Warlock of the Witch World
~ 4th Novel in the Witch World: Estcarp Series by Andre Norton
Synopsis ~
Write-up from the back of the 1967 ACE paperback edition ~
Once again, the incomparable magic of Andre Norton weaves a strange spell of the even stranger harmony between Kemoc, Kyllan, and Kaththea – the half-Earthling, half witch-blood brothers and sister.
Torn asunder by the sorceries of the Witch World, Kyllan the warrior, Kaththea the Un-ordained witch, and Kemoc, whose dormant powers may surpass even the wonders of his kin, face extinction by their brutal separation.
In this brand-new novel of alien science and otherworld witchery, the warlock Kemoc would challenge even the Great Ones from beyond the stars, as he roams the uncharted wilderness to reunite the triple destinies of his family as they stave off encroaching doom….
Write-up from the back of the 1970s and later ACE paperback editions ~
Kyllan the warrior, Kaththea the untried witch, Kemoc, whose powers could surpass all others – these are the half-Earthling, half witch brood family menaced by the sorceries of an unknown enemy.
The burden of the struggle fell to Kemoc, who was forced to summon his untested powers in the battle to match the alien evil threatened the Witch World.
Write-up from the back of the 1970 UK paperback edition ~
In the realms of Escore magic and sorcery held ancient sway no less than in the western lands of Estcarp. In their coming over the mountains the three who were one, Kyllan, Kemoc, and Kaththea, had wakened a dormant evil in the land, and now the dwellers in the Green Valley took council together with the remnants of the Old Race for the people of the light against the Dark.
Among their number stood Dinzil of the Heights. He bore no taint of the old dark magic, yet Kemoc sense in him an evil that would sunder brother from sister, the force of great powers misused for evil ends, which could bring down the doom of Escore.
Write-up from the front flap of the Gregg Press edition ~
THE RACES OF ESCORE gathered in war council-the People of the Green Silence; the amphibious folk led by Orsya; the Rethan, beasts of burden who could find tongue and wit when need arose-all who flew or swam or walked in the manner of men rallied against the Shadow of Old Evil that threatened them, and among them was Dinzil whose meerest glance brought foreboding to Kemoc.
Kemoc’s foreseeing proved true, for even as Escore mounted its battle against the Shadow, he found himself locked in mortal combat with Dinzil, a secret ally of the Enemy and captor of Kemoc’s sister, the Sorceress Kaththea.
In Warlock of the Witch World, Kemoc tells of his part in the trinity of power shared by the triplet children of Simon Tregarth and Jaelithe, Witch of Estcarp. Fourth in the Witch World Series, this volume includes special endleave maps of the Witch World by Barbi Johnson.
Write-up from the back of the 1988 UK paperback edition ~
Enemies' human and monstrous, weapons of magic and steel… all must fall before warrior, warlock and sorceress can reunite against the powers of doom…
The realms of Escore were on the eve of a new war. For the return of the three heirs of Estcarp’s western lands had wakened a dormant evil: now the powers of darkness were turning against the forces of truth. In the valley of the Green People the allies took counsel, gathered their defenses in readiness for this new-woken ill. But among their number stood one none dreamt could harbor the old dark magic, a man whom only Kemoc, brother of witches and son of an Earthman, guessed was not what he seemd. For in Dinzil, Kemoc sensed great powers used for evil ends, powers which would sunder brother from sister and drive Kemoc and his beloved Kaththea to the very edges of destruction…
“If Witch World had never been written, so many other worlds would be poorer” – C.J. Cherryh
Write-up from a Gregg Press sales flyer ~
Kaththea, newly trained in her witch power, uses it recklessly and falls prey to the designs of Dinzil, an evil magician posing as a servant of Light. He abducts Kaththea from the Green Vally to the Dark tower, and Kemoc, her warlock brother, recounts in this book his struggles to free her from Dinzil's sorcery. Drawing on his own powers and with the aid of Orsya, an amphibious Krogan woman, he succeeds in overwhelming Dinzil and his henchmen, but Kaththea is held in a spell and resist release. When Kemoc is finally able to break the spell, Kaththea emerges alive, but without her memory or her magic powers. While some darkness still remains in Escore, Kemoc has won a major victory against the forces of the Shadow.
