Review of The Encylopedia of Fantasy

The Encyclopedia of Fantasy is a masterpiece of scholarship and eminently browsable. For anyone with an interest in Fantasy and Horror, this book will open new vistas.

It is much more than an excellent reference on the important books and authors of fantasy. The motifs and themes of fantasy are explained with clarity, and you'll gain insight into the machinations of the genre. You instantly recognize have "seen" fascinating concepts such as polder, thinning, cross-hatching, taproot texts, godgames, etc. at work.

What's the difference between dark fantasy and gothic fiction? What are the hallmarks of high fantasy?

The answers are more interesting that I can convey in this review. Moreover, the author, John Clute, lets his opinions of the various works show through. Even if you don't agree, he is an informed and intelligent reviewer that should enabled you to find a dozens of compelling works you've never heard of before.

The book won the Hugo and World Fantasy awards. Though it was published recently, it is the unrivalled standard reference work in the field. Go to a library or a behemoth bookstore and flip though a few pages. You won't be able to put it down.