Customer Reviews

The Myth Hunters (The Veil, Book 1)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This looks to be yet another winning series for the hard working Christopher Golden. The Myth Hunters isn't horror as much as it is dark fantasy, but there are still ample bloodcurling moments written in to satisfy your inner ghoul. Golden's suspenseful, no frills writing style lends itself really well to the sense of soul-numbing terror, grave jeopardy, and harrowing adventure which permeates the book. Beneath the surface chase scenes and vicious battles, you can sense shadowy forces and vile machinations at work. I couldn't get enough of The Myth Hunters and devoured it in a mere seven hours (I'm usually a more slow reader). The opening set up in which the book delves into Oliver Bascombe's priveleged background and his feelings of helplessness in the wake of his father's domineering ways admittedly moves a bit sluggishly. It's the eve of Oliver's wedding day and, outside, a blizzard rages. Oliver loves his fiancee Julianna, but fears that marrying her will set him on an irreversible path to a regimented life he doesn't want. Thus, it is with a sense of escape that he answers the grieviously wounded Jack Frost's call for help. Jack Frost, an icy figure of longtime legend, has been terribly hurt and is being stalked by a ferocious Myth Hunter called the Falconer. Myth Hunters are relentless monsters who are bent on the destruction of all the Borderkind, fabulous figures of mythology who are still remembered by humans and who can, therefore, still cross back and forth between the Veil, the barrier which separates our normal reality from the magical world. Why are they hunting the Borderkind? Well, we don't find out in this book. But Oliver makes a fateful decision when he aids Jack Frost, as he becomes ensnared in the perilous doings of the Two Kingdoms beyond the Veil. Back here on earth, Oliver becomes a suspect in a rash of grisly murders involving the ripping out of victims' eyes, most of whom are children. This then draws the keen interest of Police Detective Ted Halliwell, who was initially assigned to the Oliver Bascombe missing persons case. Oliver's actions also unwittingly places his family and fiancee in immense peril. As it turns out, Oliver Bascombe's part in all this may have already been pre-ordained. Before it's all over, Oliver just might have an important role to play in deciding the fate of the world's enduring mythological figures. Meanwhile, the Myth Hunters and the original and very scary Sandman (Geez, he's a great villain!), released from agelong captivity, continue to wreak terror and destruction to victims from both worlds.

This book is a very promising start to The Veil series. It's a mishmash of well-beloved fantasy folklore, bloody horror, and even a bit of police procedural thrown in (but only a bit). I've always enjoyed fantasy books grounded in contemporary times, and this is a great example. The only catch is that Oliver Bascombe, our protagonist, isn't a very intriguing person. I actually found myself empathizing more with the gruff and world weary Ted Halliwell. Oliver's somewhat pallid personality reduces him to the fourth most interesting character, behind Halliwell, the stern and commanding Jack Frost, and the mysterious, alluring fox-woman Kitsune. I also enjoyed the arrogant Gong Gong, Black Dragon of Storms and wished he had been in the book more. Anyway, hopefully, Oliver will become more fleshed out as the series goes on. But, honestly, there were moments in the book where I found him annoying.

I didn't recognize half of the mythological creatures Golden unleashes on the reader. He cheekily mines the folklores of various countries to present here a cohesive magical universe co-habitated by fairy tale denizens, from Red Caps and Sandmen, to mazikeens and demons and gods of the Harvest. I mean, how many of the following legends are you familiar with? La Dormette, Jenny Greenteeth, the Kornboche, Johnny Appleseed, the Kirata...the list goes on, and I expect Golden to only add more to it with the advent of the two sequels.

