Fantasy Authors

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

This was part of the old website, with a section all its own, but considering how small this new site is, I would consider reviving that section to be up in the air. But I would like to see it expanded upon, so I'd like to give it a second try here in the forums. Maybe - just maybe - it'll get its own space in the future, but then that's not up to me.

I should also state that I have not read all of these authors, not for lack of interest but for a divided attention span. Therefore, these will often be people I have heard of but not personally experienced yet, or I have begun their work but let my mind wander to other places. I WANT to read them, of course, and beyond my recommendation, these are authors who are well regarded by critics and commercial audiences alike and have raised the benchmark on the genre significantly through their contributions. Also, I don't intend to be the only one who posts - everyone is free to participate.

The original entries were George MacDonald, J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. Therefore, I'd like to submit 6 authors from the same relative timeframe who, in some cases, have provided an influence on their development.


WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896)
One of the most well-regarded figures of the Victorian era, a committed socialist in the second half of his life,  Morris is known today for his textiles as well as his wallpaper, fabrics and other interior decorations influenced by the Neo-Gothic revival movement. But he was chiefly regarded in his time as a poet and a writer - drawing upon Icelandic sagas, he delivered acclaimed pieces such as A Dream of John Ball, The House of the Wolfings, The Roots of the Mountain, The Story of the Glittering Plain, The Wood Beyond the World, The Well at the World's End, The Water of the Wondrous Isles and The Sundering Flood; he also dabbled in sci-fi/utopian themes with the novella News from Nowhere. It is reported that Morris is perhaps the greatest influence upon Tolkien in prose style, as he greatly admired these romances and even felt he couldn't outdo them.

Offsite resources:
William Morris: The Soul of Arts and Crafts (http://www.williammorristile.com/morris_arts_and_crafts.html)
The William Morris Society in the United States (http://www.morrissociety.org/index.html)



E. R. EDDISON (1882-1945)
A Norse scholar, civil servant and close liaison of the Inklings, Eric Rücker Eddison is remembered, especially by both Tolkien and Lewis, for one of the earliest examples of otherworldly high fantasy - The Worm Ouroboros, a dense epic deliberately constructed in an archaic style reminiscent of Elizabethan drama, Icelandic sagas and Jacobean prose, chronicling the conflict on the planet Mercury (yes, that Mercury) between the nations of Demonland and Witchland. In close relation to this was his ultimately incomplete cycle concerning the world of Zimiamvia: Mistress of Mistresses, A Fish Dinner in Memison and The Mezentian Gate.

Offsite resources:
The Official E. R. Eddison Website (http://www.ereddison.com/)



LORD DUNSANY (1878-1957)
An avid chessman and supporter of animal rights, Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany, is one of the earliest worldbuilders, his style influenced by both the King James Bible and his native Irish dialect, among other influences. Long before The Silmarillion was started, Dunsany created a cycle of linked stories concerning the gods and history of Pegāna, as well as other stories of fantasy and horror; even his plays and poetry are tinged with elements of the fantastic. He is also regarded for his novels, chief among them being The King of Elfland's Daughter, The Blessing of Pan and The Curse of the Wise Woman.

Offsite resource:
Lord Dunsany: The Potency of Words and the Wonder of Things (http://pweb.jps.net/~sangreal/ld.htm)
Great Science-Fiction and Fantasy Works - Lord Dunsany (http://greatsfandf.com/AUTHORS/LordDunsany.php)



JAMES BRANCH CABELL (1879-1958)
Sort of a fantastic contemporary of Mark Twain and H. L. Mencken, Cabell is known primarily for The Biography of the Life of Manuel, a large cycle of novels regarding the imaginary French medieval country of Poictesme and the antiheroic character of Dom Manuel and his descendants. These are definitely fantasy works, but they are also severe satires of the mores and values of his native Virginia and its society. The most famous of his works is Jurgen: A Comedy of Justice, which follows an amorous fool through a fantastically absurd cosmic journey; it only increased in fame after being the subject of an obscenity trial in the 1920s.

Offsite resource:
James Branch Cabell: Overview and Personal Notes (http://www.cadaeic.net/cabell.htm)



KENNETH MORRIS (1979-1937)
Unrelated to William Morris, this Welsh theosophist is known both for his stories published under several pseudonyms as well as his own name, ranging over a wide spectrum of mythologies, and for his own personal retelling of the First and Third Branches of the Mabinogion over two respective books - The Fates of the Princes of Dyfed and Book of the Three Dragons - as well as an Aztec fantasy, The Chalchihuite Dragon. Aside from being well regarded for his particular prose style, it would seem that he remains a rather enigmatic figure.

