Tuesday, December 1, 2009

A sad goodbye to a wonderful writer...


I have just heard that one of my favourite authors, the wonderful Robert Holdstock, has passed away after a brief battle with an infection.  He was 61.  I first discovered his wonderful Mythago Wood series when a friend recommended them back in 1991, and I think I have bought every title he's written since.  His writing somehow made fantasy earthy, grounded deep in the soil, not flighty and fluffy like a lot of fantasy that I've read.  It wasn't all shiny swords and wizards in velvet cloaks, it had dirt under its cracked fingernails and it smelt of composting leaves under dark oaks.  It was new and yet old, unfamiliar and yet so so so terribly familiar, like reading a long lost memory, discovering a part of yourself you never knew was there.  For me it was like coming home, and his writing has been a continuing inspiration to me.  His extraordinary talents will be missed by many.  RIP.

3 comments:

Ruthie Redden said...

A sad day, i had mythago wood on my to read list as i only came across it very recently, your description of the book has my fingers itching to hold a copy.

A mermaid in the attic said...

When I was a child, The Narnia books and the 'Dark is Rising' series seeped into my consciousness and helped to mould me into the person I am today. Nothing I read as an adult had the same magic and power, until I discovered Robert Holdstock's books, and they enthralled me in the same way. Enjoy!

Tammie Lee said...

your post makes me sad in his passing and even though I do not know his writing, I now want to read his books. Thank you.

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