Masks of the Outcasts

by Andre Norton

Book Overview

Masks of the Outcasts This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416509011
• ISBN13: 9781416509011
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Baen Books
• Length: 343 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Two From the Dipple

Masks of the Outcasts (2005) is an omnibus edition of two SF novels in the Dipple universe: Catseye and Night of Masks. When the War of Two Sectors broke out, the Council evacuated Displaced Persons to centers on several worlds. One of these Dipples was located on Korwar, a playground planet frequented by the rich and powerful from many worlds. The Dipple stood to the south of Tikil, the planetary capital. Some inhabitants of the Dipple found their way out by working as casual laborers in Tikil. Others volunteered for offplanet labor and were shipped out in frozen sleep. A few bought membership in the Thieves Guild. In Catseye (1961), the Horans had been evacuated from Norden to the Dipple on Korwar. Range Master Lang had volunteered for military service and did not return. Then his wife died of the Cough, a passing illness that was particularly hard on those from Norden. Their son was the sole survivor of the Horan family. In this novel, ten year later, Troy Horan has only his wide Range Master belt and a few memories to remind him of Norden. Now he is working as a casual laborer in Tikil. One morning, he is offered a job by the mechnical assigner and accepts it. Today he will escape the Dipple for a few hours. Troy reports for work at Kyger's, a purveyor of extraordinary pets. On his first day, he frustrates an attempt to steal a pair of Terran cats. Supervisor Zul -- a full-blooded Bushman -- is wounded in the attempt and Kyger offers Troy a seven day contract to fill in for the injured man. During the incident, Troy receives a warning in mindspeech from the cats. Later, he approaches their cage and exchanges a few thoughts. He conceals these communications from his employer and co-workers since he is not really sure what has happened. Troy has an affinity for animals and does especially well with the fussel hawk, a hunting bird from Norden. He is asked to accompany a customer into the wild to prove the bird's qualities. He will spend three days in the company of Rerne, a high ranking member of the Hunter Clans. Before this excursion, Troy is sent to a hillside villa to deliver special food for a pet kinkajou owned by Commander Varan Di. Since the Commander had just been murdered, the patrollers warn off his flitter, but allow him to continue after he explains his errand. As he is approaching the villa, the pet runs away from a patroller carrying it out of the building and leaps into Troy's arms. The patrollers are upset at finding the pet rummaging through the Commander's papers. Troy points out that the kinkajou is a very imitative animal and his probably copying his master's habitual routine. While he is talking to the patrollers, the kinkajoy is pleading with him in mindspeech to take it away from the estate. Eventually, the patrollers tell him to return the pet to Kyger's shop and they fly away. In this story, Troy finds that a pair of Terran foxes can also talk to him in mindspeech. He even overhears a

Classic tale.

Andre Norton's MASKS OF THE OUTCASTS tells of two outcasts: Troy, forced to hide in the wake of his employer's murder, and Nik, who has to hide his scarred face from the world until an offer to masquerade as an heir is tied to his recovery. The two hope to escape the slum which has been their lives - and unusual connections are drawn in this classic tale.

senior reader

just purchased this book and never read andre norton as of yet. sat down to enjoy an hour of leisure. three hours later i am still reading and with a short interruption of lunch continued to read while eating my sandwich. never has a book caught me so that i neglected my daily chores. i plan to neglect them today also just to enjoy this rare find of a darn good book. lots of intrigue and speculation, wonder of mystery and guessing as you read. animals talking to humans mentally, possible aliens in hidding. let me ask you-- do dishes and vaccumn or read a darn good book.

Masks of the Outcasts

This book fits well in my library. I collect Hardbound Books and Andre Norton