Yet another cool thing about The Myth Hunters is that the passages dedicated to mere mortals Detective Halliwell and Julianna Whitney are as involving as Oliver's wondrous odyssey in the Two Kingdoms (which, by the way, is roughly aligned with our geography). But the more staid goings-on involving Halliwell are probably so engrossing because the no-nonsense, middle-aged cop is such a sympathetic character. Christopher Golden nicely paces Ted Halliwell's storyline, making sure that the detective only gradually comes to realize that the baffling case he's trying to solve doesn't have a mundane solution, that the solution, in fact, resides in the fantastic. As for the action-fantasy fanatics, no worries. There are enough intense, frenetic magical confrontations scattered thru the length of this book that the reader is never quite left with enough time to be bored (some of the sequences describing Oliver and his group's sneakings and skulkings about were somewhat pedestrian). The frenzied melee at the finale serves to punctuate the drive of the story and whets the appetite for the next book installment in this planned trilogy. So, c'mon, month of March, get here already! (That's when book 2, TheBorderkind, comes out, you see.)

Oliver Bascombe lives a normal life. He has caring sister, a domineering father and he is supposed to be getting married tomorrow. All of that changes when an old man claiming to be the spirit of Winter itself comes calling on Oliver to get him back across the Veil and a away from the Thing hunting him down.

THE MYTH HUNTERS is the first book of a new dark fantasy trilogy The Veil by award winning horror author Christopher Golden.

When referring to H.P. Lovecraft, Neil Gaiman has said that "Fantasy and Horror are linked...twin cities separated by a dark river." He went on to describe Lovecraft as beginning as a dark alley way that grew into a major four-lane highway. To continue the metaphor, Christopher Golden's THE MYTH HUNTERS is a dark path through the woods that both cities share. It is dark, twisting with half remembered tales and warnings from our childhood. There are creatures there, beautiful, fantastic and very deadly.

In this new dark fantasy with a twist, Golden hones his finely tuned horror-craft on a fantastical world where the myths of our childhood are real, but darker than we have ever imagined. It is "Thomas Covenant" meets "The Tales of the Brothers Grimm", the original versions. Golden has mixed horror and fantasy before with tremendous success in GHOSTS OF ALBION. MYTH HUNTERS is the other side of the coin. While GHOSTS was horror with a fantastical twist, MYTH HUNTERS is fantasy tinged with horror. The result of this chilling alchemy is an extremely satisfying read and tale that immediately pulls you in.

Like Oliver, we get pulled into a fantastic landscape where things are oddly familiar, yet far more dangerous. The result is equal parts enjoyment of the tale itself and enjoyment of seeing how familiar myths fare under Golden's craft. Golden gives us carefully measured doses of this new world. Again, like Oliver, we have learn on the run, and the effect is perfect.

Unlike other "Stranger in a Strange Land" tales, we also get to see the fallout of Oliver's disappearance. The actions of his sister, his fiancé, and the police detective charged with finding him and finding the answer to the grisly murders left in his wake. This part of the book was equally enjoyable and followed more conventional horror fare; which I believe is the point. Golden contrasts and compares the two worlds with a variety of parallels that are both subtle and rewarding. Are they two worlds that are the same and have grown apart or are they two worlds that different but linked? We the reader see them sooner than Oliver, but only because we have a foot in both worlds, or both "cities" as the case may be.

My biggest gripe about this book is I now have to wait for book two!

Oliver Bascombe has already become a lawyer because that is what his father wanted. Now, he is about to get married to a woman that his father approves of, and though he loves her, he is having second thoughts. The night before his wedding, Oliver finds himself watching the blizzard outside when Jack Frost himself blows in and asks for help.

Before he knows it, Oliver is taken behind The Veil and into another reality where characters from myths of long ago live -- and die. Oliver must embrace this new world and conquer his old fears and new foes.

The Myth Hunters is urban fantasy defined: detailed, engrossing, twisting the myths of yesteryear with contemporary characters. This fast-paced novel, the first in a promised trilogy, is quite the page turner. Readers will root for Oliver and be intrigued by the multitude of characters, the vivid imagery, and the storylines taking place on both sides of The Veil.

Christopher Golden, as always, is an amazing author. I cannot recommend his works highly enough. Fans of Charles deLint and Neil Gaiman (especially American Gods) must read this book -- then check out his previous books, if they haven't already!

Join Oliver on this magical, mythical journey. You won't be disappointed.

