Legacy from Sorn Fen

~ A Short Story in the Witch World Saga by Andre Norton

garan.the.eternal

 

Synopsis ~

A tale of misused power and the peculiar justice found within the fens of High Hallack. Caleb lacked an eye and walked with a limp. When he was near the Fen of Sorn, he chanced upon a creature that looked almost like a human woman being attacked by herdsman. He drove off the men and was given a gift. He no longer had a limp and turned a burned-out ruin into an inn. An ambitious lord stole his secret, but now it is time to pay the price.

 

Write-up from a fan ~

After the Invader's War, a landless man managed to rise to the Holding of the Gate of Klavenport and married the Lady there.  He was a hard man, but Lady Isbel managed to enforce a rule of charity.  One day Caleb came; he was missing one eye and lame enough in one leg to nearly fall over whenever he tried to take a full stride.  But he was willing and able to make himself useful around the Keep, mostly dealing with the gardens.  Higbold seldom bothered with the gardens, except to use them to scheme and plot with others where no one (he thought) could hear.  However, Caleb did overhear him plotting one night, and knew that rumors and gossip would get back to Higbold and Caleb's life would not be spared.  So, he spoke privately with Lady Isbel, and left, taking all his belongings.  On the road alongside Sorn Fen, he came upon some drovers who were mistreating what looked like a human woman but wasn't. Caleb drove them off and gave what succor he could to their victim.  He was rewarded by a bit of magic which repaired his crippled body and the burned-out shell of a formerly prosperous inn.  Higbold heard of Caleb's newfound prosperity and sent a female spy to tease out the reason.  She managed to steal a great ring and turned it over to Higbold.  Caleb's inn burned shortly thereafter, and Higbold's grandiose plans to become King of High Hallack seemed on track.  However, Caleb has plans to retrieve the ring and does so, bringing Higbold down in the process. ~ SL

 

Bibliography of English Editions ~

  • Garan the Eternal (1972) Published by Fantasy, HC, 0-686-02511-3, LCCN 73160575, $4.95, 199pg ~ cover by Morris Scott Dollens (Re-released in 2012)
  • Lore of the Witch World (1980) Published by DAW, PB, 0-879-97560-1, $1.95, 223pg ~ cover by Michael Whelan (Re-released in 2012)

 

Russian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (1991) Published in Simferopol, Republic of Crimea by Tavria, no ISBN, PB, 80pg - cover by V. Kras ~ Russian title Общественное порицание [Public censure] (a collection of short stories) ~ This book was published in two cover styles.

Contains:

    • "Compounded Interest" by Mack Reynolds as "Overgrown by interest" ~ translation by E. Drozd, pp. 3-16
    • "Legacy from Sorn Fen" as "The Legacy of Weed Marsh" ~ transslation by E. Drozd, pp. 17-27
    • "The Golem" by Avram Davidson as "Golem" ~ translation by E. Drozd, pp. 28-33
    • "The Walls" by Zenna Henderson as "Walls" ~ translation by E. Drozd, pp. 34-42
    • "The Pulic Hating" by Stevie Allen as "Public censure ~ translation by E. Drozd, pp. 43-49
    • "One Spell Wizard" as "Mediocre magician" ~ translation by E. Drozd, pp. 50-64
    • "Three-Cornered and Secured" by Zenna Henderson as "Triangular and reliable" ~ translation by E. Drozd, pp. 65-80

 

  • (1992) Published in Alma-Alta, Kazakhstan by RGZHI "Deuir", 5-862-28022-7, PB, 312pg - translation by S. Gontareva ~ Russian title Не только мертвые. [Not Only Dead] (a collection of short stories)

Contains:

    • "Concealment" by A.E. Van Vogt as "Disguise" ~ translation by S. Gontarev, pp. 5-25
    • "Lost: Fifty Suns" by A.E. Van Vogt as "Losers: Fifty Suns" ~ translation by I. Enns, pp. 26-91
    • "For a Breath I Tarry" by R. Zhelyazny as "While the breath I held ..." ~ translation by S. Gontarev, pp. 92-137
    • "Behold the Man" by M. Moorcock as "Behold the man!" ~ translation by S. Gontarev, pp. 138-201
    • "Not Only Dead Men" by A.E. Van Vogt as "Not only the dead" ~ translation by A. Tachkov, pp. 202-229
    • "One Spell Wizard" as "One enchanted sorcerer" ~ translation by S. Gontarev, pp. 230-248
    • "Legacy from Sorn Fen" as "Inheritance from the Sorn Marsh" ~ translation by S. Gontarev, pp. 249-263
    • "Ersatz Eternal" by A.E. Van Vogt as "Erzats-eternity" ~ translation by S. Gontarev, pp. 264-270
    • "The Sumerian Oath" by F. Farmer" as "Samarish oath" ~ translation by A. Tachkov, pp. 271-278
    • "Born of Men and Women" by R. Mateson as "Parents were people" ~ translation by A. Tachkov, pp. 279-282
    • "Nine Hundred Grandmothers" by R. Lafferty as "Nine hundred grandmothers" ~ translation by S. Gontarev, pp. 283-297
    • "The Rat and the Snake" by A.E. Van Vogt as "The rat and the snake" ~ translation by S. Gontarev, pp. 298-302
    • "The Man from When" by Danny Plecht as "A man from another time" ~ translation by S. Gontarev, pp. 303-305

 

