So, having seen the Disney movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks, you know the whole story, right? Wrong! Being a fan of that movie, I picked up this book expecting some minor discrepancies, but was amazed to find a story that had practically nothing in common with the movie.

This is the story of Carey, Charles and Paul Wilson who, while staying with their aunt in Bedfordshire, suddenly discover that a neighbor, Miss Price is a witch! Not your stereotypical witch, Miss Price is a prim and proper lady who is willing to buy the children's silence with the gift of a magic bed knob that will allow the children to travel through space and time. Seeking to visit their mother, the children find themselves scooped up by the London police. Next, Miss Price takes them to an isolated tropical island, only to discover that cannibals inhabit the island. Their final adventure takes them to Restoration England, where they meet a forlorn (and inept) necromancer, Emelius Jones.

This story (actually two books combined into one) is quite charming. In a gentle and freewheeling fashion, Mary Norton draws the reader along on a fantastic adventure. This book is just right for the young reader, with a few nice illustrations, and a wonderful storyline.

Our class enjoyed hearing our teacher read this story. She thought we might like it because we enjoyed "Harry Potter" last year. We liked it when the children travelled back into the past. It was good when Miss Price and Emelius fell in love and travelled back to Emelius's time

I first read this book as a child, and it was one that I read again and again. Using a magical bedknob, the children in this story travel through time and space to ancient England, a desert island and more. I just bought this for my nine year old niece, who is a "Harry Potter" fan, but too young for most of the scarier titles that are sometimes suggested for fans of the series. Like all of the author's books, this one is exciting, but not scary, and is clearly the product of a gentler time.

I liked this book a lot. I like to read about how resourceful the Borrowers are when they use stuff humans don't need or misplace. It had really nice pictures, too. I recommend this book to kids five years and older.

In this, the fourth book in the Borrowers series (after The Borrowers, The Borrowers Afield and The Borrowers Afloat), the Clocks have moved into Little Fordham, and are starting their new life. Unfortunately, unknown to them, the greedy Mr. Platter has built a rival model village. Having seen the Borrowers, he kidnaps them to add them to his own model. How can such small people escape from a prison built by such huge human "beans"?

Ah, Mary Norton (1903-92) was a genius! Her Borrower stories are an excellent combination of suspenseful adventure and heartwarming drama. My children and I love this book, and highly recommend it to you!

As a child in the 1950's, I read the original Borrowers in 4th grade. I read and re-read the one in the school library, til school closed for the summer. As luck would have it, I found the book and it's subsequent additions that summer in a book store. They were the only thing I ever BEGGED my mother to buy me. I took home The Borowers, The Borrowers Afield, and The Borrowers Afloat, and I still know parts of them by heart. When I was 18, the Borrowers Aloft came out, and my mother sent it to me at college. I was 36 when the Avenged came out, and I RAN to the bookstore. The stories are as fresh today as the first time I read them. I'm now in my 50's, and I can't imagine a life without Homily, Pod and Arriety Clock. Homily who is courageous, even though she'd rather not be. Pod, who is a simple man, taking care of his family. And Arriety, ready for life, ready for adventure, a young Victorian Feminist, if there ever was one. She taught me that a girl could be anything she wanted to be. They bravely faced a daunting world, and they're only 6 inches tall. I now own well over a thousand books, and really believe that it was this small family that lead me to my love of reading.

I loved this book so much. Normally I do not like sci-fi but my mom picked out this book. I had to read a sci-fi book for a science book report and I didn't know what kind of book to get. At the beginning of the book it is very confusing and even boring but once you get into this book it is so good. The ending is terrific and if I had the time I would read it 24 hours a day. I would recamend this book highly. I hope my review helped you!

I came across this rather bizarre little author in a chat room, and felt the need to read one of her books at random - this one. I fear i was needlessly insulting to her during an argument I had with her, because now that I've read this mindless, awful drivel, I wonder if perhaps she wasn't being a little ironic about the general quality of sci - fi writing.

