Rating: 
Summary: Finally! Some fresh air into the genre!
Review: If there's anything that really impressed me about this book, it was the expansion of the concept of a house, hitherto seen only in tiny glimpses, even in fantasy writing. Lovely, and immeasurably exciting. It is reminiscent, I think, of the best in high fantasy.
Rating: 
Summary: Quiet, subtle charms deserve notice
Review: If you're a fan of older fantasists (much older--William Morris, George MacDonald, etc.) then check out the High House. It unfolds with a slightly faster pace than these, but with a very similar tone (and the author knows it, and drops teensy references every so often.)The nearest comparison I can make is to MacDonald's "Lilith" and "Phantastes"; if you've read these you'll know how different they are from the slash-and-quest style fantasy. If you're a huge fan of slash-and-quest, avoid this at all costs. The philosophizing is kept to a minimum, and the (should I say sketchy) "theology" or explanation for the House leads one to expect further delineation in later volumes--it doesn't matter, though ... the house simply is, and that's enough. Stoddard's work is kept from 5 stardom only by a certain repetition of incident as the novel progressed; a tighter plotline would be more absorbing.
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Summary: An impressive first novel
Review: James Stoddard is clearly an author worth knowing about. His worldbuilding is simply wonderful, and his description is good, although a little more would have been nice in some places. The characters are mostly believable, and the plot is enough to keep the book moving. Above all, he seems to be an author with good ideas. (Actually, I've had some of these ideas myself; I'm slightly irked that he published first, though obviously it's not his fault.) Of course, the book isn't without flaws. Though he calls the villains anarchists, that isn't really what they seem to be, and they don't always act in ways that make sense. (Why a bobby, anyway?) There's also the occasional line of hokey dialogue...but who really cares? This book is still more imaginative, more interesting, and more fun than most of what's out there, and I suspect Stoddard will iron out many of the problems in his next few books. Enjoy.
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Summary: Extraordinary imagination, remarkable writting skills...
Review: James Stoddard, in this amazing book, restored my belief in the non-fully fatasy books. The book, revealing the return of Carter Anderson to his childhood house after a long exile kept me awake throught many night. James ability to describe the house is such a perfect manner, combinied with Carter, a small, imaginative child that grows into a responsible adult, so much like his father creates one of the best fantasy books I've read in a long while.
Rating:
Summary: A treat of epic proportions
Review: Just when it seems originality in fantasy is dead and buried, an author like James Stoddard appears. His entertaining, original and thought-provoking fantasy "The High House" harkens back to fantasy writers like Dunsany and MacDonald, with the tang of a long-lost era of literature. The High House of Evenmere is not like any other house in the world: It, in essence, controls the universe as the clocks in it represent parts of ordered reality. There is a dinosaur in the attic, man-eating furniture-shaped beasties in the basement, magical speaking tigers, a room of unspeakable horrors, and a six-thousand-year-old servant from Biblical times who spoke and walked with God. Each room is a world. But young Carter Anderson only sees a few of these before he is sent away from Evenmere, leaving behind his father, his poisonous stepmother Lady Murmur, and his infant stepbrother Duskin. Years later, upon the disappearance of his father and his supposed death, Carter returns to Evermere as its new Steward. Despite Murmur's treacherous presence, he learns more about the supernatural anarchists who are seeking to destroy the order of the universe -- by taking over Evermere and disrupting it. To oppose them, Carter must try to find the Tawny Mantle, the Lightning Sword, the Keys, and learn the Seven Words. But will it be enough, as Order, Chaos, and the malevolent anarchists circle around the new Steward? Stoddard's book is an interesting blend: His prose is as rich and lush as older books, with modern editing, pacing and connectability to the readers. It's slightly dense, but never hard to read or difficult to get into. Most captivating of all are the descriptions of the interior of the High House -- there is no real map that a person can imagine, but a place where rooms can lead to secret corridors that can lead to anything from a chamber of horrors to an underground river. You can't tell what is in all the rooms, or whether it will be the same or contain the same people. And descriptions of talking tigers, an attic dinosaur, and man-eating furniture that talks like Gollum could have easily been ridiculous. Instead they inspire chills. The idea of Evenmere is as good as it gets. The house is a surreal experience in itself, a character in its own right, with a subtle feeling of anything-can-happen. Stoddard never makes it entirely clear if the people in it are existing in our world, or in a parallel universe where one can casually talk about hunting with tigers in Naleewuath. There is also some religious significance, as Evenmere is "His [God's] mechanism. He uses it to run the universe..." through the Steward. Stoddard introduces some intricate philosophy about Order and Chaos (who are represented as a little girl and an old man), good and evil, and the balance of the universe. The characterizations are just as good. With very little effort, Stoddard can make readers like or dislike his characters. Carter's quiet good nature, personal vulnerabilities and curiosity make him a likeable protagonist, as is Hope, the eager lawyer friend, and Enoch, the six-thousand-year-old servant who accompanies Carter. Lord Anderson (what little we see of him) comes across as noble and likeable, though fallible; Lady Murmur is repellent in her power-hunger, while her son Duskin starts off as a teenage brat but is gradually revealed to be a kinder, pleasanter person. When reading this book, one can almost imagine Stoddard sitting in a smoky room with Tolkien and Lewis, discussing philosophy. This book is a little-known treasure, a read for people of all ages.
