Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
reading this is just like *hey i know this from charmed* *hey i know this from harry potter* *hey i know this from supernatural* *hey i know this from teen wolf* *hey i know this from-
This does exactly what it says on the cover, it is Borges creating a bestiary of fictional, mythological and religions creatures, 120 in total. It is interesting as he makes an effort to draw from numerous different cultures, not just Western European, and writes about them with proper encyclopedic efficiency.
However, since the emergence of vast monster lists since the boom in fantasy gaming it feels a little... meaningless. Also some entries are entirely quotes from other people's work rather than anything original.
I am glad I read it but nothing the modern fantasy reader will probably not have seen many times.
However, since the emergence of vast monster lists since the boom in fantasy gaming it feels a little... meaningless. Also some entries are entirely quotes from other people's work rather than anything original.
I am glad I read it but nothing the modern fantasy reader will probably not have seen many times.
In 2018 (and still continuing now) I had set myself a challenge to read more books that were seen as classics (or by authors who are seen as authors to read) and more books that had been translated into English.
The Book of Imaginary Beings fits nicely into both categories.
Ostensibly a short survey of mythical and imaginary beings from around the world, collected by Borges and then revised, enlarged and translated by Norman Thomas di Giovanni in collaboration with Borges, this becomes much more when enlivened by Borges prose.
Beautifully descriptive and humorous, Borges weaves the tales into a cohesive whole in this modern bestiary.
The Book of Imaginary Beings fits nicely into both categories.
Ostensibly a short survey of mythical and imaginary beings from around the world, collected by Borges and then revised, enlarged and translated by Norman Thomas di Giovanni in collaboration with Borges, this becomes much more when enlivened by Borges prose.
Beautifully descriptive and humorous, Borges weaves the tales into a cohesive whole in this modern bestiary.