Offsite resource:
Encyclopedia of Fantasy: Kenneth Morris (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=morris_kenneth)
Theosophical University Press - The Fates of the Princes of Dyfed, Full Text (http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/dyfed/fates-hp.htm)
Theosophical University Press - The Chalchihuite Dragon, Full Text (http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/dragon/dragon-hp.htm)



H. RIDER HAGGARD (1856-1925)
A contemporary of Rudyard Kipling and Robert Louis Stevenson, Haggard is one of the pioneers of the "Lost World" story, mostly the ancient civilizations of newly colonized Africa, and a chief influence on mythopoeia. His most treasured works are the adventure story King Solomon's Mines, a prototypes of Indiana Jones which has led to quite a few homages, and She, a gothic fantasy highly regarded by Tolkien and Lewis as well as psychologists Freud and Jung. Other works well remembered are Nada the Lily, a historical novel of a Zulu prince and his tragedy in love, and Eric Brighteyes, a Viking epic.

Offsite resource:
The Rider Haggard Society (http://riderhaggardsociety.org.uk/)
Visual Haggard (http://www.visualhaggard.org/)

[Raven]

Wow, Justin, this is some really good work. I don't even know these guys, and now I've got a bunch of reading to do. Drat -- I'm starting an accelerated nursing program in May; where to find the time. My first response is probably not going to be so detailed, and I'm gonna jump time periods here. This will be my first response. There's far too many to count.

I have to agree, the primary canon for me is George MacDonald, Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis with George MacDonald being my favorite.
I am also a huge fan of the Icelandic Sagas and for a period of years made it a literary mission of mine to read through the sagas available in English translation. I was able to read most of what I could get my hands on, which involved a number of volumes. They are an amazing work of literature. Of course, I made need to write a post just treating the medieval sources for a lot of things, such as the Mabinogion and others works. My mind is filling up with good books and authors at the moment, so many memories.


George MacDonald:
Not just MacDonald's fantasy/fairytale works, either, but his whole narrative canon. He was a prolific author and I enjoy reading his "Christian romance" books, although the term "Christian romance" did not mean then what it means now, exactly. They are mostly character-driven narratives of spiritual life played out in mystery and social relationships. The term is used as a mix of the "romantic" era of the 19th Century (of which MacDonald was a denizen) and some of the current idea of romance, as there is typically a romantic relationship somewhere in the books. Speaking of MacDonald, the Scotsman was influenced by a German Romantic writer who went by Novalis ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novalis ) and I really need to look into that influence more, as I haven't yet read his work.

Michael Ende:
One of my all-time favorite individual books is the German book Die Unendliche Geschichte, which in English is the Neverending Story. There was an 80s fantasy movie flick made of it but it should not be taken as a representation of the incredible, moving, deep work of Michael Ende. I liked it so much that I went out and ordered a special edition in the original German. It is really a beautiful work about the imagination and creativity and, maybe in a way, childlikeness.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Ende


Chretien de Troyes:
Jumping back in time, Chretien de Troyes (12 century) is in my opinion the gold standard of medieval Arthurian sagas. I think the genre reached its peak with Chretien de Troyes. It was a very specific genre with very specific conventions, and Chretien's renditions are the most lush that I've read. I like Thomas Mallory's Le Morte D'Arthur, but it's less detailed, more a rough collection, even if it is more comprehensive.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chr%C3%A9tien_de_Troyes

T.H. White:
Speaking of Arthurian, I think the best modern take is T.H. White's The Once and Future King. It is truly moving, and while I think it is best in its early portions, the whole thing serves as a kind of capstone to the development of Arthurian. Stephen Lawhead (who deserves his own entry) had a very interesting treatment of the Arthurian sagas,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Once_and_Future_King

Rosemary Sutcliff:
There's nothing like a good Rosemary Sutcliffe book. In a sense, these are historical fictions set from the late Roman period to the medieval period, centering on what was early on called Britannia. Yet in another sense, they often have somewhat fantastical elements, and even read like fantasy novels because of their setting. I've read many of her works and enjoyed them but the most exemplary Rosemary Sutcliff novel to me is The Shining Company, which is a heartbreakingly beautiful look at the Celtic attempt to stem the tide of Saxon immigration/invasion, and it is based on the "dark age"/early medieval poem "Y Gododdin" ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y_Gododdin )
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary_Sutcliff

John White:
Also an author I liked growing up, who is not contemporary with the Inklings or prior, but who was trying to mimic Lewis, is John White and his Archives of Anthropos. He didn't get to write the last book, but someone else did it for him, but there are a number of really enjoyable books I remember as a kid. He came to mind early on as I was thinking.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_White_(Christian_author)



That's it for now. Speaking of fantasy, Justin have you gotten a look at the Timberlost section of the website? Is it worth keeping/expanding or should I do something else/let it go?

