Books In Order: Andre Norton’s Literary Journey
Dedicated readers are always fascinated by authors’ life stories and their artistic approach to weaving narratives. This time, our spotlight is on Andre Norton, a prolific American author of science fiction and fantasy novels. Known for her commendable writing for both adults and young adults, Norton was the first woman to receive the esteemed Gandalf Grand Master Award in 1977 and the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award from the SFWA in 1983.
Norton began her writing career with historical fiction and adventure novels, later transitioning to the realms of science-fiction and fantasy. This shift led to a marked amplification of her fame. Cats and other animals regularly feature in her narratives, often portrayed as highly intelligent beings capable of telepathy. While she created numerous series during her maturing career, the Witch World series is regarded as her pièce de résistance.
So, let’s delve deeper into her incredible journey, her unique writing style, and, most importantly, her “books in order“.
Early Career & Writing Style
Norton penned her debut novel while contributing to her school’s newspaper. Surprisingly, this title, Ralestone Luck, ended up as her second published novel in 1938. Her actual first published novel was The Prince Commands, released in 1934. However, it wasn’t until 1958 that she embraced writing as a full-time profession.
Her writing style is noteworthy for the seamless blend of adventure, sci-fi, and fantasy. She effortlessly transported her readers to fantastical landscapes populated with distinct and vivid characters, often with beloved cats and telepathic creatures being her regular choice of characters.
Andre Norton’s Books in Order
As we celebrate her creative prowess and contribution to the literary world, let’s explore Andre Norton’s books in order of when they were first published, which grants an intriguing view into her progressive evolution as a writer:
Publication Order of Lorens Van Norreys Books
| The Sword is Drawn | (1944) |    |
| Sword in Sheath | (1949) | |
| At Swords’ Point | (1954) | |