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Mythago Wood #5
Merlin's Wood
Martin and Rebecca return to the outskirts of Brocéliande, an enchanted forest in Brittany where they grew up as children approximately 15 years earlier. They have returned for the funeral of their mother. Despite being warned to leave by family and local friends, they stay to settle the estate and take up residence in their childhood home.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
8 people are currently reading
1027 people want to read
About the author
Robert Holdstock
99 books399 followersRobert Paul Holdstock was an English novelist and author who is best known for his works of fantasy literature, predominantly in the fantasy subgenre of mythic fiction.
Holdstock's writing was first published in 1968. His science fiction and fantasy works explore philosophical, psychological, anthropological, spiritual, and woodland themes. He has received three BSFA awards and won the World Fantasy Award in the category of Best Novel in 1985.
Pseudonyms are Chris Carlsen, Robert Faulcon,Robert Black, Steven Eisler and Richard Kirk.
Holdstock's writing was first published in 1968. His science fiction and fantasy works explore philosophical, psychological, anthropological, spiritual, and woodland themes. He has received three BSFA awards and won the World Fantasy Award in the category of Best Novel in 1985.
Pseudonyms are Chris Carlsen, Robert Faulcon,Robert Black, Steven Eisler and Richard Kirk.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 11, 2017
Kārtējais Holdstoka gabals, kas veltīts apburtiem mežiem, leģendu arhetipiem un cilvēka prāta ietekmi uz realitāti.
Stāsts ir par mežu Britānijā ar dīvainu nosaukumu Brocéliande (varbūt tiem, kas zina franču valodu, tur nekas dīvains neatrodas). No šī meža ārā ved taka, pa kuru laiku pa laikam pārvietojas gari/spoki/mitago. Viņus redz tikai bērni, un bērni mīl dejot cauri šiem gariem, dažs labs uz laiku iegūst kādas pārdabiskas spējas, tomēr izaugot viss beidzas, garus neviens vairs neredz. Tā ir lieta kuru ciematiņa iedzīvotāji nereklamē.
Pēc divdesmit gadu prombūtnes ciematiņā atgriežas Martins un Rebeka, viņi apprecas un viņiem piedzimst dēls Daniels. Tad nu sāk notikt dīvainas lietas, ģimene tiek ierauta Merlina un Vivienas mūžīgajā cīņā par dominanci. Danielā ir iemiesojusies daļa no Vivien dvēseles, bet Rebekā Merlina dvēseles daļa.
Kopumā diezgan interesanta novelīte, kas parāda, ka pasaulē nevar nošķirt labu no ļauna. Diezgan ciniski tiek attēloti arī paši burvji, kas savā cīņā par varu nemaz neuztraucas par mirstīgajiem, galvenais ir uzvarēt.
Tā kā novele ir visai īsa, tad grāmatā iekļauti arī pāris stāstiņi, „Scarrowfell” – par ciematiņu, kas pielūdz pagānu dievības. Tāda alternatīvā pasaule bez kristietības. „Thorn” – pagānisma cīņa ar kristietību. Un arī par cilvēkiem, kas ārēji pielūdz jaunos dievus, bet dvēselē kalpo vecajiem. Un par to, ka ne vienmēr tavs noslēpums ir noslēpums visiem. Earth and Stone – ceļojumi laikā un tavu brīnumu mazā Šamaņa Tigg atgriešanās . Teim, kas neatminās Tig puisis, kas radīja traci Mitago cikla grāmatā „Lavondyss”. The Bone Forest – tieša Mitago cikla sastāvdaļa, nedaudz mūs ieved Hakslija eksperimentos ar zemapziņu. Tā sakot viens piedzīvojums no Stīvena un Kristiāna bērnības.
Grāmatai lieku 8 no 10 ballēm. Ieteiktu lasīt tikai tiem, kas ar Holdstoka Mitago ciklu saskārušies jau agrāk. Citādi var sanākt, ka lasi, bet nesaproti, par ko ir stāsts.
