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From the Sea to the Stars (Omnibus: Sea Siege & Star Gate)

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I assumed this title would be a reprint of some of the Grand Master's earlier books, but I wish somewhere in the listing it would have said that the books were SEA SIEGE and STAR LORDS. I enjoyed reading both stories when I first found Andre Norton's books while I was in high school and look forward to reading them again.

From the Sea to the Stars (2007) is an omnibus edition of two SF novels: Sea Siege and Star Gate. These early works by the author have long been available only in used mass market paperbacks. This new softbound edition is a welcome addition to the canon.

In Sea Siege (1957), twenty-five years after the end of World War II, the threat of war is coming to a peak. East and West have been fighting a covert war for decades, with occasional flare ups into hot war. Now the red plague is killing fish throughout the globe and something strange is happening in the ocean depths.

In this novel, Griff Gunston is very upset with his father's lack of attention and casual distrust. Since his mother died, Griff has lived with his aunt while his father worked on projects in the East Indies. Recently, his father returned and took Griff to live with him on San Isadore in the West Indies.

Dr. Gunston is investigating the changes in the seas under in a joint American-British project. Griff would rather be studying at the Air Force Academy, but his father lacks time to listen to his dreams. Griff is frustrated, but diverts himself by working with the islanders.

Angus Murdock is the captain of the Island Queen, an interisland sloop that carries equipment and supplies between San Isadore and Santa Maria on a regular basis. Chris Waite is mate of the sloop and Rob Fletcher is the crewman. These three islanders have adopted Griff as an unofficial crewmate.

Griff is discussing the war news with Chris and Rob when Captain Murdock rows to the ship. He brings the latest information about the St. John -- another small interisland ship -- which had been found drifting without crew. Then Mosely Peeks, a conch fisherman, brings word of a dupee grounded on the island.

Captain Murdock and Griff discover the dupee buried under sea birds and surrounded by crabs. They are amazed at the sight, for the large sea creature looks like a storybook dragon. Dr. Gunston, and his assistant Frank Hughes, recover the remains and take them back to their lab.

In Star Gate (1958), Terrans had landed their ships on Gorth almost five centuries past. The Terrans were a long-lived breed, some having lived from before the first coming. But the Terrans produced few offsprings. Even when they bred with the Gorthians, few children were born.

Now the Terrans have determined that their presence was not good for the natives and decided to depart Gorth. The summons had gone out to all Terrans and their offspring to gather at the ships. But some did not want to venture into space, so they devised a way to cross timelines.

In this novel, Kincar s'Rud is Daughter's Son and heir by blood to Styr's Holding. Yet his uncle Jord s'Wurd opposed Kincar's inheritance of the lands. With the departure of the Terran Star Lords, Wurd conceived of another destiny for his daughter's son that would not result in kin war within the Holding.

Wurd bestows upon Kincar a scale shirt, sword and surcoat of finest make, but he also directs the boy to leave the Holding before he takes his last breath. He has Regen -- his guardsman -- dress Kincar in the finery and take him down to the courtyard where his mount is ready for travel. Kincar seats himself on Cim -- the pick of the Holding's larngs -- and whistles for his mord Vorken, then leaves for the pass to the northeast with Vorken flying overhead.

At his first stop, Kincar takes inventory of his possessions. Regen has provided all the equipment and supplies necessary for his journey. Yet he has also packed a surprise: a Tie. This gem is dedicated to the Three and holds great powers. Jord might gain the Holding, but Kincar has Wurd's full trust.

In his journey, Kincar comes upon a camp with six travelers. Three are women, which is very unusual in this wasteland. As he is observing the camp, Vorken gives a startling scream and the sound of a hand drum blares forth. A seventh traveler dashes up and the others mount their larngs. The women ride onward, with one man as guardian, and the other men wait for the returning rider.

When ragged outlaws attack the travelers, Kincar dashes down the slope with his sword ready. Vorken gets the first strike, sending one outlaw down clutching his head. Kincar takes down another outlaw and then loses himself in the battle.

After the outlaws flee, Kincar learns that the large man dressed in silver is Dillan and the other two are Jonathal s'Kinston and Vulth s'Marc. Kincar suspects that Dillan is a Star Lord, but the man is hidden behind his travel mask and encompassing clothes. Dillan asks Kincar's name and repeats "s'Rud" with a strange intonation.

In this story, Kincar follows the other seven through the wasteland to a deep valley. There they find more travelers and mounts, as well as a couple of blue pillars with a shimmering web suspended between them. He observes a Star Lord and a Gorthian lead strings of larng between the pillars and disappear in a surround of rainbow lines. Then comes his turn.

The first tale is not one of the author's best SF works, mostly because it is too mainstream. The second tale, however, shows the typical mix of action and mystery that invests her best SF stories and the early Witch World stories. Enjoy!

Highly recommended for Norton fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of abrupt changes, competent responses, and high adventure.

-Arthur W. Jordin

This is a reprint of books she wrote a long time ago. I still have a copy of each as I can't throw away books. If you are younger than 50, Like Andre Norton, You'll find these stories about half way to her best. I liked them. Claudene

Her FROM THE SEA TO THE STARS also provides two complete classics under one cover: SEA SIEGE and STAR GATE. SEA SIEGE tells of scientists who survive nuclear war only to find a strange set of sea creatures - intelligent - have been released to threaten the remainder of Mankind; STAR GATE tells of Star Lords, parallel universes, a lost Earth and wandering souls.

Once again Andre Norton combines science fiction with interpersonal dynamics and social issues. It is hard to put her books down once reading has begun.

"Sea Siege". As the Cold War seems on the brink of going nuclear thermo, something is killing life in the oceans. Widower Dr. Gunston brings his estranged teenage son Griff to live with him while he conducts research into what is happening in the sea using San Isadore in the West Indies as his base. Island Queen Captain Angus Murdock and his crew Chris Waite and Rob Fletcher deliver supplies; they befriend the angry Griff and inform him of strange phenomena at sea. As the world goes ballistic, those on San Isadore will survive the nuclear winter but might not live through the attack of sea monsters lead by a sentient being from the darkest deepest depth of the Pacific.

"Star Gate". Almost five hundred years ago, the Star Lords fled their dying planet to colonize Gorth. The earthlings have a much greater life span than the native Gorth, but also breed few offspring and none purebred. The outsiders refuse to share their technology with the resentful natives; fearing what they did on Earth and want to avoid that on Gorth. Thus the expatriate earthlings move on to another Gorth in another dimension in which their counterparts enslaved the natives. The indigenous populace left behind on the first Gorth seem heading to clan war. To prevent it Kincar is exiled from the Holding. Kincar holds a special gem of power as he begins his adventures starting with meeting six travelers; three of each gender waiting for another. He joins the seven believing the last arrival is a Star Lord.

The reprint of two late 1950s science fiction thrillers is fun to read for differing reasons. SEA SIEGE feels like an entertaining 1950s B horror flick while "Star Gate" mixes science fiction with a fantasy sort of a precursor to the Witch World mixed with Crosstime. Both tales are enjoyable young adult thrillers.

Harriet Klausner