Scan barcode
A review by adularia25
Tales Before Tolkien: The Roots of Modern Fantasy by Douglas A. Anderson
3.0
This book was rather disappointing in many ways. For one, it didn't contain what it claims on the cover... "classic stories that inspired" Tolkien. In fact, the editor of the collection clearly states in the introduction to many of the pieces that there is no record of Tolkien ever reading such a story... but he might have, if he had known about it. Which is pure speculation at best.
However, that is not to say this collection is terrible. Far from it! There are at least three stories in the book that are must reads. But what this book does well is listing all the authors from before Tolkien's time which had influential and interesting stories - unfortunately, most of those stories are not in this volume, but are listed, if you want a supplemental reading list you will have to track down on your own.
Some of the tales within are excerpts from longer tales - so why weren't there excerpts from A Voyage to Arcturus or The Princess and the Goblin which were known books Tolkien praised? Yes, those authors are included in this collection, but with other works which are perhaps not quite up to the standard you would expect. And a few of the Finnish myths that so influenced Tolkien's work would have nicely gone along with the one mythic tale that was included.
All in all, I recommend reading this not for the tales, but for the list of authors at the front and back of the book.
However, that is not to say this collection is terrible. Far from it! There are at least three stories in the book that are must reads. But what this book does well is listing all the authors from before Tolkien's time which had influential and interesting stories - unfortunately, most of those stories are not in this volume, but are listed, if you want a supplemental reading list you will have to track down on your own.
Some of the tales within are excerpts from longer tales - so why weren't there excerpts from A Voyage to Arcturus or The Princess and the Goblin which were known books Tolkien praised? Yes, those authors are included in this collection, but with other works which are perhaps not quite up to the standard you would expect. And a few of the Finnish myths that so influenced Tolkien's work would have nicely gone along with the one mythic tale that was included.
All in all, I recommend reading this not for the tales, but for the list of authors at the front and back of the book.