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A review by hollyeula
Tales Before Tolkien: The Roots of Modern Fantasy by Douglas A. Anderson
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-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
3.25
This is a collection of 22 short stories that the author has selected to exemplify modern fantasy prior to the publication of The Hobbit. These stories represent a transitional phase—a time after the fairy tales and romances of the Middle Ages through early modern era, but before the changed landscape of fantasy after the middle of the twentieth century.
As a whole, I greatly appreciate this collection—the stories are delightful and, in some cases, terrifying, and provide a fascinating launching point to understanding the origin of modern fantasy. However, while I understand the author's desire to not provide too much of his own commentary and influence the reader with that, I wish that he had provide more reflection and thoughts as to the details of each of the stories that makes them influential, the common threads among them, and how we can still see those influences in modern fantasy. This would've been nicely accomplished in an afterword that tied all the works together.
The stories themselves are varied and fascinating—though, as with many historical stories, must be viewed through the lens of the time they were written (and the prejudices that the authors had—some of which can make the reading quite uncomfortable for modern readers.) Still, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the origin of modern fantasy, and the influence of pre-Tolkien writers.
As a whole, I greatly appreciate this collection—the stories are delightful and, in some cases, terrifying, and provide a fascinating launching point to understanding the origin of modern fantasy. However, while I understand the author's desire to not provide too much of his own commentary and influence the reader with that, I wish that he had provide more reflection and thoughts as to the details of each of the stories that makes them influential, the common threads among them, and how we can still see those influences in modern fantasy. This would've been nicely accomplished in an afterword that tied all the works together.
The stories themselves are varied and fascinating—though, as with many historical stories, must be viewed through the lens of the time they were written (and the prejudices that the authors had—some of which can make the reading quite uncomfortable for modern readers.) Still, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the origin of modern fantasy, and the influence of pre-Tolkien writers.