The Hollowing [Paperback]

Robert Holdstock (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 14, 2005

A NOVEL IN THE WORLD FANTASY AWARD-WINNING MYTHAGO CYCLE

Ryhope Wood, Mythago Wood, is the great forest steeped in mystery, whose heart contains secrets that change all who come there.

Alex Bradley is a damaged and visionary child. Little does he know that the distorted creations of his mind are alive inside nearby Ryhope Wood. When the forest claims him, his father goes in pursuit, along with a scientific expedition looking for the secret of "mythago-genesis"...

But inside Ryhope, Alex has created a hundred forms of the Trickster-all of them seeking their maker, and all of them deadly.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Playing with archetype, myth and the nature of reality, Holdstock returns to the landscape of his World Fantasy Award-winning Mythago Wood , a primeval woodland in modern England that has defended itself through the eons with mythagos, embodiments of the human need for heroes and heroic acts. Devastated by the death of his young son, Alexander, Richard Bradley meets Alexander Lytton and Helen Silverlock, who indicate that the boy is still alive in a mysterious way in nearby Ryhope Wood. As the distraught father follows researcher Arnauld Lacan into the wood, he is gradually introduced to its properties and inhabitants, which range through the deeply embedded myths of all times. Meanwhile, Lytton wants Bradley to find Alexander because the fearful boy's vivid fantasies are changing the very nature of the wood that Lytton and his crew have been studying for years. Bradley's search proves unsuccessful, however, and it's only after the father gains the aid of Sarin, the Tall Grass Lady from the time of the Tower of Babel, that his quest reaches its climax. Holdstock weaves a dense and, at times, impenetrable tale, but a careful reading brings to light a variety of treasures, including a telling portrayal of Jason and the Argonauts in old age.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The dark mysteries of Ryhope Wood draw Richard Bradley into its depths in search of his son Alex, whose fearful imaginings threaten to erode the old forest's delicate magical balance. Like Mythago Wood (Avon, 1991) and The Bone Forest (Avon, 1992), Holdstock's latest novel unravels the mythic landscape of the unconscious mind, revealing a world where dreams and legends become uncomfortably real. Powerful storytelling and strong characters make this a good choice for fantasy collections.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 333 pages
• Publisher: Orb Books (April 14, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765311100
• ISBN-13: 978-0765311108
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #609,189 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Holdstock novel, January 1, 2007

By 

Martha Toebbe "Colorful" (OH, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hollowing (Paperback)

Ok, so I'm a big fan of Robert Holdstock's books. I believe I own every one now. The Hollowing is my favorite, even more so than Mythago Wood. Even though these are both books in the "Mythago Cycle", you don't really need to read Mythago Wood first, but it helps.

The Hollowing has such a lush, rich fantasy story that it makes me reread it every so often, and I am still amazed. Some of Holdstock's ideas are a little weird, but if you're reading a fantasy novel you obviously are capable of embracing weird ideas.

If you're a fantasy fan like me (or becoming one) pick this up. It's one of my favorite books ever and my fav from Holdstock.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most original fantasy in years., November 1, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hollowing (Paperback)

This is a hauntingly beautiful book about a forest where nightmarish folk legends come to life. This book returns to Mythago Wood, a place that spans time and space, where the folk legends and myths buried deep in one's subconscious mind are born into living creatures called mythagos. The Hollowing tells of a father's maddening journey into the nightmarish forest in a desperate search for his missing son. This book was beautifully written and gave me a sense of wonder while scaring the crap outta me. An excellent and very original fantasy.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A WONDERFUL novel! Truly one of the best I have ever read!, January 26, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hollowing (Paperback)

Robert Holdstock is a brilliant author who uses fantastic imagery combined with an extensive knowledge of mythology. In The Hollowing, he writes of a forest which lies only partially in the relm of modern day earth. Inside are created the mythic heroes and monsters of every culture, brought into existance by the force of mankind's unconcious needs. This novel is a FAR cry from the unimaginative dimestore fantasy novels which cram the shelves of bookstores, and is one of the most absorbing I have ever read