Customer Reviews (10)

Great Book
This was a fantastic read.From the cover and the description, it seemed very typical and straight forward.But don't be fooled, this novel is filled with characters with many facets, and lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing.Eisenstein is not a very prolific writer, but if you enjoy this one, pick up In the Red Lord's Reach, The Crystal Palace and Born to Exile.All are fine reads.

Exquisite Fairy Tale
As a jaded fantasy reader, I immediately recognized the character types I'd seen in a hundred other fantasy novels.What Eisenstein did is take characters that could easily have been cliches and made them live.These people seem real and human, and the story -- the wonderful, absorbing, unique story is so well told I couldn't put the book down.Some scenes were classic fantasy novel moments but they were so well done they seemed fresh, like I was reading the book the others had been imitating.The plot itself was original and satisfying; it kept me guessing/hoping/wondering without relying on illogical, artificial twists, and I can't remember the last time a fantasy novel achieved that.

Flat Static Characters from Central Casting
After having read several of the reviews for this book, I decided to give it a try. Never before have I read a book with such cookie cutter characters. They are simple and unchanging, with no depths, thoughts, or emotions (the one exception is the knight's mother, she displays her everlasting sadness, but even then, that is her only emotion.) The young knight, the loyal squire, the recluse sorcerers, the nonspecific seer, etc. You needn't waste your time reading this book. Halfway through, you'll throw it down and say "Who cares?"

Amazing... Simply amazing...
This is honestly the best book i have ever read.I had Pottermania for a while, but not anymore.I'm surprised this book is so underrated, because none of my fantasy/sci-fi friends have ever even heard of it!Trust me, it's absolutely wicked!

One of the Best fantasies of the 1970's
This book was published in 1979, a few years after the original Ballantine Adult Fantasy series had ended and right before the amazing fantasy fiction boom of the 1980's.As a result I've always considered this book a major transitional work in Fantasy fiction.The story of Cray (the son of the title) is a great coming of age story and shows how an author can create a Fantasy novel that does not require huge armies or huge casts of characters but focuses on a boy trying to find out something about himself.The love between son and mother is also heartwarming and quite a feel good.The writing is clean and descriptive with no false dialog or emotions.The ending is satisfying and touching (I love to re-read the ending).A book on a small scale that grows into a large wonderful read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Born to Exile
Once you grasp the 243 pages of "Born to Exile", you'll probably guess that Phyllis Eisenstein has a different writing philosophy than the authors of today's doorstoppers.Minimalism was her thing.She made every word count.She kept descriptions short.Characters rarely speak more than two or three sentences at a time.Action flies by at a lightning pace.She's trimmed the fat; you won't find any excess words, and thus you won't get bored.

The protagonist is Alaric, a traveling bard, and boy can he travel.Alaric can magically transport between any two points at any time, a useful skill if you're carrying on a covert love affair with a princess or rescuing a witch trapped in a well.His talent isn't without attached danger, however, as the populace fears magical power and even the royals are highly superstitious.

The plot sends Alaric from place to place, encountering differentcharacters and locations in different episodes.Some might even say that "Born to Exile" is more a story collection than a novel.Diverse as they may be, the tales are all held together by the common theme of exile.Wherever he goes, Alaric fails to fit in, and his story becomes a reflection on what it means to be an outcast.Short as it is, this book doesn't carry very much intensity, but it will take you on a pleasant flashback to the days when fantasy was supposed to be thought-provoking and clever as well as fantastic.

Great Job
This is just a nice strong light hearted read.I recomend to all

My Favorite
I originally read this book Freshman year in high school and lost my copy, I've been looking for it since. Born to Exile is easily my favorite fantasy book, and I stongly recommend reading it. Now, where can I find the sequel?

Born to Exile
Excellent book.The magic was very good and believable, and the power of teleportation was a new idea instead of the usual point and shoot my lighning, etc, kind of magic.I noticed a lot of writers want the name ofthe sequel.The sequel is, "In The Red Lord's Reach" by the sameauthor and that too was an excellent book although not as good as the firstin my opinion.Any fans of magic, castles, and that plain medieval feelwill love this book.

Born to Exile
Born to Exile was a really good book but i wish it had a sequel.It ended rather abruptly.The story was good though. ... Read more

Product Description
Ace mass market paperback, 1977. Fifth annual collection of science fiction/fantasy short stories by various authors. ... Read more

Product Description
CONTENTS: ~ ~~ ~ SERIAL: Beyond the Red Lord's Reach (Part 2 of 3) [Phyllis Eisenstein]; NOVELETTES: The Man Who Loved the Vampire Lady [Brian Stableford]; Mirror, Mirror, Off the Wall [John Morressey]; SHORT STORIES: Joram Among the Dogs [Paul A. Carter]; Natural Selection [Robert White]; Beibermann's Soul [Mike Resnick]; Natural Talent [Vance Aandahl]; ARTICLE: The Fire of Life [Isaac Asimov] ... Read more

Book Description
From time-viewing to teleportation, from secret worlds to dream worlds, from the medieval to the modern, these stories explore the yearnings of the human heart. In these pages you will meet Edward, Jane, and Stephen, whose dreams are more real than their realities. You will journey with Alaric to the fortress in the Lake of Death, walk the seashore with Lydia in search of the great dark bird, and follow the blind man under the subway with Donnie and his father. You will pursue revenge with Tayis and heart's desire with the sleeping beauty's one true love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

twilight Zone twist to this collection
Seven of the nine stories that make up this speculative fiction anthology were written between the mid-seventies and early eighties, insuring difficulty in finding them.The other two were furnished within the last six years.Each tale is dark as Phyllis Eisenstein shines a light on the innermost secret dreams of her varying protagonists.As the author explains in her introduction her contributions can be classified as fantasy or science fiction as she seems to have a leg in both genres.All the tales are top notch and fans of short fiction in a twilight Zone twist kind of way in which nothing is as it first seems will want to read NIGHT LIVES.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more