Dragon Scale Silver

~ A Novella in the Witch World Saga by Andre Norton

spell of the witch world 1972 uq1001

 

Synopsis ~

From an old Amazon.com posting ~

A woman of witch-blood gives birth to the twins Elys and her brother Elyn and does not long survive their entry into the world. The twins are raised by the Wise Woman, Aufrica and their father, who trains both Elys and Elyn in arms-play. The Dales are attacked by foreign invaders, and the twins' father rides off to war. Soon, Elyn follows him, but not before he has shared a drink with his twin sister in a special cup, fashioned by their deceased mother from dragon scale silver. If the cup loses its luster while he is off to war, Elys will know that her twin brother is in danger.

 

Write-up from a fan ~

A small boat is driven ashore by a storm to the village of Wark in the Dales of High Hallack.  The two passengers in it were out of Estcarp, fleeing from the war aboard a Sulcar ship that foundered in the storm. Aufrica, the village healer and wisewoman takes them in and helps to heal the man of his terrible head wound.  Almondia, the woman is witch-trained, though she had given it up when she fled with her husband, Truan.  One night she and Aufrica go to a place of the Old Ones in the hills above Wark, and there the Lady Almondia works magic that transforms a crudely carved wooden goblet into one of shining silver.  Sharing the wine in it with Truan, and making love to him, results in the birth of twins, boy and girl, Elyn and Elys.  However, the strain of the pregnancy and birth kills Almondia, leaving Truan and Aufrice to raise the children.  Truan treats Elys more as a boy than a girl and teaches both children arms-play.  Aufrica teaches Elys what she can of the old powers.  When the children are grown, the war comes to High Hallack, and Truan and Elyn go off to war.  But not until Elyn persuades Elyn to share a cup of wine with her out of their mother's cup.  This goblet will then tell Elys if Elyn nears death, so she may rescue him.  He gets caught in a trap of the Evil, and Elys does rescue him. This is the beginnings of Elys and Jervon, who later become companions of Joisan and Kerovan in the Gryphon series. ~ 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

  • As Drachenschuppensilber [Dragon Scale Silver] (1977) 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 Combined with "Dragon Scale Silver" translation by W. Black, "The Crystal Gryphon", "The Toads of Grimmerdale", "Amber Out of Quayth" translation by T. Pronina and "Falcon Blood" translation by L. Deutsch ~ Published in Nizhny Novgorod, by Phlox, 5-871-98016-3, HC, 416pg ~ "Year of the Unicorn" translation by T. Pronina ~ 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

 

  • (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 Quait" ~ 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 ~

  • (2010) Published in Kyiv, Ukraine by Globe, (Fanzine) ~ 716pgs. ~ cover by Rodney Matthews ~ Russian 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/368-dragon-scale-silver#sigProIde56526038d

 

 

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