Three Against the Witch World

~ 3rd Novel in the Witch World: Estcarp Series by Andre Norton

three against the witch world 1965 f 332

 

Synopsis ~

Write-up from the back of all the ACE paperback and the first two UK paperback editions ~

North, East, South, West…The offspring of Simon Tregarth, half earthling, half witch-brood, realized that they alone could perceive the four directions – for everyone else, there was no east! It was blank in the mind, a blank in legend and history.
 And when new menaces threatened, the Tregarths realized that in that mental barrier there lay the key to all their world… somewhere to the unknown eastward must lie the sorcery that had secretly molded their destinies!

 

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

“WARRIOR, SAGE, WITCH . . . I will thee!” This was the destiny, cried out in the midst of her birth pangs, by Jaelithe for her three new-born children.
Andre Norton draws us deeper into the Witch World as she continues the epic begun when Simon Tregarth took his place on the Siege Perilous and was flung from twentieth-century London into a world of sorcery and high adventure (in Witch World and Web of the Witch World). Kyllan, Kemoc, and Kaththea are the offspring of his marriage to Jaelithe, one of the Wise Women of Estcarp. Their mixed heritage of Simon’s alien blood and ]aelithe’s witch magic brings each of them a special gift and the rare ability to combine their wills to wield great power. They have need of their power, for the Wise Women of Estcarp distrust the House of Tregarth and they abduct Kaththea in order to make her one of their own.
Three Against the Witch World is the story of Kaththea's escape from the Wise Women and the flight of her and her brothers to the mysterious land to the east beyond the mountains, to Escore. Safe from the Wise Women's vengeance, here they faced a greater peril. Escore, ancient home of the Old Race, has lain in the Shadow of Evil for time out of mind—and they have awakened that Evil.
This new edition of Three Against the Witch World features special endleave maps of the Witch World by Barbi Johnson.

 

Write-up from the 1987 UK paperback edition ~

They were young, unique, untried – they were three against the Witch World!
For the sons of Simon Tregarth, the only hope was exile. For, once they defied the Council of Witches to wrest back their sister from the Place of Wisdom, all Estcarp’s magic would turn against them, all its ancient knowledge conspires to work them ill. But Kyllan, Kemoc and Koathea possessed a knowledge not even the Wise Ones could deny, a truth long lifted from the minds of their kind. For in their hearts, they knew of a land that lay Eastwards, a land from which the Old Race had fled generations ago. And so, to the East they turned in direst need of refuge, to a country whose skill and sorcery the Wise Ones had for centuries sought to hide…
“Andre Norton will be remembered when many of us are totally forgotten” – Anne McCaffrey
“Rich, brilliant, superbly imaginative” – Lin Carter

 

Write-up from a Gregg Press sales flyer ~

Simon and Jaelithe have three children, born as triplets and sharing among them the powers of their parents: Kyllan, the warrior child who narrates this book; Kemoc, the warlock child who masters many of the occult secrets of the witches; and Kaththea, the witch child. When the three children are young and Pagar of Karsten is threatening Escarp from the south, Simon disappears while on a expedition and, after a time, Jaelithe sets out to find him, leaving the children in the care of Loyse and Koris. The boys train as soldiers and fight against Pagar, while their sister is abducted by the Witches Council and trained in “witch lore”. During a final battle with the forces of Karsten, while the witches are using all of their power in defense, Kyllan and Kemac succed in freeing Kaththea from the witches' control, and together they flee the witches' wrath by crossing the mysterious mountains to the east. Across the mountains they find Escore, the original home of the Old Race and the witches. Their arrival upsets a delicate balance between the forces of Light and Shadow, and Kyllan in particular finds himself in almost constant deadly struggle with strange forces. He is saved buy Duhaun of the Green Silences and with her aid saves Kemoc and Kaththea from certain death. The three then vow to rid Escore of the Shadow and restore is as the golden land of their ancestors, even if they must perish in the attempt.

