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Title: The Beast Master (The Beast Master Book 1)
Author: Andre Norton
Published: New York: Tor, 2010 (1959)
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 192
Total Page Count: 146,364
Text Number: 431
Read Because: interest in the companion animal trope
Review: After war destroys Earth, a survivor and ex-combatant with the unique ability to lead a team of animals travels to the settler planet of Arzor to exact personal revenge. I read The Beast Master as a precursor to the companion animal trope; Norton's concept of select men with intimate, near-psychic bonds with animals would later inspire authors like Lackey and McCaffrey towards Valdemar and Pern, and as a forerunner The Beast Master is existent, intriguing, and unsatisfying. The human/animal bond is compelling and certainly unique, but receives only fringe examination; I can see what inspired later authors to latch on to the idea, and am glad they did.
As a novel, the book is quick and engaging but not particularly memorable. The plot is deceptive, more of a travelogue and cultural drama than personal vendetta; the plot comes to somewhat too neat of a conclusion but the well-realized world leaves plenty of room for sequels. The Beast Master also functions as my introduction to Norton, and I'll return to her—she has an effortless accessibly without skimping on character or content; I can't speak for the representation of the Native (Navajo) protagonist, but it was remarkably less racist than I anticipated, even handled with respect. In short, this book is precisely what I hoped for, as early evidence of the companion animal trope and as a readable novel, but offered little more; I don't particularly recommend it but I'm glad to have read it.
Author: Andre Norton
Published: New York: Tor, 2010 (1959)
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 192
Total Page Count: 146,364
Text Number: 431
Read Because: interest in the companion animal trope
Review: After war destroys Earth, a survivor and ex-combatant with the unique ability to lead a team of animals travels to the settler planet of Arzor to exact personal revenge. I read The Beast Master as a precursor to the companion animal trope; Norton's concept of select men with intimate, near-psychic bonds with animals would later inspire authors like Lackey and McCaffrey towards Valdemar and Pern, and as a forerunner The Beast Master is existent, intriguing, and unsatisfying. The human/animal bond is compelling and certainly unique, but receives only fringe examination; I can see what inspired later authors to latch on to the idea, and am glad they did.
As a novel, the book is quick and engaging but not particularly memorable. The plot is deceptive, more of a travelogue and cultural drama than personal vendetta; the plot comes to somewhat too neat of a conclusion but the well-realized world leaves plenty of room for sequels. The Beast Master also functions as my introduction to Norton, and I'll return to her—she has an effortless accessibly without skimping on character or content; I can't speak for the representation of the Native (Navajo) protagonist, but it was remarkably less racist than I anticipated, even handled with respect. In short, this book is precisely what I hoped for, as early evidence of the companion animal trope and as a readable novel, but offered little more; I don't particularly recommend it but I'm glad to have read it.
To the spectator the ex-Commando might be standing impassively, the meerkats clinging to him, his hand resting lightly on Surra’s round skull, the eagle quiet on his shoulder. But an awareness, which was unuttered, unheard speech, linked him with animals and bird. The breadth of that communication could not be assessed outside a "team," but it forged them into a harmonious whole, which was a weapon if need be, a companionship always.
—The Beast Master, 7
