Rambles of the Literary Equine

If you claim that you are a writer, than you should be writing.

You don't have to be published. You don't have to be on the New York Times bestseller list.

You just have to be BOCHOK (Butt On Chair, Hands on Keyboard)

I have an acquaintence (one of the very few people in my life I have had a genuine falling out with) who claims to be this writer who is going to shake the world. I truly wish him the best, but he has not even attempted to write for five years even though he still brags about his ultimate goals.

If you want to be a writer, that's awesome. Remember. BOCHOK.

My Introduction:

In the summer of 2007, my friend eric_hinkle loaned me his copy of James Stoddard's The High House. Delighted as I am with magical houses that also serve as characters in their introductory novels, I did not read The High House as much as devoured it. The result was a review on Amazon.com that though fanboyish to the extreme, I meant every word:

I do not yet know what book has been kicked out of my Top Five list, but one has in order to make room for James Stoddard's The High House (Aspect Fantasy: 1998).

Imagine if you will, a huge mansion that within its walls and halls and rooms holds worlds upon worlds, mysteries upon mysteries, with no end in sight. Imagine a Master of the House with three main responsibilities: maintain order within the House's myriad realms; protect all of this creation against the Anarchists, a group of people dedicated to overthrowing the house; and maintain a balance between Old Man Chaos and Lady Order, two archetypes that dwell within the house and in their absoluteness are creatures of surprising horror. Also, imagine a house where the Last Dinosaur, untamed and hungry, lives in the attic and the basement is filled with man-eating creatures that disguise themselves as furniture.

And there is still much, much more.

The High House is not a Christian allegory. It is a novel set about a fantasy world immersed in the reality of the Christian worldview with the basis for its paradigms solidly Christian:

" ... like all of Creation, the High House is a Parable. As for who built it, some say God is the Great Architect; some say the Grand Engineer." Brittle gave his wry smile. "And some say He once was a carpenter as well. I can explain no better."

Yet, the message of the book is not beaten into you with a crowbar, but explained gently within the relationships of those who have been given the responsibility of caring for the High House. Along the trip we learn that life is not a caricature to be endured, but an adventure to be lived with all of its passions and wonders and, yes, even danger.

I have always been an avid fan of supernatural houses and The High House now forms part of my mental neighborhood sharing property lines with Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves, William Hope Hodgson's The House on the Borderland, Richard Forsythe's Bishop's Landing, and Charles de Lint's Tamson House (Moonheart).

The High House is a nice place to visit and you just might want to live there.

Sad to say, the book is out of print, but when I started interviewing authors for this blog, I was committed to find Mr. Stoddard and if need be, beg him for the privilege of an interview. ( Collapse )