2010 Reading #36: Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn by Robert Holdstock
Books 1-10.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
31. Blonde Faith by Walter Mosley.
32. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.
33. Justice League of America, Volume 2 by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, et al.
34. Killer Princesses by Gail Simone and Lea Hernandez.
35. Michael Chabon Presents: The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, Volume 1 by Michael Chabon, Kevin McCarthy, Glen David Gold, Howard Chaykin, Bill Sienkewicz, etc.
36. Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn by Robert Holdstock. I wonder if anyone's ever tried to construct a timeline of the Mythago Wood books, and the points at which they intersect, or at least come within sight of each other. I think such an activity could cause one to pull out one's hair. This book covers another of the hidden stories from the other books of the cycle, namely, what happened the first time Christian Huxley entered the wood, before Steven returned home in Mythago Wood? The answer is more like a quest fantasy than any other book of the cycle, while still having the feel of both a dream and a forgotten legend. Particularly compelling is the subplot of Someone son of Somebody, which resolves in such a fantastically satisfying way after about two hundred pages of me thinking Holdstock couldn't help but fumble it somehow. My enjoyment of the book is slightly mitigated by the fact that the Christian of this book doesn't map very well onto the Christian of Mythago Wood or Avilion, but overall this is a solid entry in the cycle.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
31. Blonde Faith by Walter Mosley.
32. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.
33. Justice League of America, Volume 2 by Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, et al.
34. Killer Princesses by Gail Simone and Lea Hernandez.
35. Michael Chabon Presents: The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, Volume 1 by Michael Chabon, Kevin McCarthy, Glen David Gold, Howard Chaykin, Bill Sienkewicz, etc.
36. Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn by Robert Holdstock. I wonder if anyone's ever tried to construct a timeline of the Mythago Wood books, and the points at which they intersect, or at least come within sight of each other. I think such an activity could cause one to pull out one's hair. This book covers another of the hidden stories from the other books of the cycle, namely, what happened the first time Christian Huxley entered the wood, before Steven returned home in Mythago Wood? The answer is more like a quest fantasy than any other book of the cycle, while still having the feel of both a dream and a forgotten legend. Particularly compelling is the subplot of Someone son of Somebody, which resolves in such a fantastically satisfying way after about two hundred pages of me thinking Holdstock couldn't help but fumble it somehow. My enjoyment of the book is slightly mitigated by the fact that the Christian of this book doesn't map very well onto the Christian of Mythago Wood or Avilion, but overall this is a solid entry in the cycle.