Spider Silk

~ A Novelette in the Witch World Saga by Andre Norton

spider silk 1976

 

Synopsis ~

Dairine was rescued from sea raiders when she was a child. But her experience left scars as she lost her memory and her eyes refused to see. Yet despite her blindness, she became very skilled at the loom and had wise woman training. In later years a Sulcar Captain impressed by her weaving skill showed her a length of cloth that put her best efforts to shame. Dairine wishes to know whence it came and learns of Usturt, a land with beings who hate all males. She wishes to learn their art of weaving and offers to try. Thus begins her adventure.

 

Bibliography of English Editions ~

  • Warriors and Wizards: Flashing Swords! # 3 (1976) Edited by Lin Carter, Published by Dell, PB, 0-440-02579-0, $1.25, 272pg ~ cover by Don Maltz

Contains:
    11 • Warriors and Wizards: The Introduction • essay by Lin Carter
    17 • L. Sprague de Camp • essay by Lin Carter
    19 • Two Yards of Dragon • [Incorporated Knight] • novelette by L. Sprague de Camp
    61 • Fritz Leiber • essay by Lin Carter
    63 • The Frost Monstreme • [Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser] • novelette by Fritz Leiber
    111 • Andre Norton • essay by Lin Carter
    113 • Spider Silk • novelette by Andre Norton
    175 • Lin Carter • essay by Lin Carter
    177 • The Curious Custom of the Turjan Seraad • [Amalrik the Mangod] • novelette by Lin Carter
    217 • Avram Davidson • essay by Lin Carter
    219 • Caravan to Illiel • novella by Avram Davidson

 

  • 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)
  • Bakers Dozen: 13 Short Fantasy Novels (1984) Edited by Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg & Charles G. Waugh, Published by Greenwich House, HC, 0-517-44500-X, 612pg

Contains:
    vii • Introduction: Larger Than Life • (1984) • essay by Isaac Asimov
    3 • The Gate of the Flying Knives • [Thieves' World] • (1979) • novella by Poul Anderson
    37 • Unicorn Tapestry • (1980) • novella by Suzy McKee Charnas
    93 • Sleep Well of Nights • [Jack Limekiller] • (1978) • novella by Avram Davidson (variant of A Good Night's Sleep)
    139 • Black Heart and White Heart • (1896) • novella by H. Rider Haggard
    189 • Red Nails • [Conan] • (1936) • novella by Robert E. Howard
    263 • Storm in a Bottle • [Brak] • (1977) • novella by John Jakes
    303 • Ill Met in Lankhmar • [Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser] • (1970) • novella by Fritz Leiber
    347 • The Lands Beyond the World • [The Elric Saga] • (1977) • novella by Michael Moorcock
    395 • A Man and His God • [The Sacred Band of Stepsons] • (1981) • novella by Janet Morris
    431 • Spider Silk • (1976) • novelette by Andre Norton
    469 • Where is the Bird of Fire? • [The Latium Trilogy] • (1962) • novella by Thomas Burnett Swann
    517 • Guyal of Sfere • [Dying Earth] • (1950) • novella by Jack Vance
    563 • Tower of Ice • [Dilvish] • (1981) • novella by Roger Zelazny

 

  • The Mammoth Book of Short Fantasy Novels (1986) Edited by Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg & Charles G. Waugh, Published by Robinson, TP, 0-948-16412-3, £5.99, 612pg ~ UK Printing - reprint of Bakers Dozen
  • Wizards’ Worlds (1989) Edited by Ingrid Zierhut, Published by TOR, HC, 0-312-93191-3, $17.95, 500pg ~ cover by Lucy Synk (Re-released in 2012)
  • Visions of Wonder: The Science Fiction Research Association Reading Anthology (1996) Edited by David G. Hartwell & Milton T. Wolf, Published by TOR, TP, 0-312-85287-8, $24.95, 798pg
  • Visions of Wonder: The Science Fiction Research Association Reading Anthology (1996) Edited by David G. Hartwell & Milton T. Wolf, Published by TOR, HC, 0-312-86224-5, $35.00, 798pg

