Andre Norton 
Storm Over Warlock 

Andre Alice Norton (born Alice Mary Norton, February 17, 1912 – March 17, 2005) was an American writer of science fiction and fantasy (with some works of historical fiction and contemporary fiction) under the pen names Andre Norton, Andrew North and Allen Weston. She was the first woman to be Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy, first to be SFWA Grand Master, and first inducted by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. "Storm Over Warlock" is classic Andre Norton space opera. A young man who has been typically underestimated proves to have skills highly valuable to the situation in which he finds himself: alone on an alien planet, attempting to make friendly contact with the natives and avoid the enemies pursuing him. (Excerpt from Wikipedia)