- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: Orb Books; First Edition edition (Sep 1 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0765307294
- ISBN-13: 978-0765307293
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 13.9 x 2.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 313 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #312,932 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Holdstock's fantasy of a surviving primeval forest where legends and tribes of different ages coexist draws power from the myths, archetypes and literary conventions it embodies. The long, Wellsian introduction to the Huxley family and their fascination with Ryhope Wood slowly moves toward a civilized British confrontation with the wilderness and savagery. Unaware of the consequences, Steve Huxley falls in love with the latest incarnation of beautiful Guiwenneth of the greenwoodas his father and brother had before him. When she is kidnapped, his attempt to find her becomes a quest leading to the heart of the mysterious wood. Although it takes its time getting started, and occasionally reminds us that it was expanded from a short story, this is a winning novel with a fine feeling for the interface between airy dreams and sweaty reality. Science Fiction Book Club main selection. Foreign rights: Ellen Levine. November 20
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Myth and Terror in the Forest Deeps
The mystery of Ryhope Wood, Britain's last fragment of primeval forest, consumed George Huxley's entire long life. Now, after his death, his sons have taken up his work. But what they discover is numinous and perilous beyond all expectation.
For the Wood, larger inside than out, is a labyrinth full of myths come to life, "mythagos" that can change you forever. A labyrinth where love and beauty haunt your dreams. . .and may drive you insane.
The mystery of Ryhope Wood, Britain's last fragment of primeval forest, consumed George Huxley's entire long life. Now, after his death, his sons have taken up his work. But what they discover is numinous and perilous beyond all expectation.
For the Wood, larger inside than out, is a labyrinth full of myths come to life, "mythagos" that can change you forever. A labyrinth where love and beauty haunt your dreams. . .and may drive you insane.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
In May 1944 I received my call-up papers and went reluctantly away to war, training at first in the Lake District, then shipping over to France with the 7th Infantry. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
In May 1944 I received my call-up papers and went reluctantly away to war, training at first in the Lake District, then shipping over to France with the 7th Infantry. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good premise, sloppy writing,
By
This review is from: Mythago Wood (Paperback)
Mythago Wood's exalted reputation within the fantasy field reveals just how low the literary standards are within the genre. The premise is clever and the plot is well developed, but the prose! Cliched descriptions, amateurish grammatical errors and missed opportunities abound. The writing only shines when Holdstock emulates the style of ancient tales; the discipline of the skillful pastiche brings out the best in Holdstock's prose, and throws a harsh light on the slackness of his usual style. The female romantic lead makes matters worse; she's the same "strong" but giggly fantasy doll who moes, minces and flits through so much bad fantasy fiction.Perhaps Mythago Wood's clever premise makes it worth a read, but poorly written books with good ideas are minor books, even in the ghetto of genre fantasy. This is why Tolkien and Mervyn Peake have credibility in the literary world as a whole, while many other good "idea writers" don't.
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best fantasy's of all time!!!!,
By "hansem_m_" (Eugene, OR) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Mythago Wood (Paperback)
I am not really a fantasy book fan, but when a friend recommended this book to me, I figured, "Hey, I'll give it a shot!"From page one I was enthralled. The story just gets better and better. Steven Huxley's father get obsessed by the woods growing close to his house. He goes in for days and comes out again only to lock himself in his study to write about what he saw. The woods are filled with "mythagos", beings conjured up in the minds of the people who visit the woods and also from legends passed down through people during time. Over the course of the book, Steven's father dies and then his brother, Christian, gets obsessed with the woods, as well as one of the "mythagos" who he's fallen in love with, Guiwenneth. Guiwenneth disappears and Christian goes into the woods to find her. After not returning, Steven decides to go after his brother and his love who was taken by Christian, Guiwenneth. The story-line is mezmerizing and full of adventure. Robert Holdstock is one of the most amazing writers of our time. His imagination is brilliant. I will recommend this bok to everyone I know. This is a MUST READ book!
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting but lacking,
By A Customer
This review is from: Mythago Wood (Paperback)
After reading many of the glowing reviews and thinking that the premise was interesting, I decided to make my purchase. However while I found the books premise interesting I was really put off by the "pedophilish" (?) interest the main characters took in Guiwenneth...come on she seemed to be about 14 or 15 and we get paragraph upon paragraph describing her child-like body.....very gross. Other than that (which for me was enough to ruin it). While the story at spots was uneven and convoluted I found the description of the relationship Christian and Steven had with their with father to be so very poignant.
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