SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I am looking for a recommendation on where to start with Andre Norton. I want something that feels representative of her style and type of work. I'm okay reading anything on the SFF spectrum, do not prefer a lot of romance if that's at all helpful. I had selected Witch World or Zero Stone as they seemed to be quite popular, but I'm informed they might not be very indicative of her writing.

Thanks in advance for your help!

You should start with The Elvenbane. That's the start of the Halfblood Chronicles. If you decide to read this, I'll be up for a re-read. I love this series.

That's not her solo work though. I'd also like to try Andre Norton's books but I didn't like Mercedes Lackey's work.

I really like Lackey's Valdemar books. I'm not sure if I have read anything by just Andre Norton. Not everything I read is on GR so it's not easy to check. Most of the books that I really enjoyed are ones where she co-authored.

I am thinking that I mostly read Beast Master books. Whatever was in the school library in the early 70s.

Moon of Three Rings is one of my favorite novels.

Soo wrote: "I really like Lackey's Valdemar books. I'm not sure if I have read anything by just Andre Norton. Not everything I read is on GR so it's not easy to check. Most of the books that I really enjoyed a..."

Didn't even realize that Norton was part of Lackey! This is a learning AND reading adventure.

LoL They are two different people. The Halfblood Chronicles are written by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey.

I read a huge portion of Lackey's Valdemar books. Several of them are my favorites.

Soo wrote: "LoL They are two different people. The Halfblood Chronicles are written by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey.

I read a huge portion of Lackey's Valdemar books. Several of them are my favorites."

Ah okay. Yeah, Valdemar is on my list. And so are several Norton books. But basically the advice so far here is "read everything Andre Norton has written." So are none of them, like, acquired tastes? Or less well-loved?

I realized that most of the books I read by her are ones that are co-authored with other writers. I put it on my list to change that when I can. Probably try to read her Beast Master. Took a look earlier and she has a lot of cool books. It's a matter of finding one that catches your interest. =)

I will have to go back and figure out what I want to read by her too. =D

I recommend starting with The Zero Stone. That's where I started, anyway, and became an Andre Norton fan.

Okay. Better question. We have:

The Beast Master : Left homeless by the war that reduced Terra to a radioactive cinder, Hosteen Storm Navaho commando and master of beasts is drawn to the planet Arzor, to kill a man he has never met.

On that dangerous frontier world, aliens and human colonists share the land in an uneasy truce. But something is upsetting the balance, and Storm is caught in the middle. He had thought the war was over but was it?

The Zero Stone:

A mysterious stone, born of worlds long extinct, is the key to powers unimaginable to man—powers that could enable its owners to control the universe. Murdoc Jern, gem trader, finds that possession of the stone has led him to the center of a web of intrigue and murder.

With his companion Eet, an inscrutable feline mutant with phenomenal ESP powers, he is hunted through space, coming finally to a long forgotten planet inhabited by apelike "sniffers." There, facing the predatory sniffers, the antagonistic Patrol and the laser-guns of the Thieves' Guild, Murdoc must seek the source of the Zero Stone and bargain for his right to pursue his destiny as a free man.

Moon of Three Rings:
At the time of the Moon of Three Rings, the galactic trade ship Lydis lands on the planet Yiktor. On Yiktor, Krip Vorlund, a junior crew member, seeks amusement at a beast show. He is strangely attracted to the owner of the show animals, a delicate and mysterious woman, Maelen. When Vorlund is kidnapped by a Combine seeking to control the planet, he learns too well the nature of Maelen's sorcery; she transforms him into a wolfish creature, in which form he retains his own soul.

Between them -- Krip and Maelen -- they spin an eerie tale of dreams and visions, of metamorphoses and extrasensory perception, of timelessness and limitlessness

And

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.

(Soo, Elvenbane looks good but I do want to try Lackey and Norton by themselves first!)

So. Anyone interested in reading one of these? They all sound good to me, though I think I'm most interested in Zero Stone, Moon of Three Rings and Witch World to start.

Bruce wrote: "I recommend starting with The Zero Stone. That's where I started, anyway, and became an Andre Norton fan."

