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Great Science-Fiction & Fantasy Works
Science-fiction & fantasy literature: a critical list with discussions.
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This is a brief discussion of Robert Holdstock and, of course, of some speculative-fiction books by Holdstock.
This discussion and list does not necessarily include every book by Holdstock: it includes only those books that I both know and like. Just as with the author list itself, omission of a particular item may mean I didn’t think highly enough of the omitted item, or it may simply mean that I have not yet sufficient familiarity with it. (In a very few cases, I have listed some books merely on the strength of my opinion of the author: all such books are clearly marked below, as throughout these lists, with a hash mark (#) before the title so you know what’s what.)
I don’t pretend that this discussion is a deep analysis. My intent is no more than to give you a rough idea of what kinds of tales Holdstock tells, how those tales are usually told, and what makes them and Holdstock worthy; in sum, to help you rank Robert Holdstock (and the works by Holdstock listed here) on your personal literary “to do” list.
A Few Words About Robert Holdstock
Regrettably, I have not yet had an opportunity to write an essay on this author, but the “Other Resources” section below will lead you to some information about the “Notable Books” listed farther down this page.
First off, there is Mythago Wood, “The Official Robert Holdstock Web Site”. Next (and arguably even more relevant) is the Holdstock, Robert P entry at the ever-helpful Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.
Then, while there are numerous reviews available of particular Holdstock books, there is not much else of a general nature; the only reasonably general material seems to be a couple of essays: “Robert Holdstock: Mythic Fantasist” [archived copy] at Suite 101; and “Robert Holdstock’s Ryhope Wood Series”, a composite review at The Green Man Review [archived copy].
There are also the to-be-expected interviews, including a 2008 interview at Intempol (especially interesting for its explanation of how Holdstock’s series tie together); a 2005 interview with Sandy Auden at The SF Site; and a 1989 interview by Raymond H. Thompson.
The Mythago Cycle Books: (The internal chronology of the books does not correspond to their publication order; the list below is an attempt to represent the events in their internal-chronology order. But it is said by some that reading order is not crucial.)
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