- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: Orb Books; Reprint edition (Aug 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0765307294
- ISBN-13: 978-0765307293
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 13.9 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,312,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
‘Sonorous, vivid and utterly enthralling’
Times Literary Supplement
‘Indescribably enchanting… a fantasy which celebrates the immensity of love. Simultaneously, it is a celebration of fantasy… should be read several times’
Spectator
‘Classic yet original setting… Mythago Wood is a haunting book… Holdstock’s best’
Guardian
‘Beautifully written and conceived… Some books are hard to put down. I found Mythago Wood hard to shake off’
New York Times
‘A stunningly good book… conveys the haunting power of old heroes and lost gods’
Locus
‘For me, this is the outstanding fantasy book of the 1980s, something to read several times and to rediscover the same delight with every new reading’
Michael Moorcock
Book Description
MYTHAGO WOOD: one of the best fantasy novels of the twentieth century
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Occasionally I'll walk into a bookshop and sift through the shelves until something catches my eye and I find myself buying it based solely on the opening pages. Paperback prospecting you might call it. It's a risky business but every so often it pays off in a big way. So it was with Mythago Wood.
At just over 330 pages, Mythago Wood is far from being the weightiest fantasy book out there, and indeed most fantasy fans with some time on their hands will breeze through it in a day or two, however the story is so beautifully crafted and the characters so memorable that it leaves a tangible mental imprint long after it has been neatly tucked away on a shelf. Furthermore, as with all truly great stories, it will only be a matter of time before you'll find yourself yearning for the strange sense of magic it instills, and picking it up to relive the experience.
In terms of recommended readership, I would say the strength of Robert Holdstock's writing, in this novel more than any of his others, makes it accessible to literally anybody who enjoys a good story. In that sense it could be thought of in the same terms as The Hobbit.
All in all, a magical book that is eagerly recommend to anybody looking for an immersive, satisfying read.
At just over 330 pages, Mythago Wood is far from being the weightiest fantasy book out there, and indeed most fantasy fans with some time on their hands will breeze through it in a day or two, however the story is so beautifully crafted and the characters so memorable that it leaves a tangible mental imprint long after it has been neatly tucked away on a shelf. Furthermore, as with all truly great stories, it will only be a matter of time before you'll find yourself yearning for the strange sense of magic it instills, and picking it up to relive the experience.
In terms of recommended readership, I would say the strength of Robert Holdstock's writing, in this novel more than any of his others, makes it accessible to literally anybody who enjoys a good story. In that sense it could be thought of in the same terms as The Hobbit.
All in all, a magical book that is eagerly recommend to anybody looking for an immersive, satisfying read.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first volume in the Mythago Wood series (before Lavondyss, The Hollowing, Merlin's Wood, and Gate of Ivory), in which the main character, Steve Huxley, tells us of the time short after WWII when he went back to England to help his brother Christian take care of their father's house after the latter's death.
Oak Lodge is at the edge of the Rhyope estate, next to a mysterious wood which intrigued George Huxley so much he dedicated the end of his life, and many journals, to its study. Indeed, in Mythago Wood, images of legendary heroes (mythagos) come to life, created from the folk-tales and collective minds of past civilizations. Among them Guiwenneth, a stunningly beautiful red-haired warrior woods-woman.
In turns, the Huxleys will all fall in love with the girl, and following their father's footsteps, Chris and then Steve will also feel the incontrollable need to try and penetrate deeper into the wood, where time and space expand, only to be rejected by it, as if pushed back and led astray by invisible forces.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book and immersed in it: I could almost smell the forest scents, see the green of the leaves and touch the softness of the moss, as if I were walking in the wood with the heroes. I admit I must have been influenced by John Howe's beautiful illustrations of Mythago Wood... I also loved the character of Harry Keeton, the airplane pilot who helps Steve in his quest. All in all, even though I might not have tied all loose ends, it was a fantastically enchanting read.
Oak Lodge is at the edge of the Rhyope estate, next to a mysterious wood which intrigued George Huxley so much he dedicated the end of his life, and many journals, to its study. Indeed, in Mythago Wood, images of legendary heroes (mythagos) come to life, created from the folk-tales and collective minds of past civilizations. Among them Guiwenneth, a stunningly beautiful red-haired warrior woods-woman.