 

Write-ups from fans ~

The adventures of the Tregarth triplets. The Witch Council of Estcarp has kidnapped Kaththea Tregarth to train as one of their own. Her brothers make plans to liberate her from captivity. Karsten Attacks and the Council "Turns" and tumble the mountains on their southern border, destroying the invading army. Many witches perish in the deed. While they are weak form the effort, Kyllan and Kemoc scale the walls and bring her forth.
Being half-breeds, they can perceive the direction EAST, which has been mind-blocked from the population of Estcarp for hundreds of years. To avoid pursuit, they travel East across the mountains into the blasted land of Escore. There they meet deadly dangers and make new friends in people out of legends and indeed one finds a soulmate. Non-stop riveting action and adventure and new destinies await them in this war-ravaged land. This book is a necessary lead-in for Warlock of the Witch World and Sorceress of the Witch World. ~ PG

 

Reviews ~

Various reviews ~ For more info and other listings see Articles Over the Years

1977 by Charles N. Brown in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, Winter
1977 by E. Sisco in School Library Journal, September
2015 by James Nicoll
2017 by Judith Tarr

 

Bibliography of English Editions ~

  • (1965) Published by ACE, PB, #F-332, $0.40, 189pg - #80800 1969 $0.50 189pg - covers by Jack Gaughan ~ #80801 1972 $0.75 190pg - #80802 1974 $0.95 190pg - #80803 1976 $1.25 190pg - #80804 1976 $1.50 190pg - #80805 1978 $1.95 251pg - #80806 1981 $2.25 251pg - covers by Harry Borgman ~ #80807 1983 $2.50 251pg - #80808 1986 $2.75 251pg - covers by John Pound
  • (1970) Published by Tandem, PB, 0-426-05039-8, £ 5s (60p), 192pg ~ UK printing ~ cover by Philip Castle
  • (1977) Published by Gregg Press, HC, 0-839-82358-4, LCCN 77023202, $7.95, 189pg ~ As Witch World 3: Three Against the Witch World ~ Dust Jacket and Text Art by Jack Gaughan, Frontmatter by Alice Phalen, Endpaper Maps by Barbi Johnson {Binding: 5.625 x 8.25 - Dark Blue Cloth Boards with Gold Lettering} Limited to 1200 copies.
  • (1977) Published by G Prior, HC, 0-860-43071-5, £4.95, 200pg ~ UK printing ~ This Edition is an identical copy of the Gregg Press release with the exception of the Title & Copyright Page.
  • (1978) Published by Universal, PB, 0-426-05039-8, £0.75, 191pg ~ UK printing ~ cover by Rodney Mathews
  • (1987) Published by Gollancz, PB, 0-575-03998-1, £2.50, 191pg ~ UK printing ~ cover by Mike Posen

 

