So glad to find someone who is talking about these books! I read Mythago Wood over a year ago, and I don’t think a fantasy novel has struck me as much as that one did, ever. I’m slowly making my way through the series, really glad to know about the recommended reading order, so thank you! As for suggestions, I’ve felt similar vibes from Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees, and Little, Big by John Crowley - even though I’m only partway through both, I’d definitely recommend them!
I'm glad to hear from you! Yes, they're such strange, distinctive books. I love them! I have Lud-in-the-Mist and have Crowley shortlisted, they both seem good recs. Thanks!
I've had a passion for myth since I was seven. Reading Mythago Woods when it was first published made my interest deeper by introducing me to archetypes. My MA thesis was on myth and I have taught several myth courses. Alas, Holdstock died before I was able to thank him for what he gave to me.
My favourite ever series of books. Currently re reading Lavondyss...a book of 2 halves which puts a lot of people off. It gets better with each read for me. Great video (though you're mispronouncing "mythago") 😉
Great book, just started my re-read. Actually discovered Holdstock via an audiobook lecture some time ago ("Rings, Swords, and Monsters" by Michael DC Drout)
Great video on a series that is rarely discussed. I read Mythago Wood from the Fantasy Masterworks and it really creeped me out! I couldn't even explain why. Maybe I'll give the series a try again at a later point.
@@OwenEdwardsBooks I was enjoying it in the beginning because it was so unique (the 'like nothing else' is really true here) and the writing is really beautiful (I think this is a plus for nearly all the World Fantasy Award winners) and atmospheric as you mentioned. Then the fixation with the girl just became a bit much and it really discomfited me. I understood what the author was going for but I couldn't overcome that feeling of just being very unsettled. So I appreciated the book but I can't say I liked it enough to reread or try Lavondyss (which is apparently even trippier? Like how? 🙂)
Great set of books: Mythago Wood Lavondyss The Bone Forest The Hollowing Merlin's Wood (not everyone includes this as part of the series but many do too) Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn Avilion. (Oh, and Holdstock explained that the emphasis on the pronunciation was on the second half of the word, so it's Myth-ar-go. Even though it's a combination of myth and imago.)
I will persist in mispronouncing it I suspect. I don't have the novellas but I have everything else. Merlin's Wood counts, I think, as it is part of the same setting overall
Excellent. Such an informative , warm and, it feels, reliably persuasive manner you have. Seems I must re-read the first book and then the rest. It was a subtly strange and unique work, the first, but I must have felt something was missing…. the others, perhaps.
@@OwenEdwardsBooks Will do, when I’ve waded through all the others lined up. Have you read The Night Land, by William Hope Hodgson? Would be interested to have your thoughts there….
Ive heard both you and Liam talk about this series a bit, and each time I feel extremely drawn to it. I definitely want to try them out at some point. -T
I have bounced off Mythago Wood a couple times; not sure why. I'll give it another try. A novel I'd recommend to you is "Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruin of Ymr" by John Crowley. It's somewhat psychologically interior, but also metaphysical. It is funny and beautiful and tragic and comforting. Gene Wolfe's "Wizard Knight" duology is another mythic fantasy that is deeply psychological and metaphysical (and one in which Ymr/Ymir also plays a role). Supposedly Wizard Knight is a young adult fantasy, but I find it to be one of Wolfe's more difficult works to understand.
I just finished Mythago Wood. It was a fun book and quite different from many of the other fantasy novels I read growing up. I like the metaphor of the character named Christian.
@@OwenEdwardsBooks A sequel better than the original? I might have to try that. I am reading another book by Holdstock right now called Necromancer. It's good so far. It feels very different from Mythago Wood in terms of style but still seems like it is very much by him. Leylines, an old church that was built around a megalith from an old pagan society, and so forth. There's the mystery and shadowy aesthetic of unknown depths from an enormous past.
I’ve read the first one (a couple of months ago). I enjoyed it but didn’t feel compelled to run to the next. It’s strength was the feel of the forest, I thought the characters motives and the flow of the book where a bit off and on.
So glad to find someone who is talking about these books! I read Mythago Wood over a year ago, and I don’t think a fantasy novel has struck me as much as that one did, ever. I’m slowly making my way through the series, really glad to know about the recommended reading order, so thank you!
As for suggestions, I’ve felt similar vibes from Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees, and Little, Big by John Crowley - even though I’m only partway through both, I’d definitely recommend them!
I'm glad to hear from you! Yes, they're such strange, distinctive books. I love them! I have Lud-in-the-Mist and have Crowley shortlisted, they both seem good recs. Thanks!
I've had a passion for myth since I was seven. Reading Mythago Woods when it was first published made my interest deeper by introducing me to archetypes. My MA thesis was on myth and I have taught several myth courses. Alas, Holdstock died before I was able to thank him for what he gave to me.
