Introduction


Andre (Alice) Norton
Andre Norton (born Alice Norton) proved that science fiction was not just a boy's club. She may have written under male pseudonyms, but her work helped pave the way for other women writers in the genre and ultimately broadened the subject matter of sci-fi itself. Though many of her novels take place on other planets, it would be a mistake to credit Norton’s success solely based on her ability to create make-believe worlds. Her themes are deeply humanistic, and her settings are often rooted in nature, with technology depicted as a particularly predominant evil. Always at the center of Norton's stories are regular, real-world characters that must face daunting challenges and overcome them through their own personal virtue.

Essential Facts

  1. Norton published under several pseudonyms. She legally changed her first name to Andre early in her career, recognizing that science fiction and fantasy had a primarily male audience.
  2. Books were a huge part of Norton’s life. In addition to the bookstore she purchased and briefly managed, she worked as a librarian in Ohio during the early days of her writing career.
  3. Among the many authors whose work was influenced by Norton are David Weber, Greg Bear, and Tanya Huff.
  4. Norton’s output was incredibly prolific. She published novels (over 320!), short stories, and poems from her early 20s into her early 90s.
  5. In 2005, roughly one month before her death at the age of 93, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America created an award in her honor.