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From the Sea to the Stars
Publisher's Note: From the Sea to the Stars was originally published in parts as Sea Siege and Star Gate. This is the first time both novels have appeared together.
Sea Siege: The nuclear war had come at last and the research team on an island in the West Indies thought they had been lucky to survive. But survival was going to require more than luck, when they found themselves under attack by sea creatures out of darkest legend, directed by a malevolent intelligence from the depths of the sea.
Star Gate: Long ago, the Star Lords had come from a dying Earth to Gorth, where they helped the inhabitants build a civilization. Now some of the Lords have resumed wandering among the stars, but others have decided to travel through an interdimensional gate to another Gorth in a parallel universe. And when they find that in this universe the Star Lords from Earth conquered and enslaved the people of Gorth, their course is clear. They must battle their counterparts to free Gorth--even if it means their own destruction.
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (DRM Rights Management).
Sea Siege: The nuclear war had come at last and the research team on an island in the West Indies thought they had been lucky to survive. But survival was going to require more than luck, when they found themselves under attack by sea creatures out of darkest legend, directed by a malevolent intelligence from the depths of the sea.
Star Gate: Long ago, the Star Lords had come from a dying Earth to Gorth, where they helped the inhabitants build a civilization. Now some of the Lords have resumed wandering among the stars, but others have decided to travel through an interdimensional gate to another Gorth in a parallel universe. And when they find that in this universe the Star Lords from Earth conquered and enslaved the people of Gorth, their course is clear. They must battle their counterparts to free Gorth--even if it means their own destruction.
At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (DRM Rights Management).
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
About the author
Andre Norton
728 books1,452 followersAndre Norton, born Alice Mary Norton, was a pioneering American author of science fiction and fantasy, widely regarded as the Grande Dame of those genres. She also wrote historical and contemporary fiction, publishing under the pen names Andre Alice Norton, Andrew North, and Allen Weston. She launched her career in 1934 with The Prince Commands, adopting the name “Andre” to appeal to a male readership. After working for the Cleveland Library System and the Library of Congress, she began publishing science fiction under “Andrew North” and fantasy under her own name. She became a full-time writer in 1958 and was known for her prolific output, including Star Man’s Son, 2250 A.D. and Witch World, the latter spawning a long-running series and shared universe. Norton was a founding member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America and authored Quag Keep, the first novel based on the Dungeons & Dragons game. She influenced generations of writers, including Lois McMaster Bujold and Mercedes Lackey. Among her many honors were being the first woman named Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy and SFWA Grand Master. In her later years, she established the High Hallack Library to support research in genre fiction. Her legacy continues with the Andre Norton Award for young adult science fiction and fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 11, 2021
I had a good impression of Andre Norton previously, as a solid writer with decent if not outstanding stories (e.g. Plague Ship). This double edition was a bit of a disappointment.
The book contains two completely separate novels (from very different fictional universes). Both seem to be mostly addressed to the juvenile/young adult market, with young male heroes on the border to manhood (whatever that means). The first novel, Sea Siege is set in the near future (from the publication date, 1957) and is a kind of semi-realistic atomic horror scenario. A small team of scientists, a group of natives, and a convenient group of Navy Seabees on a Caribbean island are attacked by the radioactive denizens of the deep (plesiosaurs and octopuses). At the same time, there may or may not be an all-out nuclear war going on. And that's about the story, including the missing resolution. The writing is reasonably competent, if a bit slower than we are used to today. But the plotting is atrocious.
Star Gate (1958), in contrast, is a Science Fantasy story, set in some far future. The eponymous device turns out to be not going to the stars, but to different realities, and our young hero (not quite human) and a team of "Star Lords" (probably fully human) go to the Star Trek mirror universe, and liberate the natives from the evil twin version of the Star Lords. The plotting is a bit more consistent, and the ending is a bit more satisfactory, but it's not a great novel.
Both books feel very pedestrian, written in a hurry to a contract specification, and without any serious editing after the first draft. They may offer an interesting look into the pulp era book production process, and Sea Siege, while the weaker book, impresses with the threat (if realised or not) of a world-wide nuclear war. But overall, these are hardly worth the time.