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

I've heard of all of them except John White - and even then I remember you showing me the books at your old house. I just never remembered his name
.
Sutcliff is definitely someone I've kept in mind, as is de Troyes and several other medievalists (want to check out Geoffrey of Monmouth, if he's available, and Wolfram von Eschenbach). I have a copy of the The Once and Future King on my shelf - I know how highly regarded it is. The problem is making the time for it.

I wouldn't have expected you placing MacDonald ahead of Tolkien as your favorite. Shows what I know. I liked The Princess and the Goblin, but I've yet to pick up Phantastes and Lilith (I've had them for the longest time). Should also look at his short stories, too. As for his other work, I guess it depends on what's still in print.

As for the Timberlost section....yeah, I feel that there's something more that could be done, but I just don't know what. A simple little game like that is nice to have, but I wouldn't know how to expand on it. Is there something more you'd like to get out of it?

[Raven]

As for MacDonald, Lilith and Phantastes are in some ways the pinnacles of his work. I bought a large number of the abridged/edited versions of his many non-fantastical novels on ebay.
His short stories are excellent, too. I have a few collections of his stories. And to be honest, I've never really delved into his poetry or sermons (I never found his poetry particularly interesting). MacDonald makes a lot of theological points in his works, and I often enough disagree with him, but  the man had a beautiful sense for the love of God as our Father.
MacDonald has been my favorite for a long time, but really Tolkien, Lewis, and MacDonald are so remarkably different in the types of worlds they created. One thing to note is how little violence there is in MacDonald's work. Tolkien and Lewis' works deal with war, but MacDonald's works, where they contain violence at all, seems more like a fairytale type of thing. This may have to do with Tolkien and Lewis being of the "Great War" generation, but also because I think Tolkien and Lewis took more from the Scandinavian traditions, which are rife with violence, whereas MacDonald I think had more influence from Romanticism and fairytales and was less interested in creating "worlds at war." I some ways, Lewis and Tolkien are patriarchs of war fantasy, whereas I'd see MacDonald as a patriarch of fairytale fantasy. These are just my attempts to differentiate them.

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

I almost forgot to express my own admiration for The Neverending Story - it's definitely one of my personal favorites, and I rather wish that Ende had written a sequel or a related collection of short stories. Of course, I sometimes wonder if he was challenging the reader to finish those stories himself/herself. So many images strike me, a lot of them from the movie (which is a GREAT fantasy and family film, but as an adaptation......yeah, it gets the broad strokes for the half of the book it adapts well, but if hairs must be split, it misses little details which increase the magic of the original story). Others, like Grogramon the Many-Coloured Death, the door without a knob that only opens when you've forgotten why you needed it opened in the first place, the self-propelled sword Sikanda, Bastian becoming drunk on power and starting a war, are pure Ende.

Now here are a few more recommendations.



WILLIAM GOLDMAN (1931- )
A talented novelist and screenwriter, Goldman is responsible for the scripts to such classic films as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, All the President's Men and Misery; one of his most famous novels, which he also adapted to the screen, is the taught thriller Marathon Man. Probably his most fondly remembered work - and I think I speak for everyone when I say this, let alone fantasy fans - is The Princess Bride (which, again, he also wrote the screenplay for). Despite some minor changes which may feel less memorable than Rob Reiner's wonderful film, the book is still just as charming and whimsical as what lies in the public consciousness.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Goldman)



HOPE MIRRLEES (1887-1978)
Author of two historical novels and a set of poetry (which has recently undergone a reevaluation), this friend of Virginia Woolf is best remembered for her underrated third novel, Lud-in-the-Mist, a tale of a city on the border of the world of Faerie and the results of the interaction with its inhabitants. It is highly regarded as a forgotten masterpiece.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope_Mirrlees)
Hope Mirrlees on the Web (http://hopemirrlees.com/)
The Lady Who Wrote Lud-in-the-Mist - by Michael Swanwick (http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/introduces/mirrlees.htm)