So a review of the book - If you are the sort of person who likes this sort of thing, you are the sort of person who likes this sort of thing.

And of the author - If you are the sort of person who writes this sort of thing, you are the sort of person who writes this thing.

Irredeemable, really, but five stars for trying.

In this book Andre Norton has begun tying together most of her important Witch World families. I really enjoyed watching the songsmith work her way from one part of the world to the other. She picks up a horse-racing ringer and barely excapes with him from a mob who felt that they were cheated. (Imagine that!) There is a wise woman gone to the bad who wanted to drain the racer's power, Garth Howell is on the prowl, and assorted other badies. All comes right in the end though, (I like good endings) the songsmith triumphs over all of these obstacles, finds the cure for her father, rescues her mother and little brother, finds her talent, and gets a hubby. Ms. Norton is my favorite and if she must team up with someone A.C. Crispin is the best of them all. This is a good book.

The Zero Stone is the first novel in the Murdoc Jern series. Murdoc is the son of Hywel Jern, a former prime assessor to a sector boss of the Thieves' Guild who bought out when his patron was assassinated. Hywel migrated to Angkor and married the daughter of a local hock-lock operator. Shortly after the marriage, his in-laws. and many others in the vicinity of the port, died from disease brought by a plague ship, but Hywel and his wife survived and even performed some of the necessary governmental functions during the emergency. Some five years later, Angkor became a hub for interstellar trade in that sector and the Jern business thrived through Hywel's many off-world contacts, both legal and illegal, but he maintained a low profile, operating from the same modest hock-lock.

One day, the first officer of a spaceliner brought in a ring with a dull stone that was found in interstellar space, far from any star, on the finger of a spacesuited corpse. The crude stone is plain and cloudy, but has a remarkable hardness. The stone gives an impression of great power to Hywel and Murdoc, but not to the rest of the family. Hywel is obsessed with the stone and arranges an apprenticeship for Murdoc with Vondar Ustle, a master gemologist who searches for new sources of precious stones, so that Murdoc can search for more information on the ring and stone. Hywel is well satisfied with his life as apprentice to Vondar and, when he returns for a visit, finds that he no longer fits into his family. One evening, Hywel stays home to conduct some business while the rest of the family goes to a party. Leaving the party earlier, Murdoc returns home to find his father tied to his chair, bloody and dead. Murdoc takes the ring and stone from its hiding place and leaves his home forever.

In this novel, Murdoc and Vondar have come to Koonga City on Tanth searching for gems. They are dining in a taproom when the Green Robes, native priests, enter, spin their selection wheel to point between Murdoc and Vondar, and try to take both men. Murdoc kills one priest, fights his way clear, and then finds sanctuary with the priests of Noskald. These priests arrange for a Free Trader, the Vestris, to take Murdoc off-world. The crew treats him in a distant, but civil manner, but his only companion is the ship's cat, Valcyr. When the ship sets down on a primitive planet, Valcyr accompanies Murdoc as he explores the area. When Murdoc finds some bits of a curiously dull black substance that forms an extremely hard but fuzzy oval, Valcyr takes the largest specimen and starts to lick it. Murdoc tries to take it away from her, but gets clawed for his efforts. When a crewman tries to get the specimen, Valcyr runs off with it and hides. Murdoc and the crewman find her again, but she then swallows it.

When they return to the ship, the Medico tests Valcyr and the specimens; he determines that the black ovals are alive at a low level as if hibernating and that Valcyr is now pregnant. Since there is a possibility that Valcyr is not carrying ordinary kittens, she is locked in a cage within the sick bay. About four weeks later, she disappears from the cage and is next seen in Murdoc's cabin with a newborn animal, Eet, that is not a kitten. And then Murdoc finds himself covered with purple blotches and feeling feverish. At this point, Murdoc and Eet leave the Vestris, Murdoc in a spacesuit and Eet in a clear-sided box, to escape the plague-fearing, frantic crew.

This novel has some of the signature characteristics of the author's space adventure tales, including the outcast Murdoc, the telepathic Eet, and alien artifacts. However, this story is one of the wanderlust kind, much like Star Man's Son and the Solar Queen series, where the hero/heroine goes on to discover new adventures.

The creature Eet is rather unique in the author's space adventures, having a human level of intelligence, yet possessing an animal body. Eet combines the friendly alien, symbiotic animal, and mutated talents aspects of these tales, all in one body, sort of a highly evolved version of the meerkats in The Beast Master.

While this story is not one of my favorites, it still provides the same high level of storycraft one expects of the author. The characters are interesting but not as enthralling as some of the other tales. The relationship between Murdoc and Eet is not clear, but one feels as if Eet is much superior to Murdoc, yet is handicapped by his inadequate body. Is Murdoc a pet to Eet?

Recommended for Norton fans and anyone who enjoys space adventures involving a young hero and a mysterious alien.

And missed many of the subtleties.
Norton's vision of a universe awash in ancient, eerie alien rubble, and her vivid planetscapes, are incomparably haunting.

This is simply one of the best stories ever told in the Sci-Fi universe. If you've never read anything by Ms. Norton then you must read this one, and its sequel 'Uncharted Stars'

This book is short, and what is there deserves five stars. However, the story feels unfinished. Hynkkel, rejected to the role of servitude by his family and despairing over the murder of his pet cat, is forced into a manhood ritual by his father. He emerges from this test of survival with a new grace and self confidence and new friends, including a feline, but still finds himself on the outskirts of society. He is dismayed when he is seemingly forced into a new and surprising path. Just when the Essence smiles upon him and he appears to be a winner, the book ends with more questions than answers in the reader's mind. Once again Andre Norton's writing is superb. Hopefully, there will be a sequel, otherwise the book is as unsatisfying as decaf.

this story was about a young boy, who defying all odds and with a little magic came out as emperor, however the evil was not totally overcome. So Andre Norton, one of my favorite authors. I ask where is the sequel?

One of the first fantasies that I read and I have to say one of the best. I felt that the story could have continued but I think it was still a good book.

I thought this book was extremely good. The characters seemed alive, and the plot was very entertaining. I couldn't put it down! The authors did a good job of building upon the previous book, but I'd have liked to read more about the dragons. Hopefully they weren't left out of the book on purpose! I can't wait for the third book to come out, I hope it's soon! If you've read the first book, you have to read this one!

IF you read the first one you have to read this one. And if you didn't read the first one you have to read this one. The breakneck speed this story runs at made it impossible for me to put the book down. And there are absolutely no characters you could care less about in this book. The only thing I could find wrong was that I wondered if the authors had maybe too many characters, because I want to know what happens to Kelyan? He was there, and then after everything he does for the Elvenbane she just ups and forgets he's around? Please tell me that was an oversight! But this will be one that will keep you up until the dawn finishing it.

When I first picked this book up I was a little apprehensive, but after the first page I was engrossed. Andre Norton and Susan Shwartz do a fabulous job at showing both the light and dark sides of Silver Snow's journey from beloved daughter to forgotten concubine and finally queen of the barbarians. They paint a realistic picture of the subservient nature of women in Han China without over-emphasizing the fact. This book was a perfect blend of fantasy and history.

When I first checked this out from the public library, I was desperate for a good read. Andre Norton has always been one of my favorite sci fi/fantasy writers, so I checked to see which of her books were in. I saw "Imperial Lady" and thought it would be worth a try. I'm only 15 and very picky about what I read, so I was surprised to be totally engrossed in the life of Silver Snow. I was definately captured by the elaborate life styles and customs that differ greatly from my life half-way round the world in Gretna, Nebraska. I also enjoyed "Willow", whose changling ways offset Silver Snow so greatly it was almost humorous. "Imperial Lady" was of great historical value and was also a great read. I encourage anyone to check it out from a local library or buy it here on Amazon.com soon.