Stāsts ir par mežu Britānijā ar dīvainu nosaukumu Brocéliande (varbūt tiem, kas zina franču valodu, tur nekas dīvains neatrodas). No šī meža ārā ved taka, pa kuru laiku pa laikam pārvietojas gari/spoki/mitago. Viņus redz tikai bērni, un bērni mīl dejot cauri šiem gariem, dažs labs uz laiku iegūst kādas pārdabiskas spējas, tomēr izaugot viss beidzas, garus neviens vairs neredz. Tā ir lieta kuru ciematiņa iedzīvotāji nereklamē.
Pēc divdesmit gadu prombūtnes ciematiņā atgriežas Martins un Rebeka, viņi apprecas un viņiem piedzimst dēls Daniels. Tad nu sāk notikt dīvainas lietas, ģimene tiek ierauta Merlina un Vivienas mūžīgajā cīņā par dominanci. Danielā ir iemiesojusies daļa no Vivien dvēseles, bet Rebekā Merlina dvēseles daļa.
Kopumā diezgan interesanta novelīte, kas parāda, ka pasaulē nevar nošķirt labu no ļauna. Diezgan ciniski tiek attēloti arī paši burvji, kas savā cīņā par varu nemaz neuztraucas par mirstīgajiem, galvenais ir uzvarēt.
Tā kā novele ir visai īsa, tad grāmatā iekļauti arī pāris stāstiņi, „Scarrowfell” – par ciematiņu, kas pielūdz pagānu dievības. Tāda alternatīvā pasaule bez kristietības. „Thorn” – pagānisma cīņa ar kristietību. Un arī par cilvēkiem, kas ārēji pielūdz jaunos dievus, bet dvēselē kalpo vecajiem. Un par to, ka ne vienmēr tavs noslēpums ir noslēpums visiem. Earth and Stone – ceļojumi laikā un tavu brīnumu mazā Šamaņa Tigg atgriešanās . Teim, kas neatminās Tig puisis, kas radīja traci Mitago cikla grāmatā „Lavondyss”. The Bone Forest – tieša Mitago cikla sastāvdaļa, nedaudz mūs ieved Hakslija eksperimentos ar zemapziņu. Tā sakot viens piedzīvojums no Stīvena un Kristiāna bērnības.
Grāmatai lieku 8 no 10 ballēm. Ieteiktu lasīt tikai tiem, kas ar Holdstoka Mitago ciklu saskārušies jau agrāk. Citādi var sanākt, ka lasi, bet nesaproti, par ko ir stāsts.
February 16, 2020
A beguiling and mystical offering from Robert Holdstock, which is fitting considering the novel focusses on the Arthurian legend of Merlin and Vivien.
Merlin's Wood is a different beast from the Mythago Wood books, more enchanting and dreamlike in tone. Nevertheless, Holdstock recycles his familiar themes with fresh insight and depth. I'm perpetually delighted at the mileage Robert Holdstock wrung out of his 'mythago' concept. He died too young, and it's painful imagining what rich stories were left untold.
Quibbles: the author's note at the end notes a debt owed to Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King' (another favourite of mine!). I can't help but feel that some of Tennyson's ingrained misogyny crept into Holdstock's portrayal of women. While I can overlook sexism from a Victorian author it's harder to ignore from a modern writer. Still, it doesn't massively overshadow Holdstock's books for me.
The extra two short stories following Merlin's Wood were powerful, eerie tales. Being a selkie obsessive I was delighted to see Holdstock turn to them for inspiration in 'The Silvering'. I was a wee bit disappointed that he went down the pervy fisherman route, though. The selkies and setting didn't feel authentic but I suppose this was Holdstock taking a Scottish myth and stamping his unique, English paganism on top of it. Overall I loved the haunting, dark tone he created.
To sum up: Merlin's Wood (& the accompanying short stories) rank high for me, Holdstock at his best!
Merlin's Wood is a different beast from the Mythago Wood books, more enchanting and dreamlike in tone. Nevertheless, Holdstock recycles his familiar themes with fresh insight and depth. I'm perpetually delighted at the mileage Robert Holdstock wrung out of his 'mythago' concept. He died too young, and it's painful imagining what rich stories were left untold.