URSULA K. LE GUIN (1929- )
One of the most influential voices in science fiction, tackling environmental and sociological themes, she is also famous for the Earthsea Cycle, a young adult series situated in a watery world filled with numerous islands and a unique magic system based on the balance of nature; it is held by some fans just as fondly as Middle-Earth and Narnia. The series currently consists of A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore, Tehanu and The Other Wind, plus a collection of short stories. Ged Sparrowhawk, the protagonist of the first book who journeys from naïve child to experienced wizard, figures in roles of various importance in most of the books.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursula_K._Le_Guin)
The Official Website of Ursula K. Le Guin (http://www.ursulakleguin.com/)
Biographical Sketch (http://www.ursulakleguin.com/BiographicalSketch.html)



POUL ANDERSON (1926-2001)
Much like Le Guin, Anderson's reputation rests mostly on his science fiction works, filled with heroic blustery characters and high adventure. His smaller fantasy work, however, is still considered just as outstanding, two novels in particular regarded as definite classics. The Broken Sword (published around the same time as The Lord of the Rings) is a Nordic tale set during the encroachment of Christianity which recounts the life of Skafloc, a mortal raised among the elves, and his changeling counterpart Valgard, as they are inevitably drawn into the war between the elves and the trolls, into which plays a strange sword broken in two which will set in motion the events leading to Ragnarok. The other is Three Hearts and Three Lions, in which an American-Danish engineer during WWII is pulled into a fantasy world in which the Matter of France is true and conflict is rising between the forces of Law and Chaos.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poul_Anderson)
Encyclopedia of Science Fiction: Poul Anderson (http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/anderson_poul)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy: Poul Anderson (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=anderson_poul)
FantasyLiterature.com - A summary of Poul Anderson's works (http://www.fantasyliterature.com/fantasy-author/andersonpoul/)
TV Tropes entry (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/PoulAnderson)



PETER S. BEAGLE (1939- )
Author of the screenplay of the late 70s animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, he also wrote the introduction to the Del Rey editions of the books. However, I have found that he is also a respected writer in his own right, penning such works as A Fine and Private Place (greatly regarded by many), The Innkeeper's Song, The Folk of the Air and Tamsin. But his most famous work, one of the most beloved works in the fantasy genre, is The Last Unicorn, a comical, thoughtful, somewhat self-aware and ultimately bittersweet story of a unicorn who sets out to discover the mystery of her kind's disappearance and the wild and wonderful characters she meets along the way. Its animated adaptation is probably the best thing ever put out by Rankin/Bass (yes, the puppet holiday special company).

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_S._Beagle)
The Unofficial Peter S. Beagle Website [old - will be redesigned] (http://www.peterbeagle.com/index2.shtml)
TV Tropes page (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/PeterSBeagle)



MERVYN PEAKE (1911-1968)
Born to missionary parents in China and influenced by the works of Charles Dickens and Robert Louis Stevenson, he began work as a painter and illustrator, eventually adding nonsense poetry to his repertoire. The work for which he is most appraised is a surreal Gothic fantasy-of-manners trilogy detailing the life of Titus Groan, 77th heir to the Earldom of the ancient city of Gormenghast, a monolithic stone structure filled with bizarre inhabitants, governed by ancient customs and traditions which have long since lost their meaning; while the family squabbles over their petty differences, a shrewd, manipulative kitchen boy schemes to overthrow the system. It was meant to part of a larger cycle, but Peake's deteriorating health and ultimate death from dementia and Parkinson's put an end to it. The trilogy - Titus Groan, Gormenghast and Titus Alone - has sometimes been compared to Tolkien's work for its status within the genre.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mervyn_Peake)
Mervyn Peake, the Official Site (http://www.mervynpeake.org/)
TV Tropes entry on Gormenghast (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/Gormenghast)



EVANGELINE WALTON (1907-1996)
Much like T. H. White, Evangeline Walton is best known for retelling an ancient legend for the 20th century - in her case, the Mabinogion, the entirety covered in four books: Prince of Annwn, The Children of Llyr, The Song of Rhiannon and The Island of the Mighty (arranged chronologically). Other noteworthy titles include the horror novel Witch House and the historical The Cross and the Sword. Many of her works remain unpublished, though her estate is working on rectifying the situation.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangeline_Walton)
Official website (https://evangelinewalton.wordpress.com/)



RICHARD ADAMS (1920- )
Richard Adams has an interesting body of work, but his fame really stems from one novel, his first - Watership Down, one of the best written animal fantasies ever made, concerning a warren of rabbits and their search for a new burrow after the old one is destroyed by land development. Part of the fantastic element comes from the rabbits having their own mythology about the creation of the world and the rise and adventures of a precocious folk hero. His other work includes The Plague Dogs (a pair of dogs escape a laboratory and are subsequently pursued), Shardik (a bear in a fictional empire is taken to be the representation of the power of God, but his hunter still pursues him) and Traveller (a historical recount of the exploits of Robert E. Lee told from the viewpoint of his horse).

