Fortress in the Eye of Time [Hardcover]

C. J. Cherryh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1995

In a shadow land, the wizard Mauryl creates a substance out of thin air--a young man. His new creation will continue the journey for which he is too old, a magical pilgrimage toward both peace and war. Author of over 40 novels, Hugo-winner Cherryh is regarded as one of the brightest stars in the fantasy and SF firmament.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Despite a few brief, shining moments, Cherryh's (Foreigner) new fantasy novel (her latest SF novel is reviewed below) proves an overwrought concoction. After a moderately interesting foray involving Mauryl, the aging wizard who conjures a "Shaping" named Tristen, the meandering of the nearly empty-headed Shaping takes center stage for far too long. Tristen sets off upon a quest knowing neither who he is nor what he seeks. Fortuitous happenings eventually bring him to Cefwyn, a prince in line to rule the land, and to Cefwyn's wizard, Emuin, himself a former student of Mauryl's. (The villains here are of two types: nebulously motivated men and erotically minded women.) A series of escapades involving prosaically presented political machinations leads to an inevitable final battle?and to the likelihood of a sequel. Several plot threads, such as Tristen's similarity to a golem and an invocation of the "Thirty-Eight," indicate that Cherryh is leaning on texts of Jewish mysticism here, but it's unlikely that even the most diligent of kabbalists would have the patience to wade through this substandard work.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

I have to admit that, until now, I have never read any of C. J. Cherryh's work. A sad oversight on my part and one that I intend to remedy. After reading just one page it was easy for me to see why Cherryh had won three Hugo awards. I fully expect her to win many more inthe future. While there are many good authors inthe field of fantasy and science fiction it is rare to find one with such a powerful grasp of the english language, or one whose skill as a world builder could set her so far above the rest of us. -- Midwest Book Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 568 pages
• Publisher: Harper Prism; 1st HarperPrism Printing: May 1995 edition (May 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061092959
• ISBN-13: 978-0061092954
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,717,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've written sf and fantasy for publication since 1975...but I've written a lot longer than that. I have a background in Mediterranean archaeology, Latin, Greek, that sort of thing; my hobbies are travel, photography, planetary geology, physics, pond-building for koi...I run a marine tank, can plumb most anything, and I figure-skate.

I believe in the future: I'm an optimist for good reason---I've studied a lot of history, in which, yes, there is climate change, and our species has been through it. We've never faced it fully armed with what we now know, and if we play our cards right, we'll use it as a technological springboard and carry on in very interesting ways.

I also believe a writer owes a reader a book that has more than general despair to spread about: I write about clever, determined people who don't put up with situations, not for long, anyway: people who find solutions inspire me.

My personal websites and blog: http://www.cherryh.com
http://www.cherryh.com/WaveWithoutAShore
http://www.closed-circle.net

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars HORRID Kindle version! PROOFREAD before SELLING!, April 4, 2009

By 

Iskandariya (Tulsa, OK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fortress in the Eye of Time (Tristan) (Kindle Edition)

This is a beautiful book (and series)--intelligent, complex, with delicious characterization and writing. It has been one of my favorites since my first reading when it was released years since, but I find I must rank it down because of the dreadful presentation of the Kindle edition.

I strongly advise anyone contemplating reading it to buy the BOOK and not the Kindle version. I have seen problems in Kindle conversions before; I've had my Kindle 1 for almost a year. I have never seen anything to equal this this ghastly conversion. The typographical errors are manifest and widespread and appalling. When I reported this problem to Amazon, their response was to ask me to detail the problems for them--detailed descriptions and locations in the Kindle text. Otherwise, they wanted me to copy-edit the text. Um.... there are HUNDREDS of errors, perhaps even THOUSANDS! I have only "read" less than half the text! In places, the problems makes the text essentially nonsensical. I can easily see where a new reader would find this not only unreadable, but it would turn them off forever from the great Ms. Cherryh's books and perhaps even from buying e-versions for the Kindle, which is very sad, indeed!

Amazon and/or whoever is responsible for the conversion: you should be ashamed of yourselves for expecting people to PAY for this!

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most beautiful stories I've ever read., September 29, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Fortress in the Eye of Time (Mass Market Paperback)

I knew, before picking up this book, that Cherryh is an amazing writer. Her first book that I ever read was "Faery In Shadow", and it absolutely completely bowled me over, and not just because I'm obsessed with Celtic history!! But this book exceeded my expectations. It's an exceptional, really lovely piece of storytelling. If I had to choose words to describe the way she writes I'd pick "beautiful", "ethereal", "compelling", "haunting", "poignant"...it's just one of those things that have the power to move you beyond words. I absolutely loved the whole thread of the story. It's amazing not least because the idea itself is surprisingly simple and tame: a classic story of good versus evil. And yet the way Cherryh develops the whole plot is really remarkable. I fell in love with Tristen very early on into the story, and have never let go of him since. The story is even more wonderful in that Cherryh does not succumb to the usual neat formula of fantasy novels which seems to INSIST that there must be a love interest. I hate it when my enjoyment of a good fantasy is spoiled by romantic involvement. In this book you only get a mere whiff of that, and it involves someone other than the main character. And even that is played out in a wonderfully pleasing, satisfactory way. The ending was a bit too neatly put, but surprisingly enough I liked it just the way it was, unlike most other books I've read. In the end, though, I have to give it less than 10 because there are other mysteries, hints and innuendoes which are not properly tied up. In a way I like it that Cherryh left them that way, but a part of me is just begging to see everything played out to the end. From the feel of things it seems like she intended this book to be a stand-alone story, yet it practically cries out for a sequel (just like "Faery In Shadow"!). On the other hand, I think I'd rather prefer it if she just left it this way, so that I can deliciously contemplate the beauty of this one story without having to worry about other issues nosing their way in. I do wonder if she plans to put out a sequel, but if she does I hope she focuses more on Cefwyn and Ninevrise this time. Tristen's story has been told, and although some would think he needs more things to happen to him, I think he should be let alone. I'd like to just dote over this book and hoard it away as One Of The Greatest Stories I Have Ever Read. Magnificent. I said it before of Agatha Christie, but now I must say it again: I now worship C.J. Cherryh.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A completely different slant on an old story line, November 22, 2006

By 

J. Hulet "John(Fantasy Literature)" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fortress in the Eye of Time (Mass Market Paperback)

I loved this book. To be honest, the first half of the book doesn't move very fast, but you come to appreciate how the author controls the flow of the story based on the progress of the main character. It's a very interesting technique that takes a little patience to enjoy.

The story centers around a young man called back from a distant past and who's soul has already lived a life. His challenges in adjusting to life with no real past are very well written and yet his native intelligence and personality begin to grow quickly.

The characters that surround the protagonist are fairly well written and far from perfect themselves. For me the frailties of people are often neglected in most fiction unless it is overly depicted in the bad guy. In this case the author is very effective when describing the different supporting cast and creating reasons for them to be who they are.

The story follows the political manuevering of a Prince and various factions who either want him dead or simply out of the way. The culmination of the story when the Main Character begins to experience the depth of who is will be is very exciting.

On a final note, I think that the author does a good job of describing conditions that people live in without wasting too much time on trivia. It makes for a more believable read when life is a little rustic, even for the nobility.

Read this book!! The next three in the series are a worthwhile reward.