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From: Michael Martinez 
Subject: WorldFAQ: Andre Norton's Witch World
Date: 1999/07/12
Message-ID: <7me4s2$1n3q@drn.newsguy.com>
X-Deja-AN: 500346129
Organization: The Xenite.Org Domain -- Worlds of Imagination on the Web
Newsgroups: alt.fan.created-worlds,alt.fantasy,alt.books,rec.arts.books


                            WorldFAQ:
                    Andre Norton's Witch World

-------------------------------------------------------------
1].  Quick Reference

     The Witch World is a science fantasy world set on a
     planet in an unknown star system, possibly in another
     universe.  It is reached from Earth by means of
     "gates", extra-dimensional pathways that take
     travellers to unknown destinations.  The gates were
     created by "Adepts", spellcasters of incredible
     knowledge and power who sometimes became so removed
     from their own world (the Witch World) that a few are
     worshipped like gods.  Primary sources include Andre
     Norton's novels about the Witch World.  She
     collaborated on some, and also has put together some
     collaborative collections.  See bibliography for details.
-------------------------------------------------------------
2].  Printed Sources Bibliography

The final collection of books is called SECRETS OF THE WITCH
WORLD.  The first volume was KEY OF THE KEPLIAN.  The second
volume was THE MAGESTONE.  The final Witch World book is THE
WARDING OF WITCH WORLD.  There is one Witch World book, THE
WERE-WRATH, of which only 175 copies were ever printed (so
far as I know).  I don't have one.  You can find out more
about it by checking out the Andre Norton Message Board (see
below) or Theresa Mercaldo's web site (see below).  The story
is said to have been published in at least one collection.

Books I don't yet have:
----------------------
CIARA'S SONG, with Lyn McConchie.  Set in Karsten soon after
the Horning of the Old Race.  Published in 1998.


THE EASTERN CONTINENT:
---------------------
(Estcarp, Escore, Alizon, Karsten, Gorm, Salzarat,
Sulcarkeep, Yle, the Eyrie I)

[paperbacks]
WITCH WORLD, Ace, 1963.  The seminal novel.  Introduces Simon
Tregarth.

WEB OF THE WITCH WORLD, Ace, 1964, ISBN 0-441-87875-X.
Simon and Jaelithe are now married but don't yet have
children.

THREE AGAINST THE WITCH WORLD, Ace, 1965, ISBN 0-441-80805-0.
Kyllan, Kemoc, and Kaththea (grown children of Simon and
Jaelithe) flee east out of Estcarp into Escore.

WARLOCK OF THE WITCH WORLD, Ace, 1967, ISBN 441-87321-125.
Kemoc rescues Kaththea from Dinzil, a would-be Adept who has
stirred up ancient forces of darkness.

SORCERESS OF THE WITCH WORLD, Ace, 1968, ISBN 0-441-77554-3.
Kaththea discovers and rescues Hilarion, and is reunited with
Simon and Jaelithe, who have been missing for many years.

TREY OF SWORDS, Ace, 1977, ISBN 0-441-82355-6.  Three
stories set in Estcarp/Karsten/Escore.

'WARE HAWK, Atheneum, 1983, ISBN 0-689-50287-7.  Tirtha
returns and joins forces with a Falconer.

SONGSMITH, with A.C. Crispin, Tor, 1992, ISBN 812-51107-7.
Reprises characters from all over.  This story occurs on both
continents.

THE KEY OF THE KEPLIAN, with Lyn McConchie, Aspect, 1995,
ISBN 0-446-60440-5.  Set in Escore.  Volume I of SECRETS OF
THE WITCH WORLD.

THE MAGESTONE, with Mary H. Schaub, Aspect, 1996, ISBN
0-446-60222-1.  Volume II of SECRETS OF THE WITCH WORLD.

[hardbacks]
THE GATE OF THE CAT, Ace, 1987, ISBN 0-441-27376-9.  Reprises
some characters from TREY OF SWORDS.