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Adams)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy: Richard Adams (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=adams_richard)
Encyclopedia Britannica entry (http://www.britannica.com/biography/Richard-Adams)



I'll stop there for now. I may have more tomorrow or even another day. I don't mean to say you should read all these immediately, of course. They're mostly just for fun as well as future reference. I apologize in advance if it's too overwhelming.

[Raven]

Someone came to mind the other night:

Robert C. O'Brien's The Rats of Nimh. I recently read it for the first time and found it thoroughly enjoyable. His daughter wrote a couple follow-up books, and I'm interested to read those as well. This book feels to me very fantastical, but it might be better placed in the science fiction category. It's one of those grey areas of crossover I think. In some ways it reads like a fantasy (talking animals, etc) but its basic plot perhaps is based more on science fiction ideas.

Also, speaking of talking animals there is always Brian Jacques. Now, I really liked the novel "Redwall" and I've read some of the others, though my last attempt to read through one resulted in losing interest. His writing certainly has its pros and cons, but as far as a fantastical writer of animal stories, he can't be left out, and again, "Redwall" is fun.

I wish I had all my books with me; I suspect I'm forgetting authors/books.

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

Again, O'Brien's book is one I have a copy of but have yet to pick up. I don't doubt that it's good - the animated adaptation (Don Bluth's The Secret of NIMH) may be one of the best animated children's films out there, though it's still pretty loose. As for Jacques, I read the first Redwall novel and enjoyed it. It's a sequel I'd definitely continue.

As for others, maybe you've heard of these (if not, you do now).


DAVID GEMMELL (1948-2006)
After working through several jobs including journalism, Gemmell came onto the scene with Legend, which told of the defense of a large fortress from barbarian hordes and of an aging axeman called to make one last stand. From there on out, he was a master of pseudo-historical fantasy dealing with themes of honor, loyalty and age. His work is considerably violent, though he attested his Christian beliefs to providing an anchor for him. Legend became the first novel in a series about the entire imaginary nation and the great men within it. Today, an award named after him is still given out to outstanding work in heroic fantasy.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Gemmell)
Drenai.com - A Guide to the Drenai Saga (http://www.drenai.com/)



GUY GAVRIEL KAY (1954- )
One of the most successful Canadian fantasists, his career began when he was hired by Christopher Tolkien to assist in editing The Silmarillion while he was still a university student; during the process, he drew ideas for his own work, studying Tolkien's style in order to assimilate his strengths while filtering out some of his weaknesses. The result became The Fionavar Tapestry, an amalgam of Tolkienian high fantasy, Anglo-Saxon mythology and Arthurian folklore in which five ordinary students are drawn into "the first of all worlds" and find themselves pitted against the mad god - the Unraveller - who wished to destroy that world, thus unmaking all worlds. The three books which comprise it (The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire and The Darkest Road) have been praised as being near equal to Tolkien's work and not simply another ripoff. His other single novels are historical fantasies of considerable acclaim set in various counterparts of Western and Eastern culture.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Gavriel_Kay)
TV Tropes page (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/GuyGavrielKay)
Bright Weavings: The Worlds of Guy Gavriel Kay (http://www.brightweavings.com/)



JAMES STEPHENS (1880-1950)
An Irish novelist and poet, Stephens's witty retellings of native fairy tales and verse are well regarded, though his most famous and reprinted work may be The Crock of Gold, in which a philosopher tries to save the woman Cáitilin Ni Murrachu from Pan himself.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stephens_(author))
Encyclopedia Britannica entry (http://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Stephens-Irish-writer)



L. FRANK BAUM (1856-1919)
The most famous children's author in his day, Baum produced a remarkable output of fantasy stories, such as The Master Key, Queen Zixi of Ix and The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. Of course, his most treasured creation is the Land of Oz and that original classic, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Despite the film having permeated popular culture, the original story is extremely enjoyable and unforgettable in its own right, having lost none of its charm and warmth; 13 sequels followed, though the original was intended to be a self-contained story.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Frank_Baum)
The International Wizard of Oz Club (http://ozclub.org/)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Website (http://thewizardofoz.info/)



J. M. BARRIE (1860-1937)
He wrote a great number of successful plays focusing on the current society, and some of those works are still being printed. However, Barrie is known at large for one story - the legendary Peter Pan. While his other work shouldn't be neglected, the story of Pan and Neverland is genuinely good, simply told for children and yet still engaging for adults. At its most basic element, it's simply a fun tale, though there may be some hidden messages beneath the narrative which lead to a rather bittersweet interpretation.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._M._Barrie)
Official website authorized by Great Ormond Street Hospital (http://www.jmbarrie.co.uk/)



That's all for now.