Non-English Editions ~

  • (1997) Published in Plzeň, Czech Republic; by Laser, PB, 80-7193-025-3, 198pg ~ cover by Steve Crisp ~ translation by Pavel Grigar ~ Czech title Svět čarodějnic 3: Tři proti světu čarodejnic [World of Witches 3: Three against the world of witches]
  • (1996) Published in Paris, France; by Pocket, PB, 22-660-6282-4, 222pg ~ translation by Gille Dupreux ~ cover by Chistophe Kro ~ French title Les montagnes de [The mountains of oblivion]
  • (1975) Published in Rastatt, Germany; by Pabel, Terra Fantasy 9, DM2.80, 145pg ~ translation by Susi-Maria Rödiger ~ German title Bannkreis des Bösen [Circle of Evil] ~ Reprinted in 1978, DM3.80
  • (1986) Published in Rastatt, Germany; in Moewig, TB 11, DM5.80, 161pg ~ cover by Nikolai Lutohin ~ German title Bannkreis des Bösen [Circle of Evil]
  • (1988) Published in Rastatt, Germany; in Moewig, 38-118-3811-3, SF 3832, 161pg ~ translation by Susi-Maria Rödiger ~ German title Bannkreis des Bösen [Circle of Evil]
  • (1991) Published in Germany; 38-118-3832-6 ~ translation by Susi-Maria Rödiger ~ German title Bannkreis des Bösen [Circle of Evil]
  • (2018) Published in Germany by APEX VERLAG CHRISTIAN DÖRGE, DM, €5.49, 275pg ~ German title DER BANNKREIS DES BÖSEN - Dritter Roman des HEXENWELT-Zyklus [THE BADGE OF EVIL - Third novel of the HEX WORLD Cycle}
  • (1979) Published in Bologna, Italy; by Libra Editrice, I Classici della Fantascienza, n. 37, 7,500 lir, 400pg ~ translation by Roberta Rambelli ~ Illustrated by Allison ~ omnibus containing Tre contro il mondo delle streghe [Three against the world of witches] and La rete del mondo delle streghe [Web of the Witch World] ~ Italian title Ritorno a Estcarp [Return to Estcarp]
  • (1992) Published in Milan, Italy; by Mondadori, Urania Fantasy, n. 47, 6,000 lir, 190pg ~ translation by Fabio Feminòn ~ cover by Ken Kelly ~ Italian title Tre contro il mondo delle streghe [Three Against the Witch World]
  • (1977) Published in Tokyo, Japan; by Sogensya, 44-886-0204-8, 298pg ~ translation by Enoki Rin ~ Cover by Motoichiro Takebe ~ Japanese title 魔法の世界の三兄妹 [Three brothers and sisters in the magical world]
  • (1995) Published in Kaunus, Lithuania; by Eridanas, 99-864-8620-3, 224pg ~ translation by John Bulovas ~ cover by Audrio Šimakausko ~ Lithuanian title Trise prieš raganų pasaulį [Three against the world of witches]
  • (1991) Published in Warsaw, Poland; by Amber, 83-850-7951-3, 207pg ~ translation by Ewa Witecka ~ cover by Steve Crisp ~ Polish title Troje przeciw Światu Czarownic [Three Against the Witch World]
  • (2014) Published in Warsaw, Poland; by Nasza Księgarnia, 978-83-10-11796-0, PB, 288pg ~ translation by Ewa Witecka ~ Polish title Troje przeciw Światu Czarownic [Three Against the Witch World]

 

Russian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (1992)-1 Published in St. Petersburg, by Severo-Zapad (North-West), 5-835-20013-7, HC, 608pg ~ cover by Denis Gordeeva ~ Russian title Трое против Колдовского Мира [Three Against the Witch World]

Contains:

    • "Three Against the Witch World" as "Three against the witching world" ~ translation by A. Pakhomov, pp. 5-168
    • "Warlock of the Witch World" as "The caster of the witching world" ~ translation by N. Lebedeva, pp. 169-366
    • "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "Sorceress of the witching world" ~ translation by A. Smirnova, pp. 367-606

 

  • (1993)-1 Combined with "Warlock of the Witch World" and "Sorceress of the Witch World" ~ Published in Angarsk, by Amber and Zelenograd, by Zelenogradskaya Books, 5-863-14011-9, HC, 512pg ~ Russian title Колдовской мир [Witching World]

Contains:

    • "Three Against the Witch World" as "Three vs. The Witching World" ~ pp. 3-150
    • "Warlock of the Witch World" as "The Wizard of the Witching World" ~ pp. 151-328
    • "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "The Witch of the Witching World" ~ pp. 329-509

 

  • (1993)-2 Published in Novosibirsk, by EYA, 5-872-16034-8, HC, 512pg ~ Russian title Колдовской мир [Witching World]

Contains:

    • "Witch World" as "The Witching World" ~ pp. 3-130
    • "Web of the Witching World" ~ pp. 131-243
    • "Three against the Witching World" ~ pp. 244-354
    • "Warlock of the Witch World" as "Wizard of the Witching World" ~ pp. 355-511

 

  • (1999), (2000), (2001) & (2004) Published in Moscow, by AST, 5-237-03206-5 and 5-170-06013-0, HC, 544pg ~ cover by Luis Royo ~ Russian title Колдовской мир. Паутина Колдовского мира. Трое против Колдовского мира. [Witching World, Web of the Witching World, Three Against the Witching World] ~ limited to 7000 copies in (1999), 8000 in (2000), 4000 in (2001) and 5000 in (2004)

