Andre Norton
308039
226050940
2008-07-16T16:40:18Z
216.136.25.72
/* Recurring themes */ NPOV
{{Original research|date=June 2008}}
'''Andre Alice Norton''' ([[February 17]], [[1912]] – [[March 17]], [[2005]]) was an [[USA|American]] [[science fiction]] and [[fantasy]] author (with some works of [[historical fiction]] and contemporary fiction). Born '''Alice Mary Norton''' in [[Cleveland, Ohio]]. She published her first novel in [[1934]], was the first woman to receive the [[Gandalf Grand Master Award]] from the [[World Science Fiction Society]] in [[1977]], and she won the [[Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award]] from the [[SFWA]] in [[1983]]. She wrote under the ''[[nom de plume|noms de plume]]'' '''Andre Norton''', '''Andrew North''' and '''Allen Weston'''. [[Alan E. Nourse]], assumed by some to be one of her noms de plume, was in fact another author of science fiction.
==Biography==
Norton's parents were Adalbert Freely Norton, who owned a rug company, and Bertha Stemm Norton. She began writing at Collinwood High School in Cleveland, under the tutelage of Miss Sylvia Cochrane. She was the editor of a literary page in the school's paper called ''The Collingwood Spotlight'' for which she wrote short stories. During this time, she wrote her first book—''Ralestone Luck'', which was eventually published as her second novel in [[1938]], the first being ''The Prince Commands'' in [[1934]].
After graduating from high school in [[1930]], Norton continued her education at Flora Stone Mather College of [[Case Western Reserve University|Western Reserve University]]. In [[1932]], she began working for the [[Cleveland Public Library|Cleveland Library System]] and remained there for 18 years, latterly in the children's section of the Nottingham Branch Library in Cleveland. She legally changed her name to ''Andre Alice Norton'' in [[1934]] to appeal to a predominantly male audience and to increase her marketability. From [[1940]] to [[1941]], she worked as a special librarian in the cataloguing department of the [[Library of Congress]], involved in a project related to alien citizenship. The project was abruptly terminated upon American entry into [[World War II]].
In [[1941]], she bought a bookstore called the ''Mystery House'' in [[Mount Rainier, Maryland]]. The business failed and she returned to the Cleveland Public Library until [[1950]]. Then she began working as a reader for [[Martin Greenberg]] at [[Gnome Press]], where she remained until [[1958]], after which she became a full-time professional author.
She was a member of the [[Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America (SAGA)]], a loose-knit group [[Heroic fantasy|Heroic Fantasy]] authors founded in the 1960s, some of whose works were anthologized in [[Lin Carter|Lin Carter's]] ''[[Flashing Swords!]]'' anthologies.
In later years, her health became uncertain; Norton was forced to move to Florida in November [[1966]] and then to [[Murfreesboro, Tennessee]]. From [[February 21]], [[2005]], she was under [[hospice care]], with her health in precipitous decline. She died on [[March 17]], [[2005]], peacefully in her own home.
Her final complete novel, ''Three Hands for Scorpio'', was published on April 1, [[2005]]. She was collaborating with [[Jean Rabe]] on ''Return to Quag Keep'' when she died. It was completed by Rabe and published in 2006.
On [[February 20]], [[2005]], the [[Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America]], which had earlier honored her with its [[Grand Master Nebula|Grand Master]] Award in [[1983]], announced the creation of the [[Andre Norton Award]], to be given each year for an outstanding work of fantasy or science fiction for the [[Young adult literature|young adult]] market, starting in [[2006]]. While the [[Andre Norton Award]] is not a [[Nebula Award]] the eligibility requirements and award procedures are the same as those for the [[Nebula Award]]s.
Often called the Grande Dame of Science Fiction and Fantasy by biographers such as J.M Cornwell and organizations such as [[Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America]], [[Publishers Weekly]] and [[Time (magazine)|Time]], Andre Norton wrote novels for over 70 years. She had a profound influence on the entire genre, having over 300 published titles read by at least 4 generations of science fiction and fantasy authors. Notable authors who cite her influence include [[Greg Bear]], [[Lois McMaster Bujold]], [[C. J. Cherryh]], [[Cecilia Dart-Thornton]], [[Tanya Huff]], [[Mercedes Lackey]], [[Charles de Lint]], [[Joan D. Vinge]], [[David Weber]] and [[K. D. Wentworth]].
