Historical Dictionary of Fantasy Literature (Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts)

Once upon a time all literature was fantasy, set in a mythical past when magic existed, animals talked, and the gods took an active hand in earthly affairs. As the mythical past was displaced in Western estimation by the historical past and novelists became increasingly preoccupied with the present, fantasy was temporarily marginalized until the late 20th century, when it enjoyed a spectacular resurgence in every stratum of the literary marketplace. Stableford provides an invaluable guide to this sequence of events and to the current state of the field. The chronology tracks the evolution of fantasy from the origins of literature to the 21st century. The introduction explains the nature of the impulses creating and shaping fantasy literature, the problems of its definition and the reasons for its changing historical fortunes. The dictionary includes cross-referenced entries on more than 700 authors, ranging across the entire historical spectrum, while more than 200 other entries describe the fantasy subgenres, key images in fantasy literature, technical terms used in fantasy criticism, and the intimately convoluted relationship between literary fantasies, scholarly fantasies, and lifestyle fantasies. The book concludes with an extensive bibliography that ranges from general textbooks and specialized accounts of the history and scholarship of fantasy literature, through bibliographies and accounts of the fantasy literature of different nations, to individual author studies and useful websites.

the Chronology Tracks The Evolution Of Fantasy From The Origins Of Literature To The 21st Century. The Introduction Explains The Nature Of The Impulses Creating And Shaping Fantasy Literature, The Problems Of Its Definition And The Reasons For Its Changing Historical Fortunes. The Dictionary Includes Cross-referenced Entries On More Than 700 Authors, Ranging Across The Entire Historical Spectrum, While More Than 200 Other Entries Describe The Fantasy Subgenres, Key Images In Fantasy Literature, Technical Terms Used In Fantasy Criticism, And The Intimately Convoluted Relationship Between Literary Fantasies, Scholarly Fantasies, And Lifestyle Fantasies. The Book Concludes With An Extensive Bibliography That Ranges From General Textbooks And Specialized Accounts Of The History And Scholarship Of Fantasy Literature, Through Bibliographies And Accounts Of The Fantasy Literature Of Different Nations, To Individual Author Studies And Useful Websites.

mary Arnold - Voya

part Of The Historical Dictionaries Of Literature And The Arts Series That Covers Significant Persons, Titles, Styles, Themes, And Trends In Genre Literature, This Entry By One Of Fantasy And Science Fiction's Most Prolific And Award-winning Authors Covers A Time Line From The Homeric Epics Through The World Of Fantasy 2004. A Lengthy Introduction Provides A Wealth Of Scholarly Background, Including The Changing Definitions, Scope, And Appeal Of The Genre. The Entries Vary In Length And Scope, With General Topics (magic, Secondary World, Games) Receiving Longer Historical Overviews. Author Entries Are Selective And Broadly International, And Discussions Of Individual Works Are Necessarily More Limited Than In Similar Genre Literature Encyclopedias. Popular Young Adult Fantasists Include Anne Mccaffrey, Neil Gaiman, Garth Nix, Tamora Pierce, And Christopher Paolini. The Extensive Bibliography Is Arranged In Broad Categories And Subgenres And Includes Online Resources As Well As Print; A Resource For Browsing, Readers' Advisory, And Collection Development. This Book Is Recommended For Academic Libraries, And Public And School Libraries With Large Fantasy Collections. 2005, Scarecrow Press, 499p.; Glossary. Biblio. Chronology., Plb $85.. Ages Adult Professional.

"Once upon a time all literature was fantasy, set in a mythical past when magic worked, animals talked, and the gods took an active hand in earthly affairs. As the mythical past was displaced in the Western world by the historical past and novelists became increasingly preoccupied with the present, fantasy was marginalized until the late 20th century, when it enjoyed a spectacular resurgence in every stratum of the literary marketplace." "This Historical Dictionary of Fantasy Literature provides an invaluable guide to the current state of the field. The chronology tracks fantasy's evolution from the origins of literature until the 21st century. The introduction explains the nature of the impulse to create and shape fantasy literature, the problems in defining what it is, and the reasons for its changing historical fortunes. The dictionary includes more than 700 entries on authors, both contemporary and historical, and more than 200 entries on fantasy subgenres, key images in fantasy literature, technical terms used in fantasy criticism, and the intimately convoluted relationship between literary fantasies, scholarly fantasies, and lifestyle fantasies. The extensive bibliography ranges from general textbooks and specialized accounts of the history and scholarship of fantasy literature, through bibliographies and accounts of the fantasy literature of different nations, to individual author studies and useful websites."--Jacket