Search Worlds Without End

Hugo Award nominated novelette. It originally appeared in If, June 1967. The story can also be found in the anthologies Witches (1984) edited by Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg and Charles G. Waugh and A Magic Lover's Treasury of the Fantastic (1998) edited by Margaret Weis. It is included in the collections High Sorcery (1970) and Wizards' Worlds (1989).

This collection of thirteen captivating short stories and novellas samples the wide range of Nebula Grand Master Norton's work. The first six stories, set in the Witch World universe, depict mostly female protagonists coping with the aftermath of wars made even more devastating by the deployment of magic. "Toads of Grimmerdale" and "Changeling" recount the travails of Hertha, a noblewoman who is cast out into "drifts of ice-crusted snow" by her brother after she refuses to abort the fetus of a rapist. "Spider Silk" is what blind, former slave Dairine is taught to weave by male-hating giant arachnids. In the title novella, an Esper fleeing a lynch mob is carried into another world, where his kind rules--but even there he is different and must fight for survival. A dreamer who creates worlds for others finds her work, herself, and her client in grave danger in "Toys of Tamisan." "Mousetrap," the earliest story here, envisions a not-too-distant future in which mankind explores Mars but human nature remains the same.

Table of Contents:

• Falcon Blood - (1979) - shortstory
• The Toads of Grimmerdale - (1973) - novella
• Changeling - (1980) - novelette
• Spider Silk - (1976) - novelette
• Sword of Unbelief - [Witch World Universe] - (1977) - novelette
• Sand Sister - (1979) - novella
• Toys of Tamisan - (1969) - novella
• Wizards' Worlds - (1967) - novella
• Mousetrap - (1954) - shortstory
• Were-Wrath - (1984) - novelette
• By a Hair - (1958) - shortstory
• All Cats Are Gray - (1953) - shortstory
• Swamp Dweller - (1985) - novelette

In Changeling, the people had long suffered under Det Morson's power. When at last, the wizard Mor joined the fight, Det and his infamous Rondoval castle were destroyed. But the victory was not complete, for the conquerors found a baby amidst the rubble: Det's son, Pol. Unwilling to kill the child, Mor took him to a world where the ways of magic were considered mere legends -- a world called Earth.

Pol Detson, son of Lord Det of Rondoval, has come home. He is now a powerful sorceror of unsurpassed natural ability - in a world where the power of magic is the only kind that matters. But Pol is still an untrained talent, a 'MADWAND'. To take control of his powers, to rule in his father's place, he must survive arduous training and a fantastic initiation into the rites of sorcery. As friends, Pol has one dragon and one thief. As enemies he has the most powerful wizards of the land. And at least one of them wants him dead.