Love the Zero Stone! I'm looking for a good copy now.

Ok. I'm sorry. My dealer bookseller just contacted me and I'm losing my MIND cause he got some good crack Norton books from the Ace years.

O_O

*runs around in circles*

Whatever you do, do NOT start with Quag Keep.

Ok. I always suggest Witch World. I love some Witch World but want to note that Norton writes differently than modern authors.

Shes not big on infodumps, too. I mostly see those in her co-authored works - not so much in her own. This isn't a big deal except her WW works all build upon each other regarding the mythos.

Witch World is book #1 and where its best to start. Unless you are looking for some explanations. If that's the case, I suggest starting with The Key of the Keplian and theres a ton of info dumping there. The biggest issue I have with starting there is geographically and chronology based - the reader has not as much of a clue what the entire journey means in the context of the world's internal timeline BUT there's so much detail given I still suggest it to people who need answers.

colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "Whatever you do, do NOT start with Quag Keep."

I disagree to a point. Quag Keep is historically important and if someone wanted to read the first D&D novelization, this is it.

Allison wrote: "Okay. Better question. We have:

The Beast Master : Left homeless by the war that reduced Terra to a radioactive cinder, Hosteen Storm Navaho commando and master of beasts is drawn to..."

I'm down for a read of any of those. I think I'd like to try Moon of the Three Rings again. It's been quite some time. BUt the same with Zero Stone and Witch World (book 1). So... yes. lol

MrsJoseph wrote: "Ok. I'm sorry. My dealer bookseller just contacted me and I'm losing my MIND cause he got some good crack Norton books from the Ace years.

O_O

*runs around in circles*"

haha! Mm that's a good feeling. I'm jonesing right now. My library got a book in but is closed today, so I have to think of it turning slowly to dust on a shelf behind the desk...

hnnng!

What are you getting? Thanks for the info on Witch World and Zero Stone. I don't love infodumps, so this is good to know.

MrsJoseph wrote: "I'm down for a read of any of those. I think I'd like to try Moon of the Three Rings again. It's been quite some time. BUt the same with Zero Stone and Witch World (book 1). So... yes. lol "

lol! okay, i'll read them all three simultaneously. Audio book, braille and print ;-)

Allison wrote: "haha! Mm that's a good feeling. I'm jonesing right now. My library got a book in but is closed today, so I have to think of it turning slowly to dust on a shelf behind the desk...

hnnng!

What are you getting? Thanks for the info on Witch World and Zero Stone. I don't love infodumps, so this is good to know."

That sucks about the library. :(

IDK yet. I'm getting pics right now. It looks like a long list. My book budget for 2017? Totally blown. In fact, it looks like it got hit with a nuke. Between this and SP, I'm toast.

Most of Norton's work are a great read, keeping in mind that her career has spanned a long time though, if you're looking for her 'distinctive style' I'd be more inclined to read her earlier work.

Sargasso Of Space is good solid sci-fi (though the second book "plague ship" is the better one in the series.

Allison wrote: "I am looking for a recommendation on where to start with Andre Norton. I want something that feels representative of her style and type of work. I'm okay reading anything on the SFF spectrum, do no..."
I'm not sure I agree that Witch World or Zero Stone are not representative of her work. Both are excellent stories and as you said, some of her most popular. If you still want other suggestions, I agree that the Beastmaster series is very good, and so are her Crosstime and Moon Singer books.

Michael wrote: "I'm not sure I agree that Witch World or Zero Stone are not representative of her work. Both are excellent stories and as you said, some of her most popular."

Agreed. These are both excellent places to start. I began my Norton love affair with The Zero Stone, too. Its a childhood favorite.

I will try to join the books. All of these sound good to me. Though, I think I remember trying to read Witch World a long time ago and not being engaged by it immediately.

Executive decision!

I'll be reading Zero Stone first. I have 2 books in front of me, so that's likely going to take me through next week. We can have a discussion starting around the week of 8/13?

