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James Schmitz

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The Witches of Karres Mass Market Paperback – November 25, 2005

by James H. Schmitz (Author)

4.6 790 ratings

Book 1 of 4: Witches of Karres

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Blazing interstellar adventure by the creator of Telzey Amberdon and Trigger Argee.

Captain Pausert thought his luck had finally turned-but he did not yet realize it was a turn for the worse. On second thought, make that a turn for the disastrous! Pausert thought he had made good with his battered starship, successfully selling off odd-ball cargoes no one else could sell. And then he made the mistake of freeing three slave children from their masters (who were suspiciously eager to part with them). No good deed goes unpunished, and those harmless-looking young ladies were just trying to be helpful, but those three adorable little girls quickly made Pausert the mortal enemy of his fiancée, his home planet, the Empire, warlike Sirians, psychopathic Uldanians, the dread pirate chieftain Laes Yango-and even the Worm World, the darkest threat to mankind in all of space. And all because those harmless-looking little girls were in fact three of the notorious and universally feared Witches of Karres. A rollicking novel from the master of space adventure.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James H. Schmitz (1911–1981) was born in Hamburg, Germany, to American parents. Aside from several trips to the USA, he lived in Germany until 1938, when the outbreak of WWII prompted his family to move to America. He sold his first story, “Greenface,” to the now-legendary magazine Unknown Worlds shortly before Pearl Harbor. By the time it was published, he was flying with the Army Air Corps in the South Pacific.

In 1949, he began publishing his Agents of Vega series in Astounding (later Analog), and was one of that magazine’s most popular contributors over the next three decades, introducing Telzey Amberdon and Trigger Argee, the heroines of his Federation of the Hub series. He was a master of space opera adventure, notably represented in his classic novel, The Witches of Karres, but also demonstrated in many other novels and shorter works.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Baen Book; First Edition (November 25, 2005)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 394 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1416509151
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1416509158
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.7 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 1.2 x 6.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,426,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #673 in Science Fiction Short Stories
- #15,188 in Space Operas
- #24,372 in Science Fiction Adventures

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4.6 790 ratings

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4.6 out of 5

790 global ratings

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Amazon Customer

Have always loved this book

Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2021

Verified Purchase

I fell in love the first time I read this book. Powerful female characters, a decent guy out of his depth, very appealing & sensible magic, and a powerful villain to counter. Plus a willingness to skirt beaurocracy & punish obnoxious people. Snappy dialogue, fast pace, good people. Love it. (Sequels written by others are not bad, but not perfect.)

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WJZ

Fast Paced, Clean Wholesome Fun

Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2007

Verified Purchase

This is an excellent space opera. Captain Pausert is an interplanetary merchant who chances to acquire/rescue three sisters who are being kept in slavery (by three different masters). His life quite rapidly becomes more exciting (and it wasn't exactly dull to start with).

The plot shifts from one dilemma to another over the course of the book, so if you prefer long thought provoking novels to a series of obstacles this may not be your cup of tea. One reviewer commented that the dialogue was "hokey." Personally I prefer the old space operas to some of the pretentious fare we get these days. Many modern science fiction authors recognize Schmitz as one of the greats, so it also seems a bit pretentious to trash on his writing style.

Another reviewer complained that Eric Flint edited the new printing, another said that it probably made the book more readable for modern people. I have read the book many times and have copies of both printings. I am usually pretty fussy about that sort of thing. If Mr. Flint actually changed anything I failed to notice it.

This is my favorite Science Fiction novel.

Just for the record "The Lord of the Rings" is not science fiction.

4 people found this helpful

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Pierre-Alexandre Sicart

The novelette is great; the novel, not as much

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2019

Verified Purchase

_The Witches of Karres_ was a novelette before it became a novel. The first two chapters of the novel (20% of the novel) are the novelette. The novelette is great: a 5/5 story, fast-paced and fun, especially the character interactions. The continuation … isn’t quite as good: past the two first chapters, the characters are less vivid and less convincing, and their interactions aren’t as fun. The plot loosens and slows down, with too many reports of events that should have been shown instead. Were it not for its first two chapters, _The Witches of Karres_ would be a 3/5 novel.

Also, the Kindle edition has straight apostrophes, straight quotation marks, and a space before a period each time the period is followed by suspension points. That makes this edition look less than entirely professional.

5 people found this helpful

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Jerry

Great book for a casual read

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2023

Verified Purchase

I've read the entire series and find them all enjoyable. The are not suspenseful or dark, and are enjoyable and relaxing to read. I really enjoyed them. I'm hoping they come out with another book in the series. I know Eric Flint, Mercedes Lackey and Dave Freer have writen the last three in the series but have managed to made the transition to new authors seamless.

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Omnivore

Wonderful even after 50+ years

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2023

Verified Purchase

I read The Witches of Karres back in 1967 - purchased with my very first paycheck - and re-read it several times over about 10 years until the paperback fell apart. I loved the book and never forgot it, so I was thrilled to be able to buy it as a Kindle book in 2015. I read it and loved it every bit as much as I had the first time - and have just finished re-reading it yet again. My tastes have changed drastically over the decades and a lot of books I once loved don't move me much anymore, but this book continues to enchant. I bought the other books in the series but was in no hurry to read them since they weren't by James Schmitz and couldn't possibly be as good. BOY, WAS I WRONG!!! They are every bit as good, and each book is even better than the one preceding it. The series is a space opera with an unusual premise, unusual plots, unusual future items (like the lattice-ship circus) and fun characters. They're not gritty, not dark, not edgy. They are what science fiction used to be.

One person found this helpful

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Michael Bryson

I've read this book a dozen times

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2024

Verified Purchase

I've read this book a dozen times, and it seems to get better every time.
After I first read it, I t was many years before I had the next chance. But I hadn't forgotten a moment of that first read.
I looked for twenty years for another copy to read. I found it in a used book store in Idaho.
I'm 75 years old now. I still have that old used copy. I discovered Kindle so I now have an ebook copy, as well as the other three books in the four book series.
Life Is Good!

One person found this helpful

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moparviper

good book

Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2022

Verified Purchase

this is a good story it is just too bad he passed before he could write the next three books himself

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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer

Classic space opera. My buddy suggested I read this. Totally brilliant

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 22, 2020

Verified Purchase

Look, this book has been around a while right? A space captain wanting a fight break?All from another time but the story stands up superbly and within moments wraps you up and takes you away. Into SciFi? Do yourself a favour.Read this.

Kindle Customer

BRILLIANT

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2020

Verified Purchase

I read this when it originally came out re-read it and still gregarious definitely recommend it
Can't wait to read the rest of the series

ByLiz

Still a good read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2019

Verified Purchase

I first read this in the early 1970s - and enjoyed it again 40 yrs later. Philosophical debate? No. Humanity in the balance? No. Good yarn? Yes. While rather 2D, Cpt Pausert is a likable character - a good opening to the derring-do series.