Andre Norton

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Since we have been talking about favorite authors, I wanted to create a thread for Andre Norton.

Andre Norton is one of the greatest sci-fi authors and one of the first female sci-fi authors. During a time when women were not able to break into the male dominated sci-fi/fantasy world, Andre Norton changed her name from “Mary Alice” to “Andre” and proceeded to change the face of sci-fi and fantasy. The Grande Dame of Science Fiction and Fantasy, Andre Norton was the first woman to receive the Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy and the Nebula Grand Master Award as well as the first woman to receive Grand Master status with the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. She also has an award named after her: The Andre Norton Award. Some of our favorite SFF writers who cite Andre Norton as their influence are Greg Bear, Lois McMaster Bujold, C. J. Cherryh, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Tanya Huff, Mercedes Lackey, Charles de Lint, Joan D. Vinge, David Weber, K. D. Wentworth, and Catherine Asaro.


While Andre Norton is credited with 300+ published titles (70+ years!), her most well known works are:

The Beast Master - which was made into a movie and the Witch World series that has over 35 works!



Obviously from my gushing, Andre Norton is my favorite author. I am the proud owner of over 22 of her Witch World novels. :- )


Some of my favorite books:
The Key of the Keplian

Perilous Dreams

[Sharon]

MrsJoseph wrote: "Since we have been talking about favorite authors, I wanted to create a thread for Andre Norton.

Andre Norton is one of the greatest sci-fi authors and one of the first female sci-fi authors. D..."

I need to go back and 'revisit' some of Norton's books. I have her Beastmaster series and have always enjoyed those. Have several others on my shelves to re-read as well.

However, for some reason I've never really gotten into her Witch World series, the ones I've read were mostly a "nice one-time read" for me.

[Bill]

I've had mixed feelings about the Norton I've read, mostly Witch World novels.

What do you think are her best novels? Do you think she's as good as Ursula Le Guin. Norton was about 15 when Le Guin was born.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

I've never been able to get into Le Guin's books. They are reather "meh" to me.

I read my first Norton book in elementary school: The Zero Stone. Great sci-fi (for a kid, at least) though I really don't know if it's YA or not. I haven't read it in years (makes note to buy book).

I'm a big fan of the Witch World series - but a lot of the older ones are rather dated. I enjoy it though because I can see the entire world unfold. I think the later books are better for people who don't like dated work. Except for the first few in the series, of course:

Witch World
Web of the Witch World
Three against the Witch World

Newer Ones suggested:
Silver May Tarnish
Ciara's Song: A Chronicle of the Witch World
The Duke's Ballad
The Key of the Keplian - I really like this one, it is the "newcomer" trope but I LOVE it from beginning to end. I've read it this year but think I'll re-read it.
Songsmith
Storms of Victory - Book 1 of The Turning!
Flight of Vengeance - Book 2 of The Turning!
On Wings of Magic - Book 3 of The Turning!

I also love several other books in the series that help to give the mythology of Witch World - but a lot of them are strange for people who aren't fans. Some of them are more like a weird dream Norton had (but they are so good!)

[Cheryl]

I know I read some Andre Norton years ago, but I can't remember now what books they were (too many thousands of books in between!). I don't think I've ever read Witch World, though, so I've added it to my tottering TBR pile.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

I (of course) highly recommend reading her. :-)

[Cheryl]

No! Really, MrsJ? I never would have guessed. :)

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

:-D

[carol. , Senor Crabbypants]

*saunters in whistling* Andre Norton who?

Kidding!!!

Actually, I enjoyed Andre a great deal when I was first reading through her books. I haven't read them in a while, so they'd be an interesting re-read. Which is why I covet MrsJ's collection--it'll be a long haul requesting and checking them all out from the library. :)

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

I spent about a year collecting the series. I scoured Amazon for the best quality used books I could find. I've got some decent vinatge books. :-)

I even created a comprehensive list there: http://www.amazon.com/Andre-Nortons-W...

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Nicki wrote: "Nice list, MrsJ! I'd forgotten Tales of the Witch World 1-3 and Four from the Witch World, so I guess my collection's not quite complete after all. I've got all of the others. Am I right in thinkin..."

Thanks!

