"Witch World" is the most popular and enduring series written by Science Fiction Grand Master Andre Norton. Since the 1960s, the novels of "Witch World" have enthralled millions of readers worldwide. Norton collaborated with Lyn McConchie to write the first new "Witch World" novel in more than a decade, a magical story of courage. "The Duke's Ballad" is the tale of Aisling, a young witch from a family gifted with magical power. But her brother, Kirion, wields a power he can gain only by a single, terrible means: by killing someone else who holds power. Years ago, Aisling fled Kars when Kirion, working for the Duke of Kars, tried to kill her. Now she has returned, in disguise, with her younger brother Keelan, to undermine Kirion's power and defeat the evil duke. Through guile, persistence and ingenuity, Aisling and Keelan must somehow find a way to avoid the attention of their dangerous older brother and save the people from his murderous sorcery.
For well over a half century, Andre Norton has been one of the most popular science fiction and fantasy authors in the world. Since her first SF novels were published in the 1940s, her adventure SF has enthralled readers young and old. With series such as Time Traders, Solar Queen, Forerunner, Beast Master, Crosstime, and Janus, as well as many stand-alone novels, her tales of action and adventure throughout the galaxy have drawn countless readers to science fiction.
Her fantasy, including the best-selling Witch World series, her "Magic" series, and many other unrelated novels, has been popular with readers for decades. Lauded as a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America, she is the recipient of a Life Achievement Award from the World Fantasy Convention. Not only have her books been enormously popular; she also has inspired several generations of SF and fantasy writers, especially many talented women writers who have followed in her footsteps. In the past two decades she has worked with other writers on a number of novels. Most notable among these are collaborations with Mercedes Lackey, the Halfblood Chronicles, as well as collaborations with A.C. Crispin (in the Witch World series) and Sherwood Smith (in the Time Traders and Solar Queen series). An Ohio native, Ms. Norton lived for a number of years in Winter Park, Florida, and now makes her home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where she continues to write, and presides over High Hallack, a writers' resource and retreat.
\One of the most famous science fiction and fantasy authors of all time,
Andre Norton, who passed away in March 2005, was awarded a Life Achievement World Fantasy Award and named a Grand Master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. She wrote over a hundred novels, including novels in her Witch World, Beast Master, Solar Queen, and the Time Traders series. Her books sold millions of copies worldwide.
Lyn McConchie has written many novels, as well as books about trolls. Her collaborations with Andre Norton include
Key to the Keplian, and
Silver May Tarnish, Witch World novels and
Beast Master's Ark and
Beast Master’s Circus, SF novels in the Hosteen Storm series. She lives in New Zealand, where she writes --and runs a farm.
