Lost Lands Of Witch World by Andre Norton
01/11/2004 . Source: Sue Davies 
pub: TOR. 445 page hardback. Price: $27.95 (US), $38.95 (CAN). ISBN: 0-765-30052-4. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out website: www.tor.com
Kyllan, Kemoc and Kaththea are the sons and daughter of Simon Tregarth and Lady Jaelithe. Many years have passed since the first 'Witch World' stories and as the children grow up they realise they share a special bond which is important as they are distanced from their parents who have their own concerns
The three stories are by each of the triplets and follow in succession. 'Three Against The Witch World' is Kyllan's tale as he is the man of action of the three. Soldiering on the borders is good experience but nothing can prepare him for the struggle he and his siblings face.
When Kaththea is of age, the Witches of Estcarp take her in and start to mould her power. Kaththea's link with her two brothers is broken but Kemoc has a plan that will allow the brothers to stage a dramatic rescue. They must leave Estcarp where the witches are preparing a mind-blowing defence of the country and go east. A spell cast over Estcarp has prevented others from travelling there but Kyllan manages to overcome, this perhaps thanks to his outsider's blood. He takes his siblings over the mountains to discover it is far from the Promised Land.
'Warlock Of The Witch World' is the story through the eyes of Kemoc who fears for Kaththea when she falls under the influence of a charismatic warlock and must make another journey to try to save her life. Along the way, he makes a new and valuable ally in the shape of the lovely Orysa, a river dweller for whom water truly means life.
'Sorceress Of The Witch World' sees Kaththea being granted her own tale which has far-reaching implications for the siblings and for the whole of Witch World. Having been separated from her brothers, she must make her own redemptive journey and discover some hard truths along the way.
Having these three stories enclosed in a nicely presented hardback which has a dynamic artist's interpretation of the three characters on its dustcover is very satisfying. I can only imagine how frustrating it would be to read the first part and have to wait another year for the next instalment.
This compilation has a special introduction by Mercedes Lackey which covers the timeline of all the original 'Witch World' books and how Andre Norton was able to move away from selling her stories as Science Fiction. Her 'coming out' as a fantasy novelist opened the market for a huge blossoming of fantasy writers, including Lackey herself.
These are fantastic tales and very readable They move along quickly because the narrative is driven by the characters who are all too human in their failings and triumphs.
I enjoyed it immensely and raced to finish all three stories. It is extremely escapist and you can immerse yourself totally in the Witch World. I was left wanting more when it comes to the relationships but I can find no fault in the descriptions. Norton effortlessly incorporates imagery where others would allow the plot to falter. These dream landscapes are real in her imagination and she manages to share her excitement with the reader.
More 'Witch World' compendiums must follow, the sooner the better. Norton gives many a modern writer a run for their money, not least because she is much more economic with page count yet still contrives to convey a clear picture of a far-away world.
Sue Davies |
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