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Summary: Great Homage Piece
Review: Mr. Stoddard has written a great homage piece to those authors who created the fantasy genre. The setting is very well thought out and creative, the characters archtypal. This book should be the template for paying one's respects to William Morris, et al. Much better realized than The Dungeon series. With work like this, maybe the books that were last published under the Sign of the Unicorn (edited by Lin Carter) almost 30 years ago could see print again. Thank you for all the reviews that steered me to this great book.
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Summary: Best Fantasy of the Year.
Review: No BS. This is one of the best I have ever read. I thought Tolkein, Lewis and Zelazny were gone for good, but he takes elements of each and delivers a top notch story. I bought 10 copies, and gave them as gifts to my friends.
Rating:
Summary: Very good fantasy
Review: One of the best fantasy books I've read recently. Lots of atmosphere, good writing and a fun (and kinda disturbing) setting. If you're looking for something that's not the "usual" fantasy.
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Summary: The Chronicles of Narnia for Adults
Review: Recently, I have had the pleasure of reading fantasy again and happened upon the gem. When I was in early primary school I watched the cartoon version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and my reading habits started to pick up. If I hadn't read the novels of C S Lewis, I wouldn't have the interest in literature and learning that I have today.
Three months ago, I came across The High House in the discount box at our bookstore and read the back. In this case, the cover and binding caught my attention so I decided to buy it. I breezed through the reading of it like a hurricane. For me, I began to reminisce about my youth (although not that long ago) reading The Chronicles of Narnia (C S Lewis) and The Chronicles of Prydain (Lloyd Alexander). Stoddard is able to speak to child in all of adultkind, respectfully paying homage to the fantasy writers of yesteryear in the first few pages and at the same time touching those new to fantasy.
The result is a wondrous tale of a young man trying to find his place in the world whilst also trying to save it. Young Carter Anderson must return to his childhood home after his father's will is read. He has to deal with a hateful step-mother (Lady Murmur) and a half-brother who she has poisoned against him (Duskin) whilst the House chooses its caretaker. Carter has to deal with the nightmares of his childhood when the group called The Anarchists start to take over the house. Beautiflly weaved, this odd tale is a trip throught the back of the wardrobe, where the worlds are as plentiful as the doors you step through. A pleasure to read! Dianne PS My rating is based on the unusual genre, the fact that I realise that some may not enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: A delight
Review: Stoddard's account of the High House Evenmere and young Carter Anderson's maturation into power as its master is a superb and original first novel. This book features a house which is the mechanism that runs the universe, the Biblical character Enoch on the household staff, suitably scary villains, and ethical dilemmas (gasp!) which complement rather than drown the story. Above all, Stoddard can write. His prose is skillful and never excessive. Mood and atmosphere are wonderfully maintained throughout, and Stoddard's story never flags or disappoints. I read the book in one single late-night page-turning frenzy, and it was worth every yawn the next day. This is not a tired rehash of worn-out fantasy cliches, although Stoddard has obviously read the classics in the field and pays witty in-joke homage to MacDonald, Peake, Morrison, and others; instead it is a refreshingly unique, deceptively simple, and powerful tale. The book is a delight, and Stoddard is a name to watch for.
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