Contains:
    11 • Introduction (Visions of Wonder) • essay by David G. Hartwell and Milton T. Wolf
    13 • Critics • [In Search of Wonder] • (1956) • essay by Damon Knight
    17 • The Ship Who Sang • [The Ship Who . . .] • (1961) • novelette by Anne McCaffrey
    31 • Blood Music • (1983) • novelette by Greg Bear
    49 • Paperjack • [Newford] • (1991) • novelette by Charles de Lint
    71 • Forever Yours, Anna • (1987) • short story by Kate Wilhelm
    81 • The Golden Age of Science Fiction Is Twelve • (1984) • essay by David G. Hartwell
    97 • Mr. Boy • (1990) • novella by James Patrick Kelly
    141 • Jamboree • (1969) • short story by Jack Williamson
    149 • The Death of Doctor Island • [Archipelago] • (1973) • novella by Gene Wolfe (variant of The Death of Dr. Island)
    188 • Ender's Game • [Ender Wiggin] • (1977) • novelette by Orson Scott Card
    216 • "What Do You Mean ... Human?" • [Editorial (Astounding)] • (1959) • essay by John W. Campbell, Jr.
    222 • Bears Discover Fire • (1990) • short story by Terry Bisson
    230 • One Down, One to Go • (1990) • short story by Philip José Farmer
    239 • Sur • (1982) • short story by Ursula K. Le Guin
    250 • Introduction (England Swings SF) • (1968) • essay by Judith Merril
    253 • Doing Lennon • (1975) • short story by Gregory Benford
    263 • A Tupolev Too Far • (1989) • novelette by Brian W. Aldiss
    285 • Them Old Hyannis Blues • (1992) • short story by Judith Tarr
    292 • Paradise Charted • (1980) • essay by Algis Budrys
    339 • Masque of the Red Shift • [Berserker] • (1965) • novelette by Fred Saberhagen
    353 • Redemption in the Quantum Realm • (1994) • short story by Frederik Pohl
    366 • Devil You Don't Know • [Val Clarke] • (1978) • novelette by Dean Ing
    395 • The Eye of the World (extract) • [Wheel of Time] • (1990) • short story by Robert Jordan
    404 • Split Light • (1994) • short story by Lisa Goldstein
    414 • Science Fiction & The Adventures of the Spherical Cow • (1988) • essay by Kathryn Cramer (variant of Science Fiction and the Adventures of the Spherical Cow)
    419 • The Sun Spider • (1987) • novelette by Lucius Shepard
    442 • Science Fiction and "Literature" — or The Conscience of the King • (1979) • essay by Samuel R. Delany
    458 • Souls • (1982) • novella by Joanna Russ
    491 • Overdrawn at the Memory Bank • [Eight Worlds] • (1976) • novelette by John Varley
    514 • The Girl Who Was Plugged In • (1973) • novelette by James Tiptree, Jr.
    540 • Burning Chrome • (1982) • novelette by William Gibson
    555 • Towards an Aesthetic of Science Fiction • (1975) • essay by Joanna Russ
    564 • Identifying the Object • (1990) • novelette by Gwyneth Jones (variant of Forward Echoes)
    585 • The Mountain to Mohammed • (1992) • short story by Nancy Kress
    598 • Wall, Stone, Craft • (1993) • novella by Walter Jon Williams
    655 • Boobs • (1989) • short story by Suzy McKee Charnas
    669 • To Bring in Fine Things: The Significance of Science Fiction Plots • (1989) • essay by Brian Stableford [as by Brian M. Stableford]
    676 • Spider Silk • (1976) • novelette by Andre Norton
    704 • A Braver Thing • (1990) • novelette by Charles Sheffield
    726 • Getting Real • (1991) • novelette by Susan Shwartz
    740 • True Names • (1981) • novella by Vernor Vinge
    791 • Science Fiction: A Selective Guide to Scholarship • (1996) • essay by Gary K. Wolfe

 

Non-English Editions ~

  • As Spinnenseide [Spider side] (1978) Published in Restate, Germany; by Pabel, Terra Fantasy 54, PB, no ISBN, 159pg ~ cover by Esteban Maroto ~ German book title Vier Ellen Drachenhaut [Four Cubits of Dragon Skin] (aka: Warriors and Wizards: Flashing Swords! # 3)

 

Russian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (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 from 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.

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