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The Zero Stone

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The Zero Stone



"A Mysterious stone, born of worlds long extinct, is the key to powers unimaginable, to man--powers that could enable its owner to control the Universe. Murdoc Jern, gem trader, finds that possession of the stone has led him to the center of a web of intrigue ands murder.
With his companion Eet, an inscrutable feline mutant with phenomenal ESP powers, he is hunted through space, coming finally to a long forgotten planet inhabited by apelike "sniffers." There facing the predatory sniffers, the antagonistic Patrol and the laser guns of the Thieves Guild, Murdoc must seek the source of the Zero stone and bargain for his rights to pursue his destiny as a free man."


The Zero Stone (1968) is the first novel in the two book Murdoc Jern series. Murdoc is the son of Hywel Jern, a former prime assessor to a sector boss of the Thieves' Guild. Hywel migrated to Angkor and married the daughter of a local hock-lock operator. Shortly after the marriage, his in-laws. and many others in the vicinity of the port, died from disease brought by a plague ship, but Hywel and his wife survived and even performed some of the necessary governmental functions during the emergency. Some five years later, Angkor became a hub for interstellar trade in that sector and the Jern business thrived through Hywel's many off-world contacts, both legal and illegal, but he maintained a low profile, operating from the same modest hock-lock.

One day, the first officer of a space liner brought in a ring with a dull stone that was found in interstellar space, far from any star, on the finger of a space suited corpse. The crude stone is plain and cloudy, but has a remarkable hardness. The stone gives an impression of great power to Hywel and Murdoc, but not to the rest of the family. Hywel is obsessed with the stone and arranges an apprenticeship for Murdoc with Vondar Ustle, a master gemologist who searches for new sources of precious stones, so that Murdoc can search for more information on the ring and stone. Hywel is well satisfied with his life as apprentice to Vondar and, when he returns for a visit, finds that he no longer fits into his family. One evening, Hywel stays home to conduct some business while the rest of the family goes to a party. Leaving the party earlier, Murdoc returns home to find his father tied to his chair, bloody and dead. Murdoc takes the ring and stone from its hiding place and leaves his home forever.

In this novel, Murdoc and Vondar have come to Koonga City on Tanth searching for gems. They are dining in a taproom when the Green Robes, native priests, enter, spin their selection wheel to point between Murdoc and Vondar, and try to take both men. Murdoc kills one priest, fights his way clear, and then finds sanctuary with the priests of Noskald. These priests arrange for a Free Trader, the Vestris, to take Murdoc off-world. The crew treats him in a distant, but civil manner, but his only companion is the ship's cat, Valcyr. When the ship sets down on a primitive planet, Valcyr accompanies Murdoc as he explores the area. When Murdoc finds some bits of a curiously dull black substance that forms an extremely hard but fuzzy oval, Valcyr takes the largest specimen and starts to lick it. Murdoc tries to take it away from her, but gets clawed for his efforts. When a crewman tries to get the specimen, Valcyr runs off with it and hides. Murdoc and the crewman find her again, but she then swallows it.

When they return to the ship, the Medico tests Valcyr and the specimens; he determines that the black ovals are alive at a low level as if hibernating and that Valcyr is now pregnant. Since there is a possibility that Valcyr is not carrying ordinary kittens, she is locked in a cage within the sick bay. About four weeks later, she disappears from the cage and is next seen in Murdoc's cabin with a newborn animal, Eet, that is not a kitten. And then Murdoc finds himself covered with purple blotches and feeling feverish. At this point, Murdoc and Eet leave the Vestris, Murdoc in a spacesuit and Eet in a clear-sided box, to escape the plague-fearing, frantic crew.

This novel has some of the signature characteristics of the author's space adventure tales, including the outcast Murdoc, the telepathic Eet, and alien artifacts. The creature Eet is rather unique in the author's space adventures, having a human level of intelligence, yet possessing an animal body. The sequel to this book is Uncharted Stars

This book should have a large font "TO BE CONTINUED" at the end of the book. It kind of leaves you hanging. This is corrected with Baen's new Search for the Star Stones

Highly recommended for Norton fans and anyone who enjoys space adventures.