Contains:

    • "Witch World" as "The Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 5-202
    • "Web of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 203-376
    • "Three Against the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 377-538

 

  • (2004) Published in Moscow, by Eksmo and St. Petersburg, by Domino, 5-699-06536-9, HC, 848pg ~ cover by I. Zhmaylova and Y. Katashinskaya ~ Russian title Колдовской мир [Witching World]

Contains:

    • "Witch World" as "Book I. The Witching World" ~ translation by S. Stepanov, pp. 11-188
    • "Web of the Witch World" as "Book II. The Web of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Pakhomov, pp. 189-328
    • "Three Against the Witch World" as "Book III. Three against the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Pakhomov, pp. 329-468
    • "Warlock of the Witch World" as "Book IV. The Caster of the Witching World" ~ translation by N. Lebedeva, pp. 469-640
    • "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "Book V. The Sorceress of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Smirnova, pp. 641-846

 

  • (2005)-1 Published in Moscow, by Ermak and AST, 5-170-26909-9 and 5-957-71700-2, HC, 976pg ~ translation by A. Grusberg and Oleg Kolesnikov ~ Cover by Luis Royo (insert) and M. Van Houten (background) ~ Russian title Колдовской Мир [Witching World] ~ limited to 3000 copies

Contains:

    • "Witch World" as "The Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 5-184
    • "Web of the Witch World" as "The Web of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 185-338
    • "Three Against the Witch World" as "Three against the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 339-480
    • "Warlock of the Witch World" as "The Wizard of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 481-666
    • "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "The Sorceress of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 667-844
    • "Year of the Unicorn" as "The Year of the Unicorn" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 845-971

 

  • (2005)-2 Published in Moscow by AST, 5-170-26911-0 and 5-957-71699-5, HC , 976pg ~ Russian title Колдовской Мир [Witching World] ~ Limited to 2000 copies

Contains:

    • "Witch World" as "The Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 5-184
    • "Web of the Witch World" as "The Web of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 185-338
    • "Three Against the Witch World" as "Three against the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 339-480
    • "Warlock of the Witch World" as "The Wizard of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 481-666
    • "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "The Sorceress of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 667-844
    • "Year of the Unicorn" as "The Year of the Unicorn" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 845-971

 

  • (2017) Published in Moscow by Eksmo, 978-5-699-80236-4, HC, 492pgs ~ cover art by Anthony Dubovik ~ series: Author's Collection ~ Russian title Колдовской мир [Witching World]

Contains:

    • "Witch World" as "The Witching World" ~ translation by S. Stepanov, pp. 7-196
    • "Web of the Witch World" as "The Web of the Witching World" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 197-348
    • "Three Against the With World" as "Three against the Witching World" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 349-492

 

  •  (2021) Published in Moscow by Azbuca-Atticus, 5-170-26911-0 and 5-389-18124-3, HC ,864pg ~ cover by O. Zacis and S. Shinkin ~ Russian title Колдовской мир [Witching World] ~ Limited to 5000 copies

Contains:

    • "Witch World" as "The World of Witchcraft" ~ translation by Sergey Stepanov, pp.11-192
    • "Web of the Witch World" as "The Web of the Magical World" ~ translation by A. Pakhomov, pp. 193-338
    • "Three Against the Witch World" as "Three against the World of Witchcraft" ~ translation by A. Pakhomov, pp. 339-480
    • "Warlock of the Witch World" as "The Spellcaster of the World of Witchcraft" ~ translation by N. Lebedeva, pp. 481-654
    • "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "The Sorceress of the Magical World" ~ translation by Alla Smirnova, pp. 655-861

See Also: The Sorcerer's Conspectus entry for this title.

View the 1986 ACE Contract

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://andre-norton.com/works-of-a-master/series-of-a-master/the-witch-world-saga/343-three-against-the-witch-world#sigProIda194f6aa1f

 

 

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