piedzīvojumu fan­tastika ir tiktāl tuvinājusies Lielās literatūras līmenim, ciktāl piedzīvojumu literatūra vispār spēj tam tuvo­ties. Bet labākie šī žanra darbi pauž pat sociāla pro­testa iedīgļus. Grāmata «Visuma sargasi» pieder vienas no talan­tīgākajām amerikāņu piedzīvojumu fantastikas autorēm, rakstnieces Fndrū Norlones, spalvai un, jāatzīst, ir pats labākais viņas darbs. Kā lasī­tājs redzēs, šajā sacerējumā tikpat kā nemana ne­kādas idejiskas un valodas radniecības ar nebēdnīgo Berouza un Hegarda romantiku, tas uzrakstīts labā reālistiskā manierē un pilnībā atbilst mūsdienu lite­rārajām normām. Tajā nav nolaupītu skaistuļu un supervaroņu, kuriem kosmoss «līdz ceļiem», bet ir parastu kosmosa ceļotāju bargā un grūtību pilnā ikdiena, kas paiet, ar sviedriem vaigā pelnot savu dienišķo maizi. Starp citu, tieši dienišķā maize, nevis noslēpumaini izzudušas civilizācijas dārgumi ir stāsta varoņu rīcības galvenais virzītājs spēks. Pasaule, kurā viņi dzīvo un strādā, ir ne mazāk cietsirdīga un nežēlīga par Džeka Londona Balto Klusumu. Valsti — Federāciju, kas apvieno simtus saules sistēmu, — plosa iekšējas pretrunas. Alkatīgie monopoli sagrābj visu, ko vien spēj aizsniegt. Vienpatņi izmisīgi cīnās par eksistenci, vājie iet dibenā, stiprie tik tikko un kaut kā turas virspusē. Nabadzīgs cilvēks bez saka­riem var paļauties tikai uz savu atjautību, profesio­nālo meistarību un veiksmi. Taču, ja nebūs veiksmes, nepalīdzēs ne atjautība, ne meistarība. Diezin vai Nortone ir centusies izdarīt kaut kādus sociālus vispārinājumus. Būtu naivi ari domāt, ka tieši tādu viņa redz cilvēces nākotni. Nav jāaizmirst, ka viņa rakstījusi parastu piedzīvojumu romānu, viņai bijis vajadzīgs fons sižeta risinājumam, un kā godīgs cilvēks viņa par tādu fonu izvēlējusies tieši to bēdīgo stāvokli, kurš viņai mūsdienu Amerikā visvairāk nepatīk. Iespējams, ka tas pat izdarīts ne­apzinīgi. Galvenais šajā sacerējumā — draudzība, augsts humānisms, internacionālisms. Atturīga vīriešu drau­dzība bez siekalainas tās apliecināšanas un izskaid­rošanas. Sī draudzība nepazīst ne nacionālu, ne rasu naidu. Kosmiskā kuģa apkalpe atgādina Tūra Heijer- dāla «Ra» komandu: anglis, holandietis, nēģeris, arābs, ķīnietis, japānis, vācietis, amerikānis. Šķiet, starp viņiem ir arī krievs, tikai rakstniece sagrozījusi viņa uzvārdu. Tātad, draudzība, biedriskums, uzti­cība biedriem, pašaizliedzīga savstarpēja palīdzība. Un tas vjss — nelielā kolektīvā, kas cīnās par eksis­tenci. Citādi neizdzīvot. Visapkārt ir naidīga sabied­rība un paidīgs Visums, un no šiem abiem ienaid­niekiem jāatkaro sev gabals gaļas. Situācija gluži kā Džekam Londonam. Stāsts izceļas ne tikai ar draudzības tēmu (kas piedzīvojumu fantastikā vispār ir diezgan reta). Nortonei ir lieliska fantāzija. Svešas un baismīgas planētas ainas zīmētas reljefi un iespaidīgi, stāstā ir papilnam lielisku, precīzu detaļu, kas izkaisītas pa visu grāmatu. Rakstniece skārusi arī tiešām aktuālas mūsdienu tēmas — tiesa, viņa nav centusies tajās iedziļināties. Priekšteči — rase, kas kādreiz valdījusi visā Galaktikā, tāpat kā cilvēce pašreiz pārvalda visu Zemi, — gājuši bojā drausmīgos savstarpējos karos, gājuši bojā, saberzdami sevi pulveri ar kaut kādu nezināmu ieroci, kas spēj pārvērst pelnos veselas pla­nētas un apdzēst saules. Un viens no stāsta varoņiem ar bailēm runā par to, cik šausmīgi būs, ja šis ierocis ir saglabājies un nonāks Zemes iedzīvotāju rokās … Gribas minēt vēl kādu interesantu detaļu. Nortone izvirzījusi kosmosa ceļotājiem, diezgan parastiem tā iedomātā laika ļaudīm, pārmērīgas prasības. Viņiem ne tikai pilnībā jāpārzina sava specialitāte. Viņiem ne tikai jāpārzina blakusspecialitātes un jāiegūst praktiskas iemaņas visdažādāko mašīnu, vilcēju un lidaparātu vadīšanā. Viņiem jābūt fiziski attīstītiem kā vieglatlētiem daudzcīņniekiem, vajadzības gadī­jumā jāprot kauties un karot, viņiem jābūt acumirklī­gai reakcijai, jāspēj vairākas diennaktis pēc kārtas iztikt bez miega — un, neraugoties uz visu to, Nortone viņus rāda kā parastus, simpātiskus ļaudis, nepavi­sam ne pārcilvēkus. Vai tas nav mūsdienu un nākamo kosmonautu prototips? Nobeigumā jāpiebilst vēl pāris vārdu. Vairāku subjektīvu un objektīvu iemeslu dēļ (acīmredzot steiga, izdevniecības apstākļi utt.) Endrū Nortone vairākās vietās pieļāvusi nevajadzīgu atkārtošanos, nepatīkamas paskaidrojošas piezīmes, sižeta neat­bilstību. Tagad atstājam lasītāju vienatnē ar stāstu un ce­ram, ka viņam tas sagādās tādu pašu prieku kā mums. A. Sirugackis, B. Strugackis

