Beast Master’s Quest

~ 5th Novel in the Beast Master Series by Andre Norton

(Series aka) Hosteen Storm

Written by Lyn McConchie.

A brief Author's Note:

I was ASKED by Andre to write these, and we also had it in mind to do a series of singles under the broad title of BeastMaster's Academy, about the adventures of various teams on just discovered worlds. Before any of the three went to the publisher, Andre read an ms copy and was completely free to make any changes she wished. She liked all three and approved them to me as they stood.      Quest was not written from an outline, Ark and Circus were.

Lyn ~ 01-15-2020

See Also: A brief Author's Note: for The Key of the Keplian

Synopsis ~

Write-up from the front flap of the 2006 dustjacket ~

Laris is a young orphaned ex-refugee, gifted with the beast-master ability allowing her to communicate with animals. Her closest companion is a remarkably intelligent and enigmatic catlike creature named Prauo, whose origin is shrouded in mystery. Laris, having made a home for herself with the Quades, a family of Arzor ranchers, has also become friends with beast masters Tani and Hosteen Storm, who help her develop her beast-master skills.
When Laris inherits a spaceship from a distant relative, she realizes that she might now fulfill her dream of finding Prauo's home planet. But it won't be easy, and she is relieved when she is able to convince her new extended family to embark with her on a journey into the unknown depths of space.
What Laris and her friends find in space, however, tests their beast-master abilities and threatens their lives. Prauo's home world is beset by dangers that the intrepid travelers could not have anticipated. It will take all of their talents and experience to get back to Arzor alive.

Write-up from the back of paperback edition ~

Laris is gifted with beast-master ability to communicate telepathically with animals, especially with a remarkable intelligent but enigmatic catlike creature named Prauo, whose origin is shrouded in mystery. Laris, having found a home with a family of Arzor ranchers, has also become friends with beast master Tani and Hosteen Storm, who help her develop her beast-master skills.
When Laris inherits a spaceship, she realizes that she finally might at last fulfill her dream of finding Prauo’s home-world. But she knows she can’t do this without help. So, she is greatly relieved when she is able to convince her new extended family to join her in her journey into the unknown depths of space.
After months of searching the far reaches of space, Laris and her friends find Prauo’s home-world, a world that witnessed an apocalyptic disaster long ago. When some of the planet’s survivors greet the beast masters and their offers of help and friendship, they react not with thanks but with violence that test their beast-master abilities and threatens their very lives. The intrepid travelers, beset by dangers and conflicts that they could not possibly have anticipated, realize that just surviving the planet and getting back to Arzor alive will take all of their talents and experience…and then some.

Write-up from a fan ~

Direct sequel to BEAST MASTER'S CIRCUS.  The young orphan girl who, with her cat-companion, assisted Storm and Tani to recover Storm's kidnapped team now inherits a spaceship from a distant relative and is able to fulfill her dream of finding her cat-companion's ancestral home planet.  She is accompanied by Storm and Tani, along with their teams, and Logan.  They do find the original home of Prauo, and discover that his species is in trouble, because some of the kits are unable to make a full bond with the humanoid species, they share the planet with.  This either makes them "slaves" of their humanoid companions, or they are killed by their own parents as being imperfect specimens.  Tani uses her geneticist skills to discover the problem and initiate a cure. ~ SL

Comments:  Book 5 of BEASTMASTER series.  Still not very true to Andre Norton's original character of Hosteen Storm.  McConchie may be a good enough writer in her own "universe", but if it hadn't been for Norton's name on the cover, I wouldn't have bought the Circus and Quest books after reading the Ark.

Dedications and Acknowledgements ~

To Rachel Denk in L.A,
In memory of Winnie and McArthur and playing frisbee in the park with Harley.
To Nancy Atherton, whose Aunt Dimetry books have cheered and amused me so often, and in memory of her beloved Scooter-Pie and Miss Mousehole.
And to Tiger, adored prototype for Prauo --- gone before.
- L. McC.

Bibliography of English Editions ~

• (2006) Published by TOR, HC, 0-765-31453-3, 978-0-765-31453-6, $24.95 US $33.95 Canadian, 320pg ~ cover by Julie Bell

• (2007) Published by TOR, PB, 0-765-35334-2, 978-0-765-35334-4, $6.99, 304pg ~ cover by Julie Bell

• (2010) Published by TOR, DM, 0-765-31453-3, $6.99, 304pg ~ cover by Julie Bell

See Also: Timeline 1 - Andre's Universe entry for this title.

• Beast Master's Quest - 2006 hc Beast Master's Quest - 2006 hc
• Beast Master's Quest - 2007 pb Beast Master's Quest - 2007 pb
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