: I have another favor to ask. I'm thinking about the chronology of the writing of the Witch World series, at least Norton's part of it. I've got a theory about it but it would be very useful to know what the various short stories in the Lore of the Witch World were first published. Now, I know that they may have been first published in The Lore or, even if they weren't, the Lore may not give the first publication dates. But collections of short stories often acknowledge the first publication. If you've got a copy handy AND if it has those dates, could you please send me whatever dates you can find for the publication (providing at least some evidence for the dates of writing) of the Lore stories?

: Thanks a lot.

: Hank

: PS I'd certainly be interested in your views of the least good WW book by Andre Norton. My second nominee should be forthcoming next week.

: : LORE OF THE WITCH WORLD stories - Setting
: : Spider Silk (Estcarp)
: : Sand Sister (Estcarp)
: : Falcon Blood (Estcarp)
: : Legacy From Sor Fen (High Halleck)
: : Sword of Unbelief (High Halleck)
: : The Toads of Grimmerdale (High Halleck)
: : Changeling (High Halleck)
: : Note: Changeling is a continuation of The Toads of
: : Grimmerdale.

Hank
Here's the info you need about Lore of the Witch World which first appeared in Sept. 1980. Spider Silk, 1976; Sand Sister, 1979; Falcon Blood, 1979; Legacy From Sor Fen, 1972; Sword of Unbelief, 1977; The Toads of Grimmerdale, 1973; The Changeling, 1980.
Earlier, you brought up the point about the Sword titles of the Witch World Series so here is a brief description of Sword of Unbelief. Elys of the House of the Gryphon while camping in The Waste returns to the campfire to discover that her husband Jervon has been apparently abducted. She follows a trail using her Witch talents to an ancient ruin site where she finds a Thing - a creation of countless generations of men fashioned apparently as a god that feeds on fear. Elys realizes this is no god of hers and that there must be faith to bring a god alive, to perform deeds in his name. Without faith there is no existence. By her denial she fashions a Sword of Unbelief and with the aid of Jervon forces the Thing into oblivion. I had one problem with this story in that it is told by Elys but you don't know her name until you are well into it. It was the naming of Jervon that finally brought me around. Another side issue that comes up are the Four Great Weapons. I could be wrong but I think they are the Ax of Volt, the Sword of Ice, the Sword of Lost Battles and the Sword of Shadow. Could anyone bring further insights into this matter? The Sword of Unbelief definitely is not among them.
Richard