Yeah, that's right. She just edited them - there is only one story written by her in those books.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Andre Norton has written so much that I don't even try to keep up, lol.

I read The Zero Stone as a child and thought it ended there. Later I found out that it was part of a series and universe and I had no idea. I bought a different book by her (the name escapes me) and realized it was set in the same universe as The Zero Stone. *face palm*

I still need to finish the Flight in Yiktor series...

[Sharon]

One big advantage to the Internet (for someone who has only had Internet access for 10 years) has been the really good, easily accessible lists of all the authors and all of their various series!

[Sharon]

Yes ... if I was a cell phone user it would be on "speed dial"!

I think that, PaperBackSwap and Amazon are probably the most used links I've got bookmarked ...

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Another great site is fictfact.com. I have a bunch of series tracked there, lol.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

lol!

[Autumn]

One of my favourites by Andre Norton is "Breed to Come", one of the reasons is of course that it's about cats, but I also like the idea of how the different animals evolved into thinking beings after that the humans had left the Earth.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Added

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

The Motion Picture Company, Inc.
NEWS RELEASE

Subject: Andre Norton Broadcast Tribute

BURBANK, CA: The Motion Picture Company, Inc. is honored to announce its participation in the development of a tribute and biography of famed science fiction and fantasy author Andre Norton.

Sue Stewart, literary executor of the Andre Norton Estate, is collaborating with MPCI to produce an hour-long biographical tribute, profiling the prolific author's life story.

Norton was the recipient of several respected honors, including being the first woman to win the Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy Award and the Nebula Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement, the later a title she shared with Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury.

In the early 1950s, Norton broke genre gender barriers with her stories only thought appealed to young male readers. She went on to pen The Beast Master, the Witch World series, and more than 130 other novels in 67 languages during her long career. She operated High Hallack, a library for genre writers, in Murfreesboro, TN, and she provided opportunities for new writers and collaborative efforts with her expanding collection of stories.

The documentary-tribute working title: "THE LADY'S QUILL, A TRIBUTE TO ANDRE NORTON" will scan the early days of Alice Norton, as she began writing children's books, continuing after she changed her name to "Andre" at a publisher's request to be more marketable with readers in fantasy and science fiction. The broadcast will include sound bites of Andre Norton interviews from friends and other famous authors in the genre, and personal insights of her private life.

MPCI will begin pre-production and development of the documentary with further announcements on March 17, 2011, the six-year anniversary of Norton's death at age 93. Clips, photos, and interviews of Norton are being cataloged. Many other authors and friends from around the globe will be participating with on-camera comments as they share stories and remembrances of the Lady and her Quill.

-0-


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO ALL MEDIAS
DATE: FEBRUARY 21, 2011

For additional information contact:
John Cummings
Chairman/Producer MPCI
818.480.4001 ext. 101
jcc@tmpc.us

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Without question, Andre was a very special person, not only in her storytelling, but with her support to writer’s around the globe. Andre and I were friends for 30 years, I would listen to her, amazed how such “worlds” were conjured up in this sweet lady with a soft voice.

The documentary is being designed and constructed now. MPC is planning to record ‘testimonials’ from close friends and known authors who knew Andre during Dragon Con in September. The documentary is scheduled to be completed and air on the anniversary of her 100th birthday in February, 2012.

I’ll note and log your interest regarding the request, please feel free to continue this dialog with me as we continue to develop the project.

John

JC Cummings Sr.
Founder/Chairman MPCI
jcc@tmpci.com
818.480.4001 ext. 101 Burbank
407.560.FILM (3456) ext. 101 Orlando
Skype:tmpci1

[Jack]

I'm new to this group. I have long been an Andre Norton fan. I know how prolific she was. She was kind enough to write to me personally here in England in 1985 after I had optimistically written to her asking her about her influences and about some of her books. The letter is a treasure - badly hand-typed but signed by her and very much a response to my letter. I've got only about 75 of her books - they aren't so easy to obtain in England - the results of searching second-hand book shops and raiding libraries whenever they put her hardbacks on their "for sale" shelf. Sadly I have to part with the whole collection becuase of a house move but I am so reluctant to give them to a charity shop. I want to sell them to someone who actually knows Andre Norton's writing and appreciates it - but I have no idea where to start!