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

Fantasy is a nebulous term, and sometimes it overlaps with other genres, perhaps unintentionally in some cases. Such is the case with horror. Horror fiction itself has a long and illustrious literary history, some of the world's greatest writers often dabbling in it to great effect; it almost seems to be a natural component of fantasy, what with the numerous depictions of evil and fear in so many volumes. Hence, there are a great number of writers who may be generalized as horror writers but who have also shaped the development of speculative fiction as a whole, and here are 9 specific authors who continue to inspire fantastic visions.


J. SHERIDAN LE FANU (1814-1873)
A native Irishman, Le Fanu was the most well-regarded writer of ghost stories in the Victorian era, as well as a number of Gothic sensational novels. His work was designed to induce psychological terror rather than cheap shock, often employing an indirect approach to the subject matter which allows room for a natural explanation while keeping the door of the supernatural open. Among his most revered novels are Uncle Silas, The House by the Churchyard and Carmilla - the first great modern vampire tale; some of his most effective short stories include "Green Tea", "The Familiar" and "Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter."

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheridan_Le_Fanu)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=le_fanu_j_sheridan)
Le Fanu Studies (http://www.lefanustudies.com/)
M. R. James on J. S. Le Fanu (http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pardos/ArchiveLeFanu.html)
Article on The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/aug/28/sheridan-le-fanu-two-centuries-birth-vampire-ghost-stories)
Victorian Web (http://www.victorianweb.org/books/suicide/06d.html)
Article on The Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/11048229/Sheridan-Le-Fanu-the-father-of-modern-horror-at-200.html)



E. T. A. HOFFMANN (1776-1822)
The son of Prussian jurists, Hoffmann is one of the leading individuals in the German Romantic movement, as well as a composer, a music critic and a caricaturist. His stories and novels are flavored with the macabre seeping into everyday life, which would influence such later luminaries such as Dickens, Baudelaire, Kafka, Poe and even George MacDonald. He is the originator of the famous Christmas story, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King", as well as suck dark tales as "The Sandman", "The Golden Bowl" and "Mademoiselle de Scuderi"; noteworthy novels include The Devi's Elixirs and The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._T._A._Hoffmann)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=hoffmann_e_t_a)
Encyclopedia Britannica (http://www.britannica.com/biography/E-T-A-Hoffmann)
NPR.org - No Sugar Plums Here: The Dark Romantic Roots of "The Nutcracker" (http://www.npr.org/2012/12/25/167732828/no-sugar-plums-here-the-dark-romantic-roots-of-the-nutcracker)
GoogleSites: German Literature (https://sites.google.com/site/germanliterature/19th-century/hoffmann)



WILLIAM HOPE HODGSON (1877-1918)
Author, photographer, bodybuilder and soldier, Hodgson was an early practitioner of "cosmic horror" with his two most famous novels - The House on the Borderland (in which the signature abode transports an unnamed narrator to another dimension) and The Night Land (a vision of the future of humanity in a time where the sun has gone out and the world is teeming with horrors). His other two novels (The Boats of the "Glen Carrig" and The Ghost Pirates) and many of his short stories draw from his experiences as a sailor, associating the ocean with haunting dread. He is also known for creating the occult detective Thomas Carnacki and the smuggler Captain Gault. His carrer was cut rather short due to his death in WWI.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hope_Hodgson)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=hodgson_william_hope)
Alan Gullette on William Hope Hodgson (http://alangullette.com/lit/hodgson/)
WordPress blog devoted to Hodgson (https://williamhopehodgson.wordpress.com/)
Great Science-Fiction and Fantasy Works (http://greatsfandf.com/AUTHORS/WilliamHopeHodgson.php)
TV Tropes page (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/WilliamHopeHodgson)
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers in the Great War (http://fantastic-writers-and-the-great-war.com/the-writers/william-hope-hodgson/)



ALGERNON BLACKWOOD (1869-1951)
Hailed as one of the finest early writers of the weird tale, Algernon Blackwood's work is comprised of chilling ghost stories and explorations of the awe of nature, as well as some science fiction subjects (he believed humans have latent psychic abilities). Aside from creating one of the best known occult detectives, John Silence, his best known stories are "The Willows", in which two men discover unseen forces crossing over into our dimension, and "The Wendigo", where a party in the wilderness is visited by the eponymous creature.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algernon_Blackwood)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=blackwood_algernon)
Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/blackwood_algernon)
Article on Weird Fiction Review (http://weirdfictionreview.com/2013/01/wfrs-101-weird-writers-19-algernon-blackwood/)
TV Tropes entry (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/AlgernonBlackwood)
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers in the Great War (http://fantastic-writers-and-the-great-war.com/the-writers/algernon_blackwood/)



