The Zero Stone

Title attributed to Andre Norton

& # 1 in the Zero Stone series (aka) Murdoc Jern

Bibliography ~

¯ (1968) * Published by Viking, HC, LCCN 68016065, $4.50, 286pg ~ cover by Robin Jacques {Gray Cloth Boards}

¯ (1969) * Published by ACE, PB, 0-441-95960-, $0.60, 221pg ~ cover by Jeff Jones ~ 1981 & later covers by Walter Valez

¯ (1974) * Published by Gollancz, HC, 0-575-01615-9, £1.60, 288pg ~ UK printing ~ cover by Robin Jacques {Blue Paper Boards}

¯ (1977) * Published by Beaver Books, PB, 0-600-39534-0, £0.45, 238pg ~ UK printing ~ cover by John Raynes

¯ (1992) * Published by ROC, PB, 0-451-45162-7, $4.99, 252pg ~ cover by Tom Canty

¯ Search for the Star Stones (2008) * Published by BAEN, HC, 1-416-55599-4, $24.00, 400pg ~ cover by Bob Eggleton ~ Omnibus containing The Zero Stone (1968) & Uncharted Stars (1969)

Non English Editions ~

¯ (1969) Published in Munich, Germany; by Moewig, OCLC: 73842701, 144pg ~ translated by Birgit Ress-Bohusch ~ German title Der schlüssel zur Sternenmacht

¯ (1984) Published in Milan, Italy; by Editrice Nord, 88-429-0149-0, 224pg ~ translated by Annarita Guarnieri ~ Italian title La gemma aliena

¯ (1986) Published in Japan; by Hayakawa, 41-501-0648-7, SF S61, 340pg ~ translated by Hazime Yasuko Kaji ~ cover by Katou Masaki ~ Japanese title ゼロ・ストーン

¯ (1995) Published in Poland; by Wydawnictwo Poznańskie, 83-861-3814-9, 255pg ~ translated by Marta Starczewska ~ Polish title Zerowy Kamień

¯ (2000) Published in Warsaw, Poland; by Amber, 83-724-5571-6, 182pg ~ translated by Konrad Brzozowski ~ Polish title Kamień nicości

¯ (2003) Published in Poland; by Amber, 83-724-5571-6, 184pg ~ translated by Dariusz Kopociński ~ Polish title Kamień nicości

Synopsis ~

The Zero Stone is the first novel in the Murdoc Jern series. Murdoc is the son of Hywel Jern, a former prime assessor to a sector boss of the Thieves' Guild who bought out when his patron was assassinated. Hywel migrated to Angkor and married the daughter of a local hock-lock operator. Shortly after the marriage his in-laws and many others in the vicinity of the port, died from disease brought by a plague ship, but Hywel and his wife survived and even performed some of the necessary governmental functions during the emergency. Some five years later, Angkor became a hub for interstellar trade in that sector and the Jern business thrived through Hywel's many off-world contacts, both legal and illegal, but he maintained a low profile, operating from the same modest hock-lock. One day, the first officer of a spaceliner brought in a ring with a dull stone that was found in interstellar space, far from any star, on the finger of a spacesuited corpse. The crude stone is plain and cloudy, but has a remarkable hardness. The stone gives an impression of great power to Hywel and Murdoc, but not to the rest of the family. Hywel is obsessed with the stone and arranges an apprenticeship for Murdoc with Vondar Ustle, a master gemologist who searches for new sources of precious stones, so that Murdoc can search for more information on the ring and stone. Hywel is well satisfied with his life as apprentice to Vondar and, when he returns for a visit, finds that he no longer fits into his family. One evening, Hywel stays home to conduct some business while the rest of the family goes to a party. Leaving the party earlier, Murdoc returns home to find his father tied to his chair, bloody and dead. Murdoc takes the ring and stone from its hiding place and leaves his home forever.

Non-English Covers

(Click on image to enlarge)

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