Eye of the Monster

~ A Novel by Andre Norton

eye of the monster 1974 22375

 

Synopsis ~

Write-up from the back of the paperback edition ~

Rees Naper had never trusted the reptilian Ishkurians, in spite of the fact that many of the Terran colonists thought they had been wronged, his worst fears were realized when the Terran authorities decided to grant the Ishkurians self-government and withdrew their protective forces from the planet.

It turned out that he was right-as soon as the last troops left the “crocs” went on a killing rampage.

Cut off from the remaining fortified outpost by miles of jungle and armies of crocs, Rees knew that his only chance for survival was to outwit the cunning reptiles. He had to learn to think like a croc, feel like a croc and see through the eye of the monster!

 

Write-ups from fans ~

The Space Patrol plans to withdraw from a planet inhabited with intelligent lizards, leaving small groups of planters and research scientists, who believe they are safe from native reprisal because they have always been fair with the "Crocs".  Hero does not believe this, because of his training for Space Patrol, interrupted when his parents died and his uncle, one of the narrow-minded bleeding-heart research scientists, gained custody of him.  Come the day of withdrawal, the Crocs rise up and begin a massacre of the off-worlders.  Hero has to make his way to the spaceport through the angered natives, rescuing a human child and two Salariki females as he goes. ~ SL

 

This is an odd one, folks--xenophobia to the max. For some reason known only to the plot, Terrans settled a colony on Ishkur where the dominant race is sentient savage and Crocodilian with killer cases of body Odor (and here we thought the Throgs in Storm Over Warlock were bad) Scattered around are trading posts, research stations and mines and a spaceport. Ishkurians (Crocs) even hate the machines that these humans have brought to their planet. However, as long as Terra has troops on the planet, they pretend to get along with the off-worlders. Due to budget cuts, the troops have been removed and a bloodbath ensues.
Rees Naper, and a neighbor boy and a pair of female Salariki (natives of Sargol from Plague Ship) flee for safety in a "roller" and after many trials and tribulations, get away. This is worth reading as she expands on the characteristics of the female Salariki. I wish she had written more about the Lady-cat. ~ PG

 

Reviews ~

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

1962 by P. Schuyler Miller, Analog Science Fact - Science Fiction, December - reprinted: in (UK) Analog Science Fact - Science Fiction, April
1975 by Charles N. Brown in Locus #175 (fnz), June 24
1975 by Cerrulia Kent in The Science Fiction Review Monthly #5 (fnz), July
2015 by James Nicoll
2018 by Judith Tarr

 

Bibliography of English Editions ~

  • (1962) ACE Double Book containing Eye of the Monster and Sea Siege, Published by ACE, PB, # F-147, $0.40, 80+176pg ~ cover of Eye of the Monster by Ed Emshwiller ~ cover of Sea Siege by Edward Valigursky  ~ Eye of the Monster - “First Book Publication” & Sea Siege - “Complete and Unabridged”
  • (1974) Published by ACE, PB, 0-441-22375-3, $1.25, 135pg reprinted in 1975 with same number and price - #22376-1 1980 $1.95 3rd print - covers by Dean Ellis ~ #22377-X 1984 $2.50 4th print - #22378-8 1986 $2.75 5th print - covers by Ken Barr

#22375-3 1974 printing - the codes for the ads that appear in this printing are: 51A; 52A; 53A; 17C; 35I; 15I; 16G; 24L; 25K. ~  #22375-3 1975 printing - the codes for the ads that appear in this printing are: 51B; 52B; 66A; 33H; 15K; 16I; 17C; 24M; 25L

 

Non-English Editions ~

  • (1963) Published in Rastatt, Germany; by Pabel, OCLC: 73753108, Utopia Großband 201, DM1.00, 79pg ~ Translated by Heinz Zwack ~ cover by R. S. Lonati ~ German title Im dschungel von Ishkur [In the Ishkur jungle]

 

Russian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (1994) Published in Moscow, by Sigma Press and Zelenograd, by Zelenogradskaya Books, 5-863-14031-3, HC, 352pg ~ cover by D. Avvakumov ~ Russian title Здесь обитают чудовища [Monsters live here]

Contains:

    • "Eye of the Monster" as "The Eye of the Beast" ~ translation by D. Saveliev & J. Saveliev, pp. 3-94
    • "Here Abide Monsters" as "Monsters live here" ~ translation by D. Saveliev & J. Saveliev, pp. 95-349
  • (2014) Published in Moscow by Eksmo, 978-5-699-75321-5, HC, 704pgs ~ cover art by A. Dubovik ~ Russian title Звёздный охотник [Star Hunter] ~ Limited to 3500 copies

Contains:

    • "The Stars Are Ours!" as "The stars belong to us!" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 5-160
    • "Star Born" as "Born among the Stars" ~ translation by D. Arseniev, pp. 161-300
    • "Ice Crown" ~ translation by O. Kolesnikov & S. Sergeyev, pp. 301-530
    • "Star Hunter" ~ translation by D. Arsenyev & O. Kolesnikov, pp. 531-624
    • "Eye of the Monster" as "The Monster's Look" ~ translation by D. Saveliev & J. Saveliev, pp. 625-701

View the Original contract

View the Original ACE contract

View the 1986 ACE contract

See Also: Timeline 1 - Andre's Universe entry for this title.

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.andre-norton.com/works-of-a-master/long-works-of-a-master/411-eye-of-the-monster#sigProId938ac55cba

 

 

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