SONGSMITH, with A.C. Crispin, Tor, ISBN 0-312-85123-5.
Reprises characters from all over.  This story occurs on
both continents.

THE WARDING OF WITCH WORLD, WarnerBooks, ISBN 0-446-51991-X.
Also reprises characters from all over.  Volume III of
SECRETS OF THE WITCH WORLD.  Last book in the series.


THE WESTERN CONTINENT:
---------------------
(Arvon, the Waste, Quayth, High Halleck/the Dales, the Eyrie
II)

[paperbacks]
YEAR OF THE UNICORN, Ace, 1965, 441-94252-095.  Introduces
Gillan, an orphan of Estcarp trapped in High Halleck.
Introduces the Were-riders.

SPELL OF THE WITCH WORLD, Daw, 1972 451-UY1179-125.
Introduces Elyn and Elys, twin and son and daughter of
Truan and Almondia, refugees from Estcarp who settled in
High Halleck.  Elys meets Jervon.  This book actually
contains three stories.  The other two are "Dream Smith"
and "Amber out of Quayth".

THE CRYSTAL GRYPHON, Daw, 1972, ISBN 451-UY1187-125.
Introduces Kerovan and Joisan.  He is a lord's son of
High Halleck who has a touch of the Old Ones in him.
She is a lord's neice who dale is overrun by Alizon.

THE JARGOON PARD, Fawcett, 1974, ISBN 449-02911-150.
Introduces Kethan, son of Gillan and Herrel the Were-
rider -- only he's been switched at birth.

ZARSTHOR'S BANE, Ace, 1978, ISBN 0-441-95490-1.  [Illustrated
Novel]  Introduces Tirtha, a Daleswoman wandering in the
Waste.

HORN CROWN, Daw, 1981, ISBN 0-87997-635-7.  The story of how
the men of High Halleck settled the land (but it begins right
after they cross through the gate).


[hardbacks]
GRYPHON IN GLORY, Atheneum, 1981, ISBN 0-689-50195-1.
Kerovan and Joisan in Arvon.

GRYPHON'S EYRIE, with A.C. Crispin, Tor, 1984, ISBN
0-312-93285-5. Kerovan and Joisan meet Elys and Jervon.


SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS:
-----------------------
[paperbacks]
HIGH SORCERY, Ace, 1970, ISBN 441-33702-095.  Contains these
short stories:
     "Wizard's World", "Through the Needle's Eye", "By A
     Hair", "Ully The Piper", and "Toys of Tamisan".

THE BOOK OF ANDRE NORTON, Daw, 1974, ISBN UY1198-125.
Contains these short stories and essays:
     "The Toads of Grimmerdale", "London Brdge", "On Writing
     Fantasy", "Mousetrap", "All Cats Are Grey", "The Long
     Night Of Waiting", "The Gifts of Asti", "Long Live Lord
     Kor!", "Andre Norton: Loss of Faith", "Norton
     Bibliography".

LORE OF THE WITCH WORLD, Daw, 1980, ISBN 0-88677-012-2.
Contains these short stories:
     "Spider Silk", "Sand Sister", "Falcon Blood", "Legacy
     From Sorn Fen", "Sword of Unbelief", "The Toads of
     Grimmerdale", and "Changeling".

TALES OF THE WITCH WORLD, Tor 1987, ISBN 812-54757-8.
Contains these short stories:
    "Of The Shaping of Ulm's Heir"
    "Heir Apparent", by Robert Bloch
    "Fenneca", by Wilanne Schneider Belden
    "Bloodspell", by A.C. Crispin
    "The White Road", by Charles de Lint
    "Cat and the Other", by Marylois Dunn
    "Oath-Bound", by Pauline Griffin
    "Of Ancient Swords and Evil Mists", by James R.
    Heidbrink
    "Nine Words In Winter", by Caralyn Inks
    "Were-Hunter", by Mercedes Lackey
    "Neither Rest Nor Refuge", by Ardath Mayhar
    "To Rebuild The Eyrie", by Sasha Miller
    "Milk From A Maiden's Breast", by Elizabeth
    Scarborough
    "Night Hound's Moon", by Mary H. Schaub
    "Isle of Illusion", by Carol Severance
    "Green In High Hallack", by Kiel Stuart
    "The Road of Dreams and Death", by Robert
    E. Vardeman