  • (1994) Published in Moscow, by Sigma Press and in Zelenograd by Zelenograd, 5-863-14029-1, HC, 448pg ~ cover by D. Avvakumov ~ Russian title Кошачьи врата [Gate Cat]

Contains:

    • "Lore of the Witch World" as "Traditions of the witching world" (collection)
      • "Spider Silk" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 4-48
      • "Sand Sister" as "Sand Sisters" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 48-99
      • "Falcon Blood" as "Blood of the Falcon" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 100-117
      • "Legacy fron Sorn Fen" as "Inheritance from the Sorn Mire" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 118-128
      • "Sword of Unbelief" as "Sword of disbelief" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 129-163
      • "The Toads of Grimmerdale" as "Grimmerdale toads" ~ translation by K. Korolyov, pp. 163-220
      • "Changeling" as "The changeling" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 220-252
    • "The Gate of the Cat" as "Feline Gate" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 253-444

 

  • (2001) Published in Moscow, by AST and St. Petersburg, by Terra Fantastica, 5-170-07078-0 and 5-792-10403-4, HC, 640pg ~ Russian title Преданья колдовского мира. Гнев оборотня. Сокровище Зарстора. [Traditions of the Witching World. Wrath of the werewolf. Zarstor's Treasure]

Contains:

    • "Lore of the Witch World" as "Traditions of the Witching World"
      • "Spider Silk" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 7-62
      • "Sand Sister" as "Sand Sisters" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 63-129
      • "Falcon Blood" as "Blood of the Falcon" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 130-152
      • "Legacy from Sorn Fen" as "The inheritance of the Sorn bog" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 153-167
      • "Sword of Unbelief" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 168-210
      • "The Toads of Grimmerdale" as "Grimmerdale Toads" ~ translation by N. Mikhailov, pp. 211-324
      • "Changerling" as " The changeling" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 285-324
    • "Were-Wrath" as "Wrath of the Werewolf" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, p. 325-372
    • "Zarsthor's Bane" as "Treasure of Zarstor" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, p. 373-538
    • History of the Witching World (reference materials), p. 539-635

 

  • (2021) Published in Moscow, by Azbuka-Atticus, HC, 978-538-91915-25; 608pg ~ cover by E. Salamashenko ~ Russian title Колдовской мир. Тайны Колдовского мира [The Witch's World. Secrets of the Witchcraft World] limited to 4000 copies

Contains:

    • "The Jargoon Pard" as "Magic belt" ~ translation by G. Solovyova, pp. 5-166
    • "Zarsthor's Bane" as "The Curse of Zarstor" ~ translation by G. Solovyova, pp. 167-290
    • "Lore of the Witch World" as "Secrets of the Witchcraft World"
      • "Spider Silk" as "Spider silk" ~ translation by by G. Solovyova, pp. 293-334
      • "Sand Sister" as "Sand Sisters" ~ translation by by G. Solovyova, pp. 335-383
      • "Falcon Blood" as "Falcon Blood" ~ translation by by G. Solovyova, pp. 384-400
      • "Legacy from Sorn Fen" as "The Legacy of the Thorn Quagmires" ~ translation by G. Solovyova, pp. 401-411
      • "Sword of Unbelief" as "Sword of Disbelief" ~ translation by by G. Solovyova, pp. 412-442
      • "The Toads of Grimmerdale" as "Grimmerdale Toads" ~ translation by by G. Solovyova, pp. 443-497
      • "Changeling" ~ translation by by G. Solovyova, pp. 498-526
    • "Ully the Piper" as "Ully-piper" ~ translation by by G. Solovyova, pp. 527-537
    • "One Spell Wizard" as "The Talentless Mage" ~ translation by G. Solovyova, pp. 538-551
    • "Were-Wrath" as "Werewolf's Wrath" ~ translation by G. Solovyova, pp. 552-584
    • "Earthborn" as "Daughter of the Earth" ~ translation by G. Solovyova, pp. 585-605

 

Ukrainian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (2010) Published in Kyiv, Ukraine by Globe, (Fanzine) ~ 784pgs. ~ cover by Rodney Matthews ~ Ukrainian title Колдовской мир-4 [Sorcerer's World -4] ~ Limited to 10 copies and not released until November 2018

Contains:

    • "The Jargoon Pard" as "A leopard belt" ~ translation by K. Prilypko, pp. 5-149
    • "Zarsthor's Bane" as "The Curse of Zarstor" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 151-247
    • "Were-Wrath" as "Wrath of the Werewolf" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 249-277
    • "One Spell Wizard" as "Mediocre magician" ~ translation by E. Drozd, pp. 279-295
    • "Lore of the Witch World" as "Traditions of the Witching World"
      • "Spider Silk" as "Spider silk" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 299-332
      • "Sand Sister" as "Sand Sisters" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 333-372
      • "Falcon Blood" as "Blood of the Falcon" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 373-386
      • "Legacy from Sorn Fen" as "The inheritance of the Sorn bog" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 387-395
      • "Sword of Unbelief" as "Sword of Disbelief" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 396-421
      • "The Toads of Grimmerdale" as "Grimmerdale Toads" ~ translation by K. Korolyov, pp. 422-465
      • "Changeling" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 466-489
    • "The Turning" as "The Consequences of the Great Shift"
      • "Port of Dead Ships" as "Port of the dead ships" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 491-636
      • "Seakeep" by Pauline Griffin as "Sea Fortress" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 637-781

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

View the embedded image gallery online at:
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