Lore of the Witch World

Lore of the Witch World is a 1980 collection of short stories and novelettes by Andre Norton, mostly reprints but with one previously unpublished story, "The Changeling" (a sequel to "The Toads of Grimmerdale"). Most of the material in this book, including The Changeling, is available elsewhere, but this is a useful alternative source. The Witch World is a planet in a parallel universe where magic works. The magic operates according to consistent rules which often drive the plot -- you won't find characters suddenly acquiring new powers just because it would be convenient to the author. The world is the setting for a large cycle of novels and shorter stories, mostly set around the time of an alien invasion that creates great destruction and social upheaval, even though the aliens are ultimately repelled. This collection fills in more of the Witch World during and after the time of the great battle against the alien invaders. It looks at characters and places outside the main story arc of the novels, as detailed by earlier reviews. There are occasional references to the events on the main story arc, but all of these stories will stand alone, and can be enjoyed without prior knowledge of the setting. They're beautifullly written, and a must-have for fans of Norton's writing. Fantasy fans in general should read this collection -- it's a nice introduction to the work of one of the greatest writers in the genre.

This collection of fantasy short stories and a novella takes place during the chaos that followed Estcarp's war against the alien Kolder and her neighbors, Karsten and Alizon. "Men who had marched with the Borderers under Lord Simon Tregarth or served beneath the Banners of the Witch Women of Es--where were they?" The crippled old men, the women and children who were left behind when their sons, brothers, and fathers went to war must now fend for themselves in a world made chaotic by petty warlords, bandits and, since these are Norton stories, dark and light magic. Normally I prefer Norton's novels over her shorter works, but "Lore of the Witch World" contains some of her finest writing, including "The Toads of Grimmerdale," plus settings and characters that fans will recognize from her full-length novels. The following stories are included in this book: "Spider Silk"--A blind young girl is rescued out of the hold of a wrecked slave ship, and raised by the fishing village's wise woman. Young Dairine learned to 'see' with her fingers and grows up mending the fishermen's nets and weaving fine cloth. When she is kidnapped and taken to an island of very alien weavers, she must test her skill against theirs in order to survive. "Sand Sister"--The child, Tursla is somehow different from the others in her Tormarsh village. It is a difference of spirit rather than form. When the Torfolk decide to make a blood sacrifice to increase the fertility of their declining race, Tursla must use her 'sand magic' to rescue the stranger named Simond (son of Koris of Gorm from the original Witch World trilogy). "Falcon Blood"--Another shipwreck, this time with three survivors: a Sulcarwoman named Tanree, plus a wounded Falconer and his bird of prey. As all Norton fans know, the Falconers are extreme misogynists. They lock their women up in mountain fortresses, and visit them only for the purpose of perpetuating their race. This story attempts to explain (not too successfully) the reason for the Falconers' hatred of women. "Legacy from Sorn Fen"--The crippled ex-soldier, Caleb rescues a denizen of the Wasteland of High Halleck from a cruel gang-rape. Although she dies, she rewards his kindness with a strange ring. "Sword of Unbelief"-- The further adventures of the witch, Elys and warrior, Jervon, who first appear in "Spell of the Witch World" (the novella, "Dragon Scale Silver"), and also in "Gryphon in Glory" and "Gryphon's Eyrie." In "Sword of Unbelief," Elys must rescue Jervon from a powerful creature of the Dark. Norton borrows a setting and theme from Dante's "Inferno" and makes it uniquely her own. "The Toads of Grimmerdale"--Hertha, who carries a child that was forced on her by rape, petitions the evil Toads of the Wasteland to use their magic against the soldier who brutalized her. Of course, their magic comes with a price. "Changeling"--A continuation of "The Toads of Grimmerdale" wherein Hertha bears a daughter, evilly marked by her mo

If you can't find this volume, note that everything herein (except "Legacy from Sorn Fen" and C.J. Cherryh's introduction) also appears in Norton's collection _Wizards' Worlds_. Most first saw the light of day in non-Norton anthologies or in magazines. I've discussed them below in order of internal chronology, as best I can determine, rather than their order within the book or order of publication."Falcon Blood" (1979) - A Sulcar woman and a Falconer are the only survivors of a shipwreck - cast up on the land from whence the Falconers originally came, before they founded the Eyrie. If you ever wondered *why* Falconer men so hate and fear women, especially women who traffic in magic, here's your answer."The Toads of Grimmerdale" (1973) - In the last days of the Invaders' War, Hertha had been sent from her family's keep to an abbey for safety - only to meet an Alizon ambush en route. A band of High Hallack fighting men caught the Hounds before they turned to their captive, but they weren't rescuers. Now, on this last night before the Year of the Unicorn begins, Hertha is once again leaving her brother's keep - because she refuses to abort the child she carries, and she wants justice on the man who raped rather than rescued her. After making a plea at Gunnora's shrine, she seeks the ruins at Grimmerdale, to treat with those who may locate the man she seeks."Changeling" (1980) - The child whose conception precipitated "The Toads of Grimmerdale" has been born - with stigmata like those of the Old Ones with whom her mother, Hertha, dealt in her quest for vengeance. So Hertha takes the road again, this time seeking to undo the damage done, that her daughter Elfanor may be free."Legacy from Sorn Fen" (1973) - Set in High Hallack, immediately after the Invaders' War; first appeared in _Garan the Eternal_. As you may have gathered, Lord Imgry wasn't the only man of High Hallack to see opportunity amid the upheavals of the war; many dales, bereft of their lords and fighting men, provided a chance of betterment for fighting men who could lead. Nordendale, in the 2 stories mentioned above, was lucky in acquiring a good man by the time "Changeling" rolled around.Klavenport hasn't been so lucky. Oh, Higbold wed Lady Isbel, right enough, but he's an unscrupulous, ambitious man. So much so that when Caleb, the mauled veteran taken on as Isbel's gardener, overhears one of Higbold's secret meetings, Caleb flees for his very life into uncanny Sorn Fen. But the real monsters in Sorn Fen aren't what you might expect..."Spider Silk" (1976) - Ingvarna, Wise Woman for the village of Rannock, had just enough warning from the Guardians of Estcarp to evacuate the village before the Turning - not enough to save the men of the fishing fleet (half were lost, in the tsunami and storm caused by the rending of the mountain range on the Estcarp-Karsten border). The night of the Turning gave as well as took away, though; Rannock's right of storm wrack brought them to salvage the ra

This group if shorit are gread and, in a way, introduce us to several characters that are filled out in "Witch World" novels. I own the Daw'80 paperback and have read it many times. If you can find a copy, I highly recomment it!