Mythago Wood: 1 (Mythago Cycle)

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In pursuing explanation and mapping of the wood, he heads to a local airstrip and hires Harry Keeton to fly over the wood. For the Wood is a realm where myths gain flesh and blood, tapping primal fears and desires subdued through the millennia. Ranks as one of the all-time "must read" scifi/fantasy novels -- and one of the very few books I know that hasn't been rendered obsolete by the digital revolution, in that it is set in 1947.

Selfish love, the possession of the love object, the damsel in distress are the disappointing propulsive factors. It is said the mythological creatures of old deep woods need to be placated and bribed with gifts of blood and flesh if you live near such a forest.If we had had a female protagonist with her own mythago creatures, I might have thought differently but this felt very 'male' to me. I loved it when Stephen went running into the woods after his mad brother to save the woman, the mythago he loved.

I followed him inwards, seeking the easiest route between tangles of bracken and nettles, enjoying the heavy stillness. I've seldomly read a book that is so rich and enthralling in its descriptions and really draws me into the mythical woods , where time flows differently, where your subconscious can conjure up archetypes and these can infringe upon your very real life outside of the forest. Thankfully, the book is saved by exquisite trees, vines, roots, creatures, crumbling towers, and a virulent whirlpool of intoxicating imagery.I never fully understood Harry Keeton's situation, which was wrapped up much too quickly, but I'm thinking that this will be addressed in a sequel. A little while later, the first person narrator feels the need to explain that if this character decided to strap on his pack with the strap across that very shoulder, it would cause him great discomfort and possibly harm. In particular, there are some ancient myths (the idea of human migration after the ice age) that made for thoughtful good images.

I don't have the book in front of me, but its only a short period of time before he starts muttering about 'forever. Michael Moorcock finds Mythago Wood notable for focusing on the subject of unity, including both the unity of the landscape and its inhabitants as well as the unity of dreams and the environment. The principle protagonist learns of the unbelievable powers of the wood and believes it immediately.Christian Huxley: Older brother of Stephen Huxley, who enters Ryhope Wood as an "Outsider" and plays havoc in the woodland. For example, in a recent study of the fantasy genre Mythago Wood and Lavondyss have been described as works of pure fantasy that take place in an innovative and startlingly ordinary realm. For a world fantasy award, the writing surprised me; there is a great deal of 'showing,' as one of the brothers delves into the mystery of the wood, but because of the legends and the angle of psychological creation, there is a great deal of telling as well. The setting is convincing, though there were distracting missteps and aggravations that had me rolling my eyes.