The Hollowing (1994)

When Tallis Keaton's father stumbles out of Ryhope Wood months after disappearing to look for his lost daughter, it starts a chain of events that leads to the disappearance and supposed death of young Alex Bradley. "The Hollowing" follows Richard Bradley's attempts to find his son several years later, with the help of a group of scientists who are camped in the wood studying the mythagos. It was never clear to me exactly what was so warped and dangerous about Alex's mythagos, and I found the ending unsatisfactory. It seemed to fizzle out, as if the author couldn’t be bothered to write the last couple of chapters or deal with the problem of Alex reappearing unchanged nearly a decade after his disappearance. ( )

Having read the last book (Lavondyss) first, I suppose I came ill-prepared for The Hollowing. I was disappointed. My reason for this is purely personal, having to do with character motivation and justification, both of which I feel are lacking in the main protagonist. There is the makings of a heart-breaking novel here, but it failed, in my opinion.

I realize I fly in the face of literary acclaim and public opinion. It's not the first time. In my defense all I can say is I'm a very critical reader.

While the writing is lyrical, engaging, there is a lack of depth of character and emotion in the father of this story, Richard Bradley, who, despite the apparent discovery of his son who was thought dead and buried, ends up retreating in a state of apathy when his son needs him most, and this from a character who is allegedly a loving, dedicated father. Even when Richard returns to the mysterious and dangerous environs of Mythago Wood, he does little more than bumble about, without any apparent determination or will to rescue his son.

It is further alleged that his son, Alex, is 'a damaged and visionary child'. The reader, however, is given no evidence of this in Alex's pre-Mythago Wood existence, other than a few cursory statements that in his last days, before his apparent death, Alex sank into a state of catatonia. A classic case of 'tell' instead of 'show'.

I wanted very much to like this novel. I was left luke-warm. Which is a pity because Holdstock, despite the accolade of a World Fantasy Award, has all the elements and all the ability to have created a heart-rending, haunting, stunning work, with The Hollowing. Instead, in my opinion, the novel is forgettable. ( )

This is the fourth book in the Mythago Wood series, following on from Mythago Wood, Lavondyss and Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn.

This book deals with a young boy, Alex, drawn into Ryhope Wood by one of the masks Tallis Keeton (the main character in Lavondyss) made. Her father makes a brief appearance in this book. The story primarily follows the boy's father, Richard, as he searches for his son, along with a motley group of scientists investigating the wood. I believe some characters from the related short story, The Bone Forest are present too. The creations of Alex's conscious and subconscious are manifesting in the forest and are by no means all friendly.

As with the others in the series, this is a very complex book, but perhaps a little more grounded than some. And as in the others, the main character seems to be the least developed. It's like we see through his eyes (although it's third person), but learn very little about him. There is plenty of commentary on the other characters so you get an idea of who they are, but none on Richard. It's quite strange, and these are the only books I've encountered this in.

There is again much folklore and myth in this book, I think far more than I'm comprehending. There is much complexity and there are many layers to be explored. This one touches on the myths of Coyote, Jack In The Green and Jason And The Argonauts, but as always in Mythago Wood, these are not the good, heroic, fantastical legends and characters we hear them to be today. These are primal echoes, and ambiguous manifestations, raw forms of the myths.

A good book, but again doesn't live up to Lavondyss. I don't know if anything could! ( )

To me a forest is a very magical place that is not only alive with plant and animal life, but that also contains a secret hidden world that you just have to believe in to experience.

Ryhope Wood, in Holdstock's The Hollowing, takes my belief to a whole different level. This forest is inhabited by mythagos; all of human kind's mythical creations from Jason and the Argonauts to Gawain and the Green Knight, from celtic heroes to every variation of Jack the Giant Killer. Although the wood seems like a magical place, it is also one of great danger to the characters exploring there. Time runs differently and mythical monsters stalk through the trees.

The story follows Richard Bradley on a search through Ryhope Wood for his lost son, Alex. A series of strange events occur, beginning when Richard discovers a mysterious letter that leaves him in confusion. When James Keeton, missing for a year after entering the Wood in search of his daughter Tallis, appears in the headlights of Richard's car, life becomes stranger still. James, clutching a wooden mask and unresponsive, only seems to find comfort in his daughter's friend, twelve year old Alex.

Alex spends most of his time with James, trying to help his lost friend's father. When, in a moment of rare lucidity James claims he can see his daughter through the wooden mask, Alex places his face to the mask to see for himself. As soon as Alex looks in the mask he is propelled across the room with great strength. James falls dead and upon awakening, Alex has reverted to an unresponsive state, much like James.

After about a year, Alex disappears and his body is later discovered. Alex's death is too much for his parent's marriage and Richard moves to London to wallow in his grief. But, on a trip home, Richard meets Helen Silverlock and discovers that his son is indeed alive, but is hidding somewhere in Ryhope Wood. It is here that Richard's adventures begin, while he searches through a truly magical and terrible forest to reunite with his lost son.

An entertaining story. I will definitely read the other books belonging to the Mythago Cycle. I loved meeting my favourite characters from mythology and only wish that I could walk into the forest and be transported to a different world. ( )

One of my favorites of Holdstock's creepy, dense Mythago Wood sequence. ( )