Ordeal In Otherwhere

Ordeal In Otherwhere

~ 2nd Novel in the Warlock Series by Andre Norton

ordeal.in.otherwhere

Synopsis ~

Write-up from the front flap of the 1964 HC ~

With the colonial government of Demeter in the hands of the outlaw Tolskegg, young Charis Nordholm had no other choice. Reluctantly, she signed an indefinite contract which out her in the service of the off-worlder, Jagan. Her assignment - to trade with the mysterious Wyverns on Warlock.
At first, Charis was attracted by the dreams of the shimmering Wyvern witches. In spite of the warning of her crazed predecessor, Sheeha, the taste of their power, given her in the Wyverns' sea-hidden Cavern of the Veil, was tantalizing, and she yearned to learn more of the secret of weaving dreams. It was not until she met young Shann Lantee, a government liaison officer, the Charis finally began to understand the menace of Warlock. Almost too late. For thrust into the midst of an internecine struggle between Wyverns and their antagonists, she a Shann and their animal companions, Tssstu and Taggi, face near disaster as the furious witches attempt to destroy them.
Andre Norton is a superb storyteller whose "sweep of imagination and brilliance of detail" have made the author "a primary talent among science fiction writers" (Virgina Kirkus). This fast-moving adventure, the first in which Andre Norton pits a girl against formidable adversaries, is further proof of the author's range and skill.

Write-up from the back of the 1963 Ace paperback edition ~

“Fans of Andre Norton are familiar with the planet Warlock and its shimmering powerful witches, the matriarchal Wyverns, who rule by dreams. Ordeal in Otherwhere goes back to this familiar science-fiction setting, this time with young Charis Nordholm, who has been sold as the slave to a trader wishing to buy cloth from these strange creatures.
“Charis soon finds herself not only in contact with the Wyverns, but also mixed up in the mysterious internecine warfare she does not understand…
Norton’s books have earned a special place for being highly imaginative and beautifully written.” – Anniston Star

Write-up from the back of 1970s ACE paperback edition ~

When an outlaw seized control of the colonial planet Demeter, Charis Nordholm decided that it could no longer be her home. She contracted herself into the service of an off-world trader, who assigned her to buying cloth from the mysterious Wyverns.
At first, she was greatly attracted to these shimmering, dream-rulers of Worlock, and yearned to learn their secrets. But, Charis discovered to her cost; some secrets are best left alone.

Write-up from the front flap of the 1980 Gregg Press edition ~

Charis Nordholm is forced to leave her home planet of Demeter because it has fallen into the hands of an outlaw. She signs up to work for Jagan, an off-world trader who wants to buy cloth from the Wyverns —the powerful, matriarchal witches of the planet Warlock, who govern by dreams. Initially, Charis is fascinated by these dreams, and longs to know more of the secrets of the shimmering, mysterious Wyvern "witches." Then she meets Shann Lantee, a government liaison officer, introduced in Storm Over Warlock, and Charis begins to see the danger of warlock — almost too late.
Ordeal In Otherwhere is a swiftly paced and exciting yarn. A sequel to Storm Over Warlock, it is yet another fine example of Andre Norton's ability to make an imaginative, colorful adventure believable and irresistible.

Write-ups from fans ~

A plague struck the colony on Demeter, killing most of the government personnel. Outlaws seized control and Charis Nodholm, teacher became outcast and was traded to an unscrupulous Free Trader. He sold her indentures to another trader bound for Warlock. On Warlock, the reptilian Wyverns would not deal with males, so the traders hoped to use Charis as a liaison to trade for some beautiful fabric made by the Wyverns. One day, the traders disappeared and Charis after beaming a sos to the Survey base (from Storm Over Warlock), takes off into the wilderness, meets and befriends a Warlockian curl-cat. She is captured by the Wyverns and taken to their base where she is tested. The Wyverns, a matriarchal society, possess the Power of mind control (through dreams, mainly) and Teleportation and Telepathy. She shows some aptitude for the Power, as did Shann and Ragnar from SOW. She escapes and meets Shann and his telepathic wolverines. All of the off-world camps have been taken over by Jacks, ruthless pirates, who want to find some way to steal the Power. Charis and Shann and their animal companions must find a way to get the Wyvern "Witches" help them defeat the Jacks.
Notes:
Charis is Andre's first female main character and was a tough sell to the publishers
The first appearance of the term "Jacks" meaning independent pirates, ie. not associated with her Thieves' Guild.
"Otherwhere" is a big darkness that Wyverns (and Charis) teleport though. They also use it as a place to store prisoners. Other than it not being cold, it reminds me of "BETWEEN" in the Anne McCaffrey Pern books. ~ PG

Reviews ~

Kirkus Reviews ~ Issue: March 1st, 1964
Otherwhere, somewhere up there, begins on Demeter where Charis and her father, a government man, have joined a colony of fanatical Believers. Charis has inherited his "liberal off-world" mind and she continues her fight against tyrannies of any kind when she is taken to another newly opened world, Warlock, controlled by the jewel-skinned Wyverns through dreams and a Power which resides in will. At first Charis tracks the terrain, resplendent with postdiluvian flora and fauna-- a seabeast and monstrous clakers, before she joins with Survey officer antee and is able not only to equalize the Wyverns' power but also their lack of balance between the sexes... A demanding story, but initiates will again enjoy the luxuriance of activity and detail.

