Horn Crown

~ 6th Novel in the Witch World: High Hallack Series by Andre Norton

horn crown 1981

 

Synopsis ~

Write-up from the back of the paperback edition ~

When the Elder People deserted the Witch World, the cosmic Gate opened, and human households migrated in. Though they found the land abandoned, the roads empty and the shrines unattended, they soon become aware the Old Gods still retained their dread powers.
Elron the Clanless and Gathea the Wise Woman were drawn unwillingly side by side into unexplored realms. Each had a separate quest, but their fates were linked by the unknown. Each sought an unholy alliance; each was in conflict with the other.
Andre Norton has at last written the seminal Witch World novel - the book that tells of the first coming of mankind and which sets the basis for the entire series. Horn Crown is truly the keystone arch of the Witch World legendary.

 

Write-up from the front and rear flaps of the 1981 dustjacket ~

When Elron's people pass through the Gate which gives passage between worlds, they trade the memories of their old land for a future in this strange new place, known only to the Sword Brothers who had come before and scouted it. Yet while on guard duty, Elron is drawn, as though by half-dormant remembrances, to an ancient, eerie shrine of the moon.
After Elron's cousin Iynne confesses a similar attraction for the shrine, she vanishes. Later, banished by his clan - declared kinless, because he had kept Iynne's shrine-visits a secret - Elron meets Gathea, an apprentice sorceress, who claims the shrine's magic powers as her birthright. Determined to seize these powers, she joins Elron in search of Iynne, on a perilous, fast-paced journey through the strange land.
Besieged and captured by creatures of the Dark, separated and reunited, Elron and Gathea are forced to learn and employ the Old Ones' magic. For together, Elron and Gathea learn that only the powers of the Old Ones - the ancient gods, goddesses, and the Horned Hunter himself - can fend off the magical sirens and other life-threatening powers of evil. Finally, in a surprising and terrifying showdown, Elron alone must rescue Iynne from the forces of Dark - and, by restoring the balance between good an evil, determine the future of the land.
Thrilling adventure set in Norton's famed Witch World.

 

Write-up from a fan ~

This is a story which relates the origin of the people of the Dales in High Hallack. On another world, the people of Hallack were forced to flee their world. Their "Bards" discovered a seemingly deserted world and opened Gates so that many clans could emigrate. The area was abounded with hills and dales and so they named it High Hallack. They discovered that there were very powerful beings of both the Light and the Dark still inhabiting this new land. This is the tale of a quest by Elron, an outcast of his clan and Gathea, a renegade wise woman apprentice. They are looking for Elron' cousin who is the clan chief's daughter and has been lured away by the Dark. He wants to return her to the clan and Gathea wants to take from her some magical power that she had supposedly usurped. They run into many creatures of the Dark and get aid from unsuspected sources. Complicating the journey is the fact that they are at each other's throats. Fortunately, they have Gruu, a wise cat who is about the size of a horse, helping them survive. Great story! I had forgotten how good it is. ~ PG

 

Reviews ~

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

1981 by E. Corey in Science Fiction Times (fnz)
1981 in Publishers Weekly, June 05
1981 by R. Herbert in Library Journal, August
1981 by R. Green in Booklist, September 01
1981 in Kliatt Young Adult Paperback Book Guide, October
1981 by G. Cumming Jr. in School Library Journal, December
1982 by Roger Schlobin in Fantasy Newsletter #46 (fnz), March
1982 by Kendra Usack in Science Fiction Review (fnz), Winter
2017 by Judith Tarr

 

Bibliography of English Editions ~

  • (1981) Published by DAW, PB, 0-879-97635-7, $2.95 US, $3.95 Canadian, 255pg ~ cover by Michael Whelan ~ 6th printing #0-886-77051-3 1985 $2.95
  • (1981) Published by SFBC, HC, $2.95, 211pg ~ cover by Jack Woolhiser {Gray Paper Boards, # L29 on Page 210, # 5525 on Rear of Dust Jacket}
  • (2012) Published by Premier Digital Publishing, eISBN 978-1-937957-41-4, DM, $3.99, 211pg ~ cover by Kib Prestridge
  • (2014) Published by Open Road Media, eISBN 978-1-497656-30-7, DM, $3.99, 255pg ~ cover by Kib Prestridge ~ re-released in 2017 with new cover-art by Ian Koviak

 

Non-English Editions ~

  • (1984) Published in Germany; by Bastei Lübbe, 34-042-0056-X, Fantasy # 20056 ~ translation by Lore Straßl ~ cover by Michael Whelan ~ German title Die Krone der Hexenwelt [The crown of the world of witches]
  • (1993) Published in Poland; by Amber, 83-708-2248-0, 238pg ~ translation by Ewa Witecka ~ Polish title Korona z Jelenich Rogów [Crown of Stag Horns]

 

Russian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (1993)-1 Published in Tashkent, Uzbekistan by Kamalak, 5-633-00892-8, HC, 480pg ~ cover by K. Iskanderova ~ Russian title Земля под властью волшебства [Earth Under Magic]

Contains:

    • "Changeling Earth" by Fred Saberhagen as "The Land of Magic" ~ pp. 5-138
    • "Horn Crown" by Andre Norton as "Crown of Woven Horns" ~ pp. 139-308
    • "Another Fine Myth" by Robert Asprin as "Creator of Myths" ~ pp. 309-478

 

  • (1993)-2 Published in Moscow, by Sigma Press and Zelenograd, by Zelenogradskaya Books, 5-863-14020-8, HC 448pg ~ Russian title Королева Солнца 2 [Queen of the Sun 2]

Contains:

    • "Redline the Stars" as "Underlined by the stars" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 3-184
    • "Horn Crown" as "A Crown of Woven Horns" ~ translation by K. Prilipko, pp. 185-376
    • "Perilous Dreams" as "Dangerous Dreams - 2"
      • "Get Out of My Dream" ~ translation by K. Prilipko, pp. 378-398
      • "Nightmare" as "A Nightmare" ~ translation by K. Prilipko, pp. 398-445

 

  • (1993)-3 Published in Minsk, Belarus by Pelev, 9-856-01801-3, HC, 464pg ~ cover by V. Makarenko ~ Russian title Гиацинтовый леопард [Hyacinth leopard]

Contains:

    • "The Jargoon Pard" as "Hyacinth Leopard" ~ translation by N. Krasnoslobodsky, pp. 3-144
    • "Trey of Swords" as "Three of swords" ~ translation by N. Krasnoslobodsky, pp. 145-276
    • "Horn Crown" as "Crown of woven horns" ~ translation by N. Krasnoslobodskypp. 277-463

 

  • (1993)-4 Combined with "Unlimited Orbit" by Poul Anderson ~ Published in Chisinau, Moldova by Axular-Z, 5-885-69262-3, HC, 320pg ~ cover by C, Bucur ~ Russian title Корона из сплетенных рогов, Нелимитированная орбита [Horn Crown and Orbit Unlimited]

Contains:

    • "Horn Crown" as "Crown of Woven Horns" ~ pp. 3-158
    • "Orbit Unlimited" by Paul Anderson as "Unlimited Orbit" ~ pp. 159-318
      • Book one.
          • "Robin Hood's Barn" as "Barn Robin Hood" ~ pp. 159-195
          • "The Burning Bridge"~ pp. 195-225
      • "And Yet So Far" as "And yet forward" ~ pp. 225-252
      • "The Mill of the Gods" ~ pp. 253-318

 

  • (2002) Published in Moscow, by AST and in St. Petersburg, by Terra Fantastica, 5-170-12416-3 and 5-791-10052-7, HC, 608pg ~ cover = Left and right upper drawings by G. Ruddell; lower right figure by L. Royo ~ Russian title Рогатый Венец [Horn Crown]

Contains:

    • "Horn Crown" as "Horned Crown" ~ translation by N. Omelyanovich, pp. 5-223
    • "Four from the Witch World" as "Four Tales of the Witching World" ~ pp. 224-504
      • "Stillborn Heritage" by Elizabeth Boyer ~ translation by N. Omelyanovich
      • "Stormbirds" by Caroline Cherry as "Petrels" ~ translation by N. Omelyanovich
      • "Rampion" by Meredith Ann Pierce ~ translation by N. Omelyanovich
      • "Falcon Law" by Judith Tarr as "The Falcon Law" ~ translation by N. Omelyanovich
    • History of the Witching World, pp. 505-595
    • Biographical Information, p. 596
    • Bibliography, p. 599

 

  • (2021) Published in Moscow by Azbuca-Atticus, 978-5-389-18581-4, HC, 608pg ~ cover by O. Zacis ~ Russian title Колдовской мир. Год Единорога [The Witch's World. Year of the Unicorn] ~ Limited to 4000 copies

Contains:

    • "Year of the Unicorn" ~ translation by E. Klipova, pp. 5-210
    • "Spell of the Witch World" as "Tales of the Witch's World" ~ translation by Y. Sokolov, pp. 211-372
      • "Dragon Scale Silver" as  "Dragon Bowl" ~ translation by Y. Sokolov, pp. 213-291
      • "Dream Smith" as "The Blacksmith of Visions" ~ translation by Y. Sokolov, pp. 292-311
      • "Amber Out of Quayth" as "Amber from Quayta" ~ translation by Y. Sokolov, pp. 312-372
    • "Hown Crown" as "Horned Crown" ~ translation by N. Omelyanovich, pp. 373-604

 

Ukrainian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (2010) Published in Kyiv, Ukraine by Globe, (Fanzine) ~ 716pgs. ~ cover by Rodney Matthews ~ Ukrainian title Колдовской мир-3 [Soecerer's World -3] ~ Limited to 10 copies and not released until October 2018

Contains:

    • "High Hallack" as "Upper Holleck and Arvon"
      • "Horn Crown" as "A Crown of Woven Horns" ~ translation by N. Omelyanovich, pp. 5-161
      • "Year of the Unicorn" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg & O. Kolesnikov, pp. 163-269
    • "Spell of the Witch World" as "Tales of the Witching World"
      • "Dragon Scale Silver" as "Dragon bowl" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 271-326
      • "Dream Smith" as "The Smith of Visions" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 327-342
      • "Amber Out of Quayth" as "Amber from Quayt" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 343-386
    • "Gryphon" as "Griffin"
      • "The Crystal Gryphon" as "Crystal Griffin" ~ translation by B. Sagalovsky, pp. 387-525
      • "Gryphon in Glory" as "Griffin triumphs" ~ translation by D. Saveliev, & J. Saveliev, pp. 527-714

 

  • (2018) Published in Kyiv, Ukraine by My Friend Fiction (Fanzine) ~ 784pgs. ~ Ukrainian title Тройка мечей [Three Swords]

Contains:

    • "Trey of Swords" as "The Three of Swords" ~ pp. 7-120
    • "Ware Hawk" as "Beware of the hawk" ~ pp. 121-272
    • "The Gate of the Cat" as "Feline Gate" ~ pp. 273-410
    • "High Hallack" as "Upper Holleck and Arvon"
      • "Horn Crown" as "Crown of Woven Horns" pp. 411-564
      • "Year of the Unicorn" ~ pp. 565-672
    • "Spell of the Witch World" as "Tales of the Witching World"
      • "Dragon Scale Silver" as "Dragon Bowl" ~ pp. 673-725
      • "Dream Smith" as "The Blacksmith of Visions" ~ pp. 726-738
      • "Amber Out of Quayth" as "Amber from Quite" ~ pp. 739-780

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

For information on editions currently available visit the Book Store

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://andre-norton.com/works-of-a-master/series-of-a-master/the-witch-world-saga/355-horn-crown#sigProIde8b816dd12

 

 

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