Gunner September, 2008

The Zero Stone (1968) is the first novel in the Murdoc Jern series. Murdoc is the son of Hywel Jern, a former prime assessor to a sector boss of the Thieves' Guild who bought out when his patron was assassinated. Hywel migrated to Angkor and married the daughter of a local hock-lock operator.

Shortly after the marriage, his in-laws -- and many others in the vicinity of the port -- died from disease brought by a plague ship. Yet Hywel and his wife survived and even performed some of the necessary governmental functions during the emergency. Some five years later, Angkor became a hub for interstellar trade in that sector. The Jern business thrived through Hywel's many off-world contacts, both legal and illegal. But Hywel maintained a low profile, operating from the same modest hock-lock.

One day, the first officer of a spaceliner brought in a ring with a dull stone that was found in interstellar space, far from any star, on the finger of a spacesuited corpse. The crude stone is plain and cloudy, but has a remarkable hardness. The stone gives an impression of great power to Hywel and Murdoc, but not to the rest of the family.

Hywel is obsessed with the stone and arranges an apprenticeship for Murdoc with Vondar Ustle -- a master gemologist who searches for new sources of precious stones -- so that Murdoc can search for more information on the ring and stone. Murdoc is well satisfied with his life as apprentice to Vondar. Returning for a visit, Murdoc finds that he no longer fits into his family.

One evening, Hywel stays home to conduct some business while the rest of the family goes to a party. Leaving the party earlier, Murdoc returns home to find his father tied to his chair, bloody and dead. Murdoc takes the ring and stone from its hiding place and leaves his home forever.

In this novel, Murdoc and Vondar have come to Koonga City on Tanth searching for gems. They are dining in a taproom when the Green Robes, native priests, enter, spin their selection wheel to point between Murdoc and Vondar, and try to take both men. Murdoc kills one priest, fights his way clear, and then finds sanctuary with the priests of Noskald.

These priests arrange for a Free Trader, the Vestris, to take Murdoc off-world. The crew treats him in a distant, but civil manner, but his only companion is the ship's cat, Valcyr. When the ship sets down on a primitive planet, Valcyr accompanies Murdoc as he explores the area. When Murdoc finds some bits of a curiously dull black substance that forms an extremely hard but fuzzy oval, Valcyr takes the largest specimen and starts to lick it. Murdoc tries to take it away from her, but gets clawed for his efforts. When a crewman tries to get the specimen, Valcyr runs off with it and hides. Murdoc and the crewman find her again, but she then swallows it.

When they return to the ship, the Medico tests Valcyr and the specimens; he determines that the black ovals are alive at a low level as if hibernating and that Valcyr is now pregnant. Since there is a possibility that Valcyr is not carrying ordinary kittens, she is locked in a cage within the sick bay.

About four weeks later, she disappears from the cage and is next seen in Murdoc's cabin with a newborn animal, Eet, that is not a kitten. And then Murdoc finds himself covered with purple blotches and feeling feverish. At this point, Murdoc and Eet leave the Vestris, Murdoc in a spacesuit and Eet in a clear-sided box, to escape the plague-fearing, frantic crew.

This novel has some of the signature characteristics of the author's space adventure tales, including the outcast Murdoc, the telepathic Eet, and alien artifacts. However, this story is one of the wanderlust kind, much like Star Man's Son and the Solar Queen series, where the hero/heroine goes on to discover new adventures.

The creature Eet is rather unique in the author's space adventures, having a human level of intelligence, yet possessing an animal body. Eet combines the friendly alien, symbiotic animal, and mutated talents aspects of these tales, all in one body, sort of a highly evolved version of the meerkats in The Beast Master.

While this story is not one of my favorites, it still provides the same high level of storycraft one expects of the author. The characters are interesting but not as enthralling as some of the other tales. The relationship between Murdoc and Eet is not clear, but one feels as if Eet is much superior to Murdoc, yet is handicapped by his inadequate body. Is Murdoc a pet to Eet?

