I’m
a longtime fan of Andre Norton. So long a time that I picked up many of her
novels as first editions. Despite this, like the first volume in this series
the editor(s) managed to track down many stories and poems I have never
read.
The
first entries are short poems:
Freedom
Omniumgathum Poems
Cats
Song of the Barbarian
Swordsman
The Last Cohort
And
the remainder are short stories – several of which were originally published in
the Catfantastic anthologies.
·
Swamp Dweller [Magic in Ithkar (1985) TOR]
This
is a lovely high fantasy piece where good confronts evil and the players call
upon Powers – and are used in turn by those Powers.
Get
Out of My Dream! [Perilous Dreams
(1976) DAW]
This is an elegant
SF story set in the same universe as her Toys of Tamisan – the planet Ty-Kry
and the Hive of the Dreamers who can create shared dreams. The plot line plays
with a concept that Norton explored frequently; that of multiple realities and
effecting changes via the actions of the protagonists. In the words of the
hero: “There are dimensions upon dimensions, worlds upon worlds. Belief can add
to their reality. I say that this is
the Benold which foreshadows the Benold that is now.”
Of the Shaping of Ulm’s Heir [Tales of the Witch World (1987) TOR]
This
is a High Hallack story and is the precursor to her Crystal Gryphon novel. It
works as a stand-alone story but I do recommend the novel [and the association
books as well.]
Rider
on a Mountain [Friends of the Horseclans
(1987) Signet]
This
story is set in the post-apocalyptic world of Robert Adams’ Horseclans books. It
comes complete with a brave heroine aided by mind-speaking horse and a hunting
cat with attitude. Norton does excellent justice to the world while still
writing very much in her own style. You don’t have to have read any of the
Horseclans books to appreciate the story.
The
Silent One [Chilled to the Bone
(1991) Mayfair Games]
A
stand alone ghost story with a creepiness level similar to her ‘By A Hair’
[available in the first Tales of High Hallack volume.]
The Nabob’s Gift [Hallows Eve: Tales of Love and the Supernatural (1992) Walker]
The
Halloween version of a Regency Romance and surprising successful.
Nine
Threads of Gold [After the King
(1992) TOR]
Another
truly excellent high fantasy story of nine children, the flotsam of war, come
together in old safe-place and woman of power they draw to themselves. A woman
of powers who weaves the potential of the small band into a power for good.
A
Very Dickensy Christmas [The Magic
of Christmas (1992) Penguin/Roc]
A
Christmas ghost story with a touch of romance.
Noble
Warrior [Catfantastic (1989) DAW]
The
remaining stories all concern the adventures of Noble Warrior [Thragun Neklop],
a beautiful Siamese cat raised in the palaces and temples of Siam to be both protector
and defender. Thragun is sent to Emmy by her distant father. Things are not
good for Emmy. She is subjugated and crushed by the oppressive Miss Wyker who
has taken over the household by taking advantage of her great-aunt’s illness. Thragun,
who the evil Miss Wyker tries to have killed immediately after his arrival, is
hard put to protect his Emmy – but protection is what he learned at his
mother’s side and protect her he will.
Hob’s
Pot [Catfantastic II (1991) DAW]
The
adventures continue with the return of Emmy’s father and the discovery of a
cursed teapot. Of course the silly humans don’t realize the depths of its evil
so it is left to Thragun to deal with the threat. After all, he thought, this
was his palace; he was the guard…
Noble
Warrior Meets with a Ghost [Catfantastic
III (1994) DAW]
Thragun
is kidnapped and must fight to free himself from a mad wizard. His efforts are
aided by a feline ghost…
Noble
Warrior, Teller of Fortunes [Catfantastic
IV (1996) DAW]
Thragun’s
journey to return to his own Princess Emmy takes him to a group of gypsies who
recognize his powers.
Noble
Warrior and the “Gentleman” [Catfantastic
V (1999) DAW]
When
Emmy’s father inherits a title, the family moves to a new estate – one complete
with its own ghost with his own agenda. The story is very short, more a
vignette than a true short story. When set in the context of all five stories
it reads very well.
Copy
received from Netgalley and publisher for an honest review.
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