The Witches of Karres
Encyclopedia
The Witches of Karres is a novel by James H. Schmitz
. It is his best known book, and is considered a science fiction
classic. It falls within the genre of space opera
and features well-developed characters, a mix of both fantasy
and hard science fiction as well as a sense of humor. It was nominated for the Hugo Award
for Best Novel
in 1967.
In getting clear of Porlumma, the Venture escapes belated pursuit with the use of the witches' psionic
Sheewash drive, which enables far faster transit of distance than is possible with primary or secondary space drives available either in or outside the Empire. This draws the unwelcome attention of both the Imperium
and other governments to both Captain Pausert and the elderly Venture.
After returning the witch sisters to their homeworld, Karres, Captain Pausert attempts to return to Nikkeldepain, but is arrested before he can obtain permission to land. The Captain is informed that he faces a barrage of criminal charges, many relating to his encounter with the witches and his brief stay on the prohibited planet of Karres.
And they want the Sheewash drive. Avidly.
Captain Pausert escapes the Nikkeldepain police and military with the help of the middle witch sister, Goth, who had stowed away
on the ship. From that point, he and Goth find themselves becoming more and more embroiled in wild adventures involving interdimensional
alien invaders, space pirates, many more of the Karres witches, and assorted other characters.
, and has been reprinted many times. This version was included in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two
as one of the best novella
s up to 1965.
Schmitz expanded it into a novel in 1966 by writing three more novelettes. In 2005, the book was reissued by Baen Books
, and a sequel, The Wizard of Karres, written by Mercedes Lackey
, Eric Flint
, and Dave Freer
was published by Baen Books in 2004, featuring the same characters as the original novel. The Sorceress of Karres, written by Eric Flint
, and Dave Freer
was published by Simon and Schuster in 2010 and continues the story with the return of most of the characters.
Hayao Miyazaki
contributed the cover illustration for the Japan
ese translation, first published in 1987 and reissued in 1996.
The story is unrelated to the "Hub" series of stories of Schmitz.
James H. Schmitz
James Henry Schmitz was an American writer born in Hamburg, Germany of American parents.- Life :Aside from two years at business school in Chicago, Schmitz lived in Germany until 1938, leaving before World War II broke out in Europe in 1939.During World War II, Schmitz served as an aerial...
. It is his best known book, and is considered a science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
classic. It falls within the genre of space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
and features well-developed characters, a mix of both fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and hard science fiction as well as a sense of humor. It was nominated for the Hugo Award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
for Best Novel
Hugo Award for Best Novel
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
in 1967.
Plot summary
Captain Pausert, a well-intentioned, but inexperienced merchant traveler voyaging solo on the old pirate chaser Venture from the planet Nikkeldepain, is induced to purchase three young witches (Maleen, Goth, and the Leewit) who had been enslaved on the Imperial planet of Porlumma. The sisters were captured in a raid by Imperial slavers while visiting another planet on a jaunt of their own.In getting clear of Porlumma, the Venture escapes belated pursuit with the use of the witches' psionic
Psionics
Psionics refers to the practice, study, or psychic ability of using the mind to induce paranormal phenomena. Examples of this include telepathy, telekinesis, and other workings of the outside world through the psyche.-History and terminology:...
Sheewash drive, which enables far faster transit of distance than is possible with primary or secondary space drives available either in or outside the Empire. This draws the unwelcome attention of both the Imperium
Imperium
Imperium is a Latin word which, in a broad sense, translates roughly as 'power to command'. In ancient Rome, different kinds of power or authority were distinguished by different terms. Imperium, referred to the sovereignty of the state over the individual...
and other governments to both Captain Pausert and the elderly Venture.
After returning the witch sisters to their homeworld, Karres, Captain Pausert attempts to return to Nikkeldepain, but is arrested before he can obtain permission to land. The Captain is informed that he faces a barrage of criminal charges, many relating to his encounter with the witches and his brief stay on the prohibited planet of Karres.
And they want the Sheewash drive. Avidly.
Captain Pausert escapes the Nikkeldepain police and military with the help of the middle witch sister, Goth, who had stowed away
Stowaway
A stowaway is a person who secretly boards a vehicle, such as an aircraft, bus, ship, cargo truck or train, to travel without paying and without being detected....
on the ship. From that point, he and Goth find themselves becoming more and more embroiled in wild adventures involving interdimensional
Interdimensional
Interdimensional may refer to:* Interdimensional hypothesis* Interdimensional doorway* Interdimensional travel* Interdimensional being...
alien invaders, space pirates, many more of the Karres witches, and assorted other characters.
Other versions
"The Witches of Karres" was written originally during 1949 as a noveletteNovelette
A novelette is a piece of short prose fiction. The distinction between a novelette and other literary forms is usually based upon word count, with a novelette being longer than a short story, but shorter than a novella...
, and has been reprinted many times. This version was included in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two
The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two
The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two: The Greatest Science Fiction Novellas of All Time is an anthology edited by Ben Bova. It honors works published prior to the institution of the Nebula Awards in 1965...
as one of the best novella
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
s up to 1965.
Schmitz expanded it into a novel in 1966 by writing three more novelettes. In 2005, the book was reissued by Baen Books
Baen Books
Baen Books is an American publishing company established in 1983 by long time science fiction publisher and editor Jim Baen. It is a science fiction and fantasy publishing house that emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, military science fiction, and fantasy...
, and a sequel, The Wizard of Karres, written by Mercedes Lackey
Mercedes Lackey
Mercedes "Misty" Lackey is a best-selling American author of fantasy novels. Many of her novels and trilogies are interlinked and set in the world of Velgarth, mostly in and around the country of Valdemar...
, Eric Flint
Eric Flint
Eric Flint is an American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works are alternate history science fiction, but he also writes humorous fantasy adventures.- Career :...
, and Dave Freer
Dave Freer
Dave Freer is a South African-born science fiction author writing mostly humorous or alternate history novels.He was conscripted into the South African Defence Force and sent to the Angolan Border as a medic....
was published by Baen Books in 2004, featuring the same characters as the original novel. The Sorceress of Karres, written by Eric Flint
Eric Flint
Eric Flint is an American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works are alternate history science fiction, but he also writes humorous fantasy adventures.- Career :...
, and Dave Freer
Dave Freer
Dave Freer is a South African-born science fiction author writing mostly humorous or alternate history novels.He was conscripted into the South African Defence Force and sent to the Angolan Border as a medic....
was published by Simon and Schuster in 2010 and continues the story with the return of most of the characters.
Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki
is a Japanese manga artist and prominent film director and animator of many popular anime feature films. Through a career that has spanned nearly fifty years, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a maker of animated feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli,...
contributed the cover illustration for the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese translation, first published in 1987 and reissued in 1996.
The story is unrelated to the "Hub" series of stories of Schmitz.