Greenmantle [Paperback]

Charles de Lint (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1988

Not far from the city lies an ancient wood where mystery walks in the moonlight. A retired man hiding from the mob, a boy and his mother who have just moved to a new area - they are all summoned by the music from the woods and the mystery of the giant stag. By the author of "Moonheart".

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"De Lint is a master of the modern urban folk tale."--The Denver Post

"It is hard to imagine urban fantasy done better then it is by de Lint at his best."--Booklist

"In de Lint's capable hands, modern fantasy becomes something other than escapism. It becomes folk song, the stuff of urban myth."--The Phoenix Gazette

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Ace; First Edition edition (February 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441302955
• ISBN-13: 978-0441302956
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 3.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,622,555 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for a Charles de Lint beginner..., April 25, 2002

By 

Kieri "Kieri" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Greenmantle (Paperback)

...well, this and Yarrow, really. While de Lint's Newford books are BY FAR his best, they are a little confusing to jump into headfirst. Greenmantle and Yarrow provide the reader with a great way to understand the modern master of urban fantasy. The characters are warm, vivid, and funny. The settings are lush, and eerily familiar at times (as though you really LIVE the tale).

The order that I would personally recommend reading de Lint books: Yarrow, Greenmantle, Memory and Dream, Dreams Underfoot, Trader (this one is a little hard to find, but it's totally worth it) , The Ivory and The Horn, Someplace to be Flying (my own favorite), Moonlight and Vines, Forests of the Heart, anf finally The Onion Girl (which is basically the all-star Newford book, so make sure you read the others first, or you won't know ANY of the characters). There are other books of his, that I have never been so enamored of; The Moonheart books, Svaha, The Little Country, etc.

If you are an aspiring writer, and are prepared to drop a few bucks, get Triskell Tales. It's a wonderful way to see the way a witer can develop in terms of style and story. Also, check out his new collaboration with Charles Vess, Seven Wild Sisters.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars 2 stories don't necessarily equal a 1 great book, February 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Greenmantle (Paperback)

I am an avid fan of the work of Charles de lint, having read the Moonheart and Newford series, The Little Country and Into the Green. I read Greenmantle after reading de lints previous highly acclaimed works, but I found it hard to finish. It seemed as though de lint had two unfinished stories to start with: Valenti and his mob relations, and the mystery of Greenmantle and Mally, and simply combined the two together in an attempt to let each story carry the other along. It works, but not as well as it should have. Both stories contained enough conflict and subplotting within eachother, that I began to get the feeling if I read every other chapter, I'd be walking away with just as much as if I read it straight through. If Greenmantle put it's focus on _one_ of the two stories, it would have been, in my opinion, more enjoyable to read. Towards the end of the book, I felt no ties with any of the characters that I'd had with Izzy of Mem&Dream, or Sara and Pukwudji in Moonheart.(try as I might have with Mally, one of the most intriguing and enjoyable characters of GM, that deserved more of a story behind her) This is not to say I was completely disenchanted with Greenmantle. There were parts of the book I really liked, particularly the focus it put around the mythological Pan, and the final fight Ally makes for the Green Man. However, I don't regard this book as one of de lint's best. I think if you're a hard core de lint fan, then you'll probably cherish the spot on your bookshelf where it stands (if not hunt me down first for disagreeing), but personally I've read far better from him.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Charles deLint's best works., June 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Greenmantle (Paperback)

Charles deLint is the master of urban fantasy, and Greenmantle is one of his finest works. I was thrilled to find out about the re-release of this book (as my old copy disappeared)! A mother and daughter trying to rebuild, a man trying to disappear, a horned girl who does, and a village that doesn't exist are all woven together with deLint's deft touch. Magic, mystery, action and heart can all be found in this wonderful book. He also adds exporations of folklore and religion, but is never heavy- handed. Required reading for any collector of deLint, or lover of urban fantasy.