Quibbles: the author's note at the end notes a debt owed to Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King' (another favourite of mine!). I can't help but feel that some of Tennyson's ingrained misogyny crept into Holdstock's portrayal of women. While I can overlook sexism from a Victorian author it's harder to ignore from a modern writer. Still, it doesn't massively overshadow Holdstock's books for me.
The extra two short stories following Merlin's Wood were powerful, eerie tales. Being a selkie obsessive I was delighted to see Holdstock turn to them for inspiration in 'The Silvering'. I was a wee bit disappointed that he went down the pervy fisherman route, though. The selkies and setting didn't feel authentic but I suppose this was Holdstock taking a Scottish myth and stamping his unique, English paganism on top of it. Overall I loved the haunting, dark tone he created.
To sum up: Merlin's Wood (& the accompanying short stories) rank high for me, Holdstock at his best!
November 8, 2019
The story recounted in this 5th book is one which was actually hinted before, in the previous installment. There, Lacan, the French researcher, says that there is a similar forest to Rhodope Wood, named Broceliande, in his home country. And that he heard about a couple which has a baby. But the child is born without senses and develops them quickly, in a strange and scary way: everything he gains the mother loses. In the end, the father loses both son and wife to the forest.
In Merlin's Wood, Holdstock expands on that idea and the world he builts (while also touching on myths of Merlin and Vivianne and early European shamanism) is mesmerizing.
I especially loved the Path and how the stream of ghosts pours through the forest's road but only kids can see them (still, the adults believe them because they used to see them as well when they were little). And that when you dance with them (swirl fast inside a ghost as they walk on, seemingly unable to notice the live people), you become briefly possessed and see glimpses of that ghost's life.
I think this was one of the most well-built world details in the book, although the story itself is, of course, great as well.
In Merlin's Wood, Holdstock expands on that idea and the world he builts (while also touching on myths of Merlin and Vivianne and early European shamanism) is mesmerizing.
I especially loved the Path and how the stream of ghosts pours through the forest's road but only kids can see them (still, the adults believe them because they used to see them as well when they were little). And that when you dance with them (swirl fast inside a ghost as they walk on, seemingly unable to notice the live people), you become briefly possessed and see glimpses of that ghost's life.
I think this was one of the most well-built world details in the book, although the story itself is, of course, great as well.
November 23, 2017
Holdstock. A rare one, this guy. He transcends any idea of genre fiction.
Fantasy? Yeah, sure, I suppose, as far as that pigeonhole means anything in reference to his body of work. It's like saying Shakespeare's "The Tempest" is a fantasy story. Sure, it is. But, it's a whole lot more than just that: This is the kind of writing that can get inside you and change you.
When I tell you that after reading Holdstock, I look at the world differently and that he deepens my wonder at the profound mystery of existence, it's not hyperbole. There's wonder, terror, despair, joy, and salvation here. His characters are real, flawed, challenged, fully human beings.
Holdstock died far too young, and we need more from him... but, what we've got is so much.
Fantasy? Yeah, sure, I suppose, as far as that pigeonhole means anything in reference to his body of work. It's like saying Shakespeare's "The Tempest" is a fantasy story. Sure, it is. But, it's a whole lot more than just that: This is the kind of writing that can get inside you and change you.
When I tell you that after reading Holdstock, I look at the world differently and that he deepens my wonder at the profound mystery of existence, it's not hyperbole. There's wonder, terror, despair, joy, and salvation here. His characters are real, flawed, challenged, fully human beings.
Holdstock died far too young, and we need more from him... but, what we've got is so much.
