Time and the Gods (Fantasy Masterworks 01) [Paperback]

Lord Dunsany (Author)

Book Description

Series: Fantasy Masterworks 01 | Publication Date: March 16, 2000

Of all the weavers of magic, there is none like Lord Dunsany. During his long lifetime - he died at the age of eighty - he wrote more than sixty books: novels like The King of Elfland's Daughter, plays, poetry collections, memoirs, essays and, most memorably, innumerable exotic and fantastical short stories. In this definitive new collection are the very best of Dunsany's extraordinarily evocative and joyous tales of Faerie, of dreamworlds and of magic: some of the loveliest fantasies in the English language, including the complete contents of Time and the Gods, The Book of Wonder, The Sword of Welleran and The Last Book of Wonder.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

SALES POINTS * #2 in the Millennium Fantasy Masterworks series, a library of the most original and influential fantasy ever written * 'One of the greatest writers of this century' Arthur C. Clarke * 'Lord Dunsany's work is immensely significant as well as enjoyable even today'Katharine Kerr * 'To the truly imaginative he is a talisman and a key unlocking rich storehouses of dream ... Dunsany stands dedicated to strange and lovely worlds of fantastic beauty' H.P. Lovecraft

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Millennium Paperbacks (March 16, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857989899
• ISBN-13: 978-1857989892
• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 1.4 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,811,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Time" is on your side, November 14, 2002

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Time and the Gods (Paperback)

"These tales are of the things that befell gods and men in Yarnith, Averon, and Zarkandhu, and in the other countries of my dreams." No better summary can be given than this. "Time and the Gods" is best described as a collection of invented myths, dreamed up by fantasy pioneer Lord Dunsany.

In it, you will find tales of Slid, an upstart young god; the Dawnchild, who loses her golden ball; the hideous Pestilence; Time and how it overthrew even what the gods favored; laughter, prophecies, doom and hope, punishment, night and day, gods and human beings.

As usual, he wrote enchantingly in this book. His prose is somewhat biblical in manner, which may scare off people who prefer lighter reads. This isn't something you can really skim, as you can't skim the Mabinogion, the Iliad, or the Eddas. Dunsany had an exquisite manner of writing, and he never skimps on lush details and beautiful descriptions.

Fans of classic fantasy -- or readers looking for something fresh and without cliches -- will thoroughly enjoy this collection of ethereal tales. A wonderful read.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Time" is on your side, August 26, 2004

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Time and the Gods (Paperback)

"These tales are of the things that befell gods and men in Yarnith, Averon, and Zarkandhu, and in the other countries of my dreams." No better summary can be given than this, a hint at what's ahead. "Time and the Gods" is best described as a collection of invented myths, dreamed up by fantasy pioneer Lord Dunsany.

In it, you will find tales of Slid, an upstart young god; the Dawnchild, who loses her golden ball, but ends up creating the Sun; the hideous Pestilence; Time and how it could overthrow even what the gods favored -- making it more powerful than the gods; laughter, prophecies, doom and hope, punishment, heroes, night and day, gods and human beings.

J.R.R. Tolkien is often credited with creating the fantasy genre as we know it. But Dunsany was one of the handful of fantasy writers who came first -- even creating mythical gods, cities, heroes and legends before Tolkien penned the Silmarillion. As a result, his stories are refreshingly original and untainted by any other writer's work.

Dunsany wrote enchantingly in this book. His prose is majestic and lush in manner, which may scare off people who prefer lighter reads. This isn't something that can be skimmed, like the Bible or the Iliad can't be skimmed. They're too complex, and too rich. Dunsany had an exquisite manner of writing, and he never skimps on lush details and beautiful descriptions.

Fans of classic fantasy -- or readers looking for something fresh and thoroughly cliche-free -- might enjoy "Time and the Gods," with Dunsany's rich writing and imagination.