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January 2003
features
Fantasy books and links |
A review of fantasy fiction by Betsy Dressler
In the world of science fiction and fantasy there are a few names
that come to mind - H.P. Lovecraft, Lord Dunsauy, Ambrose Bierce,
J.R.R. Tolkien, Authur Machen, George MacDonald, Andrew Lang, Robert
Jordan, Anne McCaffrey, and Peter Beagle. The subject matter
covered varies wildly so it is safe to say nearly everyone could find
something which would appeal to them yet I would venture that this
genre has the smallest readership. It is not, however, the least
enthusiastic. May this act as an introduction to a fascinating
field if you have not previously been acquainted and as a huzzah to to
those who are already acquainted. The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan
The Great Hunt is the sequel to the Eye of the World in the Wheel of
Time series. Mr. Jordan has created the world of Kandor and
Cairhien and Saldaea surrounded by the sea of storms and the Arytu
Ocean. It is a world of heroes and villains and creatures as yet
unseen in our world or already seen and now past. Right battles
with might and usually wins and fair maidens are threatened by
trolloca and dark friends. There are tuatha'an, known as tinkers,
philosophical healers and there are ancient oaths and the One
Power. All in a marvelous world to wander in when our world
seems to much too bear and quite possibly a world which could provide
answers for our world. The
Tangle Box by Terry Brooks
Mr. Brooks might be best known for his Shannara series but this tale
will provide hours of delight and terror to readers. In the
magic Kingdom of Landover we find rulers, tricksters, cats who hunt
dogs, sorcerers of great evil (are there really any other type of sorcerers?),
fairy folk and at least one witch. Who could ask for more? Acorna,
the Unicorn Girl by Anne McCaffrey
This is the beginning book in a series dealing with Acorna and her
people. Acorna is a young girl with a small horn growing out of
her forehead. She was saved by her people just before they all
die in space; rescued by prospectors in space; living in a world
of loving uncles, the aforementioned prospectors, slave traders, and the
Piper; good and evil events occur as they will, proving the
graces of childhood indeed are powerful. Ms. McCaffrey is also
died the writer
of many books about dragons. The Complete Short Stories of Ambrose
Bierce
Mr. Bierce is one of the most hallowed of fantasy writers, along with
H.P. Lovecraft and Arthur Machen. His is a world of horror
influenced in no small part by our Civil War. In this collection
are such classics as: An Inhabitant of Corcosa, in which the
protangonist finds his own grave; The Damned Thing, where the reader
learns of death caused by an unknown and totally horrifying
"thing"; An Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge which takes place
during the Civil War and in which a hanged man disappears. There
is also a collection of tall tales in this book with more whimsy than
horror but always the bite of Mr. Bierce.
Books by J.
R.R. Tolkien
Middle Earth
The
Hobbit
The
Lord of the Rings
- The
Fellowship of the Ring
- The
Two Towers
- The
Return of the King
The
Silmarillion
Unfinished
Tales
The
Adventures of Tom Bombadil
The
History of Middle Earth Series
- The
Book of Lost Tales, Part 1
- The
Book of Lost Tales, Part 2
- The
Lays of Beleriand
- The
Shaping of Middle-Earth: The Quenta, The Ambarkanta and the Annals
- The
Lost Road and Other Writings
- The
Return of the Shadow: The History of the Lord of the Rings, Part
One
- The
Treason of Isengard: The History of the Lord of the Rings, Part
Two
- The
War of the Ring: The History of the Lord of the Rings, Part Three
- Sauron
Defeated: The History of the Lord of the Rings, Part Four
- Morgoth's
Ring: The Later Silmarillion, Part One : The Legends of Aman
- The
War of the Jewels: The Later Silmarillion : Part Two : The Legends
of Beleriand
- The Peoples of Middle-Earth
Non-Middle Earth Books
Other Books
Helpful Non-fiction and Reference Survey
of Modern Fantasy Literature
edited by Frank N. Magill
A five volume reference set published in 1983
which contains a summary and criticism of the classics of modern
fantasy literature arranged in alphabetical order by story
title. This set is a wonderful resource as an overview of
fantasy literature. Classic
Fantasy Writers
edited and with an introduction by Harold Bloom
This volume provides information on the fourteen
most significant fantasy writers up to the early twentieth century,
featuring detailed biographies, a wide selection of critical extracts,
and comprehensive bibliographies. The
Enchanted World series
by the Editors of Time-Life Books
A series of titles combining mythology, legend,
horror and fantasy. Richly illustrated and with tales from many
cultures, this set is a that should be interesting for all. The
Fantasy Book: an Illustrated History from Dracula to Tolkien
by Franz Rottensteiner
Beyond the frontiers of reason there extends a
vast, shadowy world of fantasy, where monsters lurk in the gloomy
depths, vampires flit across the moon, and imagination reigns
supreme. The author explores the world of fantasy as it appears
in literature. Fantasists
on Fantasy: a Collection of Critical Reflections
edited by Robert H. Boyer and Kenneth J. Zahorski
Eighteen of the finest fantasy writers share the
secrets of thier craft in essays, excerpts, and letters selected by
the editors. Candid, controversial, and often highly personal,
here is a unique glimpse into the authors singular imagination, as the
real experts in the field explore the theory, technique, and
aesthetics of fantasy literature.
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