Amber Out of Quayth

~ A Novelette in the Witch World Saga by Andre Norton

spell of the witch world 1972 uq1001

 

Synopsis ~

Ysmay, who was once Chatelaine of the Keep at Uppsdale, is now made to feel unwanted by her brother's new bride. She yearns for her former responsibilities, even if it means she must marry a stranger who comes to town for a trade fair. He in turn is attracted by her dowry, an old caved-in amber mine. Ysmay follows her new husband to the far north, to Quayth Keep and learns to her dismay that "It is one of the ancient places which the Old Ones had the building of." Witch World fans know what this might mean: does Ysmay's new lord have dealings with certain Dark Powers?

 

Write-up from a fan ~

For five years, Ysmay had been the Chatelaine of their small Hold of Uppsdale.  Now, though, her brother Gyrerd has returned from the war with Alizon, bringing with him a new bride (Annet), who dislikes Ysmay intensely.  Ysmay's father and other brother Ewald were killed during the war, and Gyrerd is disinclined to lessen his holdings by providing a dowry for Ysmay, so she is trapped as the disregarded drudge in the stillroom.  At the Fair at Fyndale, a "trader" has lots of jewelry made from amber, which Annet covets.  When she finds out that Ysmay has some amber jewelry made from the Uppsdale mine, which had been sealed off by a rockslide, Annet becomes determined to get it.  The mine is Ysmay's, her dowry from her grandmother.  Annet's covetousness, Gyrerd's parsimony, and Ysmay's desperate desire to escape, lead to her betrothal and wedding to the merchant, in return for his reopening the amber mine.  Once back at the merchant's keep, Ysmay discovers that her new husband is actually a sorcerer, working black magic with her amber.  He actually keeps the former Lord and Lady of the Keep imprisoned in columns of synthetic amber.  He needed Ysmay's amber so he could use the real amber to create his synthetic amber, which is what all his amber is, including that imprisoning the Lord and Lady.  Ysmay finds a tiny amber amulet hidden in the weave of a tapestry in her chamber and uses that to free the real owners of the castle. ~ SL

 

Reviews ~

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

2021 by Judith Tarr

 

Bibliography of English Editions ~

  • Spell of the Witch World (1972) Published by DAW, PB, 0-451-UQ100-1, $0.95, 159pg ~ cover by Jack Gaughan (Re-released in 2012)

 

Non-English Editions ~

  • (1977) As Bernstein aus Quayth [Quayth amber] ~ Published in Rastatt, Germany; by Pabel, Terra Fantasy 39, DM3.80, 161pg ~ translation by Susi-Maria Rödiger ~ cover by Angelo Boog ~ German book title Ingarets Fluch [Ingaret's curse] ~ does not include Dream Smith

 

Russian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (1992)-1 Published in Moscow by Fairy, 5-867-40009-3, HC, 426pg ~ "Witch World" translation by R.J. Sokolov ~ cover by N. Ivanova , N. Lyubeshkina ~ Russian title Ведьмы из Эсткарпа [Witches from Estcarp]

Contains:

    • From the publisher, pp. 5-6
    • "Witch World" as "Witches from Estcarp" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 7-222
    • "Dragon Scale Silver" as "Dragon bowl" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 223-293
    • "Dream Smith" as "The Smith of Visions" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 294-313
    • "Amber Out of Quayth" as "Amber from Quays" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 314-368
    • "The Toads of Grimmerdale" as "Frogs of the Balefoot" ~ translation by K. Korolyov, pp. 369-424
    • Sources, p. 425

 

  • (1992)-2 Published in Moscow by Fairy, 5-867-40017-4, HC, 382pg~ "Witch World" translation by R.J. Sokolov ~ cover by N. Zubkov ~ Russian title Ведьмы из Эсткарпа [Witches from Estcarp]

Contains:

    • From the publisher, pp. 5-6
    • "Witch World" as "Witches from Estcarp" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 7-200
    • "Dragon Scale Silver" as "Dragon bowl" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 201-264
    • "Dream Smith" as "The Smith of Visions" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 265-282
    • "Amber Out of Quayth" as "Amber from Quays" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 283-330
    • "The Toads of Grimmerdale" as "Frogs of the Balefoot" ~ translation by K. Korolyov, pp. 331-380

 

  • (1992)-3 Published in Novosibirsk, by EYA, 5-872-16014-3, HC, 448pg ~ cover by M. Mikhalev ~ Russian title Колдовской мир [Witching World]

Contains:

    • "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "The Witch of the Witching World" ~ pp. 3-126
    • "Year of the Unicorn" ~ pp. 127-222
    • "The Crystal Gryphon" as "Crystal with the Griffin" ~ pp. 223-354
    • "Spell of the Witch World" as "Enchantment of the Witching World" ~ pp. 355-448
      • "Dragon Scale Silver" as "Part I" ~ pp. 355-401
      • "Dream Smith" as "Part II" ~ pp. 402-413
      • "Amber Out of Quayth" as "Part III" ~ pp. 413-448

 

  • (1992)-4 Published in Moscow, by Interbook, 5-766-40814-5, HC, 348pg ~ cover by V. Kurilov ~ Russian title Год Единорога [Year of the Unicorn]

Contains:

