IRON CHAMBER OF MEMORY: Reminiscent of C.S. Lewis
Here is a flattering review from 2016 I do not recall seeing. I share it with my readers in hopes of generating additional interest in the work.
Allow me to say how refreshing it is to read words by someone who does not share an artist’s worldview, but can still judge his art as art. Objectivity was the norm one generation ago, not the exception.
From http://aetherczar.com/?p=3808
While a modern-day feudal lord prepares for marriage, his best man wrestles with his feelings for his friend’s bride and struggles to unravel the mystery of the cryptic room which is the only place in which they all can remember their true selves.
In The Iron Chamber of Memory, John C. Wright cooks up a complicated love triangle in the context of a work spanning fantasy and mystery and spiced with a healthy dose of history, myth, and legend. Wright’s tale exploits an ingenious gimmick – the concept of a secret room being the only place in which his characters can remember their true selves. They then must struggle to influence their outside selves to act so as to maintain and achieve their goals and values.
I’m not deeply religious, but I nevertheless respect the craftsmanlike way in which Wright delivers an intriguing tale drawing on English history, Arthurian legend, and Christian belief. His work is reminiscent of C.S. Lewis. As in his also excellent recent novel, Somewhither: A Tale of the Unwithering Realm, Wright draws heavily on Christian themes and ideas, to deliver a solid story that stands well on its own merits. I was particularly delighted by the skillful way in which Wright wove the real-world, real-life history of the Island of Sark into his fantastical tale. A talented prose stylist, Wright’s intricate command of language may sometimes fall short of sublime, but the joy lies in observing the master at work.
Wright’s entertaining tale is well-worth the price.
About John C Wright
John C. Wright is a practicing philosopher, a retired attorney, newspaperman, and newspaper editor, and a published author of science fiction. Once a Houyhnhnm, he was expelled from the august ranks of purely rational beings when he fell in love; but retains an honorary title.
