Strangewood [Paperback]

Christopher Golden (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 1 and up

Strangewood is the name of the fantasy world that made "T.J. Randall" a bestselling children's writer. But sometimes his imagination goes too far. Sometimes the story is too dark. Sometimes the creatures are too real. And now, they've taken away Randall's son...

"A notable achievement... Christopher Golden has written a beautiful and wildly inventive hymn to imagination."--Peter Straub

"Strangewood is what Oz might have been if Frank L. Baum had grown up on a steady diet of Stephen King...a daring and thoroughly engrossing blend of wonder and adventure, terror and tenderness."--F. Paul Wilson

"A tour de force...truly frightening and inspiring."--Nancy Holder

"If Clive Barker had gone Through the Looking Glass, he might have come up with something as imaginative and compelling as Strangewood."--Kevin J. Anderson*

"Wonderfully strange and new."--Craig Shaw Gardner

"A treat."--Greg RuckaSales Points

* Christopher Golden is the bestselling author of Berkley's X-Men Mutant Empire trilogy and the Shadow saga

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Christopher Golden is the award-winning, L.A. Times bestselling author of The Ferryman and Of Saints and Shadows. Working with actress/writer/director Amber Benson, he co-created and co-wrote Ghosts of Albion, an animated supernatural drama for BBC online. Golden was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. He is currently at work on his new novel, Hollow. There are more than eight million copies of his books in print. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Signet (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451197658
• ISBN-13: 978-0451197658
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,316,046 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN is the award-winning, bestselling author of such novels as The Myth Hunters, Wildwood Road, The Boys Are Back in Town, The Ferryman, Strangewood, Of Saints and Shadows, and (with Tim Lebbon) The Map of Moments. He has also written books for teens and young adults, including Poison Ink, Soulless, and the thriller series Body of Evidence, honored by the New York Public Library and chosen as one of YALSA's Best Books for Young Readers. Upcoming teen novels include a new series of hardcover YA fantasy novels co-authored with Tim Lebbon and entitled The Secret Journeys of Jack London.

A lifelong fan of the "team-up," Golden frequently collaborates with other writers on books, comics, and scripts. In addition to his recent work with Tim Lebbon, he co-wrote the lavishly illustrated novel Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire with Mike Mignola. With Thomas E. Sniegoski, he is the co-author of the book series OutCast and The Menagerie, as well as comic book miniseries such as Talent, currently in development as a feature film. With Amber Benson, Golden co-created the online animated series Ghosts of Albion and co-wrote the book series of the same name.
As an editor, he has worked on the short story anthologies The New Dead and British Invasion, among others, and has also written and co-written comic books, video games, screenplays, the online animated series Ghosts of Albion (with Amber Benson) and a network television pilot.

The author is also known for his many media tie-in works, including novels, comics, and video games, in the worlds of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hellboy, Angel, and X-Men, among others.

Golden was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. His original novels have been published in more than fourteen languages in countries around the world. Please visit him at www.christophergolden.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun, Horror/Dark Fantasy that should be a Series!, November 11, 2000

By 

Ryan Costantino (Nowhere, Special) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strangewood (Paperback)

This book is one of those books that must be read to be explained, it's that good. Part Horror, part Dark Fantasy Strangewood is the story of a writer's creation come to disturbing, very real life. When Thomas Randall's son falls prey to an inexplicable coma he finds that his son has been taken (well, in spirit, I guess) to the "fictional" world of Strangewood. A world that is supposed to be a figment of Thomas Randall's imagination. But Strangewood is real. Strangewood is at war. Strangewood is dying. And only Randall can save this world from collapse. Only Randall can save his son from a fate worse than death.

The idea of a writer having to face the very reality of his/her creation has been done before, but in Strangewood the story is so expertly crafted, the characters so startling in their vibrancy that you forget the idea that the plot has been done before. Because in this case it hasn't. The world of Strangewood (and its inhabitants) would itself make a very entertaining fantasy series (and in case you haven't heard of Harry Potter there is a market for this). Christopher Golden's talent is excruciatingly apparent in this novel and while I read this I kept thinking to myself "man, this is a fun read" which it was. Probably one of the most memorable and enjoyable reads of 1999 and a book I can't recommend enough. For fans of Horror or Dark Fantasy this is a book for you!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Maybe not true horror..but a fascinating tale just the same, November 16, 1999

By 

Ann Linder "kindle rules!" (Saint Louis, mo USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strangewood (Paperback)

I would nitpick and say this book was more dark fantasy than horror. However, a visit to the world of Strangewood is fascinating and worth the time spent reading it.

The characters of Strangewood are well drawn and quickly became more vivid to me than the "real life" characters. I found the romance in the book (Joe and Emily) to be jarring, less interesting and eventually tiresome. Perhaps I just hated spending time on the romance when I was so fascinated with what was happening in Strangewood. I also enjoyed discovering the relationships between the Strangewood residents and the "real life" folks who were able to visit them. The characters in the story struggled against things they could not control and against their own weaknesses while in a world of suprises and mysteries.

The story is engrossing and Golden is a writer I will look forward to further books from.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Run, don't walk, to get this book!, December 12, 1999

By 

Wendy Schapiro (Needham, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strangewood (Paperback)

An incredible book, one which will stay with you for a long time after you put it down! Strangewood has one of the most imaginative premises ever conceived of in any genre, but particularly in the horror-fantasy arena where so many new books are just hackneyed rewrites of old novels. Christopher Golden has an amazing gift for creating not only a roller-coaster ride of a plot, but characters to whom you are instantly drawn and about whom you care from word one. The climax of the book will leave you drop-jawed with disbelief. I can't wait for Mr. Golden's next book to come out!