FOUR FROM THE WITCH WORLD, 1989.
Contains these short stories:
    "The Stillborn Heritage", by Elizabeth H. Boyer
    "Stormbirds", by C.J. Cherryh
    "Rampton", by Meredith Ann Pierce
    "Falcon Law', by Judith Tarr


WITCH WORLD: THE TURNING:
------------------------
[paperbacks]
Book 1, STORMS OF VICTORY, with P.M. Griffin, Tor, 1991, ISBN
812-51109-3.

Book 3, ON WINGS OF MAGIC, with Patricia Shaw Mathews &
Sasha Miller, Tor, 1994,ISBN 812-50828-9.

[hardback]
Book 2, FLIGHT OF VENGEANCE, with P.M. Griffin & Mary Schaub,
Tor, 1992, ISBN 0-312-85014-X.


SECRETS OF THE WITCH WORLD:
--------------------------
[paperbacks]
THE KEY OF THE KEPLIAN, with Lyn McConchie, Aspect, 1995,
ISBN 0-446-60440-5.

THE MAGESTONE, with Mary H. Schaub, Aspect, 1996, ISBN
0-446-60222-1.

[hardback]
THE WARDING OF WITCH WORLD, WarnerBooks, ISBN 0-446-51991-X.


[Contains one or more maps]
---------------------------
WEB OF THE WITCH WORLD (Estcarp)
TALES OF THE WITCH WORLD (Estcarp-Escore, High Halleck-Arvon)
STORMS OF VICTORY (Estcarp-Escore, High Halleck-Arvon)
FLIGHT OF VENGEANCE (Estcarp-Escore, High Halleck-Arvon)
ON WINGS OF MAGIC (Estcarp-Escore, High Halleck-Arvon)
SONGSMITH (Estcarp-Escore, High Halleck-Arvon)
THE KEY OF THE KEPLIAN (Estcarp-Escore)
THE MAGESTONE (Estcarp-Escore)
THE WARDING OF WITCH WORLD (Estcarp-Escore)

[Contains one or more illustrations]
-----------------------------------
HIGH SORCERY
SPELL OF THE WITCH WORLD
THE CRYSTAL GRYPHON
THE BOOK OF ANDRE NORTON
THE JARGOON PARD
ZARSTHOR'S BANE (many illustrations)
LORE OF THE WITCH WORLD
HORN CROWN
GRYPHON'S EYRIE (several illustrations)
THE WARDING OF WITCH WORLD (actually, only genealogical
tables)

[The approximate chronological order]
Does not include the short story collections.

HORN CROWN
WITCH WORLD
WEB OF THE WITCH WORLD
CIARA'S SONG
SPELL OF THE WITCH WORLD
YEAR OF THE UNICORN
THREE AGAINST THE WITCH WORLD
WARLOCK OF THE WITCH WORLD
SORCERESS OF THE WITCH WORLD
WERE-WRATH
THE CRYSTAL GRYPHON
GRYPHON IN GLORY
GRYPHON'S EYRIE
ZARSTHOR'S BANE
'WARE HAWK
TREY OF SWORDS
THE JARGOON PARD
THE GATE OF THE CAT
STORMS OF VICTORY
FLIGHT OF VENGEANCE
ON WINGS OF MAGIC
SONGSMITH
KEY OF THE KEPLIAN
THE MAGE STONE
THE WARDING OF WITCH WORLD
-------------------------------------------------------------
3].  Visual Sources Bibliography

No known adaptations.