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and advice! I've added way too many books to my TBR, and you're all to blame ;-)

Soo wrote: "I will try to join the books. All of these sound good to me. Though, I think I remember trying to read Witch World a long time ago and not being engaged by it immediately."

It's pretty old school. But I love it. Witch World is based off of The Siege Perilous.

For you Horror lovers, Stephen King and Norton have something in common: they both have stories based around Childe Roland. King went the Browning route and created The Dark Tower, his Magnum Opus. Norton went the fairytale route and wrote Warlock of the Witch World which became part of what is considered her Magnum Opus.

Back then, I was a kid. =D Man, 80's when I started Norton, Lackey, King, Piers, etc.

I devoured all the book flaps to see what I would like to read and I just didn't find it that interesting. Like I said, most of the stuff I read by Norton are co-authored pieces. I bet I have Witch World in paperback. Should check my shelves.

When libraries started to have a separate section for Sci-Fi/Fantasy, the range of genres for my reading totally slimmed down to that section. =)

Unless I was in a mood for horror and then I had to go hunting again. Though all of my book hunt adventures always lead to a fun tangent of some sort.

Soo wrote: "Back then, I was a kid. =D Man, 80's when I started Norton, Lackey, King, Piers, etc.

I devoured all the book flaps to see what I would like to read and I just didn't find it that interesting. Li..."

Piers! Yes, I did him, too.

I find him to be unique in that he answers fan mail. I have several letters from him from that time frame. Made him special to me. :-D

Allison wrote: "Executive decision!

I'll be reading Zero Stone first. I have 2 books in front of me, so that's likely going to take me through next week. We can have a discussion starting around the week of 8/13?..."

Ok! That'll work! I'm gonna get started with the zero stone soon!

That's pretty cool! I became mail buddies with a romance author that I wrote to for a good chunk of teens to 20's. I got a reply from Neil Gaiman on American Gods. No idea if that was him or an assistant but it was still cool. =D

There was another another that I wrote and got a response from but I can't remember right now. The frailty of memory.

Can't forget Bujold, Card, Clive Barker and -- ya know, if I try to write all the authors I read as a kid I'll be writing for a long time. =D

I'm probably booked on books but will try to join in if I can manage it.

I am in for Zero Stone! Andre Norton is my second most read author in my list. I couldn't get enough of her books when I was growing up. I tended to read more of her sci-fi vs the fantasy but I loved them all.

Witch World is the book that started my sci-fi/fantasy obsession. It was the first book I chose and bought with my own money without parents involved, clearly a memorable experience 100 years later.

Hank wrote: "I am in for Zero Stone! Andre Norton is my second most read author in my list. I couldn't get enough of her books when I was growing up. I tended to read more of her sci-fi vs the fantasy but I lov..."

This story had it all! I felt like I watched the Hank character learn and mature, and there were a couple of soft moments and laughter!

I'll look for/create a Zero Stone side read next week :-)

Allison wrote: "This story had it all! I felt like I watched the Hank character learn and mature, and there were a couple of soft moments and laughter!
"

Finished already?

MrsJoseph wrote: "Allison wrote: "This story had it all! I felt like I watched the Hank character learn and mature, and there were a couple of soft moments and laughter!
"

Finished already?"

Ha! No, I meant Hank's post. I laughed, I said "aw" like a sitcom audience, I cheered him on...

No, I forgot my library closes at 6 on Thursdays, so I am stuck reading the book I have until tomorrow now. Not only am I Norton-less, I'm stuck with a nympho Druid who is not Mycroft Canner for another 24 hours.

Hahahahhaha- I love your take on Hounded. Hahahahahha

Funny! Both your take on my post and the one on Hounded.

Catseye is one I return to time and again. I'm not sure why, but it's one that always makes me think about it afterwards.

These all look really interesting! I am hoping I like Zero Stone enough to get to try them out. I especially like how many seem to have animals in them :-)

I am extra hopeful that I like Zero Stone because it is not offered through my library, and I will therefore be buying it.

Note to self: Next time we go on power-crazed book rampages, check that the book is available first.

Allison wrote: "Note to self: Next time we go on power-crazed book rampages, check that the book is available first. "

LOL!