The Zero Stone

Great science fiction continues to stay relevant regardless of the era. That is true about Andre Norton's Zero Stone. Regardless of the fact that the book is almost 40 years old, the story still carries though time. The depth of characters is staggering. The reader could probably use a little less information about the constant need to eat, but this is a sign of the times in which the novel was originally written: it does not detract from the overall story. Not as fast paced as some of the modern fare, but Norton's tale is true literature, while much of what is seen today is simply brain-candy. Highly reccomended to anyone who appreciates the classic sci-fi genre. It should be noted that this tale is part of a two-book series. Zero Stone leaves the reader craving the next installment.

Although I have read many Andre Norton books, this was one of the better ones. Do not give up on this book (as I almost did) until you meet eet. Just some of the conversations with this character, and the manner is which it is done, is enchanting. The way the zero stone itself is described strikes me as something out of a dream. Though against a sci-fi backdrop, there is only enough there to make the story. Don't forget to read the sequel, Uncharted Stars.

The Zero Stone (1968) is the first novel in the Murdoc Jern series. Murdoc is the son of Hywel Jern, a former prime assessor to a sector boss of the Thieves' Guild who bought out when his patron was assassinated. Hywel migrated to Angkor and married the daughter of a local hock-lock operator. Shortly after the marriage, his in-laws -- and many others in the vicinity of the port -- died from disease brought by a plague ship. Yet Hywel and his wife survived and even performed some of the necessary governmental functions during the emergency. Some five years later, Angkor became a hub for interstellar trade in that sector. The Jern business thrived through Hywel's many off-world contacts, both legal and illegal. But Hywel maintained a low profile, operating from the same modest hock-lock. One day, the first officer of a spaceliner brought in a ring with a dull stone that was found in interstellar space, far from any star, on the finger of a spacesuited corpse. The crude stone is plain and cloudy, but has a remarkable hardness. The stone gives an impression of great power to Hywel and Murdoc, but not to the rest of the family. Hywel is obsessed with the stone and arranges an apprenticeship for Murdoc with Vondar Ustle -- a master gemologist who searches for new sources of precious stones -- so that Murdoc can search for more information on the ring and stone. Murdoc is well satisfied with his life as apprentice to Vondar. Returning for a visit, Murdoc finds that he no longer fits into his family. One evening, Hywel stays home to conduct some business while the rest of the family goes to a party. Leaving the party earlier, Murdoc returns home to find his father tied to his chair, bloody and dead. Murdoc takes the ring and stone from its hiding place and leaves his home forever. In this novel, Murdoc and Vondar have come to Koonga City on Tanth searching for gems. They are dining in a taproom when the Green Robes, native priests, enter, spin their selection wheel to point between Murdoc and Vondar, and try to take both men. Murdoc kills one priest, fights his way clear, and then finds sanctuary with the priests of Noskald. These priests arrange for a Free Trader, the Vestris, to take Murdoc off-world. The crew treats him in a distant, but civil manner, but his only companion is the ship's cat, Valcyr. When the ship sets down on a primitive planet, Valcyr accompanies Murdoc as he explores the area. When Murdoc finds some bits of a curiously dull black substance that forms an extremely hard but fuzzy oval, Valcyr takes the largest specimen and starts to lick it. Murdoc tries to take it away from her, but gets clawed for his efforts. When a crewman tries to get the specimen, Valcyr runs off with it and hides. Murdoc and the crewman find her again, but she then swallows it. When they return to the ship, the Medico tests Valcyr and the specimens; he determines that the black ovals are alive at a low level as if hibernating and th

And missed many of the subtleties. Norton's vision of a universe awash in ancient, eerie alien rubble, and her vivid planetscapes, are incomparably haunting.

This is simply one of the best stories ever told in the Sci-Fi universe. If you've never read anything by Ms. Norton then you must read this one, and its sequel 'Uncharted Stars'