Born to Exile – Phyllis Eisenstein

Born to Exile was my introduction to Phyllis Eisenstein, and it was a good one. An episodic novel first published as separate stories, it works well as a novel. Eisenstein has a deft hand with characterization, and the story flows smoothly, with satisfying arcs within most chapter/stories. Alaric, though acting a bit older than his 16-17 years, is an engaging, interesting character who considers his actions. The book itself is a bit less successful in its arc, and ends somewhat suddenly, without exploring one of the mysteries it sets up.

Though the author is a woman, the stories were written in the ’70s, and some of the attitudes are a product of their time, with purely supporting roles for women. Despite that, it’s a very enjoyable read, and I recommend it.