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Voyage of the Basset [Hardcover]

James C. Christensen , Alan Dean Foster , Renwick St. James
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)


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Book Description

January 10, 1996
"Believing is Seeing"

In the tradition of such favorite classics as Gulliver's Travels and Journey to the Center of the Earth, Voyage of the Basset takes the reader on a fantastical journey of discovery. Through richly detailed full-color paintings and line drawings, magical kingdoms emerge from a sea of dreams.

Cassandra Aisling, who is nine years and eleven months old, doesn't care “a jot” about what sensible people think. She likes strange, mysterious, and magical things. So when her world gets tumbled upside down, she boards the H.M.S. Basset, ready to explore the landscape of her imagination. Pledging allegiance to the Basset's motto, “Credendo do Vides…Believing is Seeing,” Cassandra, her skeptical older sister Miranda, and their father, Professor Algernon Aisling, set out in search of the ancient legends. From the flickering flight of fairies and the mermaids' siren songs to a labyrinth-bound Minotaur and a fire-breathing dragon, the Aisling family witnesses firsthand the wonder of mythological worlds.

In this lavishly illustrated edition, Cassandra's adventures intertwine with her father's scientific scribblings to present both new tales and the essence of classical myths. From the two voices, readers learn the power of imagination, the importance of believing in oneself, the value of family, and the need for creative, cooperative problem-solving. The story of a magical journey and the exquisite fantasy artwork will appeal to young and old alike.


Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

If merit were judged by sheer size, this massive illustrated book would win a heavyweight championship. But this ambitious fantasy-a Pagemaster-esque tale of a 19th-century professor and his family's magical journey into the world of legend-seems unduly slick. The pedestrian prose by St. James (A Journey of the Imagination) and Foster (who has written novelizations of Star Trek and Aliens) is frequently breathless with its own wisdom: "Legends offer mystery and romance and beauty and adventure to anyone who cares to find about them. To lose the old stories... I cannot bear to think of a world without them." While Christensen's abundant illustrations are often richly detailed and atmospheric, many of them are simply overwrought. And, in the mythical world of manticores, gryphons, harpies and trolls, the faeries, mermaids, dryads and their ilk all look suspiciously like Daryl Hannah. Line art, too, punctuates these pages, with semi-pretentious profiles of the fantastic creatures met on the voyage. Credendo vides, or "Believing is seeing," is the motto of the good ship Basset, and it serves readers as well. Those who believe children deserve books with more heart will pass this entry by. Ages 8-up. BOMC selection.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA. In 1850, Professor Algernon Aisling learns that the university plans to eliminate his Department of Myths and Legends. Because he fervently believes in the power of ancient stories and legends to help us understand ourselves and our place in the modern world, he absentmindedly wishes that a magical ship would transport him to the ancient lands of myth. PRESTO! Captain Malachi of the HMS Basset appears, and invites the professor and his daughters to sail from London to the lands of imagination. Aisling and 10-year-old Cassandra board eagerly, but 16-year-old Miranda is serious, practical, and reluctant to make the journey. The Aislings and the crew, made up of dwarves and gremlins, sail forth and encounter characters in (mostly Greek) myths: a manticore, Oberon and Titania, harpies, a sphinx, Minotaur, mermaids, sea serpent, trolls, gryphon, dryad, Medusa, unicorn, and a dragon. All goes along merrily until Aisling steals a dragon's skull belonging to the trolls. This action sets in motion a series of misadventures that endanger everyone aboard. Here, too, is a voyage of self-discovery. The professor realizes the consequences of his greed and desire for fame; Miranda begins to overcome her grief over her mother's recent death. Pen-and-ink drawings from the professor's journal and from Cassandra's notes are a delightful accompaniment to the lush paintings that illustrate this charming and whimsical fantasy. Christensen's magical journey proves that "one's imagination is where science starts," and will appeal to receptive dreamers from age 10 to 110.?Judy Sokoll, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 168 pages
  • Publisher: Artisan; 1st edition (January 10, 1996)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1885183585
  • ISBN-13: 978-1885183583
  • Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 10.4 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #308,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
(31)
4.9 out of 5 stars
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Christensen's artwork is beautiful! Indiana  |  10 reviewers made a similar statement
I read this as middle schooler on the recommendation from a teacher. Samma  |  6 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy is alive and well on the Basset April 29, 2000
Format:Hardcover
As a lover of fantasy stories, mythology and art I found this book to be amongst the absolute best!. As a female my one complaint used to be "where are the adventures for girls? " Now we have "Cassandra" and her sister who travel on the Basset and have wonderful adventures.

Now we have everything you could possibly want in a book, great drawing, great charecters and a great story that leaves you satisfied yet wanting more.

Girls and Guys of all ages should get this book. If you have kids get it. If you dont have kids get it. I have purchased several copies as gifts, for a new grandmother to read and share over and over with her grandchildren. For a friend to make her and her husband smile. For a set of twins to let them travel togeather.This book is for everyone!

Take a trip with Cassandra and the wonderful crew of the Basset, climb aboard and sail away. The characters will linger with you forever and you will learn that "to believe is to see".

Please Mr Christensen write more!

