This is a book that takes the reader through the different kinds of fantasy and how it differs from other literature. It gives you plenty of examples of the different kinds of fantasy and lets the writers of each kind speak for themselves. But it doesn't stop there. It continues digging deeper into what fantasy is and isn't, mainly using works by actual fantasy writers or within interviews with them. It takes us through trying to get your works published. And finally, so much of the book is just plain appropriate for any writer.

The organization of the book. The first part did a good introduction and overview of the different kinds of fantasy: High Fantasy, Adventure Fantasy, Fairy-tale Fiction, Magic Realism, and Dark Fantasy. The second section goes into the regular elements of a story and applies them to fantasy. Every fiction author needs a good understanding of Characters, Places, Patterns, and Plot/Purpose. The third section gets into some nitty gritty practical advice of writing, once again particularly aimed at fantasy writing. And the fourth and final section gives some good resources, both on the internet and in print. I ordered a recommended book on publishing because I'm getting to that stage of my writing life.

Only part I didn't like is I'm still a little confused as to the five different kinds of fantasy writing. I'm thinking a lot of stories contain elements of several kinds which make it more difficult to categorize. It seems to me that elements of the fairy tale will be in other categories. Probably like any other attempts of categorization, you classify a story on which category it fits the closest. It would have helped me to have a few more examples in every category to check my understanding against.

Get out there and start looking up some of the fantasy authors I've missed!

Reaffirmed that I have a good understanding of fantasy and I probably am a true writer. I especially enjoyed the last two chapters of the book that holds out that golden ring -- that the writer writes. Nothing more and certainly nothing less.

Has done a good job of saying something new and fresh about a topic that could be just a rehash of what has been said before. I've grown up on fantasy and have read other books about the subject.

Because it isn't a rehash. I would say that every writer that is beginning to write fantasy, or hasn't found themself yet in publishing stories that entertain folks, would benefit from reading this book.

There are nuggets of wisdom in every chapter. I loved how the author pulled out little statements from different authors and had them setting in the margin. It made it a pleasant book to read, more of the internet/blurb feel, without seeming commerical or busy. I'm sure there are many ways one could organize writing about such a subject as fantasy, but I liked how the author pulled it off.



I liked so many quotes the book gave to illustrate various points. I was particularly struck by a quote from Mark Twain that shows how NOT to tell a story:



The boy nestled himself upon my shoulder and pretended to go to sleep. The old man began his tale; and presently the lad was asleep in reality; so were also the dogs, and the court, the lackeys, and the files of men-at-arms. The droning voice droned on; a soft snoring arose on all sides and supported it like a deep and subdued accompaniment of wind instruments.



The quote is from A Conneticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court(1889), Mark Twain. It can be found on page 138 of the book.



Leave it to a master story teller to remind us what it's all about -- to tell a tale worth listening to.

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Created May 23, 2003 at 5:20pm • Submit your own review...