Year of the Unicorn

~ 1st Novel in the Witch World: High Hallack Series by Andre Norton

This story based on "Beauty and the Beast" per Andre ~ See Below

year of the unicorn 1965 f 357

 

Synopsis ~

Write-up from the 1960s ACE paperback editions ~

To pay an unearthly tribute, thirteen must leave with the Were-Riders, thirteen torn from their homeland to ride with illusion and darkness, to travel the unmapped lands with the nomads who were more than men and less than human…
That was the price to be paid for unholy alliance without which the homeland would have been lost. But was the price worth paying? Gillan, who became one of the Thirteen, was to find out… and in the finding, find a lost land, a forgotten world, and a super-science challenge.
Andre Norton’s Year of the Unicorn is a brand-new novel of swordsmanship and scientific sorcery.

 

Write-up from the back of the 1970s ACE paperback editions ~

Taken from their families in the Year of the Unicorn, the thirteen were the payment to settle the Great Bargain by which the Hounds of Alizon were finally beaten from High Hallack with the aid of the Were-Riders.
The Were-Riders wore the bodies of men, but they were not human-kind, and the price of their alliance was thirteen beautiful maids of High Hallack to be taken as brides to the unknown.
Gillan, one of the thirteen brides, was destined to see beyond the illusion and mist that cloaked the shapes of the nomadic Were-Riders, and view the lost powers, the forgotten world, and the ancient challenge that threatened them all.

 

Write-up from the front flap of the Gregg Press edition ~

THE YEAR OF THE UNICORN was a year of good omen, particularly for maidens, but for the orphan Gillan the coming year held no promise. Raised from childhood in Abbeystead by the Dames, Gillan never found a place either with the professed sisterhood or among the laywomen who sought refuge in the Abbey during the long wars with Alizon. Hardpressed by the forces of Alizon, the lords of High Hallack allied themselves with the Were-Riders, fierce sorcerer-warriors who were said to be able to change from men to frightening beasts in battle. The rewards they offered the Riders were brides who would accompany their warlock husbands back to the land of Arvon beyond the enchanted mountains.
Eager to find a new life away from the Abbey, Gillan gladly changed places with one of the chosen maidens. She then embarked on a wedding journey fraught with danger, for she had the gift of true sight that would not be blinded by the Riders’ spells. The Were-Riders soon learned that she was of the witch stock of Estcarp and feared her. No longer a stranger among a well-meaning people, Gillan was now in peril of her life and of her soul.
In Year of the Unicorn, Andre Norton brings the saga of the Witch World to High Hallack and to new adventures among the sorceries of the Were-Riders. This new edition of Year of the Unicorn features special endleave maps of the Witch World by Barbi Johnson.

 

Write-up from the back of the 1980s ACE paperback edition ~

In the Waning of Witchery…
The Land of Estcarp is become a distant tale. The power of her Witches a myth. But in the green Dales of High Hallack is one whose mysterious past will unleash the power of legends….
In a bizarre alliance born of desperate need the Lords of High Hallack have pledged thirteen brides to the Were Riders of the Wastelands, those strange nomad-warriors who are more than men, but less than human: Thirteen maids ride out to pay unearthly tribute, journeying into a world of shadows where danger lies in wait for the only one of them with the power to pierce the veil of illusion. To her fall the perils of a forgotten world, and the terrible challenge to her life and love in the Year of the Unicorn.

 

Write-up from the back of the Fawcett paperback edition ~

In the Year of the Unicorn, the Were Riders came out of the Waste to help the men of the High Hallack beat the Hounds of Alizon from their borders.
The Were Riders wore the shape of men, but they were not human. The price of their aid was thirteen beautiful maidens of High Hallack to be taken as brides. Gillan was one of the thirteen. This is her story.
Year of the Unicorn

 

Write-up from the back of the 1970 UK paperback edition ~

To pay an unearthly tribute, thirteen must leave with the Were Riders, thirteen torn from their homeland to ride with illusion and darkness, to travel the unmapped lands with the nomads who were more than men and less than human.
That was the price to be paid for an unholy alliance without which the homeland would have been lost. But was the price worth paying? Gillan, who became one of the Thirteen, was to find out… and in finding, find a lost land, a forgotten world.

