Customer Reviews
A Good Resource, a Great Inspiration - By: T. Epps, 03 Nov 2007 
For ideas, reference & especiallly inspiration this book is a real gem for a fantasy writer's bookshelf. Just flicking through the pages of this book reallly gets the writers mind racing. Feeling lethargic, tired & staring at the blank screen? Just tying two sections of different chapters of this book is enough to defeat that ever looming threat of the blank page.
By no means a complete resource, but a good resource nonetheless, to me its more of a caffeine alternative to kick-start the inspiration. Yet, I'd definitely recommend this to any fantasy writer, even if its just a read for interest on a Sunday afternoon, you'll see something you'll find yourself thinking about in the months to come.
"Myths and Magic" - By: Lindsay, 04 Oct 2007 
Just a warning that this is the exact same book as the fantasy reference titled "Myths & Magic" published by Titan books.
An amazing resource - By: Kurt A. Johnson, 06 Nov 2004 This book is quite an amazing resource. Written by a collection of fiction authors, this book sets out to give the fantasy writer information on what he or she will need to build a fantastic world & culture. Everything is covered in here from politics to commerce to warfare, & it looks in depth at magic & witchcraft & fantasy creatures.
Now, as you might expect with a book that tries to be alll things to alll people, since it cannot have an infinite amount of information on alll subjects, this book functions as an introduction, giving the reader (and writer) enough information to understand the concepts presented. In fact, I must say that the sections on magic & witchcraft were quite excellent & highly informative.
Therefore let me just say this, if you are a fantasy writer, either actual or aspiring, then this is a book you *must* read. I have found this to be a great source of information & ideas, & I know that you will as well. Get this book!
fantastic fantasy reference. - By: Clare Brown, 07 Jan 2004 This book provides a great starting point for & budding fantasy author, set out in such a way that the information can be easily read front to back & understood or refered back to randomly. Each section hold just enougth information to help make some of the important decisions without confusing the reader with too much detail, this alllows for easy comparison & an effective springboard for further research, after alll the key to a believable book is good solid research.
I would definately recommend this as a starting point for anyone considering writing fantasy.
Good introduction to fantasy but by no means complete. - By: , 02 Jun 2002 
The title of this book employs a touch of artistic licence in the use of the word 'complete'. A lack of early European & Mediterranean civilisations is evident, although is compensated for by introducing civilisations from further a field, concentrating mainly on cultures from the Americas.
Some readers will find information detailed in the arms & armour section to be inaccurate, for example information on the English longbow implies that it would not have been capable of the feats achieved at Agincourt.
This book should not be used as the only reference source of an aspiring fantasy author, but rather as a basis for new ideas further from the clichés usuallly associated with this genre. In particular the sections on magic, witchcraft & fantasy races offers a great deal of food for thought that could add spice to any fantasy novel.