==Recurring themes==
In most Norton books, whether science-fiction or fantasy, the plot takes place in the open countryside, with only short episodes in a city environment. Protagonists usually move about singly or in small groups, and in conflict situations they are more often scouts, spies or guerillas rather than regular soldiers in large military formations.{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
As could be expected of such characters, they tend to be resourceful and capable of taking independent initiative. In some books, protagonists are introduced already in possession of such characteristics. In others the protagonists (often young) are thrust into situations where they must develop them quickly, and invariably succeed at it.
Other planets in the books are usually earthlike places, where humans can live without special protection, and have extensive flora and fauna which are described in considerable detail and often have substantial bearing on the plot. Airless planets and ones with unbreathable atmospheres are sometimes mentioned in passing, but are virtually never the main scene of a Norton book.
A common theme in the books is the presence of sympathetically presented feudal and tribal cultures. In several books [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] tribes and their various analogues are given a chance to be more successful than they were in actual American history. Non-human creatures and cultures are usually presented sympathetically, with human protagonists sometimes supporting them against oppressive human authorities. In contrast, several books present technological and mechanised cultures as negative or even positively evil.
An important role in Norton's books is often given to animals - both ordinary terrestrial ones, such as cats (with whom she had much personal experience) and exotic fictional ones, whose characteristics are meticulously worked out. Many of Norton's animals are highly intelligent without being anthropomorphic, acting as virtually full partners to the human protagonists and in many books forming [[telepathic]] links with them.
[[Image:Voodoo Planet, by Andrew North - cover - Project Gutenberg eText 18846.jpg|thumb|Cover of ''Voodoo Planet'', by Andrew North]]
A fictional board and counter game called 'Stars and Comets' appears in many Norton books. However, only fleeting hints of the rules are revealed. Counters styled as either 'stars' or 'comets' move across the board taking opponents' pieces. The rules of movement and capture seem to be very complex allowing hidden strategies and sudden reversals of fortune. It may be that there are both elements of skill and chance. Often, it is not the game being played itself which features, but references to it as an analogy of some plot situation. Its use helps to reinforce the alien culture being portrayed, and also gives the reader a sense of continuity between books portraying differing people and places.
''Star Man's Son'' ( AKA ''Day Break 2250''), the story of a young man's quest through a [[post-apocalyptic]] landscape, has been retold endlessly, in print and in film, though Norton never received proper recognition for developing this theme{{Fact|date=June 2008}}. She also developed the concept of traveling through alternate worlds, in ''The Cross Roads of Time'', another theme which she developed{{Fact|date=June 2008}}. In the ''Time Trader'' series, she explored Celtic Europe, and Ice Age America, synthesizing of anthropology, archeology, and hard science fiction, and this series must also be seen as a pivotal exploration of time travel, as a method of fictionally exploring lost cultures. The second book in the Time Trader series, ''Galactic Derelict'', features the use of recovered alien technology, to enable human travel to the stars, and this theme is also very recurrent, with definite features developed by Andre Norton.
==Bibliography==
{{main|Bibliography of Andre Norton}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Unreferenced|date=January 2008}}
==External links==
{{wikinews|Sci-fi and fantasy author Andre Norton dies}}
*[http://www.andre-norton.org/ Official Website]
**[http://www.andre-norton.org/anorton/anbio.shtml Detailed biography]
*[http://www.sfwa.org/news/anorton.htm SFWA obituary]
*[http://Nortonbooks.Bravehost.com/index.htm Bibliography] ''Comprehensive bibliography containing Publisher listings, Cover-art, Non-Fiction Items and more.''
*{{isfdb name|id=Andre_Norton|name=Andre Norton}}
*{{gutenberg author|id=Andre_Norton|name=Andre Norton}}
*[http://librivox.org/newcatalog/search.php?title=&author=Andre+norton Audio books of Andre Norton] at [[LibriVox]]
*[http://scifan.com/writers/nn/NortonAndre.asp Bibliography] at [[SciFan]]
*[http://www.geocities.com/solarguard/anorton/index.html Solarguard Andre Norton] link to reviews of some of her sf, to the comprehensive Andre Norton planet list, etc.
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[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:American fantasy writers]]
[[Category:American science fiction writers]]
[[Category:Female authors who wrote under male or gender-neutral pseudonyms]]
[[Category:People from Cleveland, Ohio]]
[[Category:SFWA Grand Masters]]
[[Category:Science Fiction Hall of Fame]]
[[Category:Worldcon Guests of Honor]]
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