Episode 163: Into the Woods - Mythical, Magical and Malicious Forests in Speculative Fiction

 

Woods and forests are almost ubiquitous in fantasy novels, especially High Fantasy or Epic Fantasy. The forest as a conscious entity is an archetype in its own right, especially in Western type settings - understandably so since much of Europe and the UK was once forest. So where does this fascination with the forest come from in the modern day? How has it filtered its way into modern speculative fiction? This week the dragons go into the woods to find out. Under the microscope this week - Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier, Hexwood by Diana Wynne Jones, Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien, Once Upon a Time and many more.

 

Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic