Andre Norton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andre Norton
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| Born | Alice Mary Norton February 17, 1912 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | March 17, 2005 (aged 93) Murfreesboro, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Pen name | Andre Norton Andrew North Allen Weston |
| Occupation | Writer, librarian |
| Period | 1934–2005 |
| Genre | Science fiction, fantasy, romance novels, adventure fiction |
| Notable awards | SFWA Grand Master, Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame |
Andre Alice Norton (born Alice Mary Norton, February 17, 1912 – March 17, 2005) was an American writer. She was famous for her exciting science fiction and fantasy stories. She also wrote historical and everyday stories.
She mostly used the pen name Andre Norton. She also wrote as Andrew North and Allen Weston. Andre Norton was a trailblazer. She was the first woman to win the Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy award. She was also the first woman to be named an SFWA Grand Master. Plus, she was the first woman to join the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
Contents
Andre Norton's Life and Writing Journey
Early Life and Education
Alice Mary Norton was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1912. Her parents were Adalbert Freely Norton and Bertha Stemm Norton. Alice started writing when she was in high school. She wrote short stories for her school paper, The Collinwood Spotlight.
Her first book, Ralestone Luck, was written during this time. It was published later in 1938. After high school, she wanted to be a teacher. She studied at Flora Stone Mather College.
Working at the Library and Becoming a Writer
In 1932, she had to leave college because of the Great Depression. She started working for the Cleveland Public Library. She worked there for 18 years. She even worked in the children's section.
In 1934, she legally changed her name to Andre Alice Norton. She chose this name because boys were the main readers of fantasy books back then. She thought a male-sounding name would help sell her books.
She became a full-time writer in 1958. By then, she had already published 21 novels! She moved to Florida in 1966. Later, she moved to Tennessee in 1997. Andre Norton passed away on March 17, 2005.
Andre Norton's Amazing Books
Andre Norton's first book, The Prince Commands, came out in 1934. It was an adventure story. She wrote many historical novels for young readers.
Her first published science fiction story was "The People of the Crater" in 1947. Her first fantasy novel, Huon of the Horn, came out in 1951. It was based on an old 13th-century tale.
Her first science fiction novel, Star Man's Son, 2250 A.D., was published in 1952. She wrote many books in the 1950s. Many of her early books were for young adults.
Andre Norton was nominated for the Hugo Award twice. This is a big award in science fiction. She also won the World Fantasy Award for her lifetime of writing in 1998.
She was one of the first members of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America. This was a group of heroic fantasy writers. Andre Norton was the only woman among the first eight members.
Andre Norton and Dungeons & Dragons
In 1976, Gary Gygax, who created Dungeons & Dragons, invited Norton to play his game. She then wrote Quag Keep. This book was about characters who travel from the real world into the D&D world.
It was the first novel ever set in the Greyhawk D&D world. It was also the first book based on D&D. Andre Norton was working on a sequel, Return to Quag Keep, when she passed away. Another author, Jean Rabe, finished it.
Her last complete novel, Three Hands for Scorpio, was published in 2005.
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"The Gifts of Asti" was on the cover of Fantasy Book magazine in 1948.
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Cover of Voodoo Planet by Andrew North from 1959.
Popular Book Series
Andre Norton wrote more than a dozen speculative fiction series. Her most famous and longest-running series was "Witch World". It started with the novel Witch World in 1963.
There are dozens of books in this series. Some were written by Norton alone. Others were written with co-authors. The "Witch World" became a shared universe, meaning other authors also wrote stories set there.
She also wrote "The Cycle of Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan" series with Sasha Miller.
Andre Norton's Lasting Impact
Andre Norton is often called the "Grande Dame of Science Fiction and Fantasy." She wrote novels for over 70 years! She had a huge impact on the entire genre.
She published more than 300 books. Her stories were read by many generations of readers and writers. Many famous authors say she influenced their work. These include Lois McMaster Bujold and Mercedes Lackey.
In 2005, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America created the Andre Norton Award. This award is given each year for an amazing science fiction or fantasy book for young adults. It helps recognize great genre books for young readers.
Andre Norton also received the Inkpot Award in 1989.
High Hallack Library
The High Hallack Library was a special place Andre Norton helped create. It was a research library for writers and scholars. It focused on popular literature like science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and horror.
The library was named after a continent in Norton's Witch World series. It had over 10,000 books, videos, and other materials. It even had guest rooms for authors to stay and do their research.
The library opened in 1999 and closed in 2004. Andre Norton's declining health was one reason it closed.
See also
In Spanish: Andre Norton para niños
- Andre Norton bibliography
- Category:Works by Andre Norton
