Customer Reviews

Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn (Mythago Wood)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Holdstock's latest welcome addition to the Mythago series is, chronologically-speaking, a prequel, focusing chiefly on George Huxley's (possibly) ill-fated son Christian. Gate of Ivory stands up very well however as a complete story in its own right and would be an excellent gate of entry for any lovers of heroic fantasy to pass through, who have yet to sample the delights and terrors of Ryhope Wood.

Intertwined around the principal saga, which concerns Christian's quest to exorcise the dreadful memories of his mother's suicide, are numerous enthralling sub-plots, each containing echoes of half-remembered legends, which grab the reader at a visceral level. Anyone who has ever loved will feel a pang of recognition with Christian's pursuit of Guiwenneth and the parallel myths that draw Issabeau and Someone together have a lot to tell us about finding ones soul-mate. Holdstock tells us much about the true nature of friendship and respect and also makes us taste the bitterness of irrevocable loss. To compliment the profundity however, there is also much levity. Gate of Ivory contains probably more humourous tableaux than any other Mythago novel; Kylhuk's diet, Christian's unwise mocking of Gwyr and his "recognition" of Anambioros Son of Oisingeteros form amusing counterpoints to the grim events that surround them.

Fundamentally, Gate of Ivory is also a rattling good adventure story with swords and sorcery aplenty and heroic journeys through some very strange lands and with equally strange travelling companions.

I wholeheartedly recommend this novel to all lovers of fantasy.

...which really few books do, only George R R Martin and Robin Hobb has done this before, but to be guided through the Mythago Wood by strange characters and great stories, was a real treat, so I won't spoil anything for anybody by telling you what its all about and such :)

If you enjoy Robert Holdstock, you won't be dissapointed, trust me and if you like twisted dreamlike ideas and is a fan of the ways of the mind, then don't miss this.

Enjoy it!!

WOW...is all I have to say after reading Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn. Unlike his other efforts since Mythago Wood itself, this book provided that same stomach-knotting pleasure-pain climax that the original possessed. I highly recommend it.
That's not to say it's perfect. I found Christian's exploits with Legion a bit boring, frankly. Also, Holdstock has taken Ryhope Wood to its most extreme yet in terms of time-space distortion. It got a little confusing.
But Holdstock has succeeded immeasurably in his "Sympathy for the Devil" look at Christian. For those who wondered how he became the monster he did in Mythago Wood, here is your answer, beautifully wrought. The phrase "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions" could have been made to describe the ending of this book. Christian did everything right (he even chose the right gate!), but could not escape his destiny, and in the end just accepted it.
The final chapters and coda of Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn are well worth every long-in-the-tooth saga of Legion's exploits. The ending makes the reader think, wonder, feel sorry for Christian AND Guiwinneth, and wonder where in the very circular timeline of events could Christian have changed his fate. Also you realize that Steven had the deck stacked in his favor before HIS tale even began. Which leads the reader to re-ponder Mythago Wood, and so the circle continues. The great timeless mythic quality that Lavondyss, among others, lacked is here in droves.
In short, Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn, while not quite as outstanding as Mythago Wood (which I consider the best fantasy work, EVER - makes Tolkien look like an amateur) is really close. Read it.

WOW...is all I have to say after reading Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn. Unlike his other efforts since Mythago Wood itself, this book provided that same stomach-knotting pleasure-pain climax that the original possessed. I highly recommend it.
That's not to say it's perfect. I found Christian's exploits with Legion a bit boring, frankly. Also, Holdstock has taken Ryhope Wood to its most extreme yet in terms of time-space distortion. It got a little confusing.
But Holdstock has succeeded immeasurably in his "Sympathy for the Devil" look at Christian. For those who wondered how he became the monster he did in Mythago Wood, here is your answer, beautifully wrought. The phrase "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions" could have been made to describe the ending of this book. Christian did everything right (he even chose the right gate!), but could not escape his destiny, and in the end just accepted it.
The final chapters and coda of Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn are well worth every long-in-the-tooth saga of Legion's exploits. The ending makes the reader think, wonder, feel sorry for Christian AND Guiwinneth, and wonder where in the very circular timeline of events could Christian have changed his fate. Also you realize that Steven had the deck stacked in his favor before HIS tale even began. Which leads the reader to re-ponder Mythago Wood, and so the circle continues. The great timeless mythic quality that Lavondyss, among others, lacked is here in droves.
In short, Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn, while not quite as outstanding as Mythago Wood (which I consider the best fantasy work, EVER - makes Tolkien look like an amateur) is really close. Read it.