In wintry Maine lawyer Oliver Bascombe suffers from cold feet not just because he went outside in the snowy weather, but more because tomorrow he is to get married. He explains to his older sister Collette that he has doubts as he cannot think of one happily ever after marriage though he further explains that he thinks he loves Julianna; yet wonders how can you be sure even if his fiancée is wonderful, intelligent and beautiful?

While reading The Sea Wolf to pass time, the outside storm smashes through his Victorian home door carrying something inside a vortex. Suddenly "the winter man" staggers from the middle of all that snow now inside Oliver's home. The newcomer pleads with his host to help him even as he informs Oliver he is known as Jack Frost and that he needs him to save his life from a deadly Myth Hunter from beyond the Veil. Ignoring his wedding, Oliver agrees. While Oliver enters the Veil on his quest to save the life of Jack Frost, his sister Collette investigates his disappearance and the murder of their father with the help of Police Detective Ted Hallowell.

This terrific fantasy grips the audience with the abrupt change from the calm of a reluctant groom pondering how he can be sure to when Frost busts through the door. The story line is action-paced but plays out with two subplots: a fantasy quest beyond the Veil and a murder mystery disappearance on mundane earth. Both work because of the strong cast that makes believers out of readers that Jack Frost, THE MYTH HUNTERS and the land of the fae exist.

Harriet Klausner

The day before his scheduled wedding, Oliver Bascombe has very cold feet. Although he loves his fiancee, Julianna, Oliver believes his marriage will be a final capitulation to his father's plans. He even contemplates suicide before recognizing that as a coward's way out. He's still pondering his future when he sees an impossible face in his window--a man made completely out of ice stands dying just outside. And Oliver is faced with a choice--he can risk his own life to help an impossible being, or he can ignore him and go on with the life his father intended.

By helping Jack Frost, one of the Borderkind, that increasingly rare magical creature who can still pass the veil between the mundane world of man and the magical world of magic, Oliver joins an ongoing battle. Someone has unleashed hunters against the Borderkind, killing dozens of the super-powerful beings who are still remembered in the human plane and can, therefore, still cross over. But the laws of the magical kingdom are strict--any human who passes over without becoming one of the Lost Ones (humans unable to return), will be killed.

Somehow connected with the hunt for the Borderkind, an ancient monster, the original Sandman escapes and begins hunting children on the human plane--and eating their eyes. Oliver becomes a suspect--and is in danger on both sides of the veil separating the mundane from the magical.

Author Christopher Golden has done his research, introducing dozens of fairy tale creatures including those from many cultures. While the idea of a parallel dimension where the magical abide is not new, Golden's Veil universe is unusually well designed and described. THE MYTH HUNTERS falls a bit short when it comes to characters, however. Of all the characters (whether mythical or mundane) in the story, only Sheriff's Deputy Ted Halliwell (introduced in Chapter 5) is fully developed. The others, including Oliver, the primary protagonist, seem flat as they pursue their quest.

The delightful creatures that make up the world of the Veil, from Jack Frost himself, swirling in the midst of winter storms, to Kitsune the fox-girl, to the diminutive black dragon of storm are definitely the strong element of Golden's story. If he can combine these aspects with more fully developed human characters, he may be on his way to an extremely strong series.

Overview:

First, go read Robert L. Thompson III's review. It is stellar. I also agree with certain other things that have been said. For example, I agree with booksforabuck that the research that has been done by Christopher Golden (or his research team) is exemplary, perhaps even great.

The excellent research becomes a bit mired down in the slow plot (regardless of the constant conflict and fights, the plot seems too simple to be requiring a trilogy, unless it is stretched to this slowness). The Frost and Kitsune are the only ones clearly detailed, while the villains remain mysterious, even at the end of the book, when one is named, and you go, "Who?" This flaw is outstanding for all of the characters, who lack detail and compelling interests.

The setting is fantastic, and one of the few things that truly come up to the bar in this book. It is set in a fantastic realm parallel to the real world, where the Atlantic Ocean is the Atlantic River (for example), populated by the mythical creations of Earth's societies.