The first novel in "Solar Queen" series, followed by Plague Ship, Postmarked the Stars and others. The novel follows Dane Thorson, a newbie apprentice cargo master on board of a Free Trader spaceship Solar Queen, and his adventures on a recently discovered planet

Dan Thorson był świeżo upieczonym absolwentem akademii kształcącej obsługę statków kosmicznych. Jednak nie trafił na statek żadnej z prestiżowych kompanii handlowych. Komputer zaoferował mu los wolnego pośrednika. Będąc najmłodszym członkiem załogi statku „Królowa Słońca”, Dan trafia na planetę z tajemniczą przeszłością by rozwiać mroki jej teraźniejszości

Eydrth is a Master Songsmith... who has no magic. She will do anything to save her father from the evil that has stolen his mind. But the paths to the magic of the Witch World are many—and to save the ones you love, the truest magic must come from the heart

Kaththea the Sorceress called forth a power such as no longer existed on the distant planet known as the Witch World. It was a power so great that it could destroy all that she loved best - and might even prove to be a greater evil than the shadow itself. Yet there could be no other choice for Kaththea than to call on Hilarion in the death-naming. For she was a witch deprived of power and she needed a guide to regain her lost skills and her lost world. There was only this ancient one, the opener of gates, with force mighty enough

When Raf Kurbi's Terran spaceship burst into unexplored skies of the far planet Astra and was immediately made welcome by the natives of a once-mighty metropolis, Kurbi was unaware of three vital things: One was that Astra already harbored an Earth colony—descended from refugees from the world of the previous century. Two was that these men and women were facing the greatest danger of their existence from a new outburst of the inhuman fiends who had once tyrannized Astra. Three was that the natives who were buying Kurbi's science know-how were those very fiends—and their intentions were implacably deadly for all humans, whether Earth born or STAR BORN. It's an Andre Norton space adventure—and therefore the tops in its field!

The Throg task force struck the Terran survey camp a few minutes after dawn, without warning, and with a deadly precision which argued that the aliens had fully reconnoitered and prepared that attack. Eye-searing lances of energy lashed back and forth across the base with methodical accuracy. And a single cowering witness, flattened on a ledge in the heights above, knew that when the last of those yellow-red bolts fell, nothing human would be left alive down there. And so Shann Lantee, most menial of the Terrans attached to the camp on the planet Warlock, was left alone and weaponless in the strange, hostile world, the human prey of the aliens from space and the aliens on the ground alike

