We get to know Simon pretty well, and he’s actually a very interesting character, especially when he’s trying to rationalize the existence of magic and all the other strange things that occur in his new world. Maybe the story suffers from “first in a series” syndrome, where an author feels so much pressure to cram in a lot of background and world building (and boy is there a ton of that), that there just isn’t much room left for characterization. Just a few of the many reasons it kills me to say the story did absolutely nothing for me. In many cases, this is the book that people think of when they hear the name Andre Norton. One of Norton’s most famous series, and the book that brought untold quantities of young fans to the genre. If only they could figure out exactly what his power can do.

How can a population continue if by continuing it loses it’s protection? And what’s the point of power or protection when even that can’t stop the creatures of Kolder? When it’s discovered that Simon has some of the power that until now has been reserved for women, perhaps he can find away to destroy Kolder, once and for all. They can also lose control of their power by telling someone their name. Only women have the power of magic in this world, and once they age and start families, they lose their magic. Once they are on the march, no amount of guns or arrows will stop the creatures of Kolder. But the soldiers of the Kolder, that’s a different story all together. Estcarp’s highly trained guardsmen (assisted by Simon) can take care of most of her enemies. Escarp is a country ruled by women who have the Power (witches), and the surrounding countries are primarily male dominated cultures who wish to take over Estcarp. After saving a woman who is being hunted, Simon slowly learns about this new world. Offered a doorway to the “world his heart desires”, Simon finds himself someplace. Approached by a gentleman who promises he can hide Simon forever, Simon doesn’t have much of a choice. Simon Tregarth, soldier turned bootlegger is running from the law. If there is such a thing as traditional sci-fantasy, Witch World is it. These are the stories that influenced many of the authors who are influencing you. She may not use the flashiest guns or the shiniest spaceships, but these are the stories your favorite authors grew up reading. What I’m getting at here is that if you style yourself a science fiction fan, read yourself some Norton. Her Witch World series started with a few stories, and grew exponentially to cover over 20 novels and novellas known as the Estcarp Cycle and the High Hallack Cycle. She broke glass ceilings left and right, has a near endless list of books to her name, and is rightfully so a legend in the science fiction community. Andre Norton, the woman who has not one, but two literary genre awards named after her.

Witch World by Andre Norton