Mythago Wood

Rating:
Summary: The most sophisticated fantasy of the decade
Review: Readers obsessed with discovering the next "Tolkein" will no doubt be disappointed by this book. Holdstock eschews the traditional themes of "light vs. dark," melodramatic romance, and charming little people (hobbits). Instead, he employs Joseph Campbell's notion of myth and the subconscious to weave an innovative and sophisticated tale new to the genre of fantasy. Mythago Wood is the story of a young man returning to his childhood home and his fascination of nearby Ryhope wood. The wood, he discovers, generates magical creatures, mythagos, rooted the subconscious mythic archetypes unique to each culture. Embroiled in a love quarrel with his brother Christopher, who himself has in way become a part of the wood, the young man embarks on attempt to save the wood and rescue his love, a exotic whose myth dates back to Roman times. In many ways, this work actually is a successor to Tolkein in its genesis. Readers familiar with Tolkein's writings (including the Simirillion and Book of Lost Tales) recognize the importance of Germanic, English, and Scandavian myths in the construction of the history of Middle Earth. Holdstock, who adopts none of epic themes essential to the Lord of the Rings, likewise greatly relies on myth. Anyone in search of a truly revolutionary fantasy will find this book well worth the while.

Rating:
Summary: A unique and challenging fantasy novel
Review: Robert Holdstock has created a new sub-genre of fantasy with his Mythago Wood novels. They have a haunting, dreamlike quality about them that defies easy description or classification. To attempt to write a straightforward synopsis of Mythago Wood itself is almost to lose the very essence of the novel, to break away from the ethereal feeling which transcends the book. Yet between the fantasy which touches the deepest part of the human psyche, and the gritty realism of Neolithic man and his squalid lifestyle, he creates a vivid and shocking contrast. The clean-cut comicbook concept of modern fantasy is far removed from the stream of racial subconscious and primal lifeforces which seems to suffuse Mythago Wood. Suddenly here is novel which invades its reader's comfortzones and forces them to realise how life 10,000 years ago must really have been, and how profoundly it affected the people who lived then, so that their only defense against the surrounding darkness was to call up champions and defenders from their own subconscious minds. That these mythagos are still able to manifest from modern man's staid and jaded psyches and transform people's lives as they do, is an eloquent witness to the power they represent. This novel and its sequel, Lavondyss, are outstanding modern works of fantasy fiction.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful...
Review: Someone needs to storm the doors of ROC (I think that's who is currently publishing Holdstock) and DEMAND that this book be reprinted. For those of you who haven't had the joy of discovering the Mythago Wood Chronicle...I envy you. You are about to step into an astounding new world for the very first time. Holdstock's work makes the spirit quiver with wonder.

Rating:
Summary: highly intriguing
Review: This is a really intriguing mythical fantasy novel based in England after World War II. I was a little apprehensive about this one, since I'd read the sequel, Lavondyss, first. Lavondyss was a heavy read, definitely not a "casual" novel, but absolutely worth the time and concentration put into it. In contrast, Mythago Wood was very easy to read and understand, and I think had I read it first, I would have had less trouble with Lavondyss. The plot of Mythago Wood involves two brothers who live near an old-growth forest, who discover that human minds create "mythagos," physical manifestations of primal legendary heros and villains, in the forest. It's magical, innovative fiction, in my opinion, but slightly hints of other epic "legend" stories like Beowulf. I can highly recommend both Mythago Wood and its sequel, Lavondyss.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: This is hands down the best fantasy/sci-fi book I have ever read. Holdstock's writing is pure magic; one of the few truly original books in the genre.

Rating:
Summary: A fantastic masterpiece of fantasy.
Review: This is one of the better books I have ever read, and I would say it rates in my personal top ten favorites. It is extremely well written, very visual and moving, and the characters are also excellent and believable. Every step of the way Mr. Holdstock brings this beautiful (and sometimes dark) fantasy world to life, spinning the reader through places that few people even dream of. I recommend this book to any lover of fantasy and adventure.

Rating:
Summary: Dazzling, amazing, wow!
Review: This may be the best and most influential book I have ever read. I love it.

Rating:
Summary: Into the dark
Review: Wounded in World War 2, Steven returns to his family's English estate after the death of his father. He finds his older brother Christian succumbing to the obsession for the nearby forest that destroyed their father. The forest holds many mysteries, Steven soon learns, and the beings that live there, called mythagos, have magical origins. Christian and their father fought over the forest girl Guiwenneth until both their father's and the girl's deaths. Christian wanders into the forest to find her again, certain that she will be recreated. She does return in her primitive form, and falls in love with Steven. They share a fine time together, learning from each other and loving, until Christian returns from the forest as a mythic warrior. He takes Guiwenneth back into the forest, and is pursued by Steven, who finds himself becoming part of a new mythology whose ending is anticipated but unwritten. "Mythago Wood" is a mythic dark fantasy that entrances readers to discover the mysteries of the relatively unexplored forest with the two brothers. Holdstock weaves a fascinating and dense narrative, leaving some things unexplained and lingering.

Rating:
Summary: SIMPLY A MUST READ FOR CLASSIC FANTASY READERS!
Review: WOW! What a true find in the fantasy genre. This book alone was far better than the last 100 good fantasy novels I've read in the past.
Not only is it an original in scope and idea, but its character driven and hauntingly scary at times. So you have this mythical, sorta horror toned fantasy novel that moves along at a brisk pace that is beautifully written.
How can it not be a winner?
This novel alone made me rush out to every used book store in town to find his other novels - and purchase his newest novel - Celticka.
If you like classic, fast-paced fantasy adventure - then look no further, bub!
I'm a new Robert Holdstock fan.