A little over a week ago, I learned that Robert Holdstock, author of Mythago Wood and other outstanding fantasy novels, was in a coma due to an e. coli infection. Just learned that he died early this morning from the infection.
Although I had heard excellent things about him as an author and as a person from those who had met him, I never got around to reading any of his books until this summer, when I purchased Mythago Wood and Avilion (the recently-released direct sequel) after being challenged to do so by Mark Charan Newton. I meant to blog at length some time about how much I enjoyed both stories, but I read them during a time when I was not in the mood to post much of anything. However, those novels, full of a genuine warmth to them, were a comfort of sorts during that time and I am thankful for having read them. So yeah, this was a major, major sad surprise over the past week.
Anyone else here read any of his works? I know I have a used copy of Lavondyss that I'm going to read now.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
4 comments:
holdstock was one of my favorite writers and i still can't believe he's gone. i was just talking to some friends the other day about him, saying how i can't wait to read 'avilion'... and now this :(
i've read several of his books and most have been well worth my time. i'd say read 'lavondyss' and the rest of the mythago series, at least. but don't expect 'mythago wood part 2', they're different. the short stories are really good too, as was 'unknown regions' (aka 'the fetch').
despite claims that it's part of the mythago series, i couldn't find any connection in 'merlin's wood' and i didn't enjoy it as much. as for the new trilogy (celtika etc.)... i don't know why, but i found it really boring and gave up after the first book.
I have not read anything by Holdstock. Actually, I hadn't even heard of him until a few months ago. I do have Mythago Wood coming in the mail though, so I will be putting it at the top of The Stack. It is always sad to lose a respected author.
He was actually a favorite I returned to off and on for the past fifteen years. My brother and I read Mythago Wood and were blown away. Have read all the rest but found for me the most intriguing were the most recent series: The Merlin Codex: Celtika, The Broken Kings, The Iron Grail, wherin he imagines Merlin helping Jason (of Jason and Medea) find his sons after Medea's attack. In the book he learns they are still alive and tries to find them. One of Holdstock's recurring themes is a father looking for his lost children.
Holdstock is a fantastic author. I read all of his Mythago related series, except for Avilion which was released later, but I intend to do so. I have never encountered such authentic magic in books, except maybe with Gene Wolfe. He will be missed.
Post a Comment