Bottom line, if you are a Christopher Golden fan, you will not be disappointed. If this is your genre taste, pick it up and enjoy. Otherwise, you may want to steer clear. The author does a better job with the Shadow Saga, and that is more appropriate for most audiences, and is much better, too.

A. Plot

The plot centers around the disappearance of Oliver Bascombe, who has vanished through the Veil, the border between our world and the world of myth. This disappearance is related to the wounding of Jack Frost (yes, THAT Jack Frost) at the hands of the Falconer.

There are several aspects of the plot that I didn't like. For example, although things are constantly happening and there are plenty of conflicts between the Hunters and the Borderkind, between Borderkind, between the Lost Ones and the Borderkind, etc., the plot of the story doesn't really MOVE much. By the end of the first book of this trilogy, all that you know is what you have known in the middle of the book. More characters have died but, considering their poor detailing, you are moved to say, "So?"

The conflicts in the book are also somewhat confusing. If the Falconer and other Myth Hunters are so dangerous, why are they beaten so badly by the Borderkind, so often? (This is especially true of the Kirata, who seem like Shredder's Foot Soldiers or Star Trek's Red Shirts: Disposable soldiers whose function is to increase the body count.) If they aren't that cool, how do they manage to defeat/injure/kill so many of the Borderkind (this is especially obvious when Borderkind are only killed in Oliver's absence). On some level it seems that Oliver's presence increases the skills or the ferociousness of the Borderkind, providing them with the edge they need, not only to survive, but to dominate.

Also, the absence of any subplots hurts the book. Many have compared this book with Neil Gaiman's "American Gods". I don't particularly like that book, but it is certainly not directly comparable with this one, because that was an attempt at literature, and this is merely a story. American Gods HAS subplots and deep characters, making it a much better book.

B. Characters

I do disagree with booksforabuck about the character development, though. None of the characters really seem to evolve or change, at all. None of them seem particularly complicated, except in arbitrary ways. For example, is it character development for it to be mentioned that Oliver has always believed in magic (several times, in fact)? If he has, why is he so constantly floored by what he encounters through the Veil in the Two Kingdoms? Shouldn't he, on some level, have believed in dragons, shape-changers, and mythical beings if he always believed in magic? Are these statements merely self-delusion on the part of Oliver, intended to help him cope with the bizarreness that surrounds him? You won't find out in the first book.

The other characters, like Jenny Greenteeth, the Sandman, Frost, and Kitsune, are often poorly detailed, their thoughts are unclear, and single adjectives can often be used to describe them. None of their intentions are clear, and, bizarrely, the character with the clearest intentions is Kitsune, who is supposedly mischievous and a trickster. This is not intended to deconstruct the idea of a trickster myth, either; rather it seems an effort to impart some order into the story, which should have been done by Frost, but, for reasons that become more obvious in the second book, it can't be him that does it. This goes double for Detective Halliwell and Julianne, whose motives are so simple as to be trite.

Considered together, the characters are fragmentary, poorly detailed, and often self-contradictory. It makes it hard to find them compelling or believable. As it is so hard to develop a pathos for the characters, it is not tragic when they die or are destroyed. Instead, you merely shrug and think, "Ah, well. That was too bad. That character was a little interesting."

C. Setting

The setting of the novel is of major importance here. What is most unfortunate about this is that we aren't given a map. In most epic fantasy, quest-based novels, we are given a map of the fantasy world. Here, we are not. While this choice may have been to increase the surprise value of certain aspects of the story, or it may have been to limit our knowledge to that of Oliver, its absence was sorely missed. I had been hoping that the oversight would be corrected by the second book, but it is not.

Nevertheless, the world of the Two Kingdoms is a compelling and beautiful creation, more detailed and interesting, oft-times, than its inhabitants. It seems that perhaps Mr. Golden is very good at generating character sketches and glimpses of scenery, but not so good at filling in the gaps and detailing them into likable, respectable, lovable, hatable, incorrigible characters. If so, that is all well and good, except that he has this ability, portrayed so well in his fantastic Shadow Saga. (Well....the first three books anyway. No one should be reading the fourth book.)