It's very rich on the sources and impact of folklore. Very good also at pushing the science *into* myth.
@@OwenEdwardsBooks many/most people do not know how much myth does impact us!
I read these in the 90s and they were amazing. Today for some reason they came back to me. I have to read these again.
Do it, and tell me what you think!
Thanks for the video Sir
My favourite ever series of books. Currently re reading Lavondyss...a book of 2 halves which puts a lot of people off. It gets better with each read for me. Great video (though you're mispronouncing "mythago") 😉
Ha! I refuse to say "MythAaahhhhGo" or any such thing. Thanks for stopping by - you're a gentleman of taste!
Great book, just started my re-read.
Actually discovered Holdstock via an audiobook lecture some time ago ("Rings, Swords, and Monsters" by Michael DC Drout)
Ah, I'll look out for that lecture. Very underrated author and series.
Great video on a series that is rarely discussed. I read Mythago Wood from the Fantasy Masterworks and it really creeped me out! I couldn't even explain why. Maybe I'll give the series a try again at a later point.
Did you enjoy it, or just find it creepy? Haha. It is a very atmospheric book
@@OwenEdwardsBooks I was enjoying it in the beginning because it was so unique (the 'like nothing else' is really true here) and the writing is really beautiful (I think this is a plus for nearly all the World Fantasy Award winners) and atmospheric as you mentioned. Then the fixation with the girl just became a bit much and it really discomfited me. I understood what the author was going for but I couldn't overcome that feeling of just being very unsettled. So I appreciated the book but I can't say I liked it enough to reread or try Lavondyss (which is apparently even trippier? Like how? 🙂)
Enjoyed listening to your thoughts about this book. Will check it out
thankyou!
Great set of books:
Mythago Wood
Lavondyss
The Bone Forest
The Hollowing
Merlin's Wood (not everyone includes this as part of the series but many do too)
Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn
Avilion.
(Oh, and Holdstock explained that the emphasis on the pronunciation was on the second half of the word, so it's Myth-ar-go. Even though it's a combination of myth and imago.)
I will persist in mispronouncing it I suspect. I don't have the novellas but I have everything else. Merlin's Wood counts, I think, as it is part of the same setting overall
Excellent. Such an informative , warm and, it feels, reliably persuasive manner you have. Seems I must re-read the first book and then the rest. It was a subtly strange and unique work, the first, but I must have felt something was missing…. the others, perhaps.
If you do read more tell me what you think. I think the first book struggles for pacing at points, the second is stronger.
@@OwenEdwardsBooks Will do, when I’ve waded through all the others lined up. Have you read The Night Land, by William Hope Hodgson? Would be interested to have your thoughts there….
Ive heard both you and Liam talk about this series a bit, and each time I feel extremely drawn to it. I definitely want to try them out at some point.
-T
Do it!
I have bounced off Mythago Wood a couple times; not sure why. I'll give it another try. A novel I'd recommend to you is "Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruin of Ymr" by John Crowley. It's somewhat psychologically interior, but also metaphysical. It is funny and beautiful and tragic and comforting.
Gene Wolfe's "Wizard Knight" duology is another mythic fantasy that is deeply psychological and metaphysical (and one in which Ymr/Ymir also plays a role). Supposedly Wizard Knight is a young adult fantasy, but I find it to be one of Wolfe's more difficult works to understand.
I hear that about Wizard Knight, and Latro too. But I still can't wait to get to both. I've put Dar Oakley in my basket.
Ka is an exquisite novel.
I just finished Mythago Wood. It was a fun book and quite different from many of the other fantasy novels I read growing up. I like the metaphor of the character named Christian.
It's very different, I agree! The sequel Lavondyss is even better (and weirder)
@@OwenEdwardsBooks A sequel better than the original? I might have to try that. I am reading another book by Holdstock right now called Necromancer. It's good so far. It feels very different from Mythago Wood in terms of style but still seems like it is very much by him. Leylines, an old church that was built around a megalith from an old pagan society, and so forth. There's the mystery and shadowy aesthetic of unknown depths from an enormous past.
I’ve read the first one (a couple of months ago). I enjoyed it but didn’t feel compelled to run to the next. It’s strength was the feel of the forest, I thought the characters motives and the flow of the book where a bit off and on.
I think the characters are stronger in Lavondyss, but yes, his atmosphere is his gift, the other stuff is secondary
Brilliant series. Strongly influenced by Carl Jung’s collective unconscious theories.
Absolutely
I enjoyed Mythago Wood, but found Lavondyss tedious and self-indulgent so I abandoned the series. Didn't know he ended up publishing so many.
I greatly enjoyed Lavondyss, though it certainly strikes a different tone to MW. Most of the others hew a little closer to MW.