September 28, 2024
Už jste někdy zažili moment, který se odehrával mimo vás, a přitom jste se cítili naprosto pohlceni, na hrudníku vám ležela nepopsatelná tíha, do očí se draly slzy a propadali jste strachu, ačkoli jste byli v bezpečí a jen diváky? Tak působí Merlinův les Roberta Holdstocka. Nebojte se vstoupit…
V těchto dnech stejně jako po celé věky byla Broceliande strašným místem, pradávným temným lesem pokrývajícím mlžná údolí a zapomenuté kameny, plným skrytých jezer a záhadných houštin. Ačkoli samotné jádro Broceliande nemohlo být nikdy objeveno, pach zkázy se šíří až k jeho okrajům a s ním se z něj sypou duchové jako listí na podzim. Je to ten les, kde podle pověsti usnul začarovaným spánkem samotný Merlin, aby ho čarodějka Vivien mohla připravit o jeho magii…
Martin a Rebecca uprchli před lesem už dávno. Ale když se o mnoho let později vrátili na pohřeb své matky, byli znovu lapeni do magické sítě lesa – do sítě zla, která drží místní vesničany ve svém sevření. A když se Rebecce narodí syn Daniel – nádherné, ale hluché a slepé dítě – zjišťuje, že je vtahována do děsivého světa, v němž ztrácí schopnost zpívat a vidí jen zvláštní, tajemné stíny. Krátký román Merlinův les je v novém vydání doplněn několika povídkami, z nichž některé vycházejí v českém překladu poprvé.
Tak z obálky knihy a stinných zákoutí literární magie, kde se slova mění v zaklínadla pochopitelná jen čtenářům, pomalu vzlíná příběh Merlinův les od Roberta Holdstocka, stejně mysticky poutavý jako bolestný či okouzlující. Vcházíme do říše, kde se mýty a vzpomínky proplétají s realitou, a společně před námi rozvíjejí strašidelně krásný koberec vyprávění. Holdstock nás vede jen hlouběji do lesa, jenž vyrostl v jeho sérii Les mytág. Merlinův les je její součástí, přesto se dá číst naprosto samostatně, a pokud u knihy začnete autora objevovat, o nic ochuzeni nejste.
„Všechny věci jsou známé, ale většina jich je zapomenutá,“ píše Robert Holdstock v knize Lavondyss a slova mají význam i tady. Hlavní hrdinové, důvody jejich činů, prožitky i slabiny, to všechno je povědomé, jako bychom i je už dávno znali. Brzy si nás získají a o to bolestnější je sledovat, co plíživě přichází lesem, který není ani tak lokalitou, jako spíš poruchou osobnosti. Holdstock v nás vzbuzuje neklid svým mísením historických rituálů a legend ukotvených však v dnešní době. Jako by vám stříkl do očí citron, když uprostřed mýtů a lidí žijících dle pradávných pravidel tu projede auto, jinde někdo hraje počítačovou hru… Bravurně si tak pohrává s naší myslí a vytváří jakési bezčasí a meziprostor, kde je místo pro vše.
Merlinův les je i bránou do psychiky postav, složitých osobností a jejich nitra. Spojení každé z nich s lesem pak jako kávový filtr nechává vyniknout jejich skutečnému já. Holdstock nás pro ně získává a vede si nás stránkami coby poslušné psíky, kteří spokojeně čenichají, co jim ještě nabídne. Vyvážené tempo knihy v překladu Petra Kotrleho, zručného mistra slova, díky jemuž známe i díla George R. R. Martina nebo autorky Ursuly K. Le Guin, je zcela v souladu s obsahem. Postupně budovaným strachem z neznámého, který skutečně má moc, aby jej čtenář cítil hmatatelně. Osobně, za autora článku mohu říct, že knihu řadím k mému letošnímu velkému překvapení v podobě díla Zuzany Hartmanové Kosti pod mechem. Zaslouží nejvyšší hodnocení. Merlinův les je esencí spisovatelské profese, a i vy si jeho poznávání užijete, ideálně v nadcházejících podzimních dnech. Abyste zjistili, že Holdstocka budete chtít přidat!