D. Theme

There are themes of confusion and mystery in the book, but it is unclear whether these are intentional or not. After having read part of the second book, it becomes more obvious that Christopher Golden is leading us down a path toward a "surprise". What this surprise is will determine how effective this is.

There is also a theme of wonder to the book, which serves the bidentate functions of keeping the book fresh and annoying the reader (see above, about Oliver). Without this sense of wonder, though, the book would degenerate into a dragging story full of death and despair, with little to bring up spirits. Particularly since the mysteries are so unclear, making it a bit of a drag.

E. Point of View

The story is told largely from the point of view of Oliver, although there are exceptions. These become more common as the book, and the series, proceed. This point of view is quite appropriate, as it introduces us to the world at the same time as Oliver. This has the dual purpose of building pathos as well as introducing us through his eyes, letting us feel his wonder and surprise, his shock, his pain, etc. Or, at least, to the degree that you can feel those things, since Oliver does lack a bit of the pathos he should have for this purpose. However, and it is a big however, it would be nice to see something from the perspectives of the natives of the world. This does happen in the second book, although I haven't hit the point yet where Frost narrates, which would, I think, be a nice inclusion.

F. Aesthetics

The aesthetics of the book are fairly minimal. The sentence structure doesn't vary much, the descriptions, while occasionally compelling are often cursory, and the characters themselves are detailed too briefly to offer much in the way of appreciation. This was clearly not a major intent of the author, since so little time and effort was spent on it.

Conclusion:

An interesting contribution to the fantasy-horror genre, and an interesting weaving of the world's mythology, although many times the mythical characters merely seem disposable. The book is worth reading if you have the spare time and it fits your genre interests. Otherwise, I would say that it is certainly something that you should pass on. If you are interested in Christopher Golden and haven't read the Shadow Saga (the first three books at least), go read those instead. If you are a Christopher Golden fan, you will probably not be disappointed here. But, there isn't much here that would have stretched his literary muscles.

C+

Harkius

As a Christopher Golden virgin, the first thing that jumped out at me about his book The Myth Hunters was the writing. Eloquent, visual and commanding, The Myth Hunters showcases an author in his prime, in total control of a story characterized by elegant prose, tight pacing and a wickedly active imagination. In fact, Mr. Golden reminds me somewhat of a cross between Neil Gaiman, Dean Koontz, Peter Straub and Clive Barker...more mainstream fare if I dare say it. And by mainstream, I mean that the book is not only readily accessible to a wide range of readers, but that it could easily be adapted into various formats, i.e. major motion picture, comic books, videogames and so forth, something of which Mr. Golden has had experience in with his prolific, medium-spanning background (bestselling novels, popular comic books, videogames, television, etc.).

Regarding the story itself, premise-wise, the plot at first glance seems simple & familiar enough, mayhap even redundant: a regular, everyday guy/gal finds his/her way into a whole new world - call it an alternate universe, parallel dimension or whatnot. - and embarks on an epic quest with a cast of otherworldly companions. In The Myth Hunters, that alternate reality is known as the Two Kingdoms, a land populated by the myths, legends & folklore (also known as Borderkind) of our various cultures, which is separated from `our world' by the Veil. To me, this aspect of The Myth Hunters is one of the book's greatest strengths. The world of the Two Kingdoms is beautifully crafted, possessing an almost child-like wonder à la Alice In Wonderland, inhabited by an array of memorable creatures based on real-life mythology both commonly known and obscure, all with Mr. Golden's own unique touch of course. Alternating between the two realities, The Myth Hunters flows along at a great tempo, interjecting elements of suspense, mystery and visceral horror alongside the fantastical in a tale brimming with plenty of action, drama and surprises, all told with a flair that just makes the words come vividly to life. Of course, if you're seeking something more thought-provoking and profound, then you will have to look elsewhere since The Myth Hunters is meant to entertain, not challenge.

