Rereading: STORM OVER WARLOCK

© Andre Norton estate. Cover artist probably Ed Emshwiller.

I was a big fan of Andre Norton's books when I was in grade school. First, there were very few science fiction books in our school library, about half of them were by Norton. Second, they were entertaining reading, adventure stories with a dose of SF or Fantasy or both, the lead character usually a male teenager with some sort of problem, a misfit. This suited me perfectly. The fact that many of her stories featured animals and survival in harsh outdoor environments made them even more attractive.

I have quite a few Norton books on my shelves, but it's been decades since I read one. At some point they lost their charm for me. This was one of my favorites, my paperback copy is well-used, so I thought I'd reread it to see how I liked it now.

Shann Lantee is a Norton misfit, a boy from an impoverished background who has managed to land an assignment on an Earth ship sent to prepare a distant world for colonization. He's assigned to care for two wolverines, used for tracking and hunting. And they're a handful, they keep escaping. While he's out trying to bring the beasts back to the Earther camp, it's destroyed by a Throg warship. The Throgs are an insectoid species who also want this world, and they've tried to wipe out the Earthers to get it. By chance, Shann escapes them with the Wolverines, and later meets up with a higher-ranked Earther, Thorvald, whose ship has crashed in the desert outside camp. The two men and two beasts plan a revenge attack on the Throgs, but it's only partially successful, and then they're on the run from vicious trackers.

Another interesting element is dreams both are having, leading them toward the coast, and when they reach it, Thorvald is led away, stranding Shann on an island where he eventually meets the previously unknown natives of this world. And then his most difficult tests begin!

I'd forgotten a lot of this, and so was able to enjoy reading it again. The part I remembered best turned out to be only one brief scene, where Shann is presented with what seems to be a favorite pet from his childhood, brought back to life. I guess that resonated strongly with my younger self. In general, this is an exciting story with a good number of surprising plot twists and a satisfying resolution. It's also subtly laced with wisdom about many things. I'd give it to any teenage boy and expect them to enjoy it. Recommended.