Helpful Score: 1
Like many of Andre Norton's novels the main character is uncertain of his origin, is at a crossroads in his transition to adulthood as to what coarse in life he will take and he is thrust into conflict that he does not know all the hidden reasons and motivations for. All in all the book lives up to the sense of wonder you'd expect from a novel by Norton. It's more like her earlier works which I prefer over her latter ones.
Has all of the expected elements of a Norton SciFi novel:
Thieves Guild
Zacathans
Forerunners
Examples of PSY powers by a few of the charicters
An assumed galaxy wide civilization
The "Patrol"
A mystical link to some ancient artifact by the main charicter
A partnership between Aliens/Humans/Animals.
On a personal note I've been a fan of Norton's work for about 40 years now, yet I'd never heard of this particular novel till I saw it listed here.
Has all of the expected elements of a Norton SciFi novel:
Thieves Guild
Zacathans
Forerunners
Examples of PSY powers by a few of the charicters
An assumed galaxy wide civilization
The "Patrol"
A mystical link to some ancient artifact by the main charicter
A partnership between Aliens/Humans/Animals.
On a personal note I've been a fan of Norton's work for about 40 years now, yet I'd never heard of this particular novel till I saw it listed here.
Helpful Score: 1
BROTHER TO SHADOWS is a classic Andre Norton novel, possibly YA. A young man--Jofre--gets tossed out of his warrior-school due to jealousy from one of the teachers. However, since the school is religious in nature, it's more as if he's been excommunicated rather than being merely expelled.
He barely manages to live through a blizzard as he is forced to leave the school-- which probably wasn't an accident on the part of those who threw him out.
Now on his own, Jofre takes a job as a bodyguard to a researcher. This researcher, named Zurzal, is a member of one of the older races, a Zacathan. Enlisting with Zurzal seems a reasonable plan, but then Jofre learns the researcher has some very unconventional ideas that have him on the outs with his fellow historians.
Add some pirates, some very strange aliens, the violent and greedy thieves' guild, a more-or-less telepathic quasi-beast and a possible love interest into the mix. Then sit back and enjoy a good story.
He barely manages to live through a blizzard as he is forced to leave the school-- which probably wasn't an accident on the part of those who threw him out.
Now on his own, Jofre takes a job as a bodyguard to a researcher. This researcher, named Zurzal, is a member of one of the older races, a Zacathan. Enlisting with Zurzal seems a reasonable plan, but then Jofre learns the researcher has some very unconventional ideas that have him on the outs with his fellow historians.
Add some pirates, some very strange aliens, the violent and greedy thieves' guild, a more-or-less telepathic quasi-beast and a possible love interest into the mix. Then sit back and enjoy a good story.
Good fantasy
young man from brotherhood of asassins and bodyguards is cast out on his own to wander a treacherous world. he is blood oathed to a gentle reptilian zacathan to seek a window into time and space. andre norton is always good sci fi