ARTHUR MACHEN (1863-1947)
Machen (pronounced MACK-en), a Welshman, was convinced that the material world around us is only a veil behind which a larger spiritual world of ecstasy and terror awaits; this philosophy informs much of his fiction, such as the fixup novel The Three Impostors and the legendary novella The Great God Pan. Some of his other important works include the story "The White People" and the partly autobiographical novel The Hill of Dreams; he is also primarily responsible for the British legend of the Angels of Mons. He is regarded as one of the finest writers of modern horror and fantasy by many scholars today, having influenced may of the greatest writers in the field(s).

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Machen)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=machen_arthur)
Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/machen_arthur)
The Friends of Arthur Machen (http://www.arthurmachen.org.uk/)
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers in the Great War (http://fantastic-writers-and-the-great-war.com/the-writers/arthur-machen/)
TV Tropes entry (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/ArthurMachen)
Victoria Gothic - Arthur Machen: An Ecstasy of Fear (http://www.victoriangothic.org/arthur-machen-an-ecstasy-of-fear/)
Christ & Pop Culture - "In Memoriam Arthur Machen: Celebrating 150 Years of Horror and Ecstasy" by Geoffrey Reiter (http://christandpopculture.com/in-memoriam-arthur-machen-celebrating-150-years-of-horror-and-ecstasy/)
Article on The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/sep/29/arthur-machen-tartarus-press)
Barnes & Noble Review - "Beyond the Veil: The Fiction of Arthur Machen" by Michael Dirda (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/review/beyond-the-veil-the-fiction-of-arthur-machen)



M. R. JAMES (1862-1936)
Medievalist scholar and provost of both King's College at Cambridge and Eton College, James is known to world at large as one the greatest writers of ghost stories ever put to page; his deliberately constructed antiquarian tales - collected originally in four volumes and meant as Christmas Eve entertainments - eschew much of the of Gothic trappings for a contemporary setting, relying on a slow build of dread to an unsettling climax. His works are so well regarded that they are regularly adapted by the BBC for radio and television.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._R._James)
TV Tropes entry (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/MontagueRhodesJames)
Ghosts & Scholars - online magazine devoted to James (http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pardos/GS.html)
Thin-Ghost.org - full text of stories plus film/TV listings and book illustrations (http://www.thin-ghost.org/)
The New Yorker - "Fright Nights: The Horror of M. R. James" by Anthony Lane (http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/02/13/fright-nights-2)
New Statesman - "How M. R. James's Ghost Stories Became a Christmas Institution" by John Sutherland (http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/12/come-all-ye-fearful)



H. P. LOVECRAFT (1890-1937)
A name so synonymous with horror that it has became a subgenre unto itself, Lovecraft is considered to be the spiritual successor of Edgar Allan Poe and one of the most influential 20th century authors of horror and fantasy. Drawing on the older traditions as well as modern discoveries, his major contribution was creating horrors on a cosmic scale, with ancient beings from deep space - regarded as "gods" by older peoples - awaiting the opportunity to reclaim the earth for themselves, with humanity an insignificant bystander in the grand scheme. While his prose could often become purple, and his materialistic philosophy and strong racist views are problematic for both Christian and secular audiences, his importance to the development of speculative fiction cannot be overstated.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._P._Lovecraft)
The H. P. Lovecraft Archive (http://www.hplovecraft.com/)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=lovecraft_h_p)
Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/lovecraft_h_p)
The Wall Street Journal - "Here's Why H. P. Lovecraft Matters More Than Ever" by Michael Calia (http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/10/13/heres-why-h-p-lovecraft-matters-more-than-ever/)
TV Tropes entry (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/HPLovecraft)
Christ & Pop Culture - "From Cthulhu to Christ: Why H. P. Lovecraft's Cosmic Despair Is Still Worth Reading" by Geoffrey Reiter (http://christandpopculture.com/from-cthulhu-to-christ-why-hp-lovecraft-cosmic-despair-still-worth-reading/)



