Customer Reviews

Beast Master's Quest

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I love vintage Andre Norton Science Fiction (also fantasy), especially her series such as The Time Traders, Solar Queen, and most of the previous Beast Master books. But this book came as a big disappointment. I thought the previous volume (Beast Master's Circus) was quite good, and enjoyed the new character Laris and her alien cat Prauo, who are the main characters in this new book. However, this latest book soon degenerates into a number of teenage temper tantrums, and had me gritting my teeth instead of enjoying the book. The plot was interesting to begin with, but the juvenile personal interactions overshadowed everything else. Possibly a (young) teenager would like this book, but I have other suggestions for Norton fans. I've been reading Andre Norton since the 50's, and have over 80 of her hardcovers, dating as far back as 1944, so I have a lot to compare with, and this one I'd rate as one of the 3 worst of her books. Since all three are fairly recent and were written with co-authors, I suspect that Ms. Norton did very little of the plotting and writing herself, and of course, she passed away almost a year before this book was published. If you want some good, recent Norton, try the Time Traders and Solar Queen books co-authored with Sherwood Smith, or the "Mark of the Cat/Year of the Rat" pair, which was a total and delightful surprise to me--hearkening back to the vintage "Star Man's Son" in some spots.

I have enjoyed Andre Norton's stories since finding my first one in my elementary schools'library nearly 40 years ago. This was tedious and difficult to maintain any interest in. I've tried to look at it as a stand alone novel; no go. It's just not a very good story. Thankfully, Ms. Norton's estate is re-releasing her original stories for fans old and new to enjoy. Track those down and read a real story tellers masterful hand. The other continuations were at least readable, but please don't waste your time and money on this one.

I still have the original Beast Master title in soft cover, and I still reread it. I also have every story that followed. Beast Master Quest is a worthy continuation. It will be reread many, many times as well. I'm in my 6th decade, and I still thrill to Andre Norton's fantastic stories.

Lyn McConchie starts out Beastmaster's Quest with a lot of the same issues that existed in her collaboration with Andre Norton in Beastmaster's Circus. Namely, the female characters could do no wrong and the male characters were stone cold morons. While this sexism persists through about the first third of this book, it seems to go away as the plot moves along.

The eponymous Quest of this book is the search for the homeworld of Laris Trehannan's companion, the catlike Prauo. While the search does not have much in the way of drama, and the pre-voyage portion of the book is slowed by a lot of exposition, once the world they were seeking as a candidate for Prauo's home is located, things begin. The plot, pacing and story are all very similar to Andre Norton's first Beastmaster novels from some four decades past. The action, such as it is, is very short and to the point with no embellishments such as one might find in a sword and sorcery novel. The violence also seeks to advance the plot without being gratuitous.

The characters really come into their own in the final third of the book. The writing becomes almost seamless and some of the scenes are very touching, as the characters seem only too willing to sacrifice themselves for one another. The differing factions that they encounter on the alien world, and the characters' visceral reactions to the beliefs and actions of both sides put the characters into something of a pickle.

While the story ends with the typical sort of ending for the Beastmaster books, I cannot help but recommend this book. It's the most in keeping with the original Norton novels of this collaborative trilogy. While I would give a pass on Beastmaster's Circus, and would suggest Beastmaster's Ark only to get to know some of the new characters, Beastmaster's Quest is the best way this otherwise subpar trilogy could end: on a high note.

Since Andre Norton died in March 2005, this has to be the final Beast Master story of 5. It does wrap up the series rather well, with Laris from Beast Master's Circus joined by the Storms & Logan Quade to find the home planet of Laris's telepathic cat Praou.
The first 2 of the series are now available in a combined reprint, that will be evident when you see it.

For those of you who might not have read the beast master series I highly recommend that you read it before this one but the entire series is great : )

I found this to be a great addition to my Andre Norton books

I was really looking forward to this book. As soon as it became available, I grabbed it. I have not read it all the way through, but after being a fan of Andre Norton since high school (I'm now 60) I have found it the most juvenile book I have ever read. Not up to par at all. Her co-author should go back to writing school. I will finish it, but not right now. Have to be in the mood. I really liked Beastmaster Circus and thought it would be a follow up of that book. Not.

Have to agree with other reviewers that this is NOT real Norton, but based on her work. I really wanted to like it - But could not - there is just not enough Norton there. I cannot define it, but I grew up on her and Heinlein and this just misses the mark. It is a good story and worth reading, but does not come up to the standard of Norton. Even her western novels are better written. (Yes - this fantastic Science Fiction and Fantasy writer wrote some Western novels. Try them!)