April 2010 – From the Editor
Welcome to the April issue of the Musings of the Othar. This month’s Feature Article will be taking a look at C. J. Cherryh’s Fortress in the Eye of Time.
After finishing Fortress in the Eye of Time, I took some time to peruse some of the reviews and commentary on the book, and I wasn’t surprised to find the camps evenly divided between loving the work and hating the work. It seemed that there was little middle ground on the perceptions of the book, so it was somewhat surprising that I found myself with a mixture of likes and dislikes for Fortress in the Eye of Time. The arguments for and against recommending this book both have merit, which leads me to the conclusion that it really comes down to taste and expectations. I will expand upon this thought further in the Feature Article. I will add, however, that it does seem obvious that at the point in Cherryh’s career when Fortress in the Eye of Time was published, her reputation certainly allowed her a greater latitude with the editors than if this same story had been penned by a lesser know author; indulgent is the best way to describe it, and you either allow Cherryh these indulgences and like the work, or you chafe at her excesses and dislike the work.
The Fayersae Histories continue this month, and for the first time I found myself feeling constrained by the limit on the length of each month’s installment. There is nothing special about the length I impose upon myself, other than it seems to be the right amount for an online format; however, after outlining this month’s piece, I found that I so quickly wrote the details that I realized I could have penned more. I took it as an exercise to stay disciplined, however, and I kept the length consistent with the other pieces in the series.
The web site for Animus of Hauden, book two in the Harmony of the Othar Saga went live this month. Excerpts are now available, so please check them out. Check back often as additional chapters will surely be added. A full ePub version may also appear on the site in the near future, so check the excerpts page for that opportunity as well.
I would also like to make a recommendation, and encourage everyone to check out Dan McGirt’s latest short story found here. If you haven’t read Dan’s Hero Wanted yet, reviewed in the January issue, do so; but if you’re looking for an introduction to his works, download a copy of his new short story. You won’t be disappointed; although I really wish he’d not changed the title and left the element of surprise that used to exist – you’ll have to click the link, as it will at least keep the suspense alive until you do. Also, it won’t cost you a thing as Mr. McGirt has been kind enough to offer it to us for free on Smashwords.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this month’s installment of the Musing of the Othar.
Yours Truly
P.A. Seasholtz, Editor
