Storm Over Warlock

A brutal force of insectoid aliens called Throgs effortlessly destroy a Terran survey camp on Warlock, a planet seemingly devoid of intelligent life that both Throgs and Terrans hope to colonize. Two Terrans who survive the enemy attack must go on the run, weaponless and with only a pair of wolverines as their companions. These survivors are driven to an unknown destination by dreams so powerful that they may be visions; but as they get closer to their goal, crossing brutal landscapes, tumultuous seas, and fog-filled caverns, the two find themselves losing control over their actions and unsure of what is real in this strange and hostile world. Storm Over Warlock is a science fiction novel written by Andre Norton and published in 1960 by the World Publishing Company. The story combines science fiction with fantasy, technology with witchcraft, in a way typical of Norton's works. The sequels are Ordeal in Otherwhere and Forerunner Foray.

Plot

Shann Lantee is lucky to be alive. He had sneaked out of the small Terran base on the planet Warlock in the Circe system to track two escaped artificially evolved wolverines, Taggi and his mate Togi, and bring them back to the base before anyone notices that they are missing. While he is gone a force of Throgs, implacably hostile insectoid aliens, attacks the base and kills all of its occupants. Shann moves across country with the wolverines and sees a downed scoutship explode and destroy a Throg flying disc.

A wounded Throg confronts Shann, but another man, Ragnar Thorvald, kills it. Together the two men leave the scene and begin living off the land as best they can. Days later they make a night raid on the base, now occupied by Throgs, and they and the wolverines barely escape. On a raft they head for the distant sea, where they expect to find refuge.