The Witches of Karres [Mass Market Paperback]

James H. Schmitz (Author)

Book Description

Series: Karres | Publication Date: October 25, 2005

Captain Pausert thought his luck had finally turned-but he did not yet realize it was a turn for the worse. On second thought, make that a turn for the disastrous! Pausert thought he had made good with his battered starship, successfully selling off odd-ball cargoes no one else could sell. And then he made the mistake of freeing three slave children from their masters (who were suspiciously eager to part with them). No good deed goes unpunished, and those harmless-looking young ladies were just trying to be helpful, but those three adorable little girls quickly made Pausert the mortal enemy of his fiancée, his home planet, the Empire, warlike Sirians, psychopathic Uldanians, the dread pirate chieftain Laes Yango-and even the Worm World, the darkest threat to mankind in all of space. And all because those harmless-looking little girls were in fact three of the notorious and universally feared Witches of Karres. A rollicking novel from the master of space adventure.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James H. Schmitz was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1911 of American parents. He spent the years of the First World War in the United States, then went back to Germany to complete his schooling. Aside from several trips to the United States, he lived in Germany until 1938, returning to America with the outbreak of World War II. He sold his first story, "Greenface," to the now-legendary fantasy magazine Unknown Worlds, shortly before Pearl Harbor, but by the time it was published, he was flying with an Army Air Corps group as an aerial photographer in the Southern Pacific Theater. In 1949, he began publishing his "Agent of Vega" series in the leading SF magazine, Astounding (later renamed Analog), and was one of that magazine's most popular contributors over the next three decades, introducing the memorable heroines Telzey Amberdon and Trigger Argee, leading protagonists in his massive "Federation of the Hub" series. He died in 1981.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 394 pages
• Publisher: Baen Book; 1st edition (October 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416509151
• ISBN-13: 978-1416509158
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255,699 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > United States > 20th Century

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely fantastic characters!, December 27, 1999

By 

Dawn Smoker (Mechanicsburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Witches Of Karres (Paperback)

I picked up a copy of this in the early 80's and it is still one of my favorites! It's a shame this is out of print. So many people are going to miss the chance to read about Captian Pausart and his trials and tribulations while trying to get a bunch of young witches safely back to their home planet. I love the interplay between him and Goth, in particular. A little touch of romance, and a lot of humor and adventure all rolled together to make a perfect book! If you see it anywhere--buy it! You won't be disappointed. You might also want to try the Telzey stories and Demon Breed. They are also great! I haven't been able to get my hands on any of the other books.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There's more than one meaning to "edited!", January 2, 2005

By 

SlanFan (NC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Witches of Karres (Hardcover)

I second the preceding reviews, with one exception. One reviewer complains that the novel has been "edited," so he wouldn't touch it. Actually (check Eric Flint's website), Flint's editing took the form of (1) selecting the book for reprinting, and (2) correcting typos, missing words, etc.. Unless a reader is overly fond of typoed words, there is no difference between previous editions of this exciting, humorous, and thoroughly enjoyable classic sf novel and the new edition.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Sci-Fi Novel..., August 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Witches of Karres (Hardcover)

I first read "The Witches of Karres" when I was twelve years old and happened across it in the stacks of my hometown library. I have never found any science fiction book before or since that could match it in terms of pure enjoyment. It is one of only two or three books that I will not lend under any circumstances (and given that it's a perfect first edition, that I won't even let someone touch). I fell in love with Goth and fancied myself as Pausert in many a happy dream. I had nightmares in which the Sheem Assasin came alive, the fur moving and the body taking shape. I still shudder at the thought after all these years. It's a shame the book didn't win the Hugo that year, because it's so excellent, but that doesn't change anything. My only regrets are that Schmitz never published a sequel (though from what I've read he thought about one and maybe even worked on it a bit) and that I didn't buy a stack of the original Chilton first editions for two bucks a pop while they were still in print! Given today's special effects wizardry, "The Witches of Karres" would make a one heck of a fun movie...