Write-ups from fans ~
Kylla started this narrative in Three Against the Witch World Now it's Kemoc's turn. The forces of good are recruiting anyone they can to join their cause against an incursion of the Dark. Coming back from a failed mission to the Krogan (amphibious race), Kemoc discovers that his sister Kaththea has gone off with Dinzil. a powerful sorcerer whom Kemoc feels is wholly of the DARK. He takes off looking for her and is joined by Orsya, a renegade Krogan. They have many dangers to face, and many illusions bar their way, but will his sister turn out to be the biggest threat of all? I have changed plans. ~ PG
Reviews ~
Various reviews ~ For more info and other listings see Articles Over the Years
1974 by Charles N. Brown in Locus #166 (fnz), October 23
1977 by E. Sisco in School Library Journal, September
1977 by Charles N. Brown in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, Winter
2015 by James Nicoll
2017 by Judith Tarr
Bibliography of English Editions ~
- (1967) Published by ACE, PB, #G-630, $0.50, 222pg - #87319 1969 $0.60 222pg - covers and illustrated by Jack Gaughan ~ #87321 1974 $1.25 249pg - #87322 1976 $1.50 249pg - #87323-5 1978 $1.95 249pg - #87324-3 1980 $2.25 249pg - covers by J.H. Breslow ~ #87326-X 1983 $2.50 249pg - #87316-2 1986 $2.75 249pg - #87316-2 1988 $3.50 249pg - covers by John Pound
- (1970) Published by Tandem, PB, 0-426-05047-9, £ 5s (60p), 224pg ~ UK printing ~ cover by Philip Castle
- (1977) Published by Gregg Press, HC, 0-839-82359-2, LCCN 77023201, $7.95, 222pg ~ As Witch World 4: Warlock of the Witch World ~ Dust Jacket and Text Art by Jack Gaughan, Frontmatter by Alice Phalen, Endpaper Maps by Barbi Johnson {Binding: 5.625 x 8.25 - Dark Blue Cloth Boards with Gold Lettering} Limited to 1200 copies.
- (1977) Published by G Prior, HC, 0-860-43072-3, £4.95, 232pg ~ UK printing ~ This Edition is an identical copy of the Gregg Press release with the exception of the Title & Copyright Page.
- (1978) Published Universal (Tandem), PB, 0-426-05047-9, £0.75, 192pg ~ UK printing ~ cover by Rodney Matthews ~
NOTE: this release has been erroneously placed on many lists in the past but was never published.
Rodney Mathews completed eight paintings for the “Witch World” series published by Universal. Unfortunately, three of them were never released as book covers. “Sorceress of the Witch World”, “Warlock of the Witch World” and “Year of the Unicorn”. [SEE: Matthews, Rodney’ cover-art for images of these paintings.]
- (1988) Published by Gollancz, PB, 0-575-03997-3, £2.50, 220pg ~ UK printing ~ cover by Michael Posen
- Chronicles of the Witch World (1998) Published by SFBC, HC, # 20044, $14.98, 522pg ~ cover by Gary A. Lippincott ~ Omnibus containing Three Against the Witch World (1965), Warlock of the Witch World (1967) & Sorceress of the Witch World (1968)
- Lost Lands of Witch World (2004) Published by TOR, HC, 0-765-30052-4, LCCN 2003071153, $27.95, 445pg ~ cover by Daniel Dos Santos ~ Omnibus containing Three Against the Witch World (1965), Warlock of the Witch World (1967) & Sorceress of the Witch World (1968)
- (2020) Published by The Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency (Worldbuilders Press), TP, 978-1-680-68191-8, $9.99, 264pg ~ cover by Cynthia Lucas
- (2020) Published by The Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency (Worldbuilders Press), DM, No ISBN, $2.99, 205pg ~ cover by Cynthia Lucas
Non-English Editions ~
- (1996) Published in Paris, France; by Pocket, PB, 22-660-6283-2, 221pg ~ translation by Gille Dupreux ~ cover by Chistophe Kro ~ French title Kemoc le prodigieux [Kemoc the prodigious]
- (1976) Published in Rastatt, Germany; by Pabel, Terra Fantasy 16, DM 2.80, 145pg ~ translation by Susi-Maria Rödiger ~ German title Angriff der Schatten [Attach of shadows] ~ Includes interior artwork by Helmut W. Pesch and essay "Vorwort (Angriff der Schatten)" by Hugh Walker ~ Reprinted in 1978 for DM 3.80 w/same cover