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Voyage of the Basset January 16, 2000
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Wonderful. Nothing else does this book justice. I originally picked up this book in an upperclass type book store (not a please sit down and read type) and I sat down, on the floor, and read a great deal of it. This was at a time when it was far and away out of my budget and I yearned for it for years. I received this book recently as a gift and was once again amazed by the quality of it. It may be classified as a children's book but it is perhaps more enjoyed by the adult reader who can appreciate the literary and historical references. The illustrations are of an unsurpassed quality and often brought a smile to my face. If you still believe, or merely WANT to believe, in faery then order this book and forget for awhile.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Voyage of the Basset October 16, 2001
A Kid's Review
Format:Hardcover
If you are like me and enjoy fantasy books, you will love "The Voyage of the Basset" by James C. Christensen, Renwich St. James and Alan Dean Foster. This book will capture your imagination and make you believe you are in the story. This is one of my favorite books because of the adventures it holds.
Imagine you and your family are taking a walk and a little boat with six dwarfs and who-knows-how-many Gremlins on it, is docked right in front of you. The dwarfs invite you aboard and take you on a magical journey of incredible adventures. This is what happened to Professor Asiling and his two daughters Miranda and Cassandra.
I think that "The Voyage of the Basset" is an incredible story. In my opinion, this book takes the best qualities of fiction, which are mythology, fantasy, adventure and imagination and then combines them into the best book I have ever read! And I have read at least 1,000 books. I believe that "The Voyage of the Basset" will capture the hearts and imaginations of children everywhere.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Ready for an awesome read? April 18, 2000
Format:Hardcover
When Cassandra, who is nearly ten years old sets foot on the deck of H.M.S. Basset with her older sister & professor father, she is ready for adventure. Off they go on an exploration of the landscape of imagination into fantastic pictures; meeting up with harpies & all manner of fairies & creatures from mythology, all with puzzles to solve & trouble to get out of. Provocative, impressive & inspiring. Lovely, lovely stuff - an heirloom for your children & theirs, to be read together forever!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars It helped me get inspired! November 6, 1999
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
While reading htis book, i was running out of ideas quickly for drawings and pictures. After reading, i decided to draw some characters and they turned out great! I really love this book. I think my favorite characters are Miranda and the sphinx. My cousin has this, but I don't have it (YET!) and i borrowed it from her
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Fantasy/Fiction! October 21, 1998
Format:Hardcover
"Voyage of the Basset" is a wonderfully, beautifully illustrated masterpiece that has displaced my all time favorite book from childhood. Any true lover of mythology, fantasy, folklore, faerie tales and the like will simply adore it. This is not just a 'children's' book- no, there are so many different levels that the author plays on that I find this book to be an amusing & amazing must have! I've sent it to several friends already, and given it to my Godson, nieces, and nephews to enjoy in the years to come. A wonderful book!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Voyage for Everyone September 30, 2003
Format:Hardcover
A story about a family coping with heartache and struggling to pick back up the pieces of their torn lives. Full of whimsical illustrations and imagination. For kids and the kid at heart, the only thing you will regret is not going on this fantastic voyage of distant shores and mythical creatures.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Magically delightful! August 8, 1999
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This is an enchanting book. I loved it. It has a story of magic and believing and it has perfect illustrations to fit.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Illustrations!!!
Great change from watching the TV version that was produced by the Odyssey Channel. Absolutaely love the book as well as the movie.
Published 1 month ago by Vikki Jonas
5.0 out of 5 stars Credendo Vides
A remarkable book for all ages. For some it provides springboards for fantasy artwork. For others, it brings back the childhood wonder of what growing up tried to crush. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Zach Boyden
5.0 out of 5 stars This made my year!
I had been looking for this book for several years now. My third grade teacher read it to us, and it was one of the few things I remember about my elementary education. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Marie Danes
5.0 out of 5 stars Good story, great art.
I read this as middle schooler on the recommendation from a teacher. I hadn't thought about this book for years, but I was having a conversation about Medusa one day, and I... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Samma
5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC!
MY KIDS ENJOY ME READING THIS BOOK BEFORE BED TIME. IT HAS LOTS OF ADVENTURE. I BOUGHT THIS BOOK USED AND THE PAGES WERE ALL IN GREAT CONDITION. IT WAS LIKE NEW. I LOVED IT. Read more
Published 5 months ago by janette
5.0 out of 5 stars Book of wonders
This is a wonderful, magical book with illustrations that are nothing short of equisite. Our son gets lost in the pictures for hours on end, and that's before he even starts... Read more
Published on January 2, 2011 by Cheryl Peachey Stoner
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Wonderful!
I absolutely adore this book. I first read it when I was a child and fell in love with it's imaginative story and exquisite artwork. Read more
Published on December 30, 2010 by Kimberly Snowe
4.0 out of 5 stars Voyage of the Basset
This book reminded me of the illustrated books for Dinotopia (which I love dearly). Of course this isn't about dinosaurs but the concept is the same. Read more
Published on March 25, 2010 by K. Crane
4.0 out of 5 stars Credendo Vides
Credendo vides - "By believing, one sees."
is the theme of this story and my review of this book. Read more
Published on June 3, 2009 by MLB-Rigg
5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book
This book is in my top 5 favorite books ever - and I own a library. The illustrations are beautiful, and the message timeless - just go get your own copy and enjoy!
Published on September 29, 2008 by Real food matters
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