Product Description

One of our most enduring, universal myths is that of the Green Man-the spirit who stands for Nature in its most wild and untamed form, a man with leaves for hair who dwells deep within the mythic forest. Through the ages and around the world, the Green Man and other nature spirits have appeared in stories, songs, and artwork, as well as many beloved fantasy novels, including Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.

Now Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, the acclaimed editors of over twenty anthologies, have gathered some of today's finest writers of magical fiction to interpret the spirits of nature in short stories and poetry. Charles Vess (Stardust) brings his stellar eye and brush to the decorations, and Windling provides an introduction exploring Green Man symbolism and forest myth.

The Green Man will become required reading for teenagers and adults alike-not only for fans of fantasy fiction, but for anyone interested in mythology and the mysteries of the wilderness.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #330044 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 400 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Michael Cadnum, Jane Yolen, Patricia A. McKillip and 15 others interpret an enduring legend through short stories and poetry in The Green Man: Tales From the Mythic Forest, ed. by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, illus. by Charles Vess. Brief biographies accompany the work of each author.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 8-Up The image of the "Green Man" is an ancient one as the introduction to this collection makes clear. From the old tales to Tolkien to Susan Cooper's Green Boy (McElderry, 2002), the awakening of nature has fueled many a gripping tale. The 15 stories and 3 poems were written for this book by such diverse authors as Patricia McKillip, Michael Cadnum, and Midori Snyder. Mature themes and an often sophisticated view of the world and how one survives in it characterize many of these selections. The mood is sometimes playful, as in Gregory Maguire's "Fee, Fie, Foe, et Cetera," or mystical as in the Native American story by Carolyn Dunn. No matter what the ambience or the plot underlying each selection, there is a real sense of how powerful nature can be in its various guises. Most readers will skip the introduction and head straight for the stories, but will be rewarded by reading it afterward. Each selection includes a biographical sketch and comments from the author. -Amy Kellman, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 7-12. There are some genuine gems in this enticing collection of 15 stories and 3 poems, all written specifically for this anthology, all featuring diverse takes on mythical beings associated with the protection of the natural world, and most involving a teen's coming-of-age. Delia Sherman takes readers into New York City's Central Park, where a teenager wins the favor of the park's Green Queen. Michael Cadnum contributes a dynamic retelling of the Daphne story. Charles de Lint offers an eerie, heartwarming story in which a teenager resists the lure of the world of faerie. Tanith Lee roots her turnabout tale in the myth of Dionysus, a god of the Wild Wood. Patricia McKillip steeps hers in the legend of Herne, guardian of the forest. Magic realism flavors Katherine Vaz's haunting story. Gregory Maguire takes on Jack and the Beanstalk, and Emma Bull looks to an unusual Green Man--a Joshua tree in the desert. All in all, this is a tasty treat for fantasy fans. Sally Estes
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Mythic Bang for your Buck
Here's why I recommend this anthology:

-- It's a terrific bargain. For around the price of a nonillustrated trade paperback [$$$], you get a hardbound book with illustrated dust jacket and chapter headings by master fantasy illustrator Charles Vess.

-- I read the stories in it in order, instead of picking and choosing the authors I liked. I probably haven't done that in a multi-author anthology since I was a teenager (back when giant lizards roamed the Earth).

-- Vess is an Illustrator, in the best sense of the word. He doesn't just draw pretty pictures; he helps tell the stories.

-- Even though this is a theme anthology, and (as others note) there's lots of stories of teens coming of age while lost in the wilderness, the authors have diverse voices. You get different stories, with different teens (some likeable, others detestable), going through a variety of life-changing experiences.

-- Although the stories vary in quality, they're all readable -- even Midori Snyder's story, which left a bad taste in my mouth by tying things up in too neat a bow and giving the hero's girlfriend a highly-annoying speech at the end.

Give it a try!

Read it and be refreshed by green.
Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling have paid true homage to the spirit of the Green Man in this anthology. Not only do the short stories collected in this hefty volume evoke a true sense of mystery in the wild, but artist Charles Vess -- who publishes much of his work via his own, well-respected Green Man Press -- has provided cover art and incidental illustrations to bring the concept alive.
From top to bottom, front to back, Tales from the Mythic Forest is an excellent collection of stories unearthing the heart of the woodlands, the spirit of the trees and the face of nature.

In praise of The Green Man.
At first, I did not realize that 'The Green Man' is a book for young adults. The give-away was when I realized that there was no sex or violence! The book is a fast read and I enjoyed the stories. Some are better than others as is true in most anthologies and a couple are truly inspired. The stories are a nice way to connect with the natural world.