From Publishers Weekly
Playing with archetype, myth and the nature of reality, Holdstock returns to the landscape of his World Fantasy Award-winning Mythago Wood , a primeval woodland in modern England that has defended itself through the eons with mythagos, embodiments of the human need for heroes and heroic acts. Devastated by the death of his young son, Alexander, Richard Bradley meets Alexander Lytton and Helen Silverlock, who indicate that the boy is still alive in a mysterious way in nearby Ryhope Wood. As the distraught father follows researcher Arnauld Lacan into the wood, he is gradually introduced to its properties and inhabitants, which range through the deeply embedded myths of all times. Meanwhile, Lytton wants Bradley to find Alexander because the fearful boy's vivid fantasies are changing the very nature of the wood that Lytton and his crew have been studying for years. Bradley's search proves unsuccessful, however, and it's only after the father gains the aid of Sarin, the Tall Grass Lady from the time of the Tower of Babel, that his quest reaches its climax. Holdstock weaves a dense and, at times, impenetrable tale, but a careful reading brings to light a variety of treasures, including a telling portrayal of Jason and the Argonauts in old age. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
The dark mysteries of Ryhope Wood draw Richard Bradley into its depths in search of his son Alex, whose fearful imaginings threaten to erode the old forest's delicate magical balance. Like Mythago Wood (Avon, 1991) and The Bone Forest (Avon, 1992), Holdstock's latest novel unravels the mythic landscape of the unconscious mind, revealing a world where dreams and legends become uncomfortably real. Powerful storytelling and strong characters make this a good choice for fantasy collections.Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
This is Holdstock's third novel-length exploration of the mysterious Ryhope Woods, in which the oldest human memories are incarnated as mythagos. The visit of a mythago to the bedside of a dying man launches the story. A father and son are also visiting the deathbed, and the son is drawn into a quest into the wood. As in his earlier mythago work, most of the time it is a little hard to discern a conventional plot in Holdstock's tale and more than a little hard to follow it when you can discern it. We'll endure tales far more nonlinear than this, however, for the sake of Holdstock's mythic lore and exquisite characterization and prose. This is fantasy concerned with the mythical idea, and the more of it done at this high level, the better. Roland Green

Review
"Indescribably enchanting."

Book Description
A NOVEL IN THE WORLD FANTASY AWARD-WINNING MYTHAGO CYCLE

Ryhope Wood, Mythago Wood, is the great forest steeped in mystery, whose heart contains secrets that change all who come there.

Alex Bradley is a damaged and visionary child. Little does he know that the distorted creations of his mind are alive inside nearby Ryhope Wood. When the forest claims him, his father goes in pursuit, along with a scientific expedition looking for the secret of "mythago-genesis"...

But inside Ryhope, Alex has created a hundred forms of the Trickster-all of them seeking their maker, and all of them deadly.


About the Author
The author of Celtika and the World Fantasy Award-winning Mythago Wood, Robert Holdstock lives in London.

ANNOTATION

A highly imaginative child vanishes into a forest which shields strange phantoms and mythagos--those shades generated over time by our dreams and nightmares. Thus begins a personal and epic quest by the boy's father, who must travel into his son's dreams to save him. This is the third book in the Mythago series. Original.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A highly imaginative child vanishes into a forest which shields strange phantoms and mythagos--those shades generated over time by our dreams and nightmares. Thus begins a personal and epic quest by the boy's father, who must travel into his son's dreams to save him. This is the third book in the Mythago series.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Playing with archetype, myth and the nature of reality, Holdstock returns to the landscape of his World Fantasy Award-winning Mythago Wood , a primeval woodland in modern England that has defended itself through the eons with mythagos, embodiments of the human need for heroes and heroic acts. Devastated by the death of his young son, Alexander, Richard Bradley meets Alexander Lytton and Helen Silverlock, who indicate that the boy is still alive in a mysterious way in nearby Ryhope Wood. As the distraught father follows researcher Arnauld Lacan into the wood, he is gradually introduced to its properties and inhabitants, which range through the deeply embedded myths of all times. Meanwhile, Lytton wants Bradley to find Alexander because the fearful boy's vivid fantasies are changing the very nature of the wood that Lytton and his crew have been studying for years. Bradley's search proves unsuccessful, however, and it's only after the father gains the aid of Sarin, the Tall Grass Lady from the time of the Tower of Babel, that his quest reaches its climax. Holdstock weaves a dense and, at times, impenetrable tale, but a careful reading brings to light a variety of treasures, including a telling portrayal of Jason and the Argonauts in old age. (July)

Library Journal