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Summary: Buy, borrow, beg or steal this book and READ IT NOW!
Review: A number of years back the novelette version of this story was selected as one of the top 2 dozen SF stories ever written. The novel version is even better. Having read this book, you'll never forget Captain Pausert of Nikkeldepain (yes, Nikkeldepain!), Goth and the Leewit.As for the story itself, Intergalactic War was never so much fun, especially since hardly anyone knows there's a war on! Once you start reading you won't want to put it down. But while you're reading, watch out for worm weather and be careful not to rell a vatch bigger than you can handle!
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Summary: One of my favorite books of all time
Review: A teacher of mine recommended this book to me in high school. It was out of print at the time, so she lent me her own copy. She told me that whenever she was feeling down, this book would cheer her up.She was right. I've reread this book a half a dozen times in the 10 intervening years, and while it isn't necessarily, it is truly delightful. Captain Pausert's adventures with Goth are a lot of fun to read. Further, the book affirms the philosophy that the good guys can win, even in a bureaucratic universe, if they're clever enough. This may be the attribute my teacher was talking about when she sent me to read the book (although I think the wonder of the book is something less tangible-- perhaps part of it is the way that the book takes for granted the idea that magic can exist, yet it isn't a traditional fantasy novel). It's wonderful to see this going back into print. I enthusiastically recommend it.
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Summary: A childhood joy revisited
Review: At last! The entire James Schmitz oeuvre is back in print! This book particularly I remember with great fondness, although I identified with Telzey Amberdon far more than with the little Witches.
It's Golden Age, so it is extremely fast-paced, with as much plot as would be used for a modern series.
Not only a keeper, but one to go on the "Treasure" shelf.
Rating: 
Summary: "Edited"?? There was nothing wrong with the original story!
Review: Being a die-hard fan of the Witches of Karres, and having gone through a LOT to find copies of this out-of-print masterpiece so I could lend or give them to friends, I was very excited to see it re-released, and in hardback, at that!
Then I noticed the "edited by Eric Flint" part, and my enthusiasm vanished. I recently had the misfortune of reading the Wizard of Karres, Flint's attempt (with others) to create a sequel to the original Witches of Karres. I was underwhelmed by that effort, so much so that I won't waste a penny buying this "edited" version of a classic.
Another reviewer suggests that the original novel, published in 1966, is "dated" and so benefits from Flint's editing. I've reread the original at least once a year for years, and it has never seemed dated to me. It's written in the classic "Golden Age" or "pulp" style, but any attempt to change that would ruin the story, in my opinion.
The one good point is that with the release of this version, old paperbacks of the UNEDITED Witches of Karres are becoming available at more reasonable prices than previously. If you want a good read, take a pass on the edited version and find one of the old paperbacks. You'll be glad you did!
PLEASE NOTE: The vast majority of the reviews of this story were written BEFORE the release of this "edited" version and refer only to the original story, not this recent release.
Rating: 
Summary: A Disapointing Rediscovery
Review: Having read and enjoyed The Wiches of Karres as a teenager I looked forward to rereading it again 30 years later.Unfortunatly I was quite disappointed.Interesting story but poorly written.Bad and hokey dialogue.Characterizations pretty much nonexistent.And Baen typically packaged it with godawful cover art as usual for them.Readers of Baen books will probably like the book better since most of their writers are at the bottom end of quality in the SF/Fantasy field if you are looking for some degree of literary ability.Pick up some Neal Asher or Iain Banks instead.
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Summary: GLAD IT'S BACK!!!
Review: I read this wonderful book years and years ago; it should never have been permitted to out of print. It is so excellent that this year it will go to EVERY kid on my Christmas list.
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Summary: There's more than one meaning to "edited!"
Review: I second the preceding reviews, with one exception. One reviewer complains that the novel has been "edited," so he wouldn't touch it. Actually (check Eric Flint's website), Flint's editing took the form of (1) selecting the book for reprinting, and (2) correcting typos, missing words, etc.. Unless a reader is overly fond of typoed words, there is no difference between previous editions of this exciting, humorous, and thoroughly enjoyable classic sf novel and the new edition.
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Summary: One of James H. Schmitz's Best
Review: I stumbled across "The Witches of Karres" one day when browsing a local used bookstore. It was one of those times I was just looking for a good fantasy/science fiction book to read and enjoy. "The Witches of Karres" quickly surpassed far beyond what I had hoped to find. It quickly entered the ranks of those few books I have read which so far excel in enjoyment while offering an instant affinity for the characters, including an instant love for characters in the novel that "Witches of Karres" has become one of those unique novels I will always go back and read again. Goth, Pausert, the Leewit, the Sheewash Drive every bit ever piece of the story is so carefully woven together like a fine tapestry that you find yourself living within the story. You are a part of the action, of the travels to the Worm World, to Karres, you are on the ship with Pausert, Goth and the Leewit. Despite "The Witches of Karres" finishing second in the Hugo awards it truly was the book that deserved to win the Hugo that year, for having read the that years winner and "The Witches of Karres", "Witches" is by far the better book in my opinion. Several other reviewers have expressed the same regret I too hold, that it sad that Schmitz never published a sequel, though perhaps having this stand alone on it's own makes it all the more enjoyable and allows us to create our own sequels for the travels of Goth, the Leewit and Pausert. As one review has mentioned this idea, I agree that "The Witches of Karres" could be turned into a wonderful movie, however I would like to see whoever would turn this book into a movie do for the movie version of this book, what Peter Jackson has done for the Lord of the Rings, make the transformation from book to screen so flawless that no one has regrets that it was made into a movie.
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Summary: Finally, The Witches of Karres available again
Review: It is so GREAT to have a new edition of this classic. My original is literally falling apart. This was a great book when it came out in 1966 and it is still great. Anyone looking for a wonderful space opera will love this. Eric Flint has done a wonderful job of resurrecting James Schmitz series of books.
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Summary: Brilliant new concept in an old/new book
Review: It seems to me that Bean publishing is renown for coming up with new twists that produce really good books. In this case he has taken an old book by James H. Schmitz that dates from 1966. Compared to modern science fiction such a book would have been very dated, and while the basic story line might have been good, it just wouldn't have been a very good read.
Baen then brought in Eric Flint, one of the better writters in his stable (in my humble opinion of course). He is credited as an Editor, but he might have been better called an up-to-dater. He up-to-dated the book so that it reads like a new story, but keeps the theme, feel, and attitude of the original.
The next thing that they did, was produce this volume in hard cover for a retail price of $16, that's just about half of what hardbacks normally cost. Way to go Mr. Baen.
Oh yes, the story. Space opera at its finest. Capt. Pausert of the tramp space ship Venture frees three slave children. Well, they turn out to be witches ....
Did I mention that Baen also seems to mix comedy with his space opera, and that he also gives you the first four chapters of the book at his web site.
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