Imaginary Worlds

This is very much a book of two halves. The first half, an overview of the early writers who helped to shape the modern fantasy genre, is pretty gripping stuff. Carter nails precisely what makes writers like Dunsany and Eddison so pivotal to the genre, as well as superb writers in their own right, and does so in a humorous and pithy style that clearly shows his great love and respect of the field overall.

The second half of the book, unfortunately, loses its way big time. Carter spends a couple of chapters on world building while berating various writers like Howard and Brackett for their inappropriate nomenclature, as well as well as writers like Tolkien for their 'lack of a religious element' in their works. While some of his points show more ring true (Howard _was_ a notoriously sloppy world builder, IMO) Carter more often than not fundamentally misses the point many of his examples were aiming for with their respective works, or chooses to criticise them on the most petty and quibbling aspects of their work.

More egregiously, he then proceeds to lecture the reader on effective world building, using his own execrable Thongor series as a main example (Ssaa! floaters! Herpes Zoster!). These chapters are nigh on worthless at best, and potentially harmful at worst (if one were to actually follow his advice, which seems unlikely), though they do provide quite a few belly laughs at Carter's expense. show less

This is very much a book of two halves. The first half, an overview of the early writers who helped to shape the modern fantasy genre, is pretty gripping stuff. Carter nails precisely what makes writers like Dunsany and Eddison so pivotal to the genre, as well as superb writers in their own right, and does so in a humorous and pithy style that clearly shows his great love and respect of the field overall.

The second half of the book, unfortunately, loses its way big time. Carter spends a couple of chapters on world building while berating various writers like Howard and Brackett for their inappropriate nomenclature, as well as well as writers like Tolkien for their 'lack of a religious element' in their works. While some of his points show more ring true (Howard _was_ a notoriously sloppy world builder, IMO) Carter more often than not fundamentally misses the point many of his examples were aiming for with their respective works, or chooses to criticise them on the most petty and quibbling aspects of their work.

More egregiously, he then proceeds to lecture the reader on effective world building, using his own execrable Thongor series as a main example (Ssaa! floaters! Herpes Zoster!). These chapters are nigh on worthless at best, and potentially harmful at worst (if one were to actually follow his advice, which seems unlikely), though they do provide quite a few belly laughs at Carter's expense. show less

Lin Carter's best book by far is not surprisingly not one of his own works of fiction. 'Imaginary Worlds' is Carter's telling of the history of imaginary world fiction from its beginnings in the Middle East, the subcontinent and the Mediterranean through to the post-Tolkien era.
Engagingly told, the book is essential for any serious afficionado of the fantasy genre as it will point the way to a host of authors you may not otherwise have considered.
Over 40 years old now it still holds up and sadly Carter is not around to update it but an essential reference nonetheless.

Valuable guide for readers and authors of fantasy fiction. Especially useful for those wishing to explore the history of the genre.

Another book about fantasy writers and legends in the Tolkien tradition. Pretty good.