Robert Holdstock

Tor Books

336 pages

ISBN: 9780765311108

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, winner of 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.