Flight of Vengeance

Witch World Series 3: The Turning #2

by Andre Norton, P.M. Griffin, Mary H. Schaub

The Witch World is Grand Master Andre Norton's bestselling fantasy series. In STORMS OF VICTORY she began the most ambitious undertaking of her long and storied career, bringing to life the turbulent and pivotal events of the Witch World's greatest crisis. FLIGHT OF VENGEANCE is the book that Witch World fans have long awaited. Here, in two full-length novels, are the awesome power and terrible consequences of THE TURNING, told by the people whose lives were utterly changed by this cataclysmic event. "Exile" is the story of two outcasts thrust together by a monumental feat of magic, worked by the combined force of all the witches of Escarp to move mountains. The witches stopped the invasion by Pagar of Karsten, but their effort cost the witches dearly, killing many and striking powerless many others. A great upheaval uprooted families, destroyed nations, and wreaked havoc on the face of the world, unleashing powers thought long dead and gone. Exile is, most of all, the tale of Nolar, a witch who couldn't find her power until all others lost theirs. Magically summoned to rescue another, she discovered an enemy who, in his mind, would become a friend. "Falcon Hope" is the story of the Dalesfolk of Sea Keep and the falconers they hire to defend themselves. In crisis, the falcon band find themselves fighting with, instead of against, other Witch Worlders to defend one small part of their world against an otherworldly enemy.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction

419 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 1992

About the author

Andre 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.

Reviews

[Magill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not entirely clear why the title of this book was "Flight of Vengeance" except for an alliterative connection to "Storms of Victory", and neither title reflects the stories within.

2 stories, the 2nd completing Seakeep, called Falcon Hope. A lot of explanations and descriptions, some violent deaths and several narrative digressions. I think it would have had rather more energy as a short story by focusing on the essentials.

The 1st story was also rather draggy, falling into the travelling trope, and lacking an overall focus as it tried to jam as much about witch world and cram as many people into it as possible. The overall concept was fine but the approach and style watered down the intensity needed to drive the story - like a mishmash of food presented covered in hollandaise. Andre Norton would have written a spare and sharp-edged narrative, a well-seasoned steak that could stand alone.

[Adena Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors are known to be classic science fiction authors and this collection proves that yet again. My imagination was caught and held by the novellas by Andre Norton and PM Griffin, whose characters are vividly portrayed and whose quests draw the reader into their activities. This is epic fantasy which is truly epically fantastic.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stories. Bad production.

Another 2 good Witch World stories in this volume, but again, Open Road Media did a bad job producing the ebook. There aren't as many spelling & punctuation errors as there were in the last volume, but still an annoying amount.

[George Polansky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The adjustment to the Turning continues. Great characters and storyline

[Sabin Harshberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good characters great stories.

[Virginia Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and inriguing

Love these characters. They are drawn with real feelings and attitudes consistent with how real people could be expected to behave is similar situations.

[Valerie]

I considered not getting this book, being morally opposed to vengeance, but it contains necessary continuity stories. It also has a map of Estcarp and one of High Hallack in the front--but so do many other Witch World books.

I wish they would put tables of contents in these diptych books. Ok, so there're only two stories (with framing introductions)--but there's no guide to where the 2nd story starts. The 1st story, btw, is about the quest for the Stone of Konnard.

A logical move would be to combine the 2nd story in this book ("Falcon Hope") with the earlier story it's a continuation of (in Storms of Victory). Somebody may've done this, but I haven't seen it.

I have a special fondness for stories about Lormt, the primary archive of the Witch World. Many of these stories paint an attractive picture of a scholarly community. If only they weren't connected with stories of mass murder, I'd be happier.

I should point out that these later books do recognize much of the harm that's done by these wars, including the damage to the economies (and ecologies)of all parties. Missing, however, is the basic realization that in a world with the mixed technologies typical of the Witch World, disease would be a MUCH more prevalent problem than is recognized. Wars involve moving large numbers of people, who are often housed in unsanitary conditions--a perfect cauldron for the incubation and transmission of diseases. And in the Witch World, there's very little in the way of a healing establishment. There are individual Wise Women--mostly self taught. And there are a few witches who specialize in healing: thought they tend not to venture outside their sisterhood. And there's the healing red mud in Escore, though it's not clear how effective that is against disease.

Even in Lormt, indeed, there's very little formal schooling in the healing arts. And the Stone of Konnard is one of the examples of how what's meant to be healing is too often misused. But I'm still not sure that quarantining the healing potential is the best solution.

[Mary Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still amazing

These works about the witch world after the turning are among Andre Norton's best. She has a deft hand with character, plot and story.

[Derek · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a cheat!  The Witch World descends to a new nadir.

One would think from the way vast portions of plot were bypassed by the intervention of a goddess that there was a contract for 'n' pages, and any more could not be tolerated.