ROBERT E. HOWARD (1906-1936)
Being a close friend of Lovecraft through literary correspondence, there is a streak of cosmic horror in his work, but the legendary Texan pulp writer - the creator of one of the most iconic characters in pop culture, Conan the Barbarian - is best known for nearly singlehandedly creating the subgenre of sword and sorcery with his tales of high adventure in exotic "historical" periods; filled with a grand eloquence and breakneck pacing, Howard's stories are outstanding exercises in mythopoeia, and while many have imitated him, he is rarely equaled. From the splendor of the ancient lands of the Atlantean exile Kull, to the last stand of the last king of the Picts, Bran Mak Morn, against the invading Roman legions, down to the moody crusades of the Puritan wanderer Solomon Kane, Howard's works have lost none of their original fire. And his poetry isn't half bad, either.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Howard)
The Robert E. Howard Foundation (http://www.rehfoundation.org/)
Texas State Historical Association: Robert E. Howard (https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fho92)
TV Tropes entry (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/RobertEHoward)
Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/howard_robert_e)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=howard_robert_e)
REH: Two-Gun Raconteur - The Definitive Robert E. Howard Journal (http://www.rehtwogunraconteur.com/)



CLARK ASHTON SMITH (1893-1961)
Alongside Lovecraft and Howard, California native Smith is one of the best writers for the influential pulp magazine Weird Tales, weaving tales of wildly exotic locations with both cosmic horror and a sense of humor. He was also an accomplished poet, painter and sculptor. However, his fame has never reached the heights that Lovecraft and Howard attained, though that is not to say that he was disregarded entirely. His ornate construction of language and his total immersion in the wildness of his locations have won him as many admirers as there are detractors.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Ashton_Smith)
Alan Gullette on Clark Ashton Smith (http://alangullette.com/lit/smith/)
TV Tropes entry (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/ClarkAshtonSmith)
Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/smith_clark_ashton)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=smith_clark_ashton)
Black Gate - The Fantasy Cycles of Clark Ashton Smith: Part I (https://www.blackgate.com/the-fantasy-cycles-of-clark-ashton-smith-part-i-the-averoigne-chronicles/)
Black Gate - The Fantasy Cycles of Clark Ashton Smith: Part II (https://www.blackgate.com/the-fantasy-cycles-of-clark-ashton-smith-part-ii-the-book-of-hyperborea/)
Black Gate - The Fantasy Cycles of Clark Ashton Smith: Part III (https://www.blackgate.com/the-fantasy-cycles-of-clark-ashton-smith-part-iii-tales-of-zothique/)
Black Gate - The Fantasy Cycles of Clark Ashton Smith: Part IV (https://www.blackgate.com/the-fantasy-cycles-of-clark-ashton-smith-part-iv-poseidonis-mars-and-xiccarph/)
Christ & Pop Culture - "Dream Builder: Recognizing Clark Ashton Smith's Legacy in Fiction" by Geoffrey Reiter (http://christandpopculture.com/dream-builder-recognizing-clark-ashton-smiths-legacy-fiction/)



I know it's a lot of material. This is a particular instance where I am rather under-read in these authors, so I fear that my brief descriptions may not be doing them justice. The overabundance of offsite resources is meant to compensate for this. I apologize if it's too much. I'll try to cut down on it next time.

If you haven't noticed, I'm rather an aficionado of horror. I don't really understand why it fascinates me so, but I feel there's just as much material to mine there as there is in fantasy. Maybe it's worth its own separate topic...but I can only speak for myself, of course. For now, fantasy's the thing, and I like it that way.

[Raven]

I haven't read much of horror -- none that I can recall. But I can see how it can be considered related to the fantasy genre.
I've never been one to watch horror movies either. I find it interesting to consider why people enjoy it, though. The idea of wanting to be scared is an interesting concept. Of course, most ghost stories it seems are about simply the spiritual world -- that's what a lot of people find fascinating, more than actual fear.

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

I still recommend those authors, and for the connection between horror and Christian theology, here are several articles from deCOMPOSE regarding the subject:

http://mikeduran.com/2014/04/how-religion-makes-the-exorcist/
http://mikeduran.com/2014/09/arthur-machens-holy-terror/
http://mikeduran.com/2015/02/can-we-be-good-while-reading-writing-about-evil/
http://mikeduran.com/2015/03/the-grotesque-and-horrific-in-religious-art/
http://mikeduran.com/2015/10/are-all-ghosts-demons/
http://mikeduran.com/2010/08/on-christian-horror-and-atheist-dread/
http://mikeduran.com/2010/10/can-horror-fiction-be-redemptive-pt-1/
http://mikeduran.com/2010/10/can-horror-fiction-be-redemptive-pt-2/
http://mikeduran.com/2011/01/can-horror-fiction-be-redemptive-part-3/
http://mikeduran.com/2011/10/the-apologetics-of-horror/
http://mikeduran.com/2012/02/whats-the-difference-between-classic-and