Imaginary Lands [Paperback]

Robin McKinley (Author), Patricia McKillip (Author), Joan Vinge (Author), James P. Blaylock (Author), Robert Westall (Author), Peter Dickinson (Author), Jane Yolen (Author), P. C. Hodgell (Author), Michael de Larrabeiti (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This fantasy anthology, boasting some of the best writers in the genre today, will be a disappointment to all but the most easily pleased. Each story is linked by its firm placement in its imaginary setting, which is supposed to evoke in readers both wonder and familiarity. Unfortunately, these stories evoke only tedium and confusion, the major exception being McKinley's own entry, "The Stone Fey," a beautifully written love story set in Damar. While stories from James Blaylock, Patricia McKillip, Robert Westall and P. C. Hodgell are merely slight, the biggest disappointments are the stories from Peter Dickenson, whose "Flight" is more of a writer's notebook than a story; Jane Yolen, with a slim retelling of the forging of Excalibur; and Joan D. Vinge's brief version of the Tam Lin legend. Given the lack of quality from "name" writers, it's too bad McKinley didn't anthologize her own work.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up An exciting anthology of fantasy stories, all set in particularly vivid imaginary places and specially commissioned for this volume. The stories show variety and balance in their length, subject matter and style, featuring both male and female protagonists, some young and some not so young. James P. Blaylock describes a marvelously strange California of giant crabs and artificial dragons in his enchanting mood piece ``Paper Dragons,'' while Robert Westall's charming tale of a lost underground town preserved in the tunnels of a salt mine (``The Big Rock Candy Mountain'') contrasts with the poetic mysticism of Patricia A. McKillip's ``The Old Woman and the Storm.'' Although P. C. Hodgell's ``Stranger Blood'' begins with a confusing presentation of background and family histories, complicated by the fact that every other name seems to begin with K, it rapidly becomes a terrific tale of blood, skulls and magic. Also beguiling are the dry wit of Peter Dickinson's pseudo-historical document ``Flight'' and the extremely appealing heroine in the editor's ``The Stone Fey.'' Well-wrought stories by Jane Yolen, Michael de Larrabeiti and Joan D. Vinge round out this superlative collection. Lyle Blake Smythers, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Copyright 1986 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: Ace; 1st edition (December 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441366945
• ISBN-13: 978-0441366941
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,001,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Imaginary Lands, March 21, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Imaginary Lands (Library Binding)

Imaginary Lands is a collection of Fantasy stories . I think that it was a dull book, the sentence fluency was choppy and some of the words used I couldn't understand at all. I only read three stories which were kind of interesting, the first one that I read was about a man named Arram who helps an old woman see the inner beauty in herself with magic. I thought it was a nice story but there was too much information that was a waste of time to read and had no relation to the story line. The next story was a little better, it was Evian Steel. Evian Steel was about a girl named Elaine who is sent to become a magic sword forger and is befriended by a girl named Veree who is about to make her first sword. Veree knows a secret about the sword that Elaine hasn't learned yet, Veree has to cut herself and make her vein bleed into a basin, the blood gives the sword its uniqueness. Will Veree be able to do it? The third story I enjoyed quite a bit, it was the curse of Igamor. The story starts with a legend of a horse who steels children and evil, greedy adults, like the lord of Aigues Mortes, his Chancellor, and constable. Is Igamor as mean as he sounds?

9 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Author, April 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Imaginary Lands (Library Binding)

This is one of the best books I have read. Robin McKinley paints such beautiful pictures with her words. I started reading her books for a book report, but now I read them every chance I get! If you need a book to keep you occupied, this is the one for you!