The Faces of Fantasy

This book has been sitting on my "to read" pile for longer than I would like to admit, and I distinctly remember debating even buying it until I had to use up some credit at a local used bookstore before moving across the country. After finally reading it I have mixed feelings - the photographs and short essays by the authors that I love are wonderful, but the rest are largely unfathomable. I've read (or at least attempted to read) most of the authors in this collection (fantasy being my favourite genre), and even though I liked most of their essays and photos herein it still won't make me like some of their books. But having a glimpse behind the veil (whether it's constructed or not, as Neil Gaiman suggests) was still charming. Now I show more wish that they would do a follow up with the new (and still) faces of fantasy - seeing some of these same authors 20 years later would be great, as well as having a taste of who's new and hot in the genre! show less

I've spent a lot of time enjoying the photographs of various popular fantasy writers in this book, and always, in the back of my mind, is thd question, "How on earth did one photographer get so many quirky geniuses to agree to sit for her pictures?" I guess it's because Patti Perret is a genius herself with the camera. The book is set up so that each author has a page, with the facing page on the right being his/her photograph. The left side bears the author's name, some words by him and, at the very bottom, his most popular book(s). Some authors write just a sentence or two. Others use up their whole page. But what they say always gives a tantalizing glimpse into what makes their writing great. They are quite a group, these fantasy show more authors! show less

This is a fascinating book. I loved how Ms. Perret asked each of the authors to comment on their craft. I enjoyed being able to pair a face with a body of work, too.

Always loved the Moorcock essay about "Don't read fantasy," can't find it again now.