Recommended for Norton fans and anyone who enjoys space adventures involving a young hero and a mysterious alien.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Although I have read many Andre Norton books, this was one of the better ones. Do not give up on this book (as I almost did) until you meet eet. Just some of the conversations with this character, and the manner is which it is done, is enchanting. The way the zero stone itself is described strikes me as something out of a dream. Though against a sci-fi backdrop, there is only enough there to make the story.
Don't forget to read the sequel, Uncharted Stars.

Great science fiction continues to stay relevant regardless of the era. That is true about Andre Norton's Zero Stone. Regardless of the fact that the book is almost 40 years old, the story still carries though time. The depth of characters is staggering. The reader could probably use a little less information about the constant need to eat, but this is a sign of the times in which the novel was originally written: it does not detract from the overall story. Not as fast paced as some of the modern fare, but Norton's tale is true literature, while much of what is seen today is simply brain-candy. Highly reccomended to anyone who appreciates the classic sci-fi genre. It should be noted that this tale is part of a two-book series. Zero Stone leaves the reader craving the next installment.

The late Andre Norton was best known for her fantasy novels, including the brilliant Witch World series. However, she also published 'hard' science fiction. The adventures of the Free Trader 'Solar Queen' are my favorites as well as "Beast Master"/"Lord of Thunder," and the 'Warlock' books.

"The Zero Stone" and its sequel, "Uncharted Stars" are a little harder to like. The plot hinges on a series of incredible coincidences such as when our hero, Murdoc Jern, an apprentice gem dealer launches himself into space with nothing but a space suit between himself and eternity--and happens upon an ancient Forerunner life boat that lands him on a planet which happens to have two caches of zero stones just like the one he inherited from his father.

As Murdoc Jern himself says in the sequel, the zero stone started "me on a series of adventures so wild that, had another recited them to me, I would have thought them the product of fash-smoke breathing..."

His companion, Eet was born of a Free Trader ship's cat after she had swallowed a curious black stone. Eet himself (or herself) is telepathic and seems to have swallowed a copy of the 'Encyclopedia Galactica.' Usually Norton's aliens are a bit more likeable or at least a bit more inscrutable than Eet. He's a sort of an obnoxious, know-it-all mutant cat. He's the master and Murdoc is the slave--a relationship that Murdoc acknowledges and tries to rectify in "Uncharted Stars."

The two reel improbably through space with the Thieves' Guild and the Patrol breathing down their rockets (as I think Norton put in another one of her SF novels), all in a race to learn the ultimate source of the Zero Stone.

I'd classify the adventures of Eet and Murdoc Jern as one of Norton's lesser efforts, but still a must-read for her fans.

This is simply one of the best stories ever told in the Sci-Fi universe. If you've never read anything by Ms. Norton then you must read this one, and its sequel 'Uncharted Stars'

And missed many of the subtleties.

Norton's vision of a universe awash in ancient, eerie alien rubble, and her vivid planetscapes, are incomparably haunting.

Starting with 'The Zero Stone' and then it's sequel 'Uncharted stars', these two books
are a great Sci-fi ride. Follow Merdoc Jern as he comes to be partnered with and lead around
the galaxy by a telepathic mutant cat in search of artifacts from a long lost civilization.
Andre Norton has many series with similar themes, but these two are my favorite. Once these
get you hooked, try her various Forerunner books next! (Books sold separately on Amazon or
in one volume as "Search for the Star Stones"- Check item description first!)

Norton weaves another fine adventure, with gem specialist Murdoc Jern and mutant Eet at the center. They are brought together by chance, and work together to survive when Murdoc is pursued by the Thieves' Guild and the Patrol. Murdoc possesses a mysterious gem stone, called the Zero Stone by his murdered father, so named because of what is known about the stone - virtually nothing. The source of the stone is sought by the Guild and the Patrol, who suspect Murdoc has information to assist them. The adventure is well told and imaginative, and the story is a fast and very enjoyable read. This is another example of competent science fiction by Norton, who can turn almost any story material into something special.

