The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy [Paperback]

David Pringle (Editor), Terry Pratchett (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

With a foreword by Terry Pratchett, this essential reference has been revised and updated for 2008. Lavishly illustrated and expertly informed it details everything the novice needs to know about the genre and everything the well-read fan is calling out for. This encyclopedia divulges just what constitutes fantasy and where the parameters lie, and celebrates the finest and lesser-known works that make up the genre, be they books, movies, television shows or iconic images.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Pringle is editor and publisher of the quarterly fiction magazine "Interzone" and librarian at the Brighton College of Technology. He has edited two "Interzone" anthologies and written one previous book, "Science Fiction: The Best 100 Novels."

Terry Pratchett's novels have sold more than fifty-five million (give or take a few million) copies worldwide. He lives in England. As many of you know, beloved house author Terry Pratchett has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's Disease. Terry has become active in fundraising efforts to support Alzheimer's research.
 

 

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Carlton Books; Updated edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1847320732
• ISBN-13: 978-1847320735
• Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Science Fiction & Fantasy
  • #21 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Literature
  • #66 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > History & Criticism

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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