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Holdstock delivers once again with a wonderful mythical thriller/quest adventure breathtaking descriptions, absorbing mysteries solved by odd, obsessed characters. Uses The Mabinogion as a base text, but fills in the gaps!As a boy, Christian Huxley witnessed his mothers suicide after a terrifying raid from Kylhook (Culhwch) and his Arthurian warriors, who have broken out of Ryhope Wood and into the present to retrieve a long lost artifact.As a young man, exploring the wood in his fathers wake, Christian again encounters Kylhook and makes an astonishing discovery that will lead him into a series of dangerous quests. The ultimate prize is the Gate of Ivory, the gate through which he can bring his mother back to life.
Christian Huxley seeks to resurrect his mother by navigating the dangerous, shifting boundaries between the modern world and the mythic realm of Ryhope Wood. Haunted by the memory of a violent encounter with Arthurian warriors from his childhood, Christian follows his father's research into the woods to uncover the truth behind his mother's death. He faces the relentless pursuit of the legendary figure Kylhook, who seeks a powerful artifact that threatens the stability of both worlds. The narrative follows Christian's descent into a landscape where ancient myth dictates physical reality, forcing him to confront the psychological and supernatural consequences of his obsession.
This work is characterized by its dense, atmospheric prose and its commitment to the surreal logic of mythic storytelling. The narrative structure suggests a focus on the intersection of personal grief and grand, archetypal conflicts. Readers likely encounter a complex, layered environment where the boundaries of the real world are constantly challenged by the intrusion of ancient, violent legends. The text functions as a meditation on how historical and mythological narratives continue to shape and haunt the present day.
Page Count:
400
Publication Date:
1998-01-01
Publisher:
Voyager
ISBN-10:
000224604X
ISBN-13:
9780002246040
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