The Zero Stone



"A Mysterious stone, born of worlds long extinct, is the key to powers unimaginable, to man--powers that could enable its owner to control the Universe. Murdoc Jern, gem trader, finds that possession of the stone has led him to the center of a web of intrigue ands murder.
With his companion Eet, an inscrutable feline mutant with phenomenal ESP powers, he is hunted through space, coming finally to a long forgotten planet inhabited by apelike "sniffers." There facing the predatory sniffers, the antagonistic Patrol and the laser guns of the Thieves Guild, Murdoc must seek the source of the Zero stone and bargain for his rights to pursue his destiny as a free man."


The Zero Stone (1968) is the first novel in the two book Murdoc Jern series. Murdoc is the son of Hywel Jern, a former prime assessor to a sector boss of the Thieves' Guild. Hywel migrated to Angkor and married the daughter of a local hock-lock operator. Shortly after the marriage, his in-laws. and many others in the vicinity of the port, died from disease brought by a plague ship, but Hywel and his wife survived and even performed some of the necessary governmental functions during the emergency. Some five years later, Angkor became a hub for interstellar trade in that sector and the Jern business thrived through Hywel's many off-world contacts, both legal and illegal, but he maintained a low profile, operating from the same modest hock-lock.

One day, the first officer of a space liner brought in a ring with a dull stone that was found in interstellar space, far from any star, on the finger of a space suited corpse. The crude stone is plain and cloudy, but has a remarkable hardness. The stone gives an impression of great power to Hywel and Murdoc, but not to the rest of the family. Hywel is obsessed with the stone and arranges an apprenticeship for Murdoc with Vondar Ustle, a master gemologist who searches for new sources of precious stones, so that Murdoc can search for more information on the ring and stone. Hywel is well satisfied with his life as apprentice to Vondar and, when he returns for a visit, finds that he no longer fits into his family. One evening, Hywel stays home to conduct some business while the rest of the family goes to a party. Leaving the party earlier, Murdoc returns home to find his father tied to his chair, bloody and dead. Murdoc takes the ring and stone from its hiding place and leaves his home forever.

In this novel, Murdoc and Vondar have come to Koonga City on Tanth searching for gems. They are dining in a taproom when the Green Robes, native priests, enter, spin their selection wheel to point between Murdoc and Vondar, and try to take both men. Murdoc kills one priest, fights his way clear, and then finds sanctuary with the priests of Noskald. These priests arrange for a Free Trader, the Vestris, to take Murdoc off-world. The crew treats him in a distant, but civil manner, but his only companion is the ship's cat, Valcyr. When the ship sets down on a primitive planet, Valcyr accompanies Murdoc as he explores the area. When Murdoc finds some bits of a curiously dull black substance that forms an extremely hard but fuzzy oval, Valcyr takes the largest specimen and starts to lick it. Murdoc tries to take it away from her, but gets clawed for his efforts. When a crewman tries to get the specimen, Valcyr runs off with it and hides. Murdoc and the crewman find her again, but she then swallows it.

When they return to the ship, the Medico tests Valcyr and the specimens; he determines that the black ovals are alive at a low level as if hibernating and that Valcyr is now pregnant. Since there is a possibility that Valcyr is not carrying ordinary kittens, she is locked in a cage within the sick bay. About four weeks later, she disappears from the cage and is next seen in Murdoc's cabin with a newborn animal, Eet, that is not a kitten. And then Murdoc finds himself covered with purple blotches and feeling feverish. At this point, Murdoc and Eet leave the Vestris, Murdoc in a spacesuit and Eet in a clear-sided box, to escape the plague-fearing, frantic crew.

This novel has some of the signature characteristics of the author's space adventure tales, including the outcast Murdoc, the telepathic Eet, and alien artifacts. The creature Eet is rather unique in the author's space adventures, having a human level of intelligence, yet possessing an animal body.

Highly recommended for Andre Norton fans

Gunner, June, 2009