Hodnocení 100 %
V těchto dnech stejně jako po celé věky byla Broceliande strašným místem, pradávným temným lesem pokrývajícím mlžná údolí a zapomenuté kameny, plným skrytých jezer a záhadných houštin. Ačkoli samotné jádro Broceliande nemohlo být nikdy objeveno, pach zkázy se šíří až k jeho okrajům a s ním se z něj sypou duchové jako listí na podzim. Je to ten les, kde podle pověsti usnul začarovaným spánkem samotný Merlin, aby ho čarodějka Vivien mohla připravit o jeho magii…
Martin a Rebecca uprchli před lesem už dávno. Ale když se o mnoho let později vrátili na pohřeb své matky, byli znovu lapeni do magické sítě lesa – do sítě zla, která drží místní vesničany ve svém sevření. A když se Rebecce narodí syn Daniel – nádherné, ale hluché a slepé dítě – zjišťuje, že je vtahována do děsivého světa, v němž ztrácí schopnost zpívat a vidí jen zvláštní, tajemné stíny. Krátký román Merlinův les je v novém vydání doplněn několika povídkami, z nichž některé vycházejí v českém překladu poprvé.
Tak z obálky knihy a stinných zákoutí literární magie, kde se slova mění v zaklínadla pochopitelná jen čtenářům, pomalu vzlíná příběh Merlinův les od Roberta Holdstocka, stejně mysticky poutavý jako bolestný či okouzlující. Vcházíme do říše, kde se mýty a vzpomínky proplétají s realitou, a společně před námi rozvíjejí strašidelně krásný koberec vyprávění. Holdstock nás vede jen hlouběji do lesa, jenž vyrostl v jeho sérii Les mytág. Merlinův les je její součástí, přesto se dá číst naprosto samostatně, a pokud u knihy začnete autora objevovat, o nic ochuzeni nejste.
„Všechny věci jsou známé, ale většina jich je zapomenutá,“ píše Robert Holdstock v knize Lavondyss a slova mají význam i tady. Hlavní hrdinové, důvody jejich činů, prožitky i slabiny, to všechno je povědomé, jako bychom i je už dávno znali. Brzy si nás získají a o to bolestnější je sledovat, co plíživě přichází lesem, který není ani tak lokalitou, jako spíš poruchou osobnosti. Holdstock v nás vzbuzuje neklid svým mísením historických rituálů a legend ukotvených však v dnešní době. Jako by vám stříkl do očí citron, když uprostřed mýtů a lidí žijících dle pradávných pravidel tu projede auto, jinde někdo hraje počítačovou hru… Bravurně si tak pohrává s naší myslí a vytváří jakési bezčasí a meziprostor, kde je místo pro vše.
Merlinův les je i bránou do psychiky postav, složitých osobností a jejich nitra. Spojení každé z nich s lesem pak jako kávový filtr nechává vyniknout jejich skutečnému já. Holdstock nás pro ně získává a vede si nás stránkami coby poslušné psíky, kteří spokojeně čenichají, co jim ještě nabídne. Vyvážené tempo knihy v překladu Petra Kotrleho, zručného mistra slova, díky jemuž známe i díla George R. R. Martina nebo autorky Ursuly K. Le Guin, je zcela v souladu s obsahem. Postupně budovaným strachem z neznámého, který skutečně má moc, aby jej čtenář cítil hmatatelně. Osobně, za autora článku mohu říct, že knihu řadím k mému letošnímu velkému překvapení v podobě díla Zuzany Hartmanové Kosti pod mechem. Zaslouží nejvyšší hodnocení. Merlinův les je esencí spisovatelské profese, a i vy si jeho poznávání užijete, ideálně v nadcházejících podzimních dnech. Abyste zjistili, že Holdstocka budete chtít přidat!
Hodnocení 100 %
July 14, 2021
Reading the back cover suggests this is a novel. It is a novella, and 3 short stories.
The novella is parts 1 & 2 “Broceliande” and “The Unquiet Grave”. This got off to a great start and I really enjoyed the first ¾ of it. The prose was lyrical and the plot quite interesting with an enchanted wood with haunting ghosts only seen by children. Then the malevolence begins with some disturbed spirits. Abruptly the plot then gets wound up with quite an unsatisfactory resolution in a pace out of step with the cadence of the rest of the story.
