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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Skimmed rather than read. It is exactly what it says it is: a dictionary of imaginary places. BUT he does not include the Land of Green Ginger, so I immediately lost interest in this book. Yes, The Tale of the Land of Green Ginger is indeed a rare book, not often read today. But it remains a children's classic (it's by Noel Langley, by the way) and to not have this imaginary place included put me right off the book.
That said, if someone needs a reference book (for whatever odd reason your life kicks up and presents you with this lack), it's a handy book to have, I suppose. I should probably give it more stars, because it is well thought out, but I can't forgive it not having that magical isle that travels through the air at night (the spell it's under needs work...).
That said, if someone needs a reference book (for whatever odd reason your life kicks up and presents you with this lack), it's a handy book to have, I suppose. I should probably give it more stars, because it is well thought out, but I can't forgive it not having that magical isle that travels through the air at night (the spell it's under needs work...).
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
From Abaton to Zyundel, this massive list of made-up countries will keep any literary history fan busy for a while. Works cited range from prehistoric Greece to 1998. Old friends like Middle-Earth, Narnia, Prydain, and Earthsea are all well-represented. The maps are great throughout.
The focus is very much on European authors, and some from the US. A smart cultural critic would have a field day analyzing these authors' dreams and fears based on the countries they invented.
The alphabetical format means that in a single page, you might get a Roman epic, colonialist polemic, medieval romance, and Lovecraftian horror. The effect is sometimes pleasing, often jarring. For me, listing the countries as dictionary entries also removed some of the wonder that draws readers to these novels.
Anyway, check this one out if you want a comprehensive look at made-up places over hundreds of years.
The focus is very much on European authors, and some from the US. A smart cultural critic would have a field day analyzing these authors' dreams and fears based on the countries they invented.
The alphabetical format means that in a single page, you might get a Roman epic, colonialist polemic, medieval romance, and Lovecraftian horror. The effect is sometimes pleasing, often jarring. For me, listing the countries as dictionary entries also removed some of the wonder that draws readers to these novels.
Anyway, check this one out if you want a comprehensive look at made-up places over hundreds of years.
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
A pretty interesting (and international!) compendium of imagined worlds. Not exactly complete by any means, even for the most recent update (1999), but still fun to poke through. Definitely worth the $9.99 I originally paid for it off the Waldenbooks bargain pile.
I mean here's another one that I was just destined to love. 700+ pages (okay, no, I have not read the whole thing) on nearly every single fictional world in literature before 2000 (Middle Earth, for example, is a lengthy entry. So is Treasure Island and Oz).
Some Greatest Hits:
• Polar Bear Kingdom
• Daddy Jones' Kingdom
• Gramblamble Land
• Moomin Valley (directly SE of Daddy Jones' Kingdom)
Some Greatest Hits:
• Polar Bear Kingdom
• Daddy Jones' Kingdom
• Gramblamble Land
• Moomin Valley (directly SE of Daddy Jones' Kingdom)
A pretty interesting (and international!) compendium of imagined worlds. Not exactly complete by any means, even for the most recent update (1999), but still fun to poke through. Definitely worth the $9.99 I originally paid for it off the Waldenbooks bargain pile.
Well, I haven't read it all. It's giant. But, I have it and it's awesome. It really is a dictionary full of all imaginary places. Hogwarts, Neverland, Middle Earth, Xanadou....it's got everything with full descriptions. Really awesome library collection.
I read this book cover to cover this year. I didn't retain much besides there are a ton of books set ~inside the earth~
While not really something you can just sit and read, I feel the authors did an excellent job of collecting and summarizing magical and unusual fictional places for you to read about. While I am still in the process of slowly but surely reading through this dictionary, I find that, to really find interest in many of these places, you really just ought to read the books these worlds and places came from.
I'd really love to see a science fiction one with full planets.
I'm giving this one 3 stars on the basis that I don't feel this is something people would really read. This seems more like a novelty book or a quick reference boon to me. Ultimately, you would more likely use a real dictionary than this one.
I'd really love to see a science fiction one with full planets.
I'm giving this one 3 stars on the basis that I don't feel this is something people would really read. This seems more like a novelty book or a quick reference boon to me. Ultimately, you would more likely use a real dictionary than this one.
just something interesting I enjoy occasionally browsing