In turns, the Huxleys will all fall in love with the girl, and following their father's footsteps, Chris and then Steve will also feel the incontrollable need to try and penetrate deeper into the wood, where time and space expand, only to be rejected by it, as if pushed back and led astray by invisible forces.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book and immersed in it: I could almost smell the forest scents, see the green of the leaves and touch the softness of the moss, as if I were walking in the wood with the heroes. I admit I must have been influenced by John Howe's beautiful illustrations of Mythago Wood... I also loved the character of Harry Keeton, the airplane pilot who helps Steve in his quest. All in all, even though I might not have tied all loose ends, it was a fantastically enchanting read.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book was highly recommended, and had a beautiful cover. I did enjoy the sense of mystery that envelopes the eponymous Ryhope Wood, and also the depiction of the wood's powers, and its hold upon Stephen's father, who leaves detailed notes about his discoveries of the wood, and gradually withdrawn into the dark shadow of the wood. The same power, which has also consumed Stephen's brother Christopher, then threatens Stephen himself. This was all quite interesting, as far as it goes. However, I found the focus on the female "archetype", Guiwenneth, a little lacking somehow. The weight given to the "allure" of this girl did not seem in proportion to the rest of the story. It dominated it and undercut what could otherwise have been quite an intriguing and dark story. This may well just be a personal quibble; admittedly I did not enjoy the character, which may have had an effect. In this connection, I found most of the characters unpleasant, with the possible exception of Stephen's father, himself a very flawed person. So as the story built up to the "climax", I was relatively uninterested in the outcome either way.
I think this story might appeal to those with a degree of interest in English mythology. That was an element which I did find enjoyable.
Overall, this was a quite unusual book, but one that I cannot personally recommend.
I think this story might appeal to those with a degree of interest in English mythology. That was an element which I did find enjoyable.
Overall, this was a quite unusual book, but one that I cannot personally recommend.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Amazing, enthralling, genre defying
This is book is an amazing work in fantasy (and it can only be described as fantasy) which melds our world and history with that of dreams and the fruits they can bear. Read more
Published on 26 April 2010 by ozzyeatworld
Wonderful.
I first read this book many years ago, but I still come back to it. The ideas in it are fantastic. I can't recommend it enough.
Published on 20 Nov 2009 by J. Pullman
No masterpiece!!
Read this when it first came out and it was a disappointment.The characters are not developed enough early on to make you believe in them.The writing also is unconvincing. Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2009 by Ivor Winters
A marauding band of medieval soldiers set fire to the garden
I don't read much fantasy - apart from the fabulous Terry Pratchett - and I don't think of that as serious fantasy. Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2009 by Eileen Shaw
A rich story about myth
Convalescing in France after WWII, Steve Huxley hears of the death of his father, who for many years has been obsessed by the woodland bordering their home. Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2009 by A. Whitehead
You Brits should be ashamed of yourselves!
Only 16 reviews for this fantasy masterpiece?!?!? What's wrong with you people??? You're almost as bad as us Americans! And you bloody invented the genre!! Read more
Published on 18 July 2009 by Kavity Killer
Magical beginning to extraordinary saga
One of my favourite "fantasy" books - "Mythago Wood" blends the modern day with a wonderful cast of English mythological characters. Read more
Published on 19 Jun 2009 by M. R. N. Shackelford
To be read once a year!
My favourite book ever!! I borrowed it from my brother about 20 years ago now and read it during the summer holidays and must have re-read it once a year ever since. Read more
Published on 2 Aug 2008 by silverwood
Award-winning fantasy novel
Back in 1981, Robert Holdstock wrote the novella "Mythago Wood". It was so good it was expanded into the World Fantasy Award winning novel of the same name (it won it in 1985). Read more
Published on 14 May 2008 by Peter C
you will either love it or hate it
for some people this book goes to work on them, the imagery, the idea of the wood, it all becomes a banquet for their imagination. Not me however. Read more
Published on 2 April 2008 by B. J. Crossley
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