The Green Man: Tales from the Mythic Forest [Paperback]

Terri Windling (Editor), Ellen Datlow (Editor), Charles Vess (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 12, 2004

One of our most universal myths is that of the Green Man—the spirit who stands for Nature in its most wild and untamed form. Through the ages and around the world, the Green Man and other nature spirits have appeared in stories, songs, and artwork, as well as many beloved fantasy novels, including Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Now Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, the acclaimed editors of over thirty anthologies, have gathered some of today’s finest writers of magical fiction to interpret the spirits of nature in short stories and poetry. Folklorist and artist Charles Vess brings his stellar eye and brush to the decorations, and Windling provides an introduction exploring Green Man symbolism and forest myth. The Green Man is required reading—not only for fans of fantasy fiction but for those interested in mythology and the mysteries of the wilderness.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Michael Cadnum, Jane Yolen, Patricia A. McKillip and 15 others interpret an enduring legend through short stories and poetry in The Green Man: Tales From the Mythic Forest, ed. by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, illus. by Charles Vess. Brief biographies accompany the work of each author.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8-Up The image of the "Green Man" is an ancient one as the introduction to this collection makes clear. From the old tales to Tolkien to Susan Cooper's Green Boy (McElderry, 2002), the awakening of nature has fueled many a gripping tale. The 15 stories and 3 poems were written for this book by such diverse authors as Patricia McKillip, Michael Cadnum, and Midori Snyder. Mature themes and an often sophisticated view of the world and how one survives in it characterize many of these selections. The mood is sometimes playful, as in Gregory Maguire's "Fee, Fie, Foe, et Cetera," or mystical as in the Native American story by Carolyn Dunn. No matter what the ambience or the plot underlying each selection, there is a real sense of how powerful nature can be in its various guises. Most readers will skip the introduction and head straight for the stories, but will be rewarded by reading it afterward. Each selection includes a biographical sketch and comments from the author. -Amy Kellman, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Firebird (April 12, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142400297
• ISBN-13: 978-0142400296
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #604,616 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mythic Bang for your Buck, September 2, 2002

By 

Daniel Barer (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Green Man : Tales from the Mythic Forest (Hardcover)

Here's why I recommend this anthology:

-- It's a terrific bargain. For around the price of a nonillustrated trade paperback [$$$], you get a hardbound book with illustrated dust jacket and chapter headings by master fantasy illustrator Charles Vess.

-- I read the stories in it in order, instead of picking and choosing the authors I liked. I probably haven't done that in a multi-author anthology since I was a teenager (back when giant lizards roamed the Earth).

-- Vess is an Illustrator, in the best sense of the word. He doesn't just draw pretty pictures; he helps tell the stories.

-- Even though this is a theme anthology, and (as others note) there's lots of stories of teens coming of age while lost in the wilderness, the authors have diverse voices. You get different stories, with different teens (some likeable, others detestable), going through a variety of life-changing experiences.

-- Although the stories vary in quality, they're all readable -- even Midori Snyder's story, which left a bad taste in my mouth by tying things up in too neat a bow and giving the hero's girlfriend a highly-annoying speech at the end.

Give it a try!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read it and be refreshed by green., July 7, 2003

By 

Tom Knapp "Rambles.NET editor" (Lancaster, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Green Man : Tales from the Mythic Forest (Hardcover)

Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling have paid true homage to the spirit of the Green Man in this anthology. Not only do the short stories collected in this hefty volume evoke a true sense of mystery in the wild, but artist Charles Vess -- who publishes much of his work via his own, well-respected Green Man Press -- has provided cover art and incidental illustrations to bring the concept alive.
From top to bottom, front to back, Tales from the Mythic Forest is an excellent collection of stories unearthing the heart of the woodlands, the spirit of the trees and the face of nature.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In praise of The Green Man., December 23, 2002

By 

Cynthia M. Caton "minion" (Ireland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Green Man : Tales from the Mythic Forest (Hardcover)

At first, I did not realize that 'The Green Man' is a book for young adults. The give-away was when I realized that there was no sex or violence! The book is a fast read and I enjoyed the stories. Some are better than others as is true in most anthologies and a couple are truly inspired. The stories are a nice way to connect with the natural world.