Born into a family with magical powers, Aisling is a young witch who fights to protect her homeland of Kars. Unfortunately, the biggest threat to Kars is her older brother, Kirion, who has chosen to use his powers for evil, and years ago forced Aisling into exile. Since Aisling’s departure, Kirion has tightened his hold on Shastro, the Duke of Kars. Through Shastro, Kirion’s dark influence works to subjugate the entire realm. With her younger brother Keelan helping her, Aisling returns, in disguise, to undermine Kirion’s power and defeat the evil duke. But as Aisling gets closer to Shastro, the Duke takes a liking to her, and she finds herself questioning her mission. But when a neighboring clan lays siege to Kars, Aisling and Keelan realize they must act, lest Kirion bring even more death and suffering to Kars’ loyal subjects than he has already caused. Using all the magic, persistence and ingenuity she can summon, Aisling must somehow find a way to avoid the attention of her dangerous older brother, save the people from his murderous sorcery, and return to their Dukedom the peace and prosperity it once knew

Space-opera heroines, gender-bending aliens, post-apocalyptic pregnancies, changeling children, interplanetary battles of the sexes, and much more: a groundbreaking new collection of classic American science fiction by women from the 1920s to the 1960s SF-expert Lisa Yaszek presents the biggest and best survey of the female tradition in American science fiction ever published, a thrilling collection of twenty-five classic tales. From Pulp Era pioneers to New Wave experimentalists, here are over two dozen brilliant writers ripe for discovery and rediscovery, including Leslie F. Stone, Judith Merril, Leigh Brackett, Kit Reed, Joanna Russ, James Tiptree Jr., and Ursula K. Le Guin. Imagining strange worlds and unexpected futures, looking into and beyond new technologies and scientific discoveries, in utopian fantasies and tales of cosmic horror, these women created and shaped speculative fiction as surely as their male counterparts. Their provocative, mind-blowing stories combine to form a thrilling multidimensional voyage of literary-feminist exploration and recovery

She was the guardian of the worlds, but HER world was dead

All of Witch World knows to fear the hated, fire-eyed Keplian horses who lure riders to their deaths. All that is, save for one young Native American girl new to Witch World, who rescues a Keplian mare and her foal and discovers an awesome truth—the Keplians were created to serve light, not darkness, and to ride with humans. This is the first in a new trilogy

The witches summon the mighty to Es: Lord Tregarth and his wife, Jaelithe; War Marshal Koris and Lady Loyse of Gorm; the famed adept Hilarion and sorceress Kaththea Tregarth; Dahaun of Green Valley; and many others of power. Allies and former enemies face a crisis greater than the Turning, a treat worse than the Kolder, and apocalypse beyond the Great Disaster

The offspring of Simon Tregarth, half earthling, half witch-brood, realized that they alone could perceive the four directions-for everyone else, there was no East! It was a blank in the mind, a blank in legend and history. And when new menaces threatened, the Tregarths realized that in that mental barrier there lay the key to all their worldsomewhere to the unknown eastward must lie the sorcery that had secretly molded their destinies!

In this long-awaited continuation of Andre Norton's famous Witch World fantasy saga, the past and the future merge as THE LOST BATTLE OF WITCH WORLD is fought again - but this time, it must be won! For as ancient heroes walk again by day, so do ancient evils - and it is up to Yonan the weakling, and Crytha, the untrained witch-girl, to halt the Forces of Darkness by the power of the SWORD OF ICE, the SWORD OF SHADOW... and one sword more

"From between the two shuffling dancers padded something on four feet. The canine-feline creature was more than just a head; it was a loose-limbed, graceful body fully eight feet in length, and the red eyes in the prick-eared head were those of a killer.... Words issued from between those curved fangs, words which Dane might not understand.... "Dane slid his blade out surreptitiously, setting its point against the palm of his hand and jabbing painfully; but the terrible creature continued to advance.... There was no blurring of its lines...." Dane Thorson of the space-ship Solar Queen knew there was only one way to win out over this hideous thing — a battle to the end between his rational mind and the hypnotic witchcraft of Lumbrilo, the mental wizard of the planet Khatka

Kyllan the warrior, Kaththea the untried witch, Kemoc, whose powers could surpass all others- these are the half-Earthling, half witch-brood family menaced by the sorceries of an unknown enemy. The burden of the struggle fell to Kemoc, who was forced to summon his untested powers in the battle to match the alien evil threatening the Witch World

Andre Norton enthralled readers for decades with thrilling tales of people challenged to the limits of their endurance in epic battles of good against evil. None are more memorable than her Witch World novels. Simon Tregarth, a man from our own world, escapes his doom through the gates to the Witch World. There he aids the witch Jaelithe’s escape from the hounds of Alizon, only to find himself embroiled in a deeper war against an even deadlier foe: the Kolder. Nominated for Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1964