Amazon.com (ISBN 0446606790, Mass Market Paperback)

Once upon a time, the term high fantasy did not refer to interchangeable novels about motley crews of sword-swinging, spell-slinging adventurers on interminable quests to defeat evil wizards. In olden days, J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings was unique--yet part of an established literary tradition with the works of Lord Dunsany, C.S. Lewis, William Morris, and many others. The modern armies of Tolkien clones have vanquished the diversity of high fantasy, with few exceptions: Little, Big by John Crowley, The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, Clouds End by Sean Stewart--and now The High House, an astonishingly imaginative, individual, and assured first novel by James Stoddard. It's no surprise that this is only the second novel chosen in two years for Warner's New Aspect program for extraordinary new novelists.

The High House, Evenmere, is an unusual place. There are monsters in the cellar and a dragon in the attic; many of the rooms are entire worlds, strange, wondrous, often nightmarish; and the High House's existence may ensure the survival of Creation itself. But a powerful enemy has risen against Evenmere, and the Master of the High House has disappeared in an unknown world. Carter Anderson, his long-exiled son, must return to defend the manor and the universe from destruction. But Carter has lost the keys to the doors of other worlds. One of his few allies may be a traitor. And the enemy who assails Evenmere from every world, and even from within dreams, knows the High House better than Carter and may hold all the keys. --Cynthia Ward