Here Abide Monsters

The late Andre Norton (Alice Mary North) published over 300 science fiction and fantasy novels starting with "The Prince Commands" in 1934 and ending with "Three Hands for Scorpio" (her last non-collaborative fantasy) in 2005. She was a writer who created worlds that you could lose yourself in for a very long while. "Here Abide Monsters" (1973) is an unsettling mixture of some of the most overworked themes in the genre, i.e. Celtic mythology, flying saucers, and parallel worlds. Somehow, Norton escapes the hackneyed Merlins, Lorelei, and unicorns, and dumps her characters through a Gate into a parallel Earth where they have to make some tough moral choices in order to survive. The cast of characters is more complex than is usual for this author: an old British vicar and a handful of his parishioners who fell through a Gate during a WWII air-raid; two young Americans from the 1970s; plus various walk-on roles from Medieval Europe; the Golden Horde; 'modern' China; and ancient Rome. The Parallel Earth is a strange jumble of Celtic mythology, futuristic cities encased in force fields, two different types of flying saucers, elves, and a Herald who calls himself 'Avalon,' and invites the stranded Brits and Yanks to join him. There is a catch, though. Although the Herald can protect the castaways from the flying saucers, which are capturing and enslaving all humans, the people who contract with him lose part of their identity--their souls, as it were. The mixture of Camelot and flying saucers is complicated, and Norton does occasionally lose track. The fey inhabitants of the parallel Earth are supposed to have a strong aversion to iron, but don't seem bothered by the presence of a jeep or armoured medieval soldiers in their midst. Read "Dread Companion" for an unforgettable Norton fantasy that combines a theory of parallel universes with the world of Faerie. "Here Abide Monsters" isn't in the same class as "Dread Companion, but it still has scenes that will enthrall the Norton fan.

Of all the books I've read by Norton, this is one of my favorites. I currently have five copies and have worn out three copies.The book is very simply written, but gives the reader vivid mental imagery. The reader becomes involved with the story. This is the one book I wish Andre Norton had written a sequal to. Maybe someone else will get the word to her and we can be treated.LOVE THIS BOOK!!! If you're an Andre Norton fan, and you haven't read this book, you havent tasted Norton.

I own the TOR copy of this book and have read it a few times. It doesn't rank with my all-time favorites of Nortons, but is is well written and it does keep your attention throughout. It would be a good read for any fan and I recommend it.