However, it was announced in July 1998 that options were taken
out on DRAGON MAGIC (a non-WW book) and WITCH WORLD.  One
can always hope, although Ms. Norton was deeply disappointed
and upset with the "Beastmaster" movie (the cat was dyed black,
and the dye poisoned it, so that it died after the movie).
-------------------------------------------------------------
4].  Related Materials Bibliography

GURPS: WITCH WORLD Roleplaying in Andre Norton's Witch
World, Sasha Miller and Ben W. Miller, Steve Jackson
Games, 1989, ISBN 1-55634-143-1.

I have heard unconfirmed reports that Juanita Coulson's
authorized HISTORY OF THE WITCH WORLD has been sold and
will be published.  I'm getting conflicting accounts of the
status of this work, however.
-------------------------------------------------------------
5].  Online References

     A)   News Groups

          None.  But Andre Norton's works can be discussed in
          alt.fantasy, rec.arts.sf.written, and
          alt.fan.created-worlds.  And there are occasional
          mentions of Norton in rec.arts.crafts.knitting.

     B)   Mailing/Discussion Lists

          The Andre Norton Mailing list.  The list is operated
          out of OneList.Com by Ganda...@yahoo.com.  To
          subscribe to the list, visit this URL:
          http://www.onelist.com/isregistered.cgi?listname=anorton

          Note that this is the direct link to a frame.  To take
          full advantage of OneList's service, visit this URL:
          http://www.onelist.com/

     C)   Web sites

          THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL ANDRE NORTON WEB SITES.  There
          is a semi-official site at:
          http://www.andre-norton.org/

          I mention Witch World on my own web site:
          http://www.xenite.org/homepage.htm.

          The Witch World Page is my own personal memorial to
          Andre Norton's work.  The URL is:
          http://www.xenite.org/witchwor.htm.

          A Norton Companion: Glossary for the Witch World
          http://www.xenite.org/wwcomp.htm

          Theresa Mercaldo has a Witch World page at:
          http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/6985

          Aethling's Grove: Site Devoted To Andre Norton:
          [superseded by the Andre-Norton.Org site]
          Has both an English-language and Polish-language
          version.

          Rhe Lynn's Science Fiction and Fantasy Room
          has an Andre Norton section:
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dimension/3161/index.html

          A review of QUAG KEEP from an AD&D gamer's
          perspective is located here:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/nlhome/g249/monax002/gh/loreqk.html

          Andre Norton's Shared Witch World
          http://www.goloka.com/clea/wworld/
          Contains maps of the Witch World.  This is a work
          in progress.

          The Andre Norton Webring Homepage
          http://www.xenite.org/webrings/anorton.htm

          A Norton Collector's Starting List
          http://www.xenite.org/an_collect.htm

          Tribute Farm's Andre Norton Page
          http://www.angelfire.com/wi/tributefarm/andrenorton.html

     D)   Online services

          I've set up an Andre Norton Mesasge Board at
          http://www.xenite.org/boards/anorton/an_board.htm.
          Discussion of any of Andre's works is welcome
          there.  Several hundred messages are currently
          archived and accessible for the board, though
          only those on the front page may be replied to.

          The Dominion's Message Boards have an Andre Norton
          section:
          http://www.scifi.com/cgi-bin/rbox/bboard.pl
          Anyone can read the messages, but only members can
          post.  Membership is free.

          NOTE:  There is now a Message Board Directory
          which provides links to individual Web-based
          boards, message board providers, and large
          indexes of boards.  Some of these indexes
          include Science Fiction and Fantasy boards
          and may contain content of interest to people
          who read the WorldFAQs.  The Message Board
          Directory is located at:

          http://www.xenite.org/mb_direct.htm

     E)   IRC

          None.

