Andre Norton

Born Alice Mary Norton in Cleveland, Ohio, she later adopted the professional name Andre Norton and became one of the most widely read American writers of science fiction and fantasy. She also wrote historical and contemporary fiction, but her reputation was built on fast-moving, imaginative adventures that appealed to both younger readers and adults.

Before her long career as a novelist fully took off, she worked as a librarian, an experience often linked to her lifelong love of books and readers. Her first novel was published in 1934, and over the decades she produced a remarkable body of work, including the influential Witch World series and many other novels under the names Andre Norton, Andrew North, and Allen Weston.

Norton is often remembered as a pioneer for women in speculative fiction. She received major honors for lifetime achievement, including recognition from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and she remains an important gateway author for readers discovering classic fantasy and science fiction.