In the critically acclaimed The Rope in the Water, Sylvia Fraser described her three-month pilgrimage to India in search of "something larger than myself, something deeper, something more." In The Green Labyrinth, Fraser continues her journey, this time deep into the jungle of the Amazon in the company of shamans, traditional spiritualists practicing ancient rituals. At the heart of Fraser’s quest lies the mind-expanding drug "ayahuasca", a gateway to worlds beyond her own, to a better understanding of the mysteries of existence. Fraser takes us to shamanic sanctuaries that hover at the edge of our modern world, providing a portal to the unknown. Along the way she introduces us to a diverse group of pilgrims searching for their own answers with the help of shamans and ayahuasca. Through meaningful visions and with spiritual guidance, Fraser and her fellow travellers acquire insight into their emotional and psychic lives, and discover that many of the answers they are searching for lie within themselves.

SYLVIA FRASER was born in Hamilton, Ontario and graduated from the University of Western Ontario with an Honors B.A. in English & Philosophy. She worked for many years as a feature writer for the Toronto Star Weekly, travelling extensively throughout North America, including the Arctic, as well as Mexico, Panama, Europe, and Africa. Literary Critic Elizabeth Westbrook described Sylvia's writing as "the best kind of fiction: accessible and entertaining stories embedded in rich complexity." She is responsible for six novels: Pandora (1972), The Candy Factory (1975), A Casual Affair (1978), The Emperor's Virgin(1980), Berlin Solstice (1984), and The Ancestral Suitcase (1996). Her non-fiction works include: The Quest for the Fourth Monkey: A Thinker's Guide to the Psychic and Spiritual Revolution (published in 1992 as The Book of Strange) awarded the American Library Association Book List Medal in 1994; My Father's House: A Memoir of Incest and of Healing (1987), extensively translated and adapted for the stage, received the Canadian Authors Association Non-Fiction Book Award in 1987. Fraser is also the recipient of the Women's Press Club Award for Canadian Journalism, 1967 and 1968; the President's Medal for Canadian journalism, 1968; and the National Magazine Gold Medal for Essays, 1994.
For many years, Fraser taught Creative Writing at Banff Centre. She has conducted numerous lectures and workshops sponsored by a variety of universities. She served on the Arts Advisory Panel to The Canada Council and was a member of The Canada Council's 1985 Cultural Delegation to China. Currently, Sylvia is vice-chair of The Writers' Development Trust, a charitable organization for the support and promotion of Canadian authors.

Sylvia Fraser's profile page

One or the most courageous, skilled and unconventional writers working in Canada.

Winnipeg Free Press

The writing is to die for.

The Edmonton Journal

Fraser strikes the perfect balance between eager spiritual adventurer and keen-minded journalist. With skills like hers, she can just let go and write.

Calgary Herald

Fraser engages us in humour and insight as we travel with her through a series of unusual adventures while searching for the higher mysteries of life.

Omega Source

...absorbing, moving, and occasionally terrifying...

Books in Canada

Fraser has brought back from her quest an unconventional travelogue abounding with thought-provoking ideas, personal insights, vivid descriptions, and unpretentious humour.

Georgia Straight

...The Green Labyrinth eschews tedious introspection for the breathless style of an exploration novel...Fraser seamlessly combines the factual and the personal with a style that makes the work intriguing...

Quill & Quire

Fraser writes in an accessible journalistic style, always ready to relay her personal insights in great detail.

Canadian Literature 186

Sylvia Fraser is an exceptional writer whose gifts set her apart from the poseurs.

Now Magazine

One can relax and enjoy Ms. Fraser's writing, which is rich yet superbly honed.

New York Times Book Review

A thoroughly engaging and stimulating read.

Vitality Magazine