Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
HarperPrism (New York, 1995). 1st edition, 1st printing. 568 pages. $22.00.
Description
Deep in an abandoned, shattered castle, an old man of the Old Magic muttered almost forgotten words. His purpose -- to create out of the insubstance of the air, from a shimmering of light and a fluttering of shadows. that most wonderous of spells, a Shaping. A Shaping in the form of a, young man who will be sent east on the road the old was to old to travel. To right the wrongs of a long-forgotten wizard war, and call new wars into being. Here is the long-awaited major new novel from one of the brightest stars in the fantasy and science fiction firmament.C.J.Cherryh's haunting story of the wizard Mauryl, kingmaker for a thousand years of Men, and Tristen, fated to sow distrust between a prince and his father being. A tale as deep as legend and a intimate as love, it tells of a battle beyond Time, in which all Destiny turns on the wheel of an old man's ambition, a young man's innocence, and the unkept promised of a king to come.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member fuzzi
I am a huge fan of CJ Cherryh's scifi works, but have not delved much into her fantasy offerings. I tackled a chunkster fantasy novel of hers this weekend, Fortress in the Eye of Time, and it's a keeper.
As most of her writings, Fortress in the Eye of Time starts very slowly, almost slow enough for
As with most of her works, this author does not feed you all the background and minor bits of information, but puts you immediately into an ongoing story, like being dropped into a swiftly flowing river, and you have to work in order to keep afloat, but it's so worth it.
The characters are three-dimensional, the plot is believable, and the intrigue and politics are not overstated, but perfectly balanced with the rest of the book. I got so involved with the story that I did not put it down at night until I could not keep my eyes open.
This is a thinking-person's fantasy novel, and highly recommended.
As most of her writings, Fortress in the Eye of Time starts very slowly, almost slow enough for
Show More
me to throw in the towel. But I was determined to give this story my best try, and I'm glad I did. As with most of her works, this author does not feed you all the background and minor bits of information, but puts you immediately into an ongoing story, like being dropped into a swiftly flowing river, and you have to work in order to keep afloat, but it's so worth it.
The characters are three-dimensional, the plot is believable, and the intrigue and politics are not overstated, but perfectly balanced with the rest of the book. I got so involved with the story that I did not put it down at night until I could not keep my eyes open.
This is a thinking-person's fantasy novel, and highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member reading_fox
First of the series. Tristen is conjoured into being by an old old magician, desperate against an ancient foe. His nerve fails him an Tristen is less than he hoped or needed, enthralled by the pattern of raindrops or beat of a butterfly. Tristen escapes and finds his way to the kings court with the
After re-read
One of Cherryh's pure fantasy works, and again a masterful telling of what it takes to be human, in a well crafted an easily understandable fantasy world. Full of the traditional themes of fantasy bu managaing to avoid all the cliches and make a genuinally new and original telling.
Tristain the Shaping, student at best from the ancient wizard Mauryl arrives at Hensamef, innocent and unknowing of the perils of being human. The prince and heir to the throne Cefwyn is doing his best to contain the local politics and rivalries rife in this old province, never the most stable of the new realm. Incursions and threats - and offers - from the neighbouring Elwynem make life tricky. Then the ever suspicious king heres word of Cefwyn's dealings and decends in secret, and insufficient force.
A gripping tale, the innocence of tristain is wonderfully portrayed, as is difference between inate magic and that hard studied. A very enjoyable read, dense and thrilling, avoiding the hack and slash details but with a close attention to people and politics, which is alwas Cherry's strongest point.
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mage's magic still unfolding.....After re-read
One of Cherryh's pure fantasy works, and again a masterful telling of what it takes to be human, in a well crafted an easily understandable fantasy world. Full of the traditional themes of fantasy bu managaing to avoid all the cliches and make a genuinally new and original telling.
Tristain the Shaping, student at best from the ancient wizard Mauryl arrives at Hensamef, innocent and unknowing of the perils of being human. The prince and heir to the throne Cefwyn is doing his best to contain the local politics and rivalries rife in this old province, never the most stable of the new realm. Incursions and threats - and offers - from the neighbouring Elwynem make life tricky. Then the ever suspicious king heres word of Cefwyn's dealings and decends in secret, and insufficient force.
A gripping tale, the innocence of tristain is wonderfully portrayed, as is difference between inate magic and that hard studied. A very enjoyable read, dense and thrilling, avoiding the hack and slash details but with a close attention to people and politics, which is alwas Cherry's strongest point.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SimonW11
C.J. Cherryh is a well established sf/fantasy writer with a clutch of Hugos and such.
The variety of her work is unusual in a field that s becoming more and more pigeonholed.
Her books are neariy always badly copyedited.Which is odd. I used to hang around the same forums as her in my compuserve days
this edition an ebook from umm,Simon&Schuster if my memory serves. was appalling worse than any anything other than a pre word-processingeditionof a fanzine.
the plot between my pauses to disentangle the prose was not very special.
Having said that she is varied writer I must admit that coming of age/maturing are comon themes in her books. What is that fancy german term?
In this one the protagonist is shaped, pulled into existance by a magic user. This innocent is then thrust into a confusing world and the role of hero.
The main problem is there are no limits set on the hero's power not even he knows what he can do. nothing suprises us.each event is accepted as just another example of deus ex mechanica
The variety of her work is unusual in a field that s becoming more and more pigeonholed.
Her books are neariy always badly copyedited.Which is odd. I used to hang around the same forums as her in my compuserve days
Show More
and her posts were frequent and error free. but once she is typeset things change.this edition an ebook from umm,Simon&Schuster if my memory serves. was appalling worse than any anything other than a pre word-processingeditionof a fanzine.
the plot between my pauses to disentangle the prose was not very special.
