The Writer's Complete Fantasy Reference
Writer's Digest Books
Writer's Digest
Nonfiction, Writing
*****
DESCRIPTION: From trolls and elves to castles and lords, from China to Mesoamerica, this book touches on all manner of material for the fantasy writer. Races, societies, nobility, magical practices, and many other topics are discussed, with an emphasis on using these elements to spark imagination and create one's own world with them. Each section is written by a different author or authors, with a foreword by bestselling author Terry Brooks.
REVIEW: The title is a misnomer, if you ask me. They might have done better to print a larger book and go into more detail on subjects covered. I suppose that the
reader, if intrigued, should use this as a starting point for further research, but I still thought that a bit more information here might have helped - a rough timeline of
cultures or events, perhaps, to help those of us whose memory of history classes has faded to near nonexistence. Still, it is an interesting book to page through for fantasy
fans and aspiring authors alike, and certainly contains enough to get the imagination fired up for further research or speculation. The more I page through it, the more I find,
and the more useful I find this book. I recommend it, so long as one realizes that it's not the "complete" reference the title claims it is.
Oh, and try as I might, I couldn't find an author or editor to attribute this book to, which is why I had to list it under Writer's Digest Books.
You might also enjoy:
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The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures (John & Caitlin Matthews, Nonfiction - Magical beasts and beings from around the world)
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The Complete Book of Magical Names (Phoenix McFarland, Nonfiction - How to give names extra meaning, in life and fiction)
Fantasy - A Writer's Short Guide (Linda McNabb, YA? Writing - A basic course in writing fantasy)
An Introduction to Heraldry (Stephan Oliver, Nonfiction - A guide to the rules and meaning behind heraldic images and coats-of-arms)
Living Wisdom: Animal Spirits (Nicholas J. Saunders, Nonfiction - The inspiration and logic behind animal associations)
The Everything Grammar and Style Book (Susan Thurman, Grammar - Style and grammar and other things a writer ought to know)
Mysterious Places (Jennifer Westwood, editor, Nonfiction - Because real-world Earth has many real-life sites stranger than fantasy)
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