On Wings of Magic

~ 3rd book in the Witch World: The Turning Series by Andre Norton

Two Original Stories Edited by Andre Norton

on.wings.of.magic

 

Contains ~

  • The Chronicler “There are places…” ~ (Introduction by Andre Norton)
  • Falcon Magic by Sasha Miller
  • We the Women by Patricia Mathews


Synopsis ~

Write-up from the front flap of the 1994 dustjacket ~

After nearly thirty years and a dozen novels, Andre Norton's Witch World saga reaches a powerful climax in the third volume of Witch World: The Turning, STORMS OF VICTORY, the first book in the trilogy, brought to life the most pivotal period in the history of the Witch World. The chronicles of the cataclysmic Turning continued in the highly praised FLIGHT OF VENGEANCE. Now comes the long awaited conclusion. Containing two full-length novels. ON WINGS OF MAGIC is a powerful story of the heroic women of the Witch World, struggling to rebuild the shattered world that the Turning has left behind.
We the Woman tells of the trials of a village of Falconer Women after they take in a group of refugees. The young scribe Arona must face the betrayal and deceit of Egil, a refugee who plots to gain the position of village Recorder, a sacred responsibility that Arona has always aspired to. With an outcast witch as her only true ally, Arona strives to preserve the precious lore of the Falconer Women.
Falcon Magic begins when a group of witch-children are abducted by enemy soldiers from the land of Alizon. The father of one girl, a Falconer who lives by his own rules, embarks on a hazardous quest to rescue the children. But the danger is greater than he or his companions know, for lurking in the shadows, behind the fearsome A1izonders, is a mysterious menace that is their true and most deadly foe.

 

Write-up from the back of the paperback edition ~

Tumultuous changes reverberated throughout Witch World. The witches of Estcarp lay decimated by the massive mountain-moving magic of the Turning. Saving their world from invasion by Pager of Karsten wreaked a havoc all its own, and the face of the world has been racked by catastrophe. Now is a time of chaos; former enemies are thrust together; ordinary people must become heroes.
A simple scribe holds the key to her village’s survival; the parents of a kidnapped girl challenge the mighty Hounds of Alizon, Karsten’s ally. Their fight against all odds to defeat the malicious magic of the Hounds is their only chance to win their way to freedom.
This is the stuff of high adventure; memorable, enchanting.

 

Reviews ~

Kirkus Reviews ~ Issue: Nov. 15th, 1993
Third in the series (Flight of Vengeance, 1992, etc.) of Witch World yarns set in the aftermath of a world-shaking battle, The Turning. Again, Norton's role seems to be limited to, first, having invented the Witch World in the first place and, second, framing the two long stories here with notes from Druatan the Chronicler. Mathews's contribution, "We the Women," details the struggles of the Falconer women to survive and adapt to new social conditions; Miller offers "Falcon Magic"--a tale of six young witch-girls kidnapped by Hounds of Alizon, their efforts to escape, and the attempt of one girl's parents to rescue her. Miller's is marginally the more intriguing; both are fairly standard Witch World outings aimed at gratifying existing fans.

 

Booklist Review ~ Jan. 01, 1994

Patricia Matthews and Sasha Miller, who have worked with Norton before, here have, under her guidance, produced the latest addition to Norton’s vast and splendid Witch World. Both of the stories, “We, the Women” by Matthews and “Falcon Magic” by Miller, that make up this volume are laid in Estcarp after the chaos and destruction of the Turning. The first tells of some Falconer women who, after their homes are destroyed, must build new lives. The other tells of six young women, the potential witches of the next generation, abducted by the Alizons and treated as experimental animals. Both stories are well crafted and mesh with Norton’s own creations, although this book is no place to start one’s exploration of the Witch World. It does, however, merit a place in any Norton collection. — Roland Green

 

Dedications and Acknowledgements ~

A very big acknowledgment is due to a very great lady, Andre Norton. Not only did she create this world and allow me to live in it for a while, but she also handed me Alizon as my own little piece of it to develop. Therefore, thank you, Andre. Thank you for everything.
—Sasha Miller
My thanks to Dr. Suzette Haden Elgin, inventor of Laadan, a language created by and for women, for her permission to use this language in "We, the Women."
Thanks also to Linda Piper for the tale told by Arona to the travelers in Chapter l3, Toads.
—Patricia Mathews

 

Bibliography of English Editions ~

  • (1994) Published by TOR, HC, 0-312-85026-3, LCCN 930033504, $23.95, 409pg ~ cover by Dennis A. Nolan, map by John M. Ford {Black Paper Boards}
  • (1995) Published by TOR, PB, 0-812-50828-9, $5.99, 409pg ~ cover by Dennis A. Nolan, map by John M. Ford
  • (2014) Published by Open Road Media, DM, 978-1-497655-26-3, $3.99, 416pg ~ cover by Barbara Brown ~ re-released in 2017 with new cover-art by Ian Koviak

 

Non-English Editions ~

  • (1995) On Wings of Magic: We the Women ~ Published in Warsaw, Poland; by Amber, 83-708-2738-1, 206pg ~ translated by Ewa Witecka ~ cover by Steve Crisp ~ Polish title Na skrzydłach magii [On Wings of Magic]
  • (1995) On Wings of Magic: Falcon Magic ~ Published in Warsaw, Poland; by Amber, 83-708-2804-3, 288pg ~ translated by Ewa Witecka ~ cover by Steve Crisp ~ Polish title Sokola magia [Falcon magic]

 

Russian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (1996) Contains "Falcon Magic" by Sasha Miller and "We the Women" by Patricia Matthews ~ Published in Moscow, by Sigma Press, 5-859-49071-2, HC, 448pg ~ cover by Don Maitz and T. White ~ Russian title Колдовской мир - 4 [Witch World -4]

Contains:

    • "We, the Women" by Patricia Matthews as "We Women" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 4-187
    • "Falcon Magic" by Sasha Miller as "Falconry magic" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 187-446

 

  • (2001) Published in Moscow, by AST and St. Petersburg, by Terra Fantastica, 5-170-05634-6 and 5-792-10390-, HC, 640pg ~ Illustrations on the cover by D. Mattingly, G. Ruddell & B. Vallejo ~ Russian title Надежда Сокола. На крыльях магии. Соколиная магия. [Hope Falcon. On the wings of magic. Falconry magic]

Contains:

    • "Falcon Hope" by Pauline Griffin as "Nadezhda Sokol" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 5-212
    • "We, the Women" by Patricia Matthews as "On the wings of magic" ~translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 213-386
    • "Falcon Magic" by Sasha Miller as "Falconry magic" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 387-633

 

Ukrainian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (2010) Published in Kyiv, Ukraine by Globe, (Fanzine) ~ 784pgs. ~ cover by Rodney Matthews ~ Ukrainian title Колдовской мир-5 [Sorcerer's World -5] ~ Limited to 10 copies and not released until 2019

Contains:

    • "Exile" by Mary H. Schaub ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 5-126
    • "Falcon Hope" by Pauline Griffin as "Nadezhda Sokola" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 127-273
    • "We, the Women" by Patricia Matthews as "We Women" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 275-395
    • "Falcon Magic" by Sasha Miller as "Falconry Magic" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 397-573
    • "No Night Without Stars" as "There is no night without stars" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 575-714

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/362-on-wings-of-magic#sigProId93cde750bb

Maps;

john.ford.witch.world.map1    john.ford.witch.world.map2

 

 

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