Gollancz Mythago Wood: The Winner of the WORLD FANTASY AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL

Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood is an underappreciated, yet significant contribution to the fantasy genre in many ways. To start out with, the work is well written and conveys a dark and mystical mood in a forest setting. Also the plot of Mythago Wood is anything but formulaic; nevertheless, the events in the book move along at a steady pace.However, the point of Mythago Wood is not to showcase a fast-paced, action-driven plot. Mythago wood really shines because the work is about a journey "within." It canvasses topics including familial estrangement, biological urges and the inner psyche. The characters that enter the magical Ryhope wood must face the ancient archetypal Mythagos created from the collective conscience of the humans nearby, including themselves.Throughout the novel Holdstock does an excellent job of incorporating a variety of Celtic folklore and mythology into the mystery. The characters in the story struggle with emotions including love, jealousy, fear, and anguish. Holdstock purposely pits the powers of reason, rationality and scientific measurement against the ever-shifting, human-repelling powers of Ryhope wood. Holdstock leaves enough mystery about the workings of Ryhope wood so that he can continue to reveal the characteristics of Ryhope wood over the course of several very good sequels.In Mythago Wood, Holdstock has made a significant contribution to the fantasy genre by creating a meaningful novel that is more than run of the mill bestselling "plot-candy." He has also avoided recreating the already well-done good vs. evil theme or the power of language theme. Even though Ryhope wood exists alongside the reality of post WWII England, expect to be completely immersed in the fantasy of the wood.But don't read Mythago Wood because of its significance within the fantasy genre. Read it to expand and test your mind and to engage your imagination in a new way.

One of my favourite fantasy books with very mythical, pagany feeling to it. This time I got it for one of my best friends, hope he likes it too.

Mythago Wood was brilliant. I loved every word and every page. Holdstock offers a very original fantasy novel. I loved the concept behind Mythago Wood, an immense wood that can create creatures of myth and legend from the mind’s of humans. Who wouldn’t love to read a book with such a premise? Can you imagine the crazy s*** that could happen? I loved the extracts from the journals of Christian and Stephen’s father. They were intriguing, rambling and fascinating. I loved how Holdstock writes about Christian’s descent into their father’s madness. I loved it when Stephen went running into the woods after his mad brother to save the woman, the mythago he loved. Mythago Wood ticks all the boxes of a great read. Mythago Wood is the first book in a series. I need to read the rest to see what madness spawns from Ryhope Wood next.

At the time of this writing this book is out of print which is a shame. It is one of the most intriguing I've read in many a year. For anyone who has an interest in myths and legends, this is a powerful tale of one man confronting such legends and how he's changed by it. Holdstock drinks from the same well as Gaiman and any fan of Gaiman should definitely give Holdstock a go. He also seems to be familiar with many of Jung's Archtype ideas and gives them a believable place to live.Thus the protagonist begins his journey into the heartwood of a mythic primeval forest and beyond - a journey to find his beloved celtic princess and the Umscrumug - the First Myth - the Myth Before all Others. A myth so ancient, the author says, is now fading even in Mythago Wood as Humanity's Collective Unconcious slowly forgets its past. Mythago Wood, a forest where legends and myths from every people of every time and every land are formed, live and breath. A WW1 soldier inhabits the same land as shamanic tribesmen. A celtic princess from the days of Roman Britain walks the woods from legends out of a much later Robin Hood era. And while it is clear that these beings are not "real" in the same sense that the protagonist is they are still capable of feeling joy, love, pain and sorrow. And are equally capable of killing and being killed.The characters are human, with both flaws and redeeming qualities and hints of why myths and legends still hold our imagination are part of the entertaining story (If Mythago Wood were real I'm sure Jedi Knights, Klingons and Paul Atreides would now be walking there too).This book won awards for good reason. If you enjoy stories of myths and legends don't fail to pick it up.

Interesting concept, very strange, muddled execution. For a story about stories, it seems more preoccupied with inserting elements that remove agency and surprise, rather than weave something organic and thematically on point.I didn’t even really buy any of the characters, but the strength of the prose and the sort-of gothic fantastical over story kept me reading anyway. Because there are many stories I thought this one would have something meaningful and interesting to say, yet, as I said, it was more interested in a particular story and the casting of specific, but generic roles.Surprising ending. But that doesn’t equal good. In fact, one part made me laugh out loud. Then it was sound enough, for a plot in which the protagonist's only purpose is to be a puppet on a string. Like I said: concept and prose carry it to the end, then it fumbles, pretty much.