Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy [Paperback]

David Pringle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2008

This essential reference book details everything the novice needs to know about the genre and everything the well-read fan is calling out for. Lavishly illustrated and expertly informed, it is edited by David Pringle, editor and co-founder of the internationally acclaimed "Interzone" magazine. He has assembled a team of expert contributors to compile a visually stunning, informative and fascinating guide to the world of fantasy.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Pringle is best known as the editor, publisher and co-founder of Interzone, the Hugo award-winning fantasy and science fiction magazine. He has also written several fantasy and science fiction studies, including Imaginary People: A Who's Who of Fictional Characters from the 18th Century to the Present Day, The St James Guide to Fantasy Writers, Modern Fantasy: The Hundred Best Novels 1946-1987 and Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels 1949-1984. David Langford is a freelance author. He has written three novels and several non-fiction books, including The Third Millennium. He is an eleven times Hugo award-winner for best science fiction-fan writer and best fanzine. Brian Stableford is a novelist and critic of distinction in the science fiction and fantasy fields. His many novels include Cradle of the Sun, The Realms of Tartarus, The Empire of Fear, The Werewolves of London and Serpent's Blood. His non-fiction works include The Third Millennium (with David Langford), Scientific Romance In Britain 1890-1950 and The Way to Write Science Fiction. Tim Dedopulos now a freelance writer and editor, used to work for Wizards of the Coast's Nightfall Games design team on their role-playing lines. He has contributed to many role-playing games, and been a dedicated gamer since Dungeons and Dragons. He wrote The Official Magic: The Gathering Deckbuilders' Guide (Carlton Books) and has edited numerous other Magic titles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Carlton Publishing; 3rd edition (March 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844420078
• ISBN-13: 978-1844420070
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,086,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, informative, and a visual pleasure, April 20, 2000

By 

Sheila L. Beaumont (South Pasadena, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy (Hardcover)

Though "ultimate" is an overstatement, there is much to enjoy here. This book is nowhere near as comprehensive as Clute and Grant's Encyclopedia of Fantasy, but it does have its own virtues. It is lavishly and colorfully illustrated (note especially the stunningly beautiful full-page painting opposite Terry Pratchett's foreword). It has entries for most well-known fantasy authors of the past and present. There are sections on types of fantasy (fairy tales, animal fantasies, Arthuriana, humorous, heroic, etc.), movies, TV, fantasy characters and entities, games, and fantasy worlds (Middle-earth, Narnia, Discworld, Earthsea, etc.). This is an entertaining, informative and visually appealing book for anyone who enjoys fantasy.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Overly critical, June 27, 2001

By 

Colt Hangen (Santa Cruz, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy (Hardcover)

Though the effort, layout and content are commendable I find one key problem with the book as a whole; it's just *FAR* too negative in it's mini-reviews of fantasy material (particularly film and t.v.). The amount of negative comments is so pervasive that I wondered, at times, if the authors even enjoyed fantasy, period. Virtually every fantasy classic is bashed for being anything from contrived to tawdry to banal. Yes, it's a work of opinion but (and I feel this is obvious) anyone who would pick up an Encyclopedia on any specific genre and to read so very much negative review was extremely off putting to me.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Free SF Reader, December 28, 2007

By 

Blue Tyson "- Research Finished" (Legion clubhouse) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy (Hardcover)

A recent update of this publication, it seems.

Taking a slightly different approach to the Science Fiction version of this that I have seen (which admittedly is older), this book takes a broad media look at the fantasy genre, and covers movies, television, books, role playing games, and computer games.

I think for a reasonably shallow, graphics and pictures heavy book this is a pretty good idea, and being reasonably familiar with a lot of this it appears to be done pretty well.

If you are looking for literature heavy bibliography, look elsewhere.

Being of the pommie variety there are a few digs at American junk (admittedly some of them well deserved), and probably less at cheesy UK equivalents, particularly as far as movies and tv goes.

There are also sections on famous fantasy characters, and famous fantasy plaes - e.g. Conan, Middle-Earth and that sort of thing.

All in all, rather well done, and should be interesting to most, and really useful for someone coming in brand new to get some ideas of where to start.

4.5 out of 5