Having said that she is varied writer I must admit that coming of age/maturing are comon themes in her books. What is that fancy german term?
In this one the protagonist is shaped, pulled into existance by a magic user. This innocent is then thrust into a confusing world and the role of hero.
The main problem is there are no limits set on the hero's power not even he knows what he can do. nothing suprises us.each event is accepted as just another example of deus ex mechanica
Show Less
LibraryThing member TadAD
Despite the fact that C. J. Cherryh is one of my favorite authors, I just couldn't get into this series. I gave it a go for four volumes, but it just didn't grab me. I may give it a break, reread the first one and see if I can figure out why I'm not happy with it.
LibraryThing member majkia
Ambitious beginning to a series, with lots of complex world building and a main character who knows nothing - less even than Jon Snow.
I thought it was awfully wordy, and would have liked less internal dialog and more action. The story itself was interesting and I can see why so many folks like it.
I thought it was awfully wordy, and would have liked less internal dialog and more action. The story itself was interesting and I can see why so many folks like it.
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Interesting take on magic and sorcery. Show Less
LibraryThing member fuzzi
I am a huge fan of CJ Cherryh's scifi works, but have not delved much into her fantasy offerings. I tackled a chunkster fantasy novel of hers this weekend, Fortress in the Eye of Time, and it's a keeper.
As most of her writings, Fortress in the Eye of Time starts very slowly, almost slow enough for
As with most of her works, this author does not feed you all the background and minor bits of information, but puts you immediately into an ongoing story, like being dropped into a swiftly flowing river, and you have to work in order to keep afloat, but it's so worth it.
The characters are three-dimensional, the plot is believable, and the intrigue and politics are not overstated, but perfectly balanced with the rest of the book. I got so involved with the story that I did not put it down at night until I could not keep my eyes open.
This is a thinking-person's fantasy novel, and highly recommended.
As most of her writings, Fortress in the Eye of Time starts very slowly, almost slow enough for
Show More
me to throw in the towel. But I was determined to give this story my best try, and I'm glad I did. As with most of her works, this author does not feed you all the background and minor bits of information, but puts you immediately into an ongoing story, like being dropped into a swiftly flowing river, and you have to work in order to keep afloat, but it's so worth it.
The characters are three-dimensional, the plot is believable, and the intrigue and politics are not overstated, but perfectly balanced with the rest of the book. I got so involved with the story that I did not put it down at night until I could not keep my eyes open.
This is a thinking-person's fantasy novel, and highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member zeborah
I tried, I tried for so long. But this falls into the category of CJ Cherryh books where a young bewildered man wanders around stumbling into things while nothing discernable happens(*) and I just couldn't keep trudging through that for a whole book let alone a whole series. I'd like to know what
(*) Honestly I can't recall any CJ Cherryh book I've encountered that this doesn't describe, but some managed to either disguise it better with more semblance of plot to hold me, or caught me before I'd cottoned onto the pattern.
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happens next, but I suspect nothing does.(*) Honestly I can't recall any CJ Cherryh book I've encountered that this doesn't describe, but some managed to either disguise it better with more semblance of plot to hold me, or caught me before I'd cottoned onto the pattern.
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LibraryThing member Gkarlives
While the character developement holds up to Cherryh's usual high standards, I found the ending abrupt and jarring. I was left with questions about the character of Tristen who's nature is revealed through flashbacks that, at times, seem contradictory. In the end, I did not feel his past was fully
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clarified and I very much wanted to know. A lot of build up for only a little bang. Show Less
LibraryThing member purplereadinggiraffe
This book is a marvelous fantasy. The world is a dangerous and confusing place for a full grown man child possessed of such innocence that he captures the heart and friendship of a jaded prince. This tale is full of magical language, compelling relationships, humor, suspense, adventure, and some
I am really quite amazed at the people who don't 'get' this book. It is one of my all time favorites, and while the plot and the story get even better as the series progresses, the first half of this book never fails to delight me when I need a lift to my spirits. Tristen and Cefwyn's friendship is marvelous, and when Ninevrise shows up, that courtship is great fun, too.
There are a lot of interesting magic versus wizardry versus sorcery ideas here; some comparative religion; dark political machinations and treachery; all contrasted with the wonder of pigeons in flight. This series is magical with endless depth and soaring spirit. Try it.
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very unique world building somewhat hidden behind the familiar feudalistic trappings of high fantasy.I am really quite amazed at the people who don't 'get' this book. It is one of my all time favorites, and while the plot and the story get even better as the series progresses, the first half of this book never fails to delight me when I need a lift to my spirits. Tristen and Cefwyn's friendship is marvelous, and when Ninevrise shows up, that courtship is great fun, too.
There are a lot of interesting magic versus wizardry versus sorcery ideas here; some comparative religion; dark political machinations and treachery; all contrasted with the wonder of pigeons in flight. This series is magical with endless depth and soaring spirit. Try it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member turtlesleap
This book is one of a series and, like so many, it tends to be unsatisfying and inconclusive when read alone. Unfortunately, the book did not offer me enough to induce me to read another in the series. A well-imagined alternate reality fantasy, with much to recommend it (including a Hugo) the book
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ran too long and much of the narrative read like "filler." Show Less
LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
Tristen is a revenant, the classic hero brought back from the dead. He serves Cefwin, the new king of Ylesuin, and his own destiny, of which he is unsure. Cherryh's world building is competent, but overall I would not call this opening volume of a trilogy her best work!
.
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LibraryThing member MarkLacy
excellent characterization and character development, wonderful prose, amazing dialogue; not always easy reading (like the Morgaine books) but very enjoyable
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1995-05 (First US Edition)
1995-12 (First UK Edition)
Physical description
568 p.; 6.75 inches
ISBN
0061092959 / 9780061092954