 

Write-up from the back of the 1987 UK paperback edition ~

They were paying the price of an unholy alliance, forged against the dread Hounds of Alizon. But were not those thirteen maidens too high a price to pay?
With darkness and illusion their only escort, the promised brides of the Were-Riders set out through the snow-bound wastes. Shape-changers, warlocks, sorcerers maybe, their fearsome husbands had opened doors onto forbidden things, unleashing that which could not be controlled. Now, condemned to roam the unmapped wilds, they wandered in search of the gateway to their world. But, unbeknown, they harbored amongst their brides one who saw beyond the shape of things – the strange waif Gillan, exile from a foreign land. She alone could challenge them; she alone might bar their passage home.
“Andre Norton will be remembered when many of us are totally forgotten” – Anne McCaffrey
“An imagination quite out of this world” – T.L.S.

 

Write-up from a Gregg Press sales flyer ~

Across the sea to the west of Escarp lies the land of High Hallack and here Gillan, an orphan witch child of Escarp, has grown up in a convent. she becomes one of 13 brides given by the Lords of High Hallack to the Were Riders in return for the aid of their sorcery in the successful battle against the Alizon invasion. Gillan chooses Herrel, the least of the Were Riders, disappointing Halse, the overconfident one, who discovers she has witch powers when she shows herself to be unaffected by the Were Raiders shape-changing illusions. Halse cast a spell over her, separating Gillan the witch from Gillan the maid, and places Herrel under a compulsion that almost succeeds in killing Gillan the witch. In this fantastic and marvelous story, Gillan recounts the fearful trials she encounters in her quest to regain her other self and her identity in the Were Riders' magical land of Arvon.

 

Write-up from the 2016 digital release ~

Year Of the Unicorn returns to Andre Norton’s Witch World with a tale of adventure and magic. The orphan Gillan grew up in an abbey in High Hallack, always knowing she was different and never feeling at home. When the lords of High Hallack pledge twelve brides to the Were Riders in exchange for their protection, Gillan is faced with an opportunity few would consider: to take the place of one of the twelve chosen women and go off to parts unknown to marry one of these strange wild men. But Gillan leaps at the chance to leave the only home she has ever known in the hopes of finding something she was meant to do. And her rare gift to see through illusions that fool others will prove vital in a journey where nothing is as it seems.

 

Write-ups from fans ~

This is the most complicated Norton story, so far. Many years ago, Gillan a member of the Old Race of Estcarp was captured as a young girl by the Alizon forces who were waging war across the sea. Rescued by the Dalesmen of High Hallack, she grew up and was schooled the by the dames of Norstead Abby. Meanwhile, to defeat the Alizonders, the lords of The Dales made a pact with the Were Riders, a group of formidable fighters from the area known as The Waste. In return for the destruction of the forces of Alizon, The Dales would send 13 maidens to the Were Pack as brides. Gillan feels compelled to take the place of one of the chosen women. She has no idea about her background, but soon learns that she has "second sight" powers to see through some illusions. The Were Riders were, in truth, from another world and were trying to get back to the gate to go home. The brides were paired with Riders through a choosing of ensorceled cloaks. Gillan chose Herell, the least respected of the Pack. There ensued dissension in the ranks and all sorts of sabotage and skuldugery aimed against the couple. All the trials and tribulations, sorcery and malignant forces that Gillan must face to fulfill her destiny make one wonder if Andre didn't like Gillan. The book starts out fairly slow but picks up to a break-neck pace in the final chapters. I had forgotten how good it is. Personally, I prefer the other continent, but this one has its good points. ~ PG

 

Reviews ~

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

1966 by P. Schuyler Miller in Analog Science Fiction - Science Fact, August
1966 by L. Sprague de Camp in Amra V2n42, September
1977 by Charles N. Brown in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, Winter
1977 by E. Sisco in School Library Journal, September
1987 by Andy Sawyer in Paperback Inferno #69
2015 by James Nicoll
2017 by Judith Tarr

 

Bibliography of English Editions ~

  • (1965) Published by ACE, PB, #F-357, $0.40, 224pg ~ #94251 1969 $0.60 224pg - covers by Jack Gaughan ~ #95252 1974 $0.95 224pg - #95253 1976 $1.50 224pg - #95254-7 1979 $1.95 281pg - #95255-5 1980 $2.50 281pg - covers by J.H. Breslow ~ #95255-5 1981 & 83 $2.50 281pg - #95255-5 1989 $3.50 281pg - covers by John Pound

#95255-5 has at least five printings for this ACE Number series, one with the J. H. Breslow cover (1980) and one with the John Pound cover (1981) ~ two more in 1983 at $2.50 and one in 1989 at $3.50.