- (2018) Published in Germany by APEX VERLAG CHRISTIAN DÖRGE, 978-3-7438-1838-5, DM, €5.49, 296pg ~ German title DER ANGRIFF DER SCHATTEN - Vierter Roman des HEXENWELT-Zyklus [THE ATTACK OF THE SHADOWS - Fourth novel of the HEX WORLD Cycle]
- (1979) Published in Bologna, Italy; by Libra Editrice, I Classici della Fantascienza, n. 40, 8,000 lir, 518pg ~ translation by Roberta Rambelli ~ cover by Allison ~ omnibus containing Il mago di Escore [Warlock of the Witch World] and l’incantatrice [Sorceress of the Witch World] ~ Italian title I maghi di Estcarp [The Wizards of Estcarp]
- (1976) Published in Tokyo, Japan; by Sogensya, 44-886-0205-5, 346pg ~ translation by Enoki Rin ~ Cover by Motoichiro Takebe ~ Japanese title 魔法の世界の幻術 [Illusion of the Magical World]
- (1991) Published in Warsaw, Poland; by Amber, 83-850-7992-0, 238pg ~ translation by Ewa Witecka ~ cover by Steve Crisp ~ Polish title Czarodziej ze Świata Czarownic [Magician from the world of Witches]
- (2014) Published in Warsaw, Poland; by Nasza Księgarnia, 978-83-10-11797-7, PB, 320pg ~ translation by Ewa Witecka ~ Polish title Czarodziej ze Świata Czarownic [Magician from the world of Witches]
Russian Omnibus Editions ~
- (1992) Published in St. Petersburg, by Severo-Zapad (North-West), 5-835-20013-7, HC, 608pg ~ cover by Denis Gordeeva ~ Russian title Трое против Колдовского Мира [Three Against the Witch World]
Contains:
-
- "Three Against the Witch World" as "Three against the witching world" ~ translation by A. Pakhomov, pp. 5-168
- "Warlock of the Witch World" as "The caster of the witching world" ~ translation by N. Lebedeva, pp. 169-366
- "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "Sorceress of the witching world" ~ translation by A. Smirnova, pp. 367-606
- (1993)-1 Combined with "Warlock of the Witch World" and "Sorceress of the Witch World" ~ Published in Angarsk, by Amber and Zelenograd, by Zelenogradskaya Books, 5-863-14011-9, HC, 512pg ~ Russian title Колдовской мир [Witching World]
Contains:
-
- "Three Against the Witch World" as "Three vs. The Witching World" ~ pp. 3-150
- "Warlock of the Witch World" as "The Wizard of the Witching World" ~ pp. 151-328
- "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "The Witch of the Witching World" ~ pp. 329-509
- (1993)-2 Published in Novosibirsk, by EYA, 5-872-16034-8, HC, 512pg ~ Russian title Колдовской мир [Witching World]
Contains:
-
- "Witch World" as "The Witching World" ~ pp. 3-130
- "Web of the Witching World" ~ pp. 131-243
- "Three against the Witching World" ~ pp. 244-354
- "Warlock of the Witch World" as "Wizard of the Witching World" ~ pp. 355-511
- (2000) and (2001) Published in Moscow, by AST, 5-237-03689-9 and 5-170-10355-7, HC, 573pg ~ cover by M. Van Houten (left side) & Luis Royo (right side) ~ internal illustrations by V. Martynenko ~ Russian title Чародей Колдовского Мира. Волшебница Колдовского Мира. Гоа Единорога. [Wizard of the Witching World. Sorceress of the Witching World. Year of the Unicorn] ~ #03689-9 10000 + 5000 copies in 2000 & 10355-7 Limited to 8000 +3000 copies in 2001
Contains:
-
- "Warlock of the Witch World" as "The Wizard of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, p. 5-220
- "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "The Witch of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, p. 221-428
- "Year of the Unicorn" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, p. 429-573
- (2004) Published in Moscow, by Eksmo and St. Petersburg, by Domino, 5-699-06536-9, HC, 848pg ~ cover by I. Zhmaylova and Y. Katashinskaya ~ Russian title Колдовской мир [Witching World]
Contains:
-
- "Witch World" as "Book I. The Witching World" ~ translation by S. Stepanov, pp. 11-188
- "Web of the Witch World" as "Book II. The Web of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Pakhomov, pp. 189-328
