Not a real place, but far more profoundly real than we can imagine, Atlantis has lurked on the fringe of human imagination since Plato first created it. A land of obsessions, which has filled different roles for different writers (lost continent, birthplace of man, aggressive invaders, cradle of civilization, world empire, a chimera to hunt for) it grows more powerful the less actual it seems. This book looks through the same lens of fantasy, alternate history and outright lunacy as the author's two previous books, Bottled Demon and Things That Never Were. At last, we come to Atlantis.
In this book of speculative essays, it's quite obvious that Matthew Rossi is extremely well-read in matters of ancient societies, mythologies, and unexplained phenomena. His connections and leaps of logic are entertaining, thought provoking and well written, and all the more enjoyable because he doesn't pretend that they are anything but fiction. I don't have time to read much these days, but this book is my go-to resource to pass the time in line, in a waiting room, or on the subway. Pick it up and leave your preconceptions behind!
Matt Rossi is perhaps better known as a regular contributor to WoW Insider, a blog covering all World of Warcraft topics. But this book, and his other E-Book, Bottled Demon, are completely different, not only in content but also writing style. It is apparent that Matt is a student of very ancient history and he uses his knowledge to write some very interesting essays. A little difficult, for me, to read and comprehend without several readings. However, the essays are very enjoyable and I recommend both books.
I randomly came across the author's other book (Bottled Demon) a while back and really liked it as a kind of distinctive, thought provoking work. This book turned out to be as enjoyable. Like Bottled Demon, some pieces worked better than others and perhaps a slightly more ruthless approach to editing might have tightened things up a bit. But then all of the entries are at the very least interesting and often fascinating, and I'm sure personal tastes will vary with respect to everyone's personal favorite essays, so really I can't criticize much about the editing. In the end if you're after something a little off kilter but always entertaining that will give you some interesting thoughts to ponder, it's well worth a few bucks and your time.
Mr. Rossi gives us a collection of well-researched historical "what-if" explorations that are simultaneously weird and intriguing. I found myself re-reading many of the pieces, and was rewarded with quite a few "a-ha!" revelations. These aren't your typical throw-away short stories; they're essentially non-fiction weird fiction pieces that reward the thinking reader. Just buy "At Last, Atlantis", read with an open mind, and enjoy!