Parts 3 & 4 “The Vision of Magic” and “The Spirit-Echo’s Promise” is the 1st short story which is a spin-off with characters from the novella providing a backstory and a development built onto the initial resolution. It was a fairly diverting read.
There were then 2 unrelated short stories that have no connection to a mystical or enchanted wood, whether it’s Merlin’s or anyone else’s, so I figure they really shouldn’t be in this volume.
Having said that, the first unrelated short story “Earth & Stone” held my attention and was an interesting tale surrounding the myth and folklore of the early civilisation burial mounds in the British Isles.
The last short story “The Silvering” went way past mystical fantasy into a tale that not only failed to suspend disbelief but had unlikable characters. It felt like a bad superhero anime comic that no editor should have let see the light of day. When it became obvious what the predicable and unimaginative resolution would be, I started skimming pages. After a while I decided I really wasn’t enjoying it and I abandoned.
On balance, the first ¾ of the novella is good. But take the whole volume and it is unsatisfactory.
The novella is parts 1 & 2 “Broceliande” and “The Unquiet Grave”. This got off to a great start and I really enjoyed the first ¾ of it. The prose was lyrical and the plot quite interesting with an enchanted wood with haunting ghosts only seen by children. Then the malevolence begins with some disturbed spirits. Abruptly the plot then gets wound up with quite an unsatisfactory resolution in a pace out of step with the cadence of the rest of the story.
Parts 3 & 4 “The Vision of Magic” and “The Spirit-Echo’s Promise” is the 1st short story which is a spin-off with characters from the novella providing a backstory and a development built onto the initial resolution. It was a fairly diverting read.
There were then 2 unrelated short stories that have no connection to a mystical or enchanted wood, whether it’s Merlin’s or anyone else’s, so I figure they really shouldn’t be in this volume.
Having said that, the first unrelated short story “Earth & Stone” held my attention and was an interesting tale surrounding the myth and folklore of the early civilisation burial mounds in the British Isles.
The last short story “The Silvering” went way past mystical fantasy into a tale that not only failed to suspend disbelief but had unlikable characters. It felt like a bad superhero anime comic that no editor should have let see the light of day. When it became obvious what the predicable and unimaginative resolution would be, I started skimming pages. After a while I decided I really wasn’t enjoying it and I abandoned.
On balance, the first ¾ of the novella is good. But take the whole volume and it is unsatisfactory.
November 23, 2025
In the first place, both Wikipedia & Goodreads list this as a Mythago Wood book, which is only partially true. The titular short novel, which takes up half of the book, is a Merlin novel and connects to The Merlin Codex, but not to Mythago Wood. (Once upon a time, I thought that The Merlin Codex trilogy was connected somehow to Mythago Wood, but that did not turn out to be the case.) Merlin's Wood (Brocéliande in Brittany) is haunted, but not by mythagos, despite what it says on the book cover. It is not at all like Ryhope Wood. The book in question ends with a novella, The Bone Forest, which IS a Mythago Wood story, and which is the only actual Mythago Wood material in the book. However The Bone Forest was also the titular story an earlier volume which is ALSO listed as being Mythago Wood by both Wikipedia and Goodreads.
There is some kvetching in other reviews about the fact that Merlin's Wood is a short novel and that the volume in question (in the Gollancz edition that I read) is filled out by 3 short stories and a novella (The Bone Forest, as discussed above). (The HarperCollins 1st edition had only 2 extra short stories & no novella.) I had no issues with that, since I think Merlin's Wood ends at exactly the right place. It's a great ending, perfect, which tbh is pretty rare. If the novel was longer, it would have diluted its power. And the 3 stories are all quite good, albeit depressing. And it was nice to read The Bone Forest again. Although written and published later, it's really a prequel that sets up the entire Mythago Wood chronology. I docked the book 1 star since I'd also read The Bone Forest in its earlier appearance, but it was good to read it again, and I can recommend the book.
There is some kvetching in other reviews about the fact that Merlin's Wood is a short novel and that the volume in question (in the Gollancz edition that I read) is filled out by 3 short stories and a novella (The Bone Forest, as discussed above). (The HarperCollins 1st edition had only 2 extra short stories & no novella.) I had no issues with that, since I think Merlin's Wood ends at exactly the right place. It's a great ending, perfect, which tbh is pretty rare. If the novel was longer, it would have diluted its power. And the 3 stories are all quite good, albeit depressing. And it was nice to read The Bone Forest again. Although written and published later, it's really a prequel that sets up the entire Mythago Wood chronology. I docked the book 1 star since I'd also read The Bone Forest in its earlier appearance, but it was good to read it again, and I can recommend the book.
October 10, 2024
Dalších 3.5 hvězdičky, aspoň za mě. Ten hlavní příběh se mi líbil, byl napínavý, nebyl příliš dlouhý a měl spád. Nicméně Martinovo chování mě občas lehce iritovalo, choval se za mě nelogicky, i když si asi neumím představit, jak bych se v jeho postavení cítila já. Přeci jen se dostal do příšerné situace, ale bylo tu i varování, že se to může stát.
Pokud jde o Merlina a Vivien, tak to bylo velmi zajímavé pojetí daného příběhu. A Merlinovo vyprávění jsem si užila a zaujalo mě. Ne, není to klasický příběh o Merlinovi, jak ho známe z Artušových legend, ale velmi poutavý příběh. Ale základ o ošáleném čaroději tam je, i když... Nemohl si za to částečně sám?
Co mě ale lehce naštvalo, byl závěr, není úplně ukončený. Tedy asi je i není zároveň. Co se bude s hlavními postavami dít dál...
Pokud jde o povídky, tak některé mě zaujaly, jiné moc ne. Je to taková směska s různými motivy a některé taky nemají úplně uzavřený konec.
Pokud jde o Merlina a Vivien, tak to bylo velmi zajímavé pojetí daného příběhu. A Merlinovo vyprávění jsem si užila a zaujalo mě. Ne, není to klasický příběh o Merlinovi, jak ho známe z Artušových legend, ale velmi poutavý příběh. Ale základ o ošáleném čaroději tam je, i když... Nemohl si za to částečně sám?
Co mě ale lehce naštvalo, byl závěr, není úplně ukončený. Tedy asi je i není zároveň. Co se bude s hlavními postavami dít dál...
Pokud jde o povídky, tak některé mě zaujaly, jiné moc ne. Je to taková směska s různými motivy a některé taky nemají úplně uzavřený konec.
August 14, 2024
I love Robert Holdstock so much, and I think Merlin's Wood might actually be my favourite Holdstock story. It's haunting, horrific, mesmerising, creepy--it grabs you by the throat and forces you to experience a world where magic is real and terrifying. I'm a huge Tennyson fan, and you can feel the Idyll's of the King's presence throughout Merlin's Wood. It's one of those stories I go back to on a semi-regular basis, just to experience the reading journey. The other short stories are good, don't get me wrong, but the title story is hands down a masterful piece of writing. If you have any interest at all in Ryhope Wood, you'll adore this book; if not, now's the time to start!
August 19, 2024
Broceliande a Ryhop sú úplne odlišné miesta, no napriek tomu majú mnoho spoločného. Nielen magicko-znepokojivú atmosféru, ale aj prepojenie skutočného a magického sveta. V oboch prípadoch navyše ide o prastaré lesy s vlastnými pravidlami, v ktorých sa po zvláštne kľukatých chodníčkoch preháňajú prízraky.
Z príbehovej stránky mám pocit, že Broceliande núka o niečo zložitejší a možno aj ťažšie stráviteľný kúsok. Krásne rozvinutý, ale zároveň náročný na pozornosť a emócie. Lebo hoc je to na jednej strane jeden z najtragickejších príbehov, na tej druhej má v sebe aj istú nádej.
Opäť neopakovateľne melancholický zážitok.
