Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were: Creatures, Places, and People (Paperback)

~ Robert Ingpen (Author), (Author) "We of the Cosmos are eternally different and yet eternally the same..." (more)
Key Phrases: grey stallion, flying ointment, cosmic wars, North America, King Arthur, Moby Dick (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This comprehensive compilation references myths and fantasies from around the world and spanning human history. Detailed yet succinct, the very readable articles are collected under seven topics?e.g, the cosmos, the ground and the underground?and arranged alphabetically by subject. The diverse coverage examines myriad imagined powers and creatures from historical, sociological, cultural, and artistic perspectives, and while many of the ghosts, wizards, gremlins, gods, fairies, and so forth are familiar, many more, e.g., Hyperborea, Alulei, and Phaeton, are not. Each article summarizes the identity, definition, and aspects of the entity, drawing on material derived from classic studies in myth and lore. The illustrations are extraordinary. Though the format is somewhat ungainly for a reference source, and cross references are absent, this book is a rich treasury. The Australian authors, who have written several monographs on mysteries, gnomes, and weird tales of land and sea, have demonstrated a remarkable grasp of the narrative elements of folklore, fables, and belief systems. A significant contribution to all collections in fantasy and allied genres.?Richard K. Burns, MSLS, Hatboro, PA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Hardcover sales of more than 70,000 copies have made the Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were a classic illustrated reference to myths and legends from all corners of the world. Here--culled from mythology, literature, and folk tales--is the mystical realm that has populated humanity's imagination for centuries. Over 400 entries, engagingly written and organized by type of entity, make this a complete source of information and a visual feast. Among the entries are: from "The Cosmos," Quetzalcoatl and Scorpio; from "The Ground and Underground," centaurs, elves, and unicorns; from "Wonderland," Atlantis and El Dorado; from "Magic, Science, and Invention," flying carpets and the Trojan horse; from "Water, Sky, and Air," Pegasus and Moby-Dick; and from "The Night," a host of shuddersome creatures from vampires to the golem. This is a wild and wondrous gift for any visionary.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Studio (July 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140100083
• ISBN-13: 978-0140100082
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #488,718 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply incredible., April 24, 1999

By A Customer

I first came across this book by chance in my high school library. I'd read a number of books on mythology before, but I'd never seen anything like this. It became my favorite book in the library, and I'd come back to it repeatedly. Unfortunately, the volume was lost somehow, and I've been looking for a personal copy ever since. It is an amazing compilation of mythological creatures, and for it may lack as far as depth of description is concerned, it more than makes up for in the number of entries within.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Detailed, December 26, 2001

By A Customer

This is a large, beautifully illustrated book, full of information on a wide-range of fantasy topics. Some authors of books on mythology and fantasy take on a snooty, lecturing tone, like they're imparting true occult wisdom upon the unenlightened masses. Page and Ingpen get a little mystical but I never had the impression that they really thought they had met pixies or been to Valhalla. My only problem with it is that the entries are not sourced. There is a nice bibliography in the back but there is no indication in the individual entries where the information came from. It would have been nice to be able to follow up on the entries that I found especially interesting.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite Good, June 9, 2004

By	Clara Arak "Clara" (Wyoming USA) - See all my reviews

I bought this book a couple of years ago in a moment of pure whim, and I've not regretted the purchase.

It isn't fully reliable when it comes to facts, and therefore should not be used for research, but if you discount that and approach it as entertainment or seed for story ideas, it is lovely. The illustratious and gorgeous and the way the book is arranged is clever and useful. The authors chose such a wide variety of topics and sources that the book is very good for expanding your knowledge base or finding new interests. I really appreciate that they did not focuse entirely on the Greeks as if theirs were the only mythology! I run across that too often.

However, for a more accurate take on mythology, I suggest something more serious like "World Mythology," edited by Roy Willis. This book is more useful in terms of facts, but the Encyclopedia of Things that Never Were is the one I read more often.