The (currently) latest book in the Mythago cycle tells the story of Christian Huxley, whom we first met in the role of ruthless killer in "Mythago Wood". This book provides a sympathetic treatment of Christian, explaining his history with the barbarian princess Guiwenneth, and giving startling insight into the tragic end of Jennifer Huxley, his mother. The book focuses on Christian's early career in Ryhope Wood, showing us the events which eventually led to his decline, but omitting the decline itself. I liked the book, but was a bit disappointed with the ending; it seemed to me that his impasse with both Jennifer and Guiwenneth at the end could have been negotiated to a more satisfactory conclusion - in fact, it's a bit unbelievable to me that Christian wasn't able to do so. Also, the book just didn't "grab" me as strongly as the previous books (which I would have rated as 10's). However, fans of the Mythago cycle will not want to pass this one up, because it expands our understanding of events around Ryhope significantly further. I do appreciate the fact that Mr. Holdstock is going back to tie up some of the numerous loose ends that the previous books leave dangling, and I hope he will continue this trend.

Gate of Ivory goes back in time in the Mythago Wood sequence to tell us the story of Christian Huxley.

Steven's brother, who has never recovered from his mother's suicide after an terrible attack by a band of Mythago warriors when he was only a small boy, is now a grown man and goes exploring into the Wood. There he joins the Long Person, a makeshift group of forgotten figures from past legends, among which Guiwenneth, with whom he'll deeply fall in love. After living with them for a while, he learns that they're here to help the warrior Kylhuk's Legion in his quests, and soon Christian discovers he has a role to play too.

What I enjoyed in this fifth volume is the diversity of interesting characters and their stories. It was also great to read Christian's side of the story. Indeed in this tome he appears as a much less barbaric and more humane person than in the first one.

Holdstock, if you can get past those swirling, confusing time-and-scenario shifts that he's so fond of, is one of the best authors you will ever encounter, and his novels the most enthralling. The man has a brain like no one else. Each Mythago novel deals with a different main character, and generally you don't need to read them in order, though it helps. Each has a tenuous sort of link with its companions through either mythagos in common, or mutual friends, that sort of thing. Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn is the story of Christian Huxley, who we met first in Mythago Wood, and who wasn't really a very nice guy. This novel tells the story of how he was captured by Ryhope Wood (and hence became a bit of a ****)- through Guiwenneth, who also fascinated his father; and the larger-than-life figure of Kylhuk, whose quest he becomes embroiled in.
While you're reading this I guarantee there will be moments where you go "WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON?!?!" but by god, reaching the end is so worth it. And if you've been paying proper attention, it will all make sense.
I don't even need to talk about his prose. I hope that if you're reading this review then you've read one or more of his novels already, and know how emotive, visual and wide his imagery is. I can't think of any other books where I can see so clearly what an author is describing.
Holdstock's vision is immensely far-reaching - each novel in the series explains something in a different novel, and while I said before that you can read them out of order, NONE of them should be regarded as a stand-alone. If you read one, and your curiosity was even remotely piqued by any loose ends (of if you just love Holdstock ;)), you must read the others. Every novel is typical of Holdstock in that, like I said before, he seems to like writing a story that is highly ambiguous, and quite challenging in ways both literary and emotional. There is only one book in the series, for example, with a happy ending - I won't tell you which if you haven't read it ;). The only possible quibble that I might have with him is that in each novel, the ending is sort of unfinished - but to me that leaves a lot of room for speculation, interpretation, and hopefully -god, SO hopefully - for further novels.

I enjoyed the first Mythago Wood book. It was in a different world, with rich detail, multiple depths of meaning, and a great ending. It was also a bit slow! Didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying it, but it made me wonder what a faster-moving Mythago Woods story would be like.

Then I got Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn (Mythago 6). The world is richer, with many more characters and also a great ending. It moves faster and has much more action, too. Thoroughly enjoyed it - finished reading it less than a day after it arrived.

Next up for Mythago Wood series reading: Lavondyss: Journey to an Unknown Region and The Hollowing. I'm looking forward to them both!

This is part of the Mythago Wood Series.
If you like real Celtic history mixed with ancient legends you will love
this book and this series. Deep within the wood is the path to another time. Robert Holdstock writes with a style of his own and avoids the cliche of legends to give you the non-disney version of Robin Hood and
others. It's scary and dark in the woods and each Mythago has its own
destiny it must follow. Great stuff..with a darker take on legends similar to the old fables. (In fact if you like the "Fables" comics
you'll like this series.

Way to go Robert!!!!!!!!!!! Keep up the good work and keep those books coming! Anyone who has not read Robert Holdstock is missing out. The stories are complex, but well worth the effort. You will be continually guessing. If you are into science fiction fantasy, you'll find Holdstock at the top of the list of great writers.

Also recommended: J.R.R. Tolkein, C.S. Lewis, Robert Jordan