Heartwood
It is a joy to announce that my story, ‘Raptor’, is in the forthcoming anthology, Heartwood, a tribute to the Mythago Wood novels by Robert Holdstock. I’m in terrific company, and when I say I am honoured to be part of this book, it is no exaggeration.
I felt quite emotional yesterday when the project was finally unveiled. Not only was Rob a dear friend but his deeply resonant work was an inspiration. I would prefer to continue to enjoy Rob’s cheerful presence, but I’m so pleased we have this wonderful tribute which is also an acknowledgement of Rob’s lasting impact on mythic fantasy and reimagined folklore.
Huge thanks to Dan Coxon for his stewardship of this volume, and to PS Publishing for taking so much care with the project. Kudos to Vince Haig for the beautiful cover. Plus, Michael Moorcock wrote the introduction.
At the beginning of Celtika, Rob’s other imaginative series, he quotes this poem, and it seems appropriate to replicate it again:
‘It was so old a ship – who knows, who knows?
– And yet so beautiful, I watched in vain
To see the mast burst open with a rose
And the whole deck put on its leaves again.’
from ‘The Old Ships’ by James Elroy Flecker
There is a limited edition, slipcase jacketed, signed hardback edition (there are only 100 copies, which will sell out rapidly, so don’t wait) and a trade paperback edition: both available to pre-order now.
Here is the Table of Contents:
- Introduction: The Matter of Albion – Michael Moorcock
- Editor’s Note – Dan Coxon
- Transient in Green – RJ Barker
- Paved with Gold – Adrian Tchaikovsky
- Here there be Monsters – Tim Waggoner
- Raptor – Maura McHugh
- Horsey Horsey – James Brogden
- Et in Acadia – John Langan
- The Crossing Place – Paul Kane
- What Happened to the Green Boy? – Gary Budden
- The Dog on the Hookland Road – Justina Robson
- Voici les Neiges d’Antan – Chaz Brenchley
- Old Coal – Mark Morris
- The Myth of Grief – Steven Savile
- Into the Heart – Allen Stroud
- Lovely, Dark and Deep – Lisa Tuttle
- Prey – Matthew Ward
- Mad Pranks and Merry Jests – Jen Williams
- Hearts of Ice – Peter Haynes
- Calling the Tune – Lucy Holland
- The Known Song – Aliya Whiteley
- Knight of the Air – Gareth Hanrahan
- A Mythago Wood Glossary
