The House That Stood Still

The most interesting thing about this book is that it is hardly a science fiction book at all, even though Van Vogt is one of the best known science fiction writers of the 40s and 50s. Instead, the book reads like a noir-y California detective novel. I have no problem with this since I happen to love noir-y California detective novels. Our hero, Allison Stephens, is a lawyer for one of the oldest families in Almirante, California, whose ancestral home is an imposing marble structure that looks over the town and the ocean from a high hill.

The head of the family dies and an unknown nephew takes his place -- but as soon as the new guy gets to town, strange things start happening to Allison. First he is confronted with an anonymous note show more claiming that the uncle's grave is empty. Then he comes across a strange Ancient-Mexican cult in one of the offices in the family-owned office building where he works -- he overhears some cryptic conversation and bursts in to stop them from whipping a beautiful woman. This woman ends up popping up unexpectedly into Allison's life over and over again and sleeping with him (in some of the truly vaguest and yet somehow salacious sex scenes ever). His desire for the mysterious woman, and his obligation to protect the interests of his client, lead him deeper and deeper into the secrets of the house, and into the world of a group of dozens of immortals that have lived in and near the house since the days when ancient Mexican civilizations ruled the California coast.

Oh, and there is also a thwarted nuclear attack and a robot spaceship, but I wouldn't want to give away too much.

[full review here: http://spacebeer.blogspot.com/2008/02/house-that-stood-still.html ] show less

Is it a murder mystery, or is it an SF adventure? Unfortunately in trying to be both this tale turns out to be neither.

Verbose, confusing, and disjointed it doesn’t really feel like it’s going anywhere. The main character seems to just wander through events rather than influencing them, and I never really understood the motivations of the “immortal aliens” he discovers living in Los Angeles.

Overall a disappointing effort from Van Vogt

An interesting story. At times it just seemed to drone on and on with exposition (which I hate), but other than that, I truly enjoyed it. Who wouldn't love immortality without having to suck the blood of your friends? Simply go to the house that stood still, and immortality shall be yours!

http://iamagirldork.livejournal.com/38032.html

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