     F)   Comprehensive lists of resources

          None.
-------------------------------------------------------------
6].  Description

     The Witch World has two primary continents.  The
     "eastern" continent contains the ancient country of
     Escore, from which fled the Witches of Estcarp who
     settled on the western coastland and raised great
     mountains between their new land and Escore.  North
     of Estcarp rose the nation of Alizon, founded by
     warlike men who use great wardogs to pursue their
     enemies.  South of Estcarp lies Karsten, an independent
     duchy which was for long friendly with Estcarp and its
     people, the Old Race.  Further south lay the land of
     Salzarat, original homeland of the Falconers.  In a
     bay west of Estcarp lays the isle of Gorm, also
     friendly with Estcarp from its early years.

     The "western" continent contains the ancient realm of
     Arvon, founded and ruled by the Old Race.  Arvon lay
     in the northern part of the land and in ancient days
     it extended far across the continent.  Along the
     eastern coast lay small dales once populated by the
     Old Race.  Quayth was the northernmost and the only
     land, apparently, to survive the withdrawal of the
     Old Race into Arvon.  Men from another world passed
     through a gate to settle in the Dales, founding
     the nation of High Halleck, peaceful and civilized but
     divided into many lordships.

     The Adepts of the Old Race early in the Witch World's
     history became so enamoured of their power that they
     often lost touch with their humanity.  Some created
     gates that opened into strange worlds and these Adepts
     withdrew into those worlds, forgetting the world that
     gave birth to them. Others opened gates to explore,
     but for unknown reasons failed to return to their
     estates.  Other Adepts experimented on their own
     people, or creatures living near them, and they
     created new intelligent, often evil races of
     creatures which served them in the wars that arose.

     Most of the remaining Adepts seem to have destroyed each
     other in the ancient wars which rocked the Witch World.
     After Arvon's people found a measure of peace they were
     too few to continue to inhabit all the places they had
     once built, and they left behind many ruins for the
     Dalesmen of High Halleck to ponder and sometimes avoid.
     Escore's war became so desperate that many families of
     the Old Race withdrew into their homesteads and
     destroyed themselves out of despair.  But a few hardy
     and adventurous folk accepted the leadership of a
     sisterhood of Witches who led them west over some
     low-lying mountains, and the Witches raised these
     mountains higher, putting a block on their people's
     minds so that they never again could think of the east
     and what lay there.

     The remnants of Escore's peoples continued their ancient
     wars but the conflicts slowly died as most of the great
     powers perished.  Those which remained of the Adepts
     either became dormant, perhaps dwelling in other worlds
     with only tenuous thoughts for the Witch World, or
     trapped in horrifying spells, or withdrew to small
     regions of Escore.  Some of the altered creatures
     established refuges, a few still serving the Light
     and good, but many serving Darkness.

     Some of the Adepts of the Witch World became known on
     both continents.  Of this class was Gunnora, who
     protected women and families and seems to have been
     associated with fertility.  She was originally from
     Arvon.  Another of the great Adepts was named Volt.
     He seems to have been friendly to men of other races,
     and perhaps helped establish Karsten and Gorm sometime
     after Estcarp was founded.  Some of the Adepts were
     evil, ruling their own provinces until overthrown.
     Jonkara was one of these.  She ruled Salzarat far
     to the south of Estcarp through its women until a
     man named Langward imprisoned her and freed a few of
     his people. These survivors of Salzarat fled to become
     the Falconers, woman-hating mercenaries who mated
     with their women in a cold and superficial manner
     only for the sake of continuing their race.

     A "young" adept named Hilarion created and opened a
     gate to another world which was racked by wars waged
     among a technologically advanced race.  He was captured
     and kept there as a source of power by a man named
     Zandur.  Hilarion had lived in a fortress overlooking
     the western coast of Escore.  Loskeetha was another
     Adept of Escore who withdrew to a small land where
     she protected the Moss-wives, perhaps creatures of
     her breeding, perhaps the race which gave birth
     to her.