Various reviews ~ For more info and other listings see Articles about Andre

1964 by P. Schuyler Miller in Analog Science Fact -> Science Fiction, August
1980 by Spider Robinson in Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact, December
1981 by Roger Schlobin in Science Fiction Studies, July
2015 by James Nicoll
2017 by Judith Tarr

Bibliography of English Editions ~

(1964) Published by World, HC, LCCN 64012354, $3.50, 221pg ~ cover by Gilbert Riswald {Red Cloth Board, # 2353 on Rear of Dust Jacket}

(1964) Published by ACE, PB, # F-325, $0.40, 191pg - #63821 1969 $0.60 203pg 2nd print - covers by Gray Morrow ~ #63822 1973 $0.75 203pg 3rd print - #63823 1975 $1.25 203pg 4th print - covers by Jack Gaughan? ~ #63824 1977 $1.50 203pg 5th print - #63825-2 1982 $2.25 203pg 6th print - #63819-8 1985 $2.50 203pg states 4th but at least 7th printing - covers by Davis Meltzer

#63822 & 63823 note how this cover art is very similar (in context and arrangement of the ship and person in the hatch) to the cover art by Jack Gaughan for ACE G-595 Quest Crosstime.

#63825-2 & 63819-8 are mislabled as being "The second book in the Forerunner series".

(1980) Published by Gregg Press, HC, 0-839-82634-X, LCCN 79025691 $9.95, 191pg ~ Gregg Press Science Fiction Series of Andre Norton ~ Dust Jacket by Fred Knecht Jr, Frontmatter by Barbara Anderson {Binding: 5.625 x 8.25 - Black Cloth Boards (Publisher states the color is Dark Green) & Spine with Silver Lettering, Blue End Papers}

Warlock (2003) Published by BAEN, HC, 0-671-31849-7, LCCN 2001049949, $25.00, 534pg ~ cover by Larry Elmore ~ Omnibus containing Storm Over Warlock (1960), Ordeal In Otherwhere (1964) & Forerunner Foray (1973)

Non-English Editions ~

(1970) Published in Munich, Germany; by Moewig, OCLC: 73842697, Terra TB 174, DM2.60, 142pg ~ translation by Leni Sobez ~ cover by Karl Stephan ~ German title Im Bann der Träume [Under the spell of dreams]

Russian Omnibus Editions ~

(1995) Published in Moscow, by Sigma Press and Zelenograd, by Zelenogradskaya Books, 5-863-14043-7, HC, 544pg ~ cover by D. Avvakumov ~ Russian title Испытание в Иноземье [Test in the Alien Teritory]

Contains:

- "Storm over Warlock" as "The Storm over the Sorcerer" ~ translation by M. Shamray, pp. 3-164
- "Ordeal in Otherwhere" as "Testing in a foreign land" ~ translation by D. Saveliev & J. Saveliev, pp. 165-342
- "Forerunner Foray" as "The Mining of the Forerunner" ~ translation by D. Saveliev & J. Saveliev, pp. 343-542

(2003) Published in Moscow, by Eksmo, 5-699-01839-5, HC, 448pg ~ cover by David Mattingly ~ Russian title Буря над планетой Колдун [Storm over the planet Sorcerer]

Contains:

- "Storm Over Warlock" as "Storm over the planet Sorcerer" ~ translation S. Sergeev, p. 5-162
- "Ordeal in Otherwhere" as "Tests in Other-Where" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, p. 163-284
- "Forerunner Foray" as "The invasion of distant ancestors" ~ translation by O. Kolesnikov, p. 285-443

(2015) Published in Moscow by Eksmo, 978-5-699-76086-2, HC, 800pgs ~ cover art by A. Dubovik ~ Russian title Колдовской мир [Victory on Janus] ~ Limited to 3000 copies ~ in fact, released in December 2014

Contains:

- "Storm Over Warlock" as "Storm over the planet Sorcerer" ~ translation S. Sergeev, pp. 5-200
- "Ordeal in Otherwhere" as "Trials in the Other-Where" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 201-352
- "Catseye" as "Cat's gaze" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 353-486
- "Judgment on Janus" as "Court on Janus" ~ translation by O. Kolesnikov, pp. 487-636
- "Victory on Janus" ~ translation by O. Kolesnikov, pp. 637-797