If u wanted 2 trace the origins of Fantasy u'd probably have 2 go way, way back in history-@least 2 the Eddas, the Vedas, the Bible, Sumerian cuneiform-and Eqyptian, Greek & Norse mythologies. 2 say nothing of Celtic lore, China or Timbutku--u name it. Alot of it has also come down 2 us in time through folk tales, fairy tales and old wive's tales. Well I'm going 2 speed things up and bring us up--through the brothers Grimm, and others--2 around 102 years ago. Between the late 1880s and the 1930s there arose in England 3 original masters of what we now consider "modern" Fantasy: William Morris, E.R. Edison and Lord Dunsany whose works had a profound influence on Wells, Tolkien, Lewis, H.Rider Haggard, Mervyn Peake, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, and other recent masters--Combine Morris, Eddison & Dunsany with even earlier American authors such as: Ambrose Bierce, Poe, Irving and Crane and u've pretty well covered all the major influences of "modern" Fantasy. Dunsany and Morris began the dreamy, weird, eerie otherlands and magic--while Eddison was one of the 1st writers 2 envision a completely different world that an earthling could b transported 2 complete with maps and heroes: he probably could be considered the father of modern Sword & Sorcery. ---Thanks to Lin Carter who was chief editor of Ballentine's Adult Fantasy series the works of these 3 have been available 2 the general public since about 1975--they used 2 be obscure and very hard 2 find before that. So if you know about these guys discuss them here, if not (in sorta chronological order) here is a pretty good primer of authors available through the Ballentine series that I recommend 2 look up 4 ur summer reading list along with some titles (books I've read):
*William Morris--The Wood Beyond the World vols 1&2, The Water of Wonderous Isles, The Well at the World's End. *E.R.Eddison--The Worm Oroborous, Mistress of Mistresses, A Fish Dinner in Memison, The Mezentian Gate. *Lord Dunsany--The Charwoman's Shadow, The King of Elfland's Daughter, Beyond the Fields We Know. *James Branch Cabell *George MacDonald--Lilith *C.K. Chesterton *Katherine Kurtz *Ludovico Ariosto--Orlando Furioso *Ernest Braman--Kai Lung Unrolls His Mat, Kai Lung's Golden Hours *Evangeline Watson--Songs of Rhiannon *Hope Mirrless--Lud in the Mist *Mervyn Peake--Gormonghast, Titus Groan *William Hope Hogston--The Nightland vols 1&2, The Boats of the "Glen Carig" *Hannes Bok--The Sorcerer's Ship, The Golden Staircase *Fletcher Pratt *Peter S. Beagle--The Last Unicorn *David Lindsay--Voyage to Acturus
Fall Far and Well Pilots!<i>Edited by: danlo60 at: 5/31/02 10:22:53 am </i>
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