- "Three Against the Witch World" as "Book III. Three against the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Pakhomov, pp. 329-468
- "Warlock of the Witch World" as "Book IV. The Caster of the Witching World" ~ translation by N. Lebedeva, pp. 469-640
- "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "Book V. The Sorceress of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Smirnova, pp. 641-846
- (2005)-1 Published in Moscow, by Ermak and AST, 5-170-26909-9 and 5-957-71700-2, HC, 976pg ~ translation by A. Grusberg and Oleg Kolesnikov ~ Cover by Luis Royo (insert) and M. Van Houten (background) ~ Russian title Колдовской Мир [Witching World] ~ limited to 3000 copies
Contains:
-
- "Witch World" as "The Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 5-184
- "Web of the Witch World" as "The Web of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 185-338
- "Three Against the Witch World" as "Three against the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 339-480
- "Warlock of the Witch World" as "The Wizard of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 481-666
- "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "The Sorceress of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 667-844
- "Year of the Unicorn" as "The Year of the Unicorn" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 845-971
- (2005)-2 Published in Moscow by AST, 5-170-26911-0 and 5-957-71699-5, HC, 976pg ~ Russian title Колдовской Мир [Witching World] ~ Limited to 2000 copies
Contains:
-
- "Witch World" as "The Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 5-184
- "Web of the Witch World" as "The Web of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 185-338
- "Three Against the Witch World" as "Three against the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 339-480
- "Warlock of the Witch World" as "The Wizard of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 481-666
- "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "The Sorceress of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 667-844
- "Year of the Unicorn" as "The Year of the Unicorn" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 845-971
- (2021) Published in Moscow by Azbuca-Atticus, 5-170-26911-0 and 5-389-18124-3, HC ,864pg ~ cover by O. Zacis and S. Shinkin ~ Russian title Колдовской мир [Witching World] ~ Limited to 5000 copies
Contains:
-
- "Witch World" as "The World of Witchcraft" ~ translation by Sergey Stepanov, pp.11-192
- "Web of the Witch World" as "The Web of the Magical World" ~ translation by A. Pakhomov, pp. 193-338
- "Three Against the Witch World" as "Three against the World of Witchcraft" ~ translation by A. Pakhomov, pp. 339-480
- "Warlock of the Witch World" as "The Spellcaster of the World of Witchcraft" ~ translation by N. Lebedeva, pp. 481-654
- "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "The Sorceress of the Magical World" ~ translation by Alla Smirnova, pp. 655-861
Ukrainian Omnibus Editions ~
-
(2010) Published in Kyiv, Ukraine by Globe, (Fanzine), HC, 728pgs. ~ cover by Rodney Matthews ~ Ukrainian title Колдовской мир-2 [Sorcerer's World-2] ~ Limited to 10 copies and not released until October 2018
Contains:
-
- "Warlock of the Witch World" as "The Wizard of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 5-162
- "Sorceress of the Witch World" as "The Sorceress of the Witching World" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg , O. Kolesnikov, pp. 163-311
- "Trey of Swords" as "Three of swords" ~ translation by K. Prilypko, pp. 313-430
- "Ware Hawk" as "Beware of the hawk" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg, pp. 431-585
- "The Gate of the Cat" as "Feline Gate" ~ translation by A. Gruzberg, pp. 587-725
View the 1986 ACE Contract
See Also: The Sorcerer's Conspectus entry for this title.
https://www.andre-norton.com/works-of-a-master/series-of-a-master/the-witch-world-saga/344-warlock-of-the-witch-world#sigProId74c2fc5137