Hatrack River Writers Workshop: James Stoddard

This is topic James Stoddard in forum Discussing Published Hooks & Books at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by History (Member # 9213) on :

...is a lesser known fantasy author of two novels of Evenmere, the Gormenghast-like "house of infinite proportions" containing nations and walled fields and orchards under its endless gabled roofs. The novels are THE HIGH HOUSE and THE FALSE HOUSE.

He's struggling to get his third Evenmere novel into print (1st 3 chapters available at https://www.sff.net/people/james-stoddard/The_Winking.html ), even with two stories recently published in the prior and current issue of F&SF (the latter a story of Evenmere).

I loved the whole Evenmere concept: endless ancient halls, rooms, attic containing Jungian and Campbell archetypes (including that of destruction in the "last" dinosaur Jormungand); whole wings of the house being separate principalities and nations; the references to other fantasy realms from Lewis Carrol to William Morris to Homer to Joy Chant and many other fantasists from the old Ballantine Adult Fantasy series of the 70's.

Great stuff. If you get a chance, track down his House books.

Admittedly, itis a bit discouraging that if some of my favorite fantasy authors like Mr. Stoddard can't find an editor / publisher for his novel...well, I'll definitely won't give up my day job.

Respectfully,
Dr. Bob

Posted by Wordcaster (Member # 9183) on :

I must admit, I have never heard of James Stoddard. His books sound quite interesting, but I'll have to put him in the queue behind my short story research and a few other novels I have on the list.

Posted by EVOC (Member # 9381) on :

When I saw the title of the post... I couldn't place the name. But when you said F&SF, the light bulb went on.

I have not read the story in the Mar/Apr issue yet. But "Christmas in Hostage Canyon" was great! I loved the idea behind it.

I have no read his House books, I will have to check it out.

Posted by EVOC (Member # 9381) on :

So I just read THE IFS OF TIME in F&SF Mar/Apr issue. What a great story. I will have to check out his novels now. He is a joy to read.

Posted by History (Member # 9213) on :

James novels are OOP, unfortunately.
However, used PB copies of THE HIGH HOUSE are readily available and cheap.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0446606790/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all
and THE FALSE HOUSE as well
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0446607010/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

He's written a third Evenmere novel but, despite the first and best THE HIGH HOUSE winning the Compton Cook Award and praise by many of the best fantasy authors in the field, has yet to find an agent willing to represent him (which really places my own as yet vain quest for representation in sharp despondent perspective) particularly as there is no interest in reprinting the first two Evenmere novels. I've encouraged him to consider e-publishing as a back-up. He recently epublished his "modernization" of William Hope Hodgson's classic THE NIGHT LAND. http://www.amazon.com/Night-Land-Story-Retold-ebook/dp/B004GKNM3W/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

Respectfully,
Dr. Bob

Posted by EVOC (Member # 9381) on :

Ug! The same thing happened when I went to read Jeffery A. Carver. The series was out of print.

As far as agents go, I question having one anymore. But that's another topic already being talked about.

Well, used books it is then.