    • "Year of the Unicorn" ~ pp. 3-102
    • "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "The Sorceress of the Witching World" ~ pp. 103-244
    • "Dragon Scale Silver" as "Dragon with Silver Scales" ~ pp. 245-294
    • "Dream Smith" as "The Dream of a Blacksmith" ~ pp. 295-307
    • "Amber Out of Quayth" as "Amber Keita" ~ pp. 309-347

 

  • (1992)-6 Published in Nizhny Novgorod, by Phlox, 5-871-98016-3, HC, 416pg ~ cover by V. Vasiliev ~ Russian title Год Единорога [Year of the Unicorn]

Contains:

    • Natalia Rezanova. Roads of the Witching World (foreword), pp. 3-4
    • "The Crystal Gryphon" as "Crystal Griffin" ~ translation by T. Pronina, pp. 5-156
    • "Dragon Scale Silver" as "Dragon in silver scales" ~ translation by V. Chernykh, pp. 157-210
    • "The Toads of Grimmerdale" as "Grimmerdale Toads" ~ translation by T. Pronina, pp. 211-248
    • "The Year of the Unicorn" ~ translation by T. Pronina & G. Ivlenkova, pp. 249-354
    • "Amber Out of Quayth" as "Amber Hale" ~translation by T. Pronina, pp. 355-400
    • "Falcon Blood" as "Blood of the Falcon" ~ translation by L. Deutsch, pp. 401-415

 

  • (1992)-7 Published in Moscow, by Culture, 5-8474-0373-9, 416pg ~ cover by Frank Frazetta ~ illustrations by Frank Frazetta and Sergey Shekhov ~ Russian title Королева ведьм [Witch queen]

Contains:

    • "Exile's Quest" by Richard Mead as " Campaign of Outcasts" ~ translation by S. Levin, pp. 8-117
    • "Witch Quees of Locklann" by George Henry Smith as "The Witch Queen of Lochland" ~ translation by E. Plotkin, pp. 120-241
    • "The Crystal Gryphon" as "Crystal Griffin" ~ translation by B. Sagalovsk, pp. 244-370
    • "Amber Out of Quayth" as "Amber Keita" ~ translation by A. Popov, pp. 372-407
    • E. Stepanov. Afterword (article), pp. 409-415

 

  • (1993) Published in Moscow, by Artlik, 5-855-98012-X, HC 416pg ~ cover by N. Rosenthal ~ Russian title Год Единорога [Year of the Unicorn] ~ The collection "Enchantments of the witching world" was published without breaking down into individual stories.

Contains:

    • "Year of the Unicorn" ~ pp. 3-118
    • "The Crystal Gryphon" as "Crystal with a Griffin" ~ pp. 119-270
    • "Spell of the Witch World" as "Enchantment of the Witching World" (collection), pp. 271-378
      • "Dragon Scale Silver" as "Dragon bowl" ~ pp. 271-324
      • "Dream Smith" as "The blacksmith of visions" ~ pp. 324-337
      • "Amber Out of Quayth" as "Amber from Quayt" ~ pp. 337-378
    • "The Toads of Grimmerdale" as "Grimmerdale Toads" ~ pp. 379-416

 

  • (2002) Published in Moscow, by AST, 5-170-11020-0 and 5-792-10462-X, HC, 572pg ~ "Spell of the Witch World" translation by Sokolova ~ cover by G. Ruddell (left and top) & T. Jacobus (bottom right) ~ Russian title Сказительница. Сказания колдовского мира [Storyteller. Tales of the Witching World]

Contains:

    • "Songsmith" as "Narrator" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, p. 5-332
    • "Spell of the Witch World" as "Tales of the Witching World" (collection)
      • "Dragon Scale Silver" as "Dragon Cup" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, p. 333-416
      • "Dream Smith" as "The Smith of Visions" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, p. 417-438
      • "Amber Out of Quayth" as "Amber from Quayt" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, p. 439-504
    • History of the Witching World (Appendix), p. 505-573

 

  • (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 ~

  • (1992)-5 Published in Kyiv, Ukraine by Alterpres, 5-874-98065-2, HC, 752pg ~ "Witch World" translation by translation by Yu Sokolova ~ cover by A. Stolin ~ Ukrainian title Галактический почтовый [Galactic Postal]

Contains:

    • "Forward" by A. Belevtseva, p. 5-6
    • "Sargasso of Space" as "Sargassos in space" ~translation by S. Berezhkov & S. Vitin, pp. 7-196
    • "Postmarked the Stars" as "Galactic Postal" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 197-394
    • "Witch World" as "Witches from Estkarp" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 395-604
    • "Dragon Scale Silver" as "Dragon bowl" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 605-680
    • "Dream Smith" as "The Smith of Visions" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 681-698
    • "Amber Out of Quayth" as "Amber from Quays" ~ translation by Yu. Sokolov, pp. 699-752

 

  • (2010) Published in Kyiv, Ukraine by Globe, (Fanzine) ~ 716pgs. ~ cover by Rodney Matthews ~ Ukrainian title Колдовской мир-3 [Sorcerer'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.

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://andre-norton.com/works-of-a-master/series-of-a-master/the-witch-world-saga/366-amber-out-of-quayth#sigProId6268f28e2a

 

 

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