Fantasy Fiction: An Introduction

Description

This is a series of introductory books about different types of writing. One strand of the series will focus on genres such as Science Fiction, Horror, Romance, and Crime. The other strand will focus on movements or styles often associated with historical and cultural locations - Postcolonial, Native American, Scottish, Irish, American Gothic. These introductions all share the same nine-part structure: 1. A broad definition of the genre and its essential elements 2. A timeline of historical developments 3. Critical concerns to bear in mind while reading 4. Detailed readings of several key texts 5. In-depth analysis of major themes and issues 6. Signposts for further study 7. A summary of the most important criticism in the field 8. A glossary of terms 9. An annotated, critical reading list Writers covered in this book include: Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, George Orwell, J.R.R. Tolkien, Mary Shelley, J.K. Rowling, H.G. Wells, Thomas More, Jonathan Swift, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Yann Martel, Jeanette Winterson, and William Gibson.

Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Wales, Bangor

mention -- Children's Literature Association Quarterly ' a useful study of influences from outside the genre... an interesting glimpse into the way an apparent outsider reads works of fantasy, finding patterns of meaning that fantasy fans often miss or suppress.' Foundation - The International Review of Science Fiction, Issue 97, Brian Attebury * Foundations *