Imaginary Worlds: the Art of Fantasy
Encyclopedia
Imaginary Worlds: the Art of Fantasy is a study of the modern literary fantasy
genre written by Lin Carter
. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books
in June, 1973 as the fifty-eighth volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series
; it was the only nonfiction entry in the series. The book was among the earliest full-length critical works devoted to fantasy writers and the history of fantasy. It was the third of three such studies by Carter, being preceded by Tolkien: A Look Behind "The Lord of the Rings" (1969) and Lovecraft: A Look Behind the "Cthulhu Mythos"
(1972). These works, together with his editorial guidance of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series, established Carter as an authority on the genre.
Carter's study was intended to serve as an introduction to fantasy. The first eight chapters detail the history of the modern genre from the late nineteenth century through the early 1970s, when Carter was writing, a subject he had previously covered more briefly in Tolkien: A Look Behind "The Lord of the Rings". Its origins are discovered in the novels of William Morris
, and followed through the writings of Lord Dunsany, E. R. Eddison
and James Branch Cabell
. Separate attention is then devoted to the subsequent development of fantasy in America
and Britain
, focusing on the pulp magazine tradition in the former and the continuing dominance of the more literary tradition in the latter. The work of contemporary fantasists is then detailed. Three additional chapters form a sort of "how to" course on the writing of fantasy, illustrated with examples from Carter's own writings. (Some of these, like The White Throne and Khymyrium, bear the peculiar interest of being works in progress or projected that in the event were never published in complete form.) Bibliographies of general references and the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series complete the study.
From the cover blurb:
"Like Lin Carter's other... “Look behind” volumes (on J.R.R. Tolkien and H.P.Lovecraft), this book examines the background and creation of the imaginary worlds of some of the most famous writers to appear in the field of Adult Fantasy...
"IMAGINARY WORLDS is a book about fantasy, about the men who write it, and how it is written. It is a joyful excursion by a man who himself loves fantasy, into the origins and the magicks of such writers as Dunsany, Eddison, Cabell: it examines the rise of fantasy in the American pulp magazines and delights in the sturdy health of 'sword and sorcery': it looks with pleasure on the works of some modern masters and knowledgeably explores the techniques of world-making.
"It is, in short, a happy exploration of worlds, and men, and writers, and writings, by an author whose enthusiasm for his subject is boundless - and is thus a joyful guide for fantasy lovers everywhere."
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
genre written by Lin Carter
Lin Carter
Linwood Vrooman Carter was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft and Grail Undwin.-Life:Carter was born in St. Petersburg, Florida...
. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books
Ballantine Books is a major book publisher located in the United States, founded in 1952 by Ian Ballantine with his wife, Betty Ballantine. It was acquired by Random House in 1973, which in turn was acquired by Bertelsmann AG in 1998 and remains part of that company today. Ballantine's logo is a...
in June, 1973 as the fifty-eighth volume of its celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy series
Ballantine Adult Fantasy series
The Ballantine Adult Fantasy series was an imprint of Ballantine Books. Launched in 1969 , the series reissued a number of works of fantasy literature, which were out of print or dispersed in back issues of pulp magazines , in cheap paperback form—including works...
; it was the only nonfiction entry in the series. The book was among the earliest full-length critical works devoted to fantasy writers and the history of fantasy. It was the third of three such studies by Carter, being preceded by Tolkien: A Look Behind "The Lord of the Rings" (1969) and Lovecraft: A Look Behind the "Cthulhu Mythos"
Lovecraft: A Look Behind the Cthulhu Mythos
Lovecraft: A Look Behind the "Cthulhu Mythos" is a 1972 non-fiction book written by Lin Carter, published by Ballantine Books. The introduction notes that the book "does not purport to be a biography of H. P...
(1972). These works, together with his editorial guidance of the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series, established Carter as an authority on the genre.
Carter's study was intended to serve as an introduction to fantasy. The first eight chapters detail the history of the modern genre from the late nineteenth century through the early 1970s, when Carter was writing, a subject he had previously covered more briefly in Tolkien: A Look Behind "The Lord of the Rings". Its origins are discovered in the novels of William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
, and followed through the writings of Lord Dunsany, E. R. Eddison
Eric Rucker Eddison
Eric Rücker Eddison was an English civil servant and author, writing under the name "E.R. Eddison."-Biography:...
and James Branch Cabell
James Branch Cabell
James Branch Cabell, ; April 14, 1879 – May 5, 1958) was an American author of fantasy fiction and belles lettres. Cabell was well regarded by his contemporaries, including H. L. Mencken and Sinclair Lewis. His works were considered escapist and fit well in the culture of the 1920s, when his...
. Separate attention is then devoted to the subsequent development of fantasy in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, focusing on the pulp magazine tradition in the former and the continuing dominance of the more literary tradition in the latter. The work of contemporary fantasists is then detailed. Three additional chapters form a sort of "how to" course on the writing of fantasy, illustrated with examples from Carter's own writings. (Some of these, like The White Throne and Khymyrium, bear the peculiar interest of being works in progress or projected that in the event were never published in complete form.) Bibliographies of general references and the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series complete the study.
From the cover blurb:
"Like Lin Carter's other... “Look behind” volumes (on J.R.R. Tolkien and H.P.Lovecraft), this book examines the background and creation of the imaginary worlds of some of the most famous writers to appear in the field of Adult Fantasy...
"IMAGINARY WORLDS is a book about fantasy, about the men who write it, and how it is written. It is a joyful excursion by a man who himself loves fantasy, into the origins and the magicks of such writers as Dunsany, Eddison, Cabell: it examines the rise of fantasy in the American pulp magazines and delights in the sturdy health of 'sword and sorcery': it looks with pleasure on the works of some modern masters and knowledgeably explores the techniques of world-making.
"It is, in short, a happy exploration of worlds, and men, and writers, and writings, by an author whose enthusiasm for his subject is boundless - and is thus a joyful guide for fantasy lovers everywhere."
Contents
- Introduction: The Empire of Imagination…
- From Uruk to Utterbol: William Morris and the First Fantasy Novels
- The World’s Edge, and Beyond: The Fiction of Dunsany, Eddison, and Cabell
- Lost Cities, Forgotten Ages: The Rise of Fantasy in the American Pulp Magazines
- The Mathematics of magic: Imaginary Worlds Fantasy in Unknown
- From The Night Land to Narnia: The Road to The Lord of the Rings
- The Inklings Produce a Classic: The Achievement of Tolkien and His Influence
- Post-Howardian Heroica: The Swordsman and Sorcerers’ Guild of America, Ltd
- The Young Magicians: Some Modern Masters of Fantasy
- Of World-Making: Some Problems of the Invented Milieu
- A Local Habitation and a Name: Some Observations on Neocogomina
- The Tricks of the Trade: Some Advanced Techniques of World-Making
- Bibliography I: General References
- Bibliography II: The Adult Fantasy Series
- Index