[The Luminous Depths]

The First Republic is the Czechoslovak state that existed from 1918 until 1938 when it was subsumed by Nazi Occupation. David Herter’s trilogy delves into the cultural richness of this period as it is overshadowed by the looming evil of the times. His characters are historical figures, artists – most notably, the composers Leoš Janáček, Pavel Haas, Igor Stravinsky and Gideon Klein; the writers, Franz Kafka, Karel Čapek and Max Brod; the brothers of Čapek and Haas, the artist Joseph Čapek and the Hollywood actor and director Hugo Haas; and a mysterious flautist named Magdalena.

The critic, Brian Stableford, who wrote the introduction to [One Who Disappeared], describes the books as belonging to a heterocosmic tradition that realism rejected, but which has emerged not only in genre fiction but the wider scope of magical realism. Rather than try to summarize or analyze the trilogy, I would simply like to express my appreciation for Herter’s fascinating introduction to this time and these people in dazzling series of books that teases the imagination and provides a rich and strange exploration.

Herter’s own description of his experience in Brno during the festival that celebrated the birth of Janáček in 2004 (while he was working on the trilogy) is evocative of some of the magic produced by his books: http://www.locusmag.com/2004/Features/06_HerterLetter.html

Listening Guide to the connection between the city of Brno and Janacek’s Sinfonietta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uciNH5hCCvI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_an_Overgrown_Path
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHEk9Iemd5s ( )

At the end of 2008 I read the first novella in Herter's trilogy, On the Overgrown Path which was a wonderful dark fantasy and mystery featuring the Czech composer Janacek.

This second book begins in the early 1920s with the arrival of Dr. Brod and Franz Kafka at Janacek home. There Kafka is introduced and he produces a mysteries "stave flower" - a folded parchment with many points covered in what seems to be tiny musical notations. Kafka tells him that it fell from the sky and hit him in the chest. With it came an ominous vision of the future, he claimed.

Now forward ahead to 1930. Composer Pavel Haas, a former student of Janacek is working with Karel and Josef Capek on a revival of their play, [R.U.R] or Rossum's Universal Robots. After an evening of camaraderie with the Capeks at a local restaurant, Pavel is on his way home when what looks like a paper star flower floats down from the sky and hits him in the chest. He pockets it. Later the next day, when during the play rehearsal he unfolds it, the theater goes dark. . . .

What begins now is a gripping fantastical tale that I would prefer not to spoil for you. Herter is actually quite a fine writer (one of the better ones in the field of genre literature, imo). He has created a sense of place and character and atmosphere rich with period details, musical details, historical details. You are there in the theater with Haas, the Capeks, the other costumed actors. You are there when the lights go out, and you are there for what comes after...

Both books are very well done and I'm really looking forward to the third! ( )