     The seafaring Sulcar were divided into tribes and clans.
     The most advanced and civilized group settled in
     Sulcarkeep, a fortress on the peninsula between Estcarp
     and Karsten.  The Sulcar were raiders and traders, but
     those of Sulcarkeep formed an alliance with Estcarp.
     They also formed an alliance with the Falconers, the
     survivors of Salzarat, and helped them establish their
     Eyrie in the mountains between Estcarp and Karsten.

     After perhaps a thousand years a new war was unleashed
     on the Witch World.  The Kolder, a technologically
     advanced race, lost a war in their own world and they
     opened a gate into the Witch World.  They settled on an
     island which probably lay close to High Halleck.  From
     there they made contact with Alizon and formed an
     alliance with the Hounds.  Alizon attacked Estcarp
     and High Halleck using the technology supplied to
     them by the Kolder.   The Kolder established a city,
     Yle, southwest of Sulcarkeep on the peninsula between
     Estcarp and Alizon, and from there seized the island
     of Gorm.

     Into this world came Simon Tregarth.  He took service in
     Estcarp with the Witches, and marrying one of them
     became a great leader of the men of Estcarp.  The
     children of Simon and Jaelithe Tregarth were triplets,
     two sons and a daughter: Kyllan, Kemoc, and Kaththea.
     Kyllan became a great warrior, Kemoc a great warlock,
     and Kaththea a great witch.  But they fled from Estcarp
     because the Witches hated Kyllan and Kemoc and tried to
     make Kaththea one of them.  Entering Escore they awoke
     the old struggles for power.

     In the wars which followed the barriers between Estcarp
     and ancient Escore were broken, and some remnants of the
     Old Race fled Karsten and Estcarp back into Escore.
     Kyllan and Kemoc settled in the Valley of Green Silences,
     one of the last refuges of Light, but Kaththea discovered
     Hilarion's gate and freed him, returning with him to his
     fortress by the sea.

     High Halleck was nearly destroyed but finally four
     southern lords united the surviving Dalesmen in a desperate
     war that saw some success as the Kolder, pressed by Estcarp
     and ultimately defeated by Simon and Jaelithe Tregarth,
     could no longer support Alizon's forces.  Then the Dalesmen
     recruited a band of mercenaries from the Waste, exiles from
     Arvon, called the Were-riders.  The Hounds of Alizon were
     driven into the sea and High Halleck's people started to
     rebuild their land.

     The Were-Riders returned to Arvon with brides from High
     Halleck, the price of their service.  They set into
     motion new events which would lead to more struggles
     between Light and Dark, but which would ultimately settle
     some of the old differences.

     A legacy of the war with the Kolder was a war between
     Karsten and Estcarp in which the Witches raised the
     mountains between the two lands, destroying an army from
     Karsten but killing many of their own numbers.  The
     Witches lost control of Estcarp even as they ended the
     war.  The Falconers were forced to find a new home, along
     with many Sulcar, whose home in Sulcarkeep was also
     destroyed in the wars.

     Eventually, a special stone to which all the gate magic
     was tied, was taken from Witch World and the gate magic
     went wild.  The Witches of Estcarp, Hilarion, and the
     few remaining adepts of Light (or people who were nearly
     such stature) sought out and closed all the gates.

     It's difficult to judge time in the Witch World.  Years
     are named rather than numbered, and without a master
     listing of all the year names, it's impossible to
     precisely determine when certain events occur.  Most
     of the stories are said to occur within a 50-year
     timespan.  There is a particularly poor continuity in
     the later books, especially the collaborations, with
     respect to the timeline.  The GURPS book (if you can
     find it) contains a chronology, but the information is
     no longer up-to-date, and some of it may not be derived
     from the books.
-------------------------------------------------------------
7].  Maintainer Information

FAQ owner: Michael Martinez 
Last Updated:  August 15, 1998

Other information was contributed by:

Michael B. Caffrey 
Jean Lamb 
Theresa Mercaldo 
Maciej Zaleski 
--------------------End of WorlFAQ---------------------------

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