The Zero Stone (1968)

by Andre Norton

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Murdoc Jern (1)

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683	12	33,677	(3.88)	34
A gem trader and a feline mutant unite to find the truth behind a mysterious stone rumored to be the key to all the power in the universe. Apprentice gem trader Murdoc Jern lives on Angkor, a thriving hub of interstellar trade. One day, a furtive visitor brings him a ring discovered on an alien corpse. It's made of age-pitted metal surrounding a dull and lifeless stone. Yet it exerts a powerful hold on Murdoc. And when his father is killed, Murdoc begins a quest, taking with him his only legacy, the mysterious ring, which he knows is the key to his dad's death. Accompanied by Eet, a feline mutant with paranormal powers, Murdoc hurtles through space, where he's pursued by a religious order called the Green Robes. His journey takes him to distant planets and once-great armies marooned on vanished worlds. In a desperate battle to learn the ultimate meaning of the Zero Stone, Murdoc must bargain for his freedom--and his life--and confront the fate that befalls seekers of knowledge.… (more)

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Showing 1-5 of 12 (next | show all)

I reread this after 50 years. It shows its age (or, perhaps more accurately, I show mine), but I found enjoyment in reading it. Norton still deserves her place as one of the top intros to science fiction for pre-teens. (

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TadAD | Jun 2, 2023 |

Read this book in high school. AN writes well and tight. A little confusing in a couple places but the story line and the yellow leafed world worked well. Not very character driven but I loved Eet. For some reason I kept expecting Eet to turn into a women.
I will keep re-reading my old AN’s. (

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JBreedlove | Mar 29, 2023 |

My first Norton book, and I'm not too impressed.

Eet is interesting, but is never explained, nor are the zero stones, nor really is anything.

This feels like the kind of book where a moderately talented writer just sits down and writes it from beginning to end without any planning, just to fill the required pages with 'plot', in this case some lazy sci fi space adventuring.

In the end though, an easy enough semi-entertaining read. Enough so, that at some point I will probably give the second book a chance, mainly to see if Eet or the zero stones are ever fleshed out. I'm not holding my breath. (

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BoB3k | Oct 19, 2022 |

First long "chapter" book I can still remember reading and the first time I started keeping track of what I read, although I'm sure there were a few others before. This started me on science fiction which was my favorite genre for a number of years. Several years ago I found a first edition at a fine used book store in great shape with an intact dust jacket in a plastic book cover. Since I first read this in a library edition I bought this one. It had the same cover I remember. Had to have it at any price.

I'm not sure it is really a five star book, but it was for me when I was eleven so I'm not changing it. (

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Gumbywan | Jun 24, 2022 |

My 1st Norton novel and I'm not disappointed. One feels that if she was afforded the time and space to flesh her books out a bit more, she would have been regarded far more highly than she currently is. I look forward to reading more of her work.
7/10 (

)

sebdup | Dec 11, 2021 |

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Andre Norton	—	primary author	all editions	calculated
Canty, Thomas	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Jacques, Robin	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Jones, Jeff	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Koviak, Ian	Cover designer	secondary author	some editions	confirmed
Velez, Walter	Cover artist	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Belongs to Series

Murdoc Jern (1)

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Ace (95961)

Is contained in

Search for the Star Stones by Andre Norton

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Discovery of the Zero Stones

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Epigraph

Dedication

For
A. M. Lightner,
who was the 'godmother' for Eet

First words

The dark was so thick in this stinking alley that a man might well put out his hand and catch shadows, pull them here or there, as if they were curtain stuff.

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▾Book descriptions

A gem trader and a feline mutant unite to find the truth behind a mysterious stone rumored to be the key to all the power in the universe. Apprentice gem trader Murdoc Jern lives on Angkor, a thriving hub of interstellar trade. One day, a furtive visitor brings him a ring discovered on an alien corpse. It's made of age-pitted metal surrounding a dull and lifeless stone. Yet it exerts a powerful hold on Murdoc. And when his father is killed, Murdoc begins a quest, taking with him his only legacy, the mysterious ring, which he knows is the key to his dad's death. Accompanied by Eet, a feline mutant with paranormal powers, Murdoc hurtles through space, where he's pursued by a religious order called the Green Robes. His journey takes him to distant planets and once-great armies marooned on vanished worlds. In a desperate battle to learn the ultimate meaning of the Zero Stone, Murdoc must bargain for his freedom--and his life--and confront the fate that befalls seekers of knowledge.

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Book description

A mysterious stone, born of worlds long extinct, is the key to powers unimaginable to man - powers that could enable its owner to control the universe. Merdoc Jern, gem trader, finds that possession of the stone has led him to the center of a web of intrigue and murder.

With his companion Eet, an inscrutable feline mutant with phenomenal ESP powers, he is hunted through space, coming finally to a long forgotten planet inhabited by apelike "Sniffers." There, facing the predatory sniffers, the antagonistic Patrol and the laser-guns of the Thiever' Guild. Murdoc must seek the source of the Zero Stone and bargain for his right to pursue his destiny as a free man... and just incidentally, his life.
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"You are only a duty child, Murdoc. Though mark me true, I have never made less of you in this house because of that. And no one can say that I have!"
A duty child - one of those embryos shipped from a populous world to a frontier planet in order to vary the stock, by law assigned to some family to be raised and nurtured as their own. It did not greatly matter to me that I was not of her blood. But that I was not a son of Hywel - I hated that! I think she read this in my eyes for she shrank from me. But she need not have feared any trouble, for I turned and went from that room, and that house, and later from Angkor.
All I took with me was my heritage - the ring out of space... The Zero Stone

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