Rebel Spurs

Andre Alice NortonProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.2

Word count: 338K words
Chapters: 34

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today. Rebel Spurs by Andre Norton. Author: Norton, Andre, 1912-2005. Language: English. Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature. Release Date: Mar 17, 2007

Editor's review

Rebel Spurs is a historical novel by Andre Norton set in the era of the North American frontier and conflict, centering on loyalty, identity, and choice. Norton is known for brisk pacing and clear action lines, and this book continues her strength in portraying young protagonists coming of age under pressure. For readers familiar with Norton's science fiction, it offers another window into her handling of historical adventure; for those who enjoy frontier narratives and coming-of-age stories, it is moderate in length with straightforward plotting, suitable as a light but tense read in the original English. Note that this is not one of her best-known science fiction series; readers expecting space opera may find the subject matter a mismatch. Overall, it is better suited as supplementary reading within Norton's oeuvre than as a first introduction.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Andre Norton's work and want to explore her historical novels
Readers of English-language originals interested in North American frontier historical adventure
Learners seeking English novels of moderate length with brisk plotting
Collectors of Norton's work or readers studying her creative lineage

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting only Norton's science fiction or space opera
Readers uninterested in historical settings who prefer purely fantastical premises
Readers seeking deep historical research or complex literary structure

Reading tips

Familiarize yourself with the frontier conflict background the story relies on before starting, to grasp character motivations more quickly.
Read this alongside Norton's science fiction to observe narrative commonalities across genres.
When reading in English, read through for plot first, then revisit for character relationships and period details.
After finishing, briefly note the protagonist's key choices to help discuss the coming-of-age theme in relation to its historical context.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book part of Norton's science fiction series?

No. It is historical adventure, with a different premise from Norton's well-known science fiction series. Readers expecting space-opera content should adjust their expectations.

Do I need to read other works first to understand it?

No. It is a standalone story that does not depend on prior events from other works. You can read it directly, though familiarity with North American frontier history will help in understanding the characters' circumstances.

How difficult is the English, and is it suitable for intermediate learners?

The narrative is generally clear and the plot moves directly, so intermediate learners can try it. Use a dictionary for historical and regional vocabulary, grasp the main plot first, then read character dialogue closely.

Is it suitable as an introduction to Norton?

Not really as a first choice. To get to know Norton's representative style, start with her science fiction; this book is better for readers already familiar with her who wish to broaden their reading.

Comments

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About the author

Andre Alice Norton Author · American · 1912–2005

Andre Norton (1912–2005), born Alice Mary Norton, was an American science fiction and fantasy writer. She worked as a children's librarian at the Cleveland Public Library for eighteen years and published her first work under a pen name in 1934. Over her career she wrote more than 130 novels, and is best known for the Witch World series; in 1983 she received the Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The library holds fourteen of her works, including The Time Traders, Star Born, Key Out of Time, Plague Ship, The Gifts of Asti, Star Hunter, Ride Proud, Rebel! and The Defiant Agents. Her writing often explores interstellar exploration, alien civilizations and adventurous coming-of-age, with brisk storytelling and vivid imagination, and has had a lasting influence on the development of American science fiction and fantasy.