The book contains two completely separate novels (from very different fictional universes). Both seem to be mostly addressed to the juvenile/young adult market, with young male heroes on the border to manhood (whatever that means). The first novel, Sea Siege is set in the near future (from the publication date, 1957) and is a kind of semi-realistic atomic horror scenario. A small team of scientists, a group of natives, and a convenient group of Navy Seabees on a Caribbean island are attacked by the radioactive denizens of the deep (plesiosaurs and octopuses). At the same time, there may or may not be an all-out nuclear war going on. And that's about the story, including the missing resolution. The writing is reasonably competent, if a bit slower than we are used to today. But the plotting is atrocious.
Star Gate (1958), in contrast, is a Science Fantasy story, set in some far future. The eponymous device turns out to be not going to the stars, but to different realities, and our young hero (not quite human) and a team of "Star Lords" (probably fully human) go to the Star Trek mirror universe, and liberate the natives from the evil twin version of the Star Lords. The plotting is a bit more consistent, and the ending is a bit more satisfactory, but it's not a great novel.
Both books feel very pedestrian, written in a hurry to a contract specification, and without any serious editing after the first draft. They may offer an interesting look into the pulp era book production process, and Sea Siege, while the weaker book, impresses with the threat (if realised or not) of a world-wide nuclear war. But overall, these are hardly worth the time.
October 5, 2010
Sea Siege, the first in this two-book collection, is one of my favorite Norton books in many ways. Her use of language, her immersion into the culture and people, her obvious love and knowledge of her subject...I drank this in with glee. Why not a five-star? Because it just sort of stops rather than ending. But go into it forewarned, and love it for what it is...
August 9, 2011
Every time I get my hands on Andre Norton's books, I feel like dragon hoarding treasure. I just want to gather them all up and show them off - you can look and admire all you want - but they are mine, mine, mine, and I'll kill you if you touch what's mine.
Er, yes, well, no - not really.
Hm. I've never let anyone touch them at any rate, once I've got them. Heh. I, er, blame the sea serpent upon the cover?
Sea Siege: nukes of WW1/WW2 era stir up the monsters out of the depths and the world is rearranged to suit the sea and it's many creatures...it's a fallout that no one expected, to be sure. It reminded me a bit of Jonny Quest, the boy, his genius father, his adventures. The scuba diving was fun.
Star Gate: oh, this one, this one the Star Lords are humans, and they use Star Gates taking what half-Gorthian children were born to what they hope will be a better Gorth - what they find is something out of the Star Lord's nightmares. I quite liked this, that on a alien world we got into a alien's head. Andre Norton does wonderful world building, in that not only do you see the past and present of that world she writes - but the alternate histories and religions of it too - I liked that in the end the Star Lords and their children went on to use the Star Gates to find and better other "lost" worlds that would need them.
Er, yes, well, no - not really.
Hm. I've never let anyone touch them at any rate, once I've got them. Heh. I, er, blame the sea serpent upon the cover?
Sea Siege: nukes of WW1/WW2 era stir up the monsters out of the depths and the world is rearranged to suit the sea and it's many creatures...it's a fallout that no one expected, to be sure. It reminded me a bit of Jonny Quest, the boy, his genius father, his adventures. The scuba diving was fun.
Star Gate: oh, this one, this one the Star Lords are humans, and they use Star Gates taking what half-Gorthian children were born to what they hope will be a better Gorth - what they find is something out of the Star Lord's nightmares. I quite liked this, that on a alien world we got into a alien's head. Andre Norton does wonderful world building, in that not only do you see the past and present of that world she writes - but the alternate histories and religions of it too - I liked that in the end the Star Lords and their children went on to use the Star Gates to find and better other "lost" worlds that would need them.
March 10, 2015
Two novels in one volume. The first one, Sea Siege, is set on a West Indian island with looming atomic war and strange creatures appearing in the sea... and attacking! It's exciting with great characters and a wonderful setup. On its own, I would give this novel 5 stars. The second, Star Gate, is set on the planet Gorth and is a story of the native Gorthians and the Star Lords, visitors from another world who have mostly left by the time the story opens. It is the story of Kincar, a Gorthian, discovering who he really is and, in the process, joining the battle on a parallel Gorth where the Star Lords were not so benevolent. I found it a little slow to start, but the world building is meticulous and the characters well-drawn. It builds to an exciting climax and, on its own, would have been given 4 stars. You can't really go wrong with anything written by Andre Norton. So start building your collection now :)
October 22, 2012
It's been many years since I read either "Sea Siege" or "Star Gate", and the years have not been kind. The juvenile nature of the stories left them lacking in substance for the mature man reading them now. I don't regret it, but I guess you really, can't go home againn.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews