Last year around this time Andrea of Little Red Reviewer posted her thoughts on her first Andre Norton experience, Star Born. Her review coupled with the wonderful Dean Ellis cover combined to ensure that this would be my first Andre Norton experience as well. I quickly snagged a nice copy of the book off of ebay and this past week I could resist the lure no longer.
Star Born packs quite a lot of storytelling punch in its brief 187 pages. Andre Norton’s 1957 story examines such issues as slavery, racial prejudice, apocalyptic warfare and governmental oppression and wraps it all up in the kind of adventure-filled story that was a pleasure to read as and adult and would have had me gazing heavenward as a child. Star Born is an example of fine world-building and classic space adventure that remains accessible and surprisingly relevant 55 years after its release.
At the beginning of Norton’s novel we are introduced to Dalgard, the progeny of members of a generation ship who escaped an oppressive government on Earth (Terra) and fled to the planet Astra in hopes to make a new start. Dalgard is traveling with Sssuri, a member of a sea-born race affectionately referred to as mermen, and merwomen. Dalgard and Sssuri are traveling together, examining the ruins of a race of beings who at one time brought destructive warfare to Astra and who are rumored to be returning to reclaim the advanced technology that would once again make them a formidable enemy. Through the buddy story of Dalgard and Sssuri the reader learns much of the history of both Terra and Astra as well as learning about the culture of the people indigenous to Astra and that of the colonists who long ago landed there.
Alternately the reader is treated to the story of Raf, a Terran pilot who is a member of a larger party of explorers sent out to explore the stars to see if they could discover any remnants of those long-ago missions now that the oppressive Pax government was dead. Through Raf’s eyes the reader is able to experience Astra as if we too were landing on a strange planet for the first time. The excitement and fear of the unknown is an interesting contrast to the journey that Dalgard and Sssuri are undertaking and Norton’s story alternates back and forth between these two viewpoints. In so doing the reader gets a picture of the mysterious Others who are the alleged warmongers of Astra.
While reading Star Born I really appreciated the cleverness of Andre Norton. In reading classic science fiction stories like this there is always a chance that the story will not only feel dated but that the storytelling choices that were perhaps brilliant at the time will have a ‘been there, done that’ feel because of the decades of stories they have inspired since their release. Certainly some of the outcomes of Star Born were a foregone conclusion, but the manner in which Norton gets the story there and the surprising amount of social and political relevance for today allows Star Born to feel fresh despite the now well-worn tropes. In particular the examination of the Terran government’s views on racial prejudice and how that informs the actions of the space travelers as their adventure unfolds gave me pause as I thought about what goes on in our world today coupled with the imminent election of our President here in the United States.
But lest you think political and social commentary make for a boring work of fiction, let me assure you that Andre Norton keeps the story moving with the kind of action, suspense and sense of wonder that makes science fiction such a pleasure to read. Star Born ratchets up the tension right to the very end. Despite being well past my bed time I could not stop turning the pages last night as I was alternately curious about how the story would end and also how it could be possible for Norton to come to a satisfying end given the rapid disappearance of pages left to read. Without spoiling anything I will say that this reader was particularly satisfied with her execution and the choices she made as an author. She truly knew her audience and she delivered.
Star Born contains a nice mixture of Lost World fantasy and space-faring science fiction and Andre Norton manages to compare and contrast the two worlds without passing judgment on either. Critics could point out that the science is beyond iffy in Norton’s book. Unlike some of the Heinlein juveniles to which Star Born could and should be favorably compared, there is little attempt at explaining anything from the telepathic ability of the mermen and colonists to the advanced technology of the Others. The emphasis is firmly placed on the examination of the way in which mankind, or various intelligent species in this case, treats one another and given the time period in which this was written could and would have applicability across a wide range of historical events.
In the end I enjoyed Star Born because it was fun. Some of my favorite classic science fiction reading experiences have been thanks to the efforts of Robert A. Heinlein aiming science fiction at young people, providing them exciting adventures of space exploration while not talking down to them with his writing. Andre Norton’s juvenile novels have been compared to those of Heinlein and I can see why. She too refuses to talk down to her readers, examining with maturity subject matter that is important to get a handle on early in life while at the same time providing the kid of page-turning adventure that recalls the novels that hooked me as a young adult. I am glad that I chose this as my first experience with Andre Norton. It will be the first of many, I assure you.
I’m happy you liked this one, and happy i was able to inspire you to pick it up. Star Born got me reading more Andre Norton, which got me reading some Leigh Brackett, which opened up this whole new world of sword and planet stories that I never knew existed.
Star Born *is* a political story, but there is also plenty of action and adventure and aliens to draw younger readers in.
I found it fun that I finally got to it about a year exactly after you posted your review. I’m glad you read and reviewed it or I may still not have read Norton. I read your review of The Stars Are Ours again last night and have bid on a copy of it on ebay.
I picked up a great collection (great because I LOVE the cover art) of Leigh Brackett’s planetary romance stories a few years ago and hope to get to some of them during the upcoming Experience. I feel a kinship with her already because of her work on the screenplay for my favorite Star Wars film, The Empire Strikes Back.
What a great cover. I’ve been studying book covers lately in hopes for inspiration. I used to shy away from science fiction and it’s because in the 9th grade I had a horrible English teacher who almost ruined reading for me completely. I won’t go into details since I don’t want to discourage those who love to read, but after my experience with this teacher I always associated science fiction with him. Not sure how that happened. There must be a reason, but this was years ago. Over the last few years I’ve dabbled more into science fiction and I’m loving it. It’s fun to have a whole new genre to explore. And I’m glad I got over my petty reason. It’s funny how some things can really get to us and how we let it. Or at least I did.
I’m glad you got over your reason as well, though I would not call it petty. Adults, especially teachers, can and do have such an influence over us during our formative years and that is a responsibility that unfortunately can be used for ill as well as for good, even with the best of intentions. Without knowing your story it brings to mind the science fiction community as a whole, which can be a very unwelcome, “petty”, bickering community that can do as much to discourage newcomers to science fiction as it does encourage them. In the limited SF circles that I travel I see links to posts that bring up the same old arguments year after year after year, some of which can be a lot of fun to participate in and others which make me shake my head and shy away from bringing new people to the fold.
It is one of the main reasons if not THE main reason I decided to host The Science Fiction Experience (or The Sci Fi Experience…my name change partially a result of some of those petty arguments). I wanted to encourage those who either haven’t read or don’t read science fiction as well as those who do but aren’t deeply involved in the community to have a safe and fun place in which to *experience* the true wonders of science fiction. It thrills me when people step outside of their normal reading zone to read science fiction and fantasy. Just like it thrills me when I step out of mine to read something I don’t normally read and discover wonders that were previously unexplored by me.
Oh man I almost forgot about The Sci Fi Experience. I need to put my thinking cap on for that one and start planning now that RIP is coming to a close.
I love reading books that aren’t my norm. I learn so much and sometimes I find a new love. Life is meant to be experienced in my opinion and, I don’t like to stay in one box.
I’m already wondering how I’ll get in even a smidge of what I want to read for the Experience. Which is part of the reason why I think I’m getting the SF bug already and have been reading nothing but for the last couple of weeks now.
//packs quite a lot of storytelling punch in its brief 187 pages.//
Seems like all the old pros could do this. I’ve been working my way through the mystery-espionage novels of Anthony Price, who accomplished more with 200 odd pages than many writers today with their door stoppers.
I read a fair amount of Norton when I was younger (I remember enjoying Star Guard and Star Rangers) but never anything from her Witch World series – any plans to check those out?
Fun fact: A former librarian herself, from 1999 to 2004 Norton operated the High Hallack Libray, a research library and retreat for writers of popular fiction. I wish I could have visited – or even worked there! (http://www.andre-norton.org/highhallack/index.html)
You hit on what I also believe which is that there are many great stories out there that don’t need a thousand pages per book to tell. Now in those instances where the author is AMAZING and I hang on every word I don’t mind a longer novel but I believe I am happiest when I can find something under 300 pages that makes me glad I am a reader.
I hadn’t thought one way or the other about her Witch World series other than that I’ve heard good things. I’m certainly not averse to checking them out.
Thanks for the fun fact! There is something just a little extra special about authors who are/were librarians, isn’t there?
I don’t mind long books, I cut my teeth on the Lord of the Rings. But sometimes I want a meal, not a feast.
I think back to some of the books I loved as a kid, like Nancy Springer’s The Silver Sun or John Maddox Roberts’ The Space Angel, and see how easily the authors could have stretched them out – and how the reading experience might have suffered as a result.
True, but Lord of the Rings is a mere snack compared to some of the huge running series today. LOTR was one thousandish page novel. Now that would just be one of 10 or more, lol!
Under 300 pages? You and your short stories again. 🙂
I tried this book but just couldn’t get into it. Maybe I just needed to stick with a little longer. I might try it again one day. I may try The Time Traders or her Witch World series one day though.
I think you have to be in the right mood for these classics, personally, but of course they also have to grab you early or it probably isn’t going to change as you continue. This one picks up as it goes along but isn’t wildly different from the way it starts either.
Thanks for the review. I have known about Norton for a very long time, but have not read any books. I think that is about to change.
You are welcome Tony. I hope you get a chance to check out her work and find something you enjoy. It is nice to be able to cross another Grand Master off my list. There simply isn’t enough time to check out all the great classic authors and the current ones too!
It’s been so long since I read this one I’ve forgotten it, but your summary helped a little bit. As I recall, and it was far from my first Norton, that was WITCH WORLD. I liked that a lot, this one, just “okay”.
As for TBM’s comment, for me 9th grade was my freshman year in high school, and the teacher I had for English class had us read tons of stuff, Dickens, poetry, etc. No SF of course, but any book you read was a good thing, and I grew up in a reading family, especially my mother and older brother. So it’s a shame TBM had that negative experience.
And there is another vote for Witch World! I am tracking down a copy of The Stars Are Ours or The Time Traders next from her. The Stars Are Ours is the story that goes before this one and The Time Traders is a friend of mine’s favorite Norton novel and he has mentioned that to me several times over the years. I finally picked up a copy recently.
I don’t remember having any teachers that turned me off to reading but I was pretty much an equal opportunity reader in those days. I largely read science fiction but also read a lot of young adult books, stuff by Stephen King, etc. My 11th and 12th grade English teachers are not ones I was particularly close to but I appreciate them greatly because they taught me a love of Shakespeare and other classics, introduced me to Steinbeck and Hemmingway, and basically taught me not to be afraid of any literature, that it all has the potential to whisk you away on some great adventure.
Hmm, I’m going to have to remember this one! It sounds like an engaging premise with interesting characters–always a good sign.
I’ve had mixed experiences with Norton. I read two or three of her books and loved them. Then I read Witch World and it was such a slog that I’ve been a little scared off of going back to her.
Not to mention she wrote SO MANY books that I had no idea what to pick up. So, a recommended title is much appreciated. 🙂
It is so funny because some people love Witch World, and others don’t. She has written a lot of books and is a well loved author so I wouldn’t shy away yet. This is an entertaining one and I’ve heard great things about The Time Traders.
I’m reading Moon of Three Rings, by Norton right now. It is an amazing story and seems as modern an adventure as when it was written. Now I read this first as a young teenager and so reading it 40 years later is a lot of fun.
I just went and read about Moon of Three Rings and it does sound like an interesting one. I’m glad that you are enjoying it now after enjoying it in your teenage years. Not all books hold up that way and it is special when they do.
You should submit this and any of your other reviews of sci-fi written by women pre-2000 to sfmistressworks.wordpress.com — a great review collating site and resource.
You should read Norton’s Sargasso in Space…. 🙂 Loved it.
great review! Hopefully more reviews of classic sci-fi are incoming.
Hey, thanks Joachim. Ian Sales is actually going to post it over on the sfmistressworks site, so good call! He actually emailed me and asked me about doing so the other day.
Sargasso in Space is one I’ve heard of, and love the aliteration of the title.
And yes, there will be more classic and modern SF on the way.