Now, if there is one area that could be said to be weaker than the others, then I would have to point out the characterization. Basically following the narratives of main protagonist Oliver Bascombe - who is whisked away to the world beyond the Veil on the night before his wedding - and detective Ted Halliwell (who is called upon to investigate Oliver's disappearance), along with additional point-of-views provided by Oliver's sister Collette Bascombe and fiancé Julianna Whitney, the portrayal of our cast of players is admittedly a bit shallow and predictable. For instance, lawyer Oliver - who feels like he is living someone else's life and is always seeking something more meaningful, perhaps finds it in the Two Kingdoms only to be torn between two worlds - and Detective Halliwell (the experienced, beaten-down veteran who has lost his family to duty and has his perception of reality tested) are both a bit stereotypical and underdeveloped, while Collette, Julianna, etc. are merely touched upon. And then there's the slew of Borderkind, Myth Hunters, Lost Ones and various other heroes & villains, who by far are the most interesting of all the characters in the book, but are merely given superficial personalities. With a less accomplished author, this might be more of a problem, but Mr. Golden handles everything so well throughout The Myth Hunters that this was never really an issue for me.

One last observation...the ending. As you may or may not already know, The Myth Hunters is merely the first part of The Veil trilogy, with book number two, The Borderkind due out soon (March 27, 2007). With that said, be forewarned that The Myth Hunters leaves many issues unresolved, so if you're not a fan of that, you may want to wait until the trilogy is completed. As for me, this is both a good and bad thing...bad in that I have to wait for the remaining books to be released, and good in that I get to revisit the extraordinary world of the Two Kingdoms at least two more times. Plus, with subsequent volumes I believe that we will get to see further development of characters both major & minor, as well as a much deeper look into the world that Christopher Golden has created, all of which should make for one truly satisfying read...

I enjoyed the book, and am looking forward to the sequels. I really liked the whole mythological creatures that have certain "rules" they have to follow. Like the fact that the sandman cant do anything to you if your asleep. I recommend it.

I had never heard of Myth Hunters, but picked up the book because it looked interesting. I am so glad I did because the story is really a great one. Christopher does an excellent job of making the reader feel right at home with the inclusion of "mythical" characters we first heard about as children. The book is a great read, and I am pre-ordering the second book due out this month. Myth Hunters has a new fan! If you enjoy reading fantasy novels, you should check this one out!

Amazingly satisfying and MODERN, as far as fantasy goes. I always picture satisfying fantasy to be something with an air of dust and age to it, when men spoke fancifully, and narrated their stories thus. All ensuing attempts, at least for me, seem to fail because, stories like Dragonlance are weak imitations, right down to the Tolkein verbiage. Golden attempts none of that and seamlessly blends the world of myth and legend with our own, in regular commonplace English. Even his hero, Oliver, is a normal, albeit wealthy man, with insecurities, temptations, and weaknesses, and he reacts to his strange predicament of being thrust "beyond the Veil" in normal, understandable terms.

As Amanda says, one gets a sense of Stephen King, and it's not just the Maine backdrop to the beginning of the story. I think mostly it reminds me of the Tower, with worlds behind worlds and the allusions to corners being turned onto parallel dimensions where things could be slightly, or significantly, off-kilter.

I enjoyed the use of myths and legends from around the world beyond just the standard Western litany of Greek and Norse gods and heroes. Among the main characters are a Native American trickster, a Chinese dragon, a Japanese trickster/demon and Jack Frost, who's just the winter man. Golden imbues each of these with strange, but culturally acceptable powers. At times, it seems Golden's research into these myths is just superficial, and they take on the most stereotypical elements of their complex histories, but the attempt is admirable. Certainly there's a wealth of material for him to draw on in the construction of the Two Kingdoms. What's kind of disappointing is the mix he chooses. I have my eyes out for recognizable deities and legends, and find them wanting. The less notable villains seem like hodgepodges of animal parts with no connection to real human legend at all, but his choice of main villain in the Sandman is sublime and well done. I have to admit that this construction of the legend is fascinating and frightening.

I feel three stars is appropriate, there's a wealth of potential that makes me excited, but execution-wise I expect better, but maybe I'm spoiled. I definitely am interested in seeing where this is going. Atlantis, the Mayans and greater legends await, or at least I hope.