  • (1970) Published by Tandem, PB, 0-426-05063-0, £ 5s (60p), 224pg ~ UK printing ~ cover by Philip Castle
  • (1977) Published by Gregg Press, HC, 0-839-82356-8, LCCN 77023221, $7.95, 224pg ~ As Witch World 6: Year of the Unicorn ~ 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, 0-860-43074-X, £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 by Universal (Tandem), PB, 0-426-05063-0, £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.]

  • (1987) Published by Gollancz, PB, 0-575-03999-X, £2.50, 221pg ~ UK printing ~ cover by Mark Harrison
  • (2010) Created by Brilliance Audio, Audible, length 8hrs & 12mins, $17.99 ~ narrated by Kate Rudd
  • (2016) Published by Worldbuilders Press, DM, no isbn, $2.99, 206pg ~ cover by Matt Forsyth

 

Non-English Editions ~

  • (2001) Published in Plzeň, Czech Republic; by Laser, PB, 80-7193-105-5, 256pg ~ cover by Steve Crisp ~ translation by Pavel Grigar ~ Czech title Svět čarodějnic 8: Rok Jednorožce [World of Witches 8: Year of the Unicorn]
  • (1995) Published in Paris, France; by Pocket, PB, 22-660-6281-6, 221pg ~ translation by Gille Dupreux ~ cover by Chistophe Kro ~ French title L'année de la licorne [The year of the unicorn]
  • (1977) Published in Rastatt, Germany; by Pabel, Terra Fantasy 31, DM3.80, 159pg ~ translation by Susi-Maria Rödiger ~ cover by Enric Torres-Prat ~ German title Die Braut des Tiermenschen [The animal man's bride]
  • (2018) Published in Germany by APEX VERLAG CHRISTIAN DÖRGE, 978-3-7438-7156-4, DM, €5.99, 286pg ~ German title DAS JAHR DES EINHORNS - Sechster Roman des HEXENWELT-Zyklus [THE YEAR OF THE UNICORN - Sixth novel of the HEX WORLD Cycle]
  • (1980) Published in Bologna, Italy; by Libra Editrice, I Classici della Fantascienza, n. 48, 7,500 Lir, 272pg ~ translation by Roberta Rambelli ~ cover by Allison ~ Italian title L’anno dell’unicorno [The year of the unicorn]
  • (1991) Published in Milan, Italy; by Mondadori, Urania Fantasy n. 39, 6,000 lir, 202pg ~ translation by Fabio Feminò ~ illustrated by Maren ~ cover by Maren ~ Italian title L’erede dell’unicorno [The year of the unicorn]
  • (1993) Published in Warsaw, Poland; by Amber, 83-708-2133-2, 238pg ~ translation by Ewa Witecka ~ cover by Steve Crisp ~ Polish title Rok Jednorożca [Year of the Unicorn]

 

Russian Omnibus Editions ~

  • (1990) Published by Rank Xerox - Fanzine (self-published) ~ Russian title Год Единорога [Year of the Unicorn] ~ Frontispiece Notes: The inscriptions on the lower right in small print: "Not published in the USSR." ~ On the printing press in the circle of the inscription: “The Golden Fund of Modern Fiction. Best-selling science fiction books."

Contains:

    • "Year of the Unicorn"
    • "Sorceress of the Witch World"

 

  • (1992)-1 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
    • "Year of the Unicorn" as "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

 

  • (1992)-2 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)-3 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

 

  • (1993)-1 Published by Zelenograd, by Zelenogradskaya Books, 5-863-14010-0, HC, 416pg ~ "translation by N. Nesmelova ~ cover by C. Caldwell and M.P. Sanjuliana ~ Russian title Гаран вечный [Eternal Garan]

Contains:

    • "The Crystal Gryphon" as "Crystal with the Griffin" ~ pp. 3-180
    • "Year of the Unicorn" ~ pp. 181-302
    • "Garan the Eternal" as "Eternal Garan" ~ translation by N. Nesmelova, pp. 303-413

 

  • (1993)-2 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

 

  • (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

 

  • (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, 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 ~ Ukrainian 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. ~ Russian 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

View the 1986 ACE Contract

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

For information on editions currently available visit the Book Store

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.andre-norton.com/works-of-a-master/series-of-a-master/the-witch-world-saga/350-year-of-the-unicorn#sigProId311eff6d56


year of the unicorn 1977 gregg press signed

 

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