Z príbehovej stránky mám pocit, že Broceliande núka o niečo zložitejší a možno aj ťažšie stráviteľný kúsok. Krásne rozvinutý, ale zároveň náročný na pozornosť a emócie. Lebo hoc je to na jednej strane jeden z najtragickejších príbehov, na tej druhej má v sebe aj istú nádej.
Opäť neopakovateľne melancholický zážitok.
March 7, 2023
Great book. If you are planning on purchasing The Bone Forest, there isn't really a need since this book has it as one of its short stories. However, there are one or two short stories in The Bone Forest that are not in this book, and this book has one short story that is not in The Bone Forest.
Overall, I enjoy the Mythago Wood series. Some of the short stories can be a little weird, but the Mythago Wood universe keeps me engaged. Overall enjoyable and I would recommend giving this your attention.
Overall, I enjoy the Mythago Wood series. Some of the short stories can be a little weird, but the Mythago Wood universe keeps me engaged. Overall enjoyable and I would recommend giving this your attention.
November 20, 2021
Only tangentially a continuation of the Mythago Wood saga, this short novel is nevertheless rich in wood- and folklore, and an engaging horror/thriller to boot: a worthy addition to the sprawl of Holdstock's ongoing forays into an ever-present past. The short stories and novella that fill out this volume are every bit as, in some cases superior to, the novel they accompany, offering some of the best folk horror I've yet read.
July 24, 2025
To be fair, I am pretty much tired of the words describing sex and genitalia (if I had a nickel…), but in the grand scheme of things this book was sick and twisted and I weirdly loved it.
The short stories unrelated to the novel were also pretty interesting and even though I could do the thing without them I was also glad they were a part of the book.
Now the rating - i love stuff about merlin etc so yeah (it also scratched an itch so theres that)
The short stories unrelated to the novel were also pretty interesting and even though I could do the thing without them I was also glad they were a part of the book.
Now the rating - i love stuff about merlin etc so yeah (it also scratched an itch so theres that)
April 10, 2020
4.5
More sinister than I thought.
Loved it. Ryhope wood is my favorite series ever.
More sinister than I thought.
Loved it. Ryhope wood is my favorite series ever.
July 9, 2018
Ancient stories of thorn and stone
December 22, 2015
Robert Holdstock was a great writer and his Mythago Woods Cycle of books are fantastic. His Merlin books are not on that level in our opinion but still good. Merlin’s Wood is sort of a bridge between these two series of books, being the story of Merlin’s efforts to escape the captivity by the enchantress Vivien to whom legend tells us he fell prey. It is a beautiful and poetic book, even while essentially tragic in nature. With this novel came four short stories that are all also very good especially the Bone Forest, which is part of the Mythago Woods Cycle. These are very pagan stories. Whether they take place in the distant past or the present, Holdstock had a way of evoking the atmosphere of our pagan ancestors and their lives and beliefs. His pagan version of the Lord’s Prayer at the end of the story The Spirit-Echo’s Promise is interesting in and of itself. Highly recommended.
The Silver Elves authors of The Elves of Lyndarys: A Magical Tale of Modern Faerie Folk
The Silver Elves authors of The Elves of Lyndarys: A Magical Tale of Modern Faerie Folk
May 21, 2014
This is a 240 page novel, followed by four short stories that take up a further 200 pages – an unusual combination. All of the stories are dark fantasy, with a certain amount of added macabre. The novel and the stories are deeply atmospheric and stylish – I felt I was reading something special and out of the ordinary from the start. I enjoyed this book a lot, and recommend it to all who encounter it.
April 24, 2010
This is a novella and short stories from the phenomenal Mythago Wood Cycle, the concept of which just blows my mind! It is so deeply imbued with folklore and scholarship I can't even begin to describe it, and it's own poetic language is fabulous.
August 1, 2011
Wonderful as always. Something about the rawness in his story telling get me.
August 24, 2016
Another rating: 8/10
January 2, 2016
I enjoyed the subject matter of this novel but I actually liked the short stories included at the end the most.
March 31, 2016
Triste...
March 6, 2010
The novella contained in this anthology is a marvellous retelling of the Merlin/Vivien legend.
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