This contains every story from _Lore of the Witch World_ except "Legacy from Sorn Fen". All the others (except "Were-Wrath", so far) have appeared in previous collections, primarily _High Sorcery_ and _The Book of Andre Norton_; for my detailed commentary on those stories, see my reviews of those books.

"Falcon Blood", "Toads of Grimmerdale", "Changeling", "Spider Silk", "Sword of Unbelief", "Sand Sister" - see my review of _Lore of the Witch World_.

"Toys of Tamisan" - This Ty-Kry story and its sequel, "Ship of Mist", can be found in Norton's Ty-Kry collection _Perilous Dreams_ (see my review for details). Although it appeared without its sequel in _High Sorcery_, it shows to best advantage with the other stories set in the same world. Briefly, Tamisan is an action dreamer - one of the fabled women who live only to create dreamworlds where clients can experience the adventures they desire. But unlike other dreamers, Tamisan isn't absorbed in the toys of her own creation - she's aware of the real world, and her new owner, as more than just raw material.

"Wizards' Worlds" - Formerly titled "Wizard's World", this one previously appeared in the collection _High Sorcery_ (see my review). It isn't a Witch World story; so far it stands alone. Craike, an Esper whose cover was blown in a setup, is no longer fleeing even for his life - just for the chance to die rather than face torture and forced betrayal of his comrades. But when he dives into a dry gorge in the desert, he surfaces in a raging river in another world, his desperation coupled with ESP having opened a gate.

"Mousetrap" - From _The Book of Andre Norton_. If you like Norton's Solar Queen stories, this one's setting has a similar flavor. Every bright boy with a new variety of glue wants to try it out on the mysterious sand statues of Mars - as with building a better mousetrap, it'll make a fortune if a statue can be handled and moved safely.

"Were-Wrath" - This doesn't seem to be a Witch World story, and bears no relation to the Were Riders. Lady Thra, a refugee from the south, has just seen the last of her men hanged by the lord of the valley below the forest. Compared to the horrors she's seen, a hut with carvings depicting the life of a young were-creature seems a small enough risk to run.

"By a Hair" - A stand-alone story from _High Sorcery_, set in a tiny European valley occupied in one war by the Nazis, only to descend into an even more terrible bondage under the Soviets. The surviving fighting men still remember the ways of guerilla warfare, but there's no defense against the treachery of an ambitious woman - or is there?

"All Cats Are Gray" - From _The Book of Andre Norton_, an SF story with a Solar Queenesque flavor.

"Swamp Dweller" - This was written for the 1st _Magic in Ithkar_ anthology, so if you want a proper grounding in the Ithkar universe, you should pick up a copy. It stands fine on its own, but it's more pleasant to see it in an all-Ithkar setting. (I'll refer you to that book rather than trying to describe Ithkar here, though.)

This is one of the best purchases I have ever made! I am very fond of this series and enjoy all her short stories and novels as well. Even when she is co-author you can still see her shining through. If you are a fan of this master, then this book is a must!

Hi! If you love The Borrowers books by Mary Norton, then you'll love this book! It's a collection of all the Borrowers stories put into one volume. I orded this book from amazon.com and had no trouble getting it, even though it's out of print. So, go ahead and buy it! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Not a book for the light reader (principally because it weighs too much!), but nevertheless an excellent reference book on the conservation of plant materials. Good books that cover this topic are extremely difficult to find, but this one not only presents its information in a clear, easily comprehenisble style (not something always associated with conservation reference books) it also has some of the best diagrams I've ever seen in a book of this type. As with all good conservation books, it not only covers conservation methods, but also deals very thoroughly with the initial manufacture of the artifacts and how this effects the preservation and restoration of the work - the sections on weaving are particularly good. Despite the fact that it was written in 1991, this book still provides valid methods of conservation and preservation for all plant materials.