I'm writing reviews to the precise editions I have, because exact content varies between editions: not always the front cover picture, but also supplemental material, maps, etc.The 1974 edition is presumably the 1st paperback edition, and the reverse of the title page follows the title with (in all caps, as transcribed): THIS BOOK CONTAINS THE COMPLETE TEXT OF THE ORIGINAL HARDCOVER EDITION. I can locate no credit for the cover picture, which shows a(n essentially symbolic) depiction of a pard (note that a pard is commonly confused with a leopard--a leopard is a 'lion pard'--a special case of the more general category of pards. The pard in the book is not a spotted cat, but more similar in color and size to a puma (Felis concolor)); backed by a depiction of Kethan; with the titular Jargoon Pard (belt buckle) as the backdrop.I first picked up this book because I was intrigued by the title. I've just looked up pictures of jargoon, and I was a little surprised: I had been picturing jargoon as resembling amber, but it's darker and less smooth than most amber, it turns out. Once again, Norton's knowledge of gemology outstrips that of many of her readers, including me.On reflection, I conclude that it's not exactly a spoiler to identify Kethan's parentage, but it does give the readers more information than Kethan has for most of the book.This is a very well-written narrative. Kethan's description of his training to be ruler of Car Do Prawn gives a better idea of ordinary life in Arvon in the lands of the Lords of the Four Mantles than other books set in the same area.One factor which is a bit nontraditional in the rest of the Witch World is that in Arvon, the heir to a keep is not the son of the previous lord, but of his sister.Right after the Table of Contents, there is a formal acknowledgement of the people Norton consulted for technical information, which is more detailed in this book than in other Witch World books. After the acknowledgement page is a diagram of the tarot reading which the Lady Heroise interprets in Chapter 13CONTENTS:Chapter 1: Of Gunnora's Shrine And What Chanced There in The Year of The Red Boar Chapter 2: Of The Heirship of Kethan And Life in Car Do Prawn Chapter 3: Of The Trader Ibycus And The Jargoon Belt He Brought Chapter 4: Of The Gift of The Lady Eldris And The Coming of The First Full Moon Thereafter Chapter 5: Of The Warning from Ursilla And The Cloud over Arvon Chapter 6: Of Maughus' Plot And The Opening of My Own Eyes Chapter 7: Of The Wild Hunt And My Flight Therefrom Chapter 8: Of The Maid in The Forest And The Star Tower Chapter 9: Of How I Dreamed And of What Ill Followed Chapter 10: Of The Snow Cat And What Chanced in The Haunted Ruin Chapter 11: Of Those in The Tower And How I Chose Danger Chapter 12: Of The Discovery I Made And How I Planned to Put It to Use Chapter 13: Of How I Was Imprisoned by Ursilla And My Mother Foretold My Future Chapter 14: Of How The Three from The Star Tower Took An Interest in My Fate Chapter 15: Of How I Chose Not The Beast's Way And Of The Secret Of Ursilla Chapter 16: Of How Ursilla Read The Smoke Runes And Sent Me to Do Her Bidding Chapter 17: Of How The Lady Heroise Told The Truth And I Confronted Ursilla Chapter 18: Of Sorcery Wrought And Unwrought And How We Learn Our Destiny Geneaeological Note: In later books, Kethan describes Aylinn as his 'foster sister', which she is. But leaving aside the question of her paternity (which is never revealed as far as I know), Aylinn and Kethan share a grandmother--which makes them first cousins, by my reckoning.
During a long flight, after an exhausting business trip, I sought refuge in another of Norton's Witchworld novels. As ever, she wastes no time on diversions or non-essential side plots. The coming of age developments sit in a mythical frame - complete with the Inauspicious Beginning tbrough to Happy End. That said, the juxtaposition of small minded (though still dangerous) adversaries against the heroes involved in a much wider context and struggle gave the book a certain unique problematic that kept me tuning pages. No one but Norton seems to effectively describe nightmare landscapes and scenes so cursorily, yet without leaving out specific concerns it poses to the protagonists and story. File under 'this would have been a 4* book for me at age 12.'
What do You think about The Jargoon Pard (1983)?
I didn't realize this was a Witch World novel or I'd've gotten around to it much sooner! VERY good so far.Update: Not only is it a wonderful story and a Witch World book (they are all more or less wonderful) but it turns out to be the sequel to one of my favorites of her books - Year of the Unicorn!!! I was so excited when I realized. It is also one of my favorite kinds of sequels, the kind that tells the story of the following generation's youthful challenges and triumphs, just as Year of the Unicorn tells the story of the parents' adventures and meeting.
—Ruby Hollyberry
Not much to say here about The Jargoon Pard except on a personal note. The story is a solid, by-the-numbers fantasy quest as Kethan is forced to discover his true heritage. It's set in Norton's Witch World but isn't, IMO, one of the more memorable entries, and would only recommend it to a Norton completist. The characters are not very complex (though Ursilla could have been a really nasty villain if given more room to develop), and the ending stumbles into the deus ex machina snare.On the personal note: I first read The Jargoon Pard when I was in high school, and vaguely remember being inextricably entranced by it. I also learned two new words from the title alone:JARGOON - Noun. A colorless to smoky gem variety of zircon.PARD - Noun. A leopard or panther.The second thing is that I picked up a used copy from my local brick-and-mortar used-book store (God knows how they're surviving but I'm not complaining), and that edition has to have one of the ugliest covers I've ever seen: So I'm sticking with the cover of the library book I checked out as a callow youth.
—Terence
I've read most of Andre Norton's books back in the 1960's and 70s when I was a kid. Mrs Norton is a Master Weaver of Stories. The Jargoon Pard Which World Series 2: High Hallack Cycle, #3 tells a tale of the hero Kethan, heir to the throne of Car do Prawn whose birthing started with a lie and his adventures from the untangling of that knot. I can't remember the ending, I am rereading right now. I figure this tale will lead the reader on a journey of knowing the self, as Kethan has found he can become a great cat but does not know how to control this ability except with a magical belt which was given to him by his cousin who hates him. I know the story will take the reader into the dual nature of man, the animal and beast, the two will unite and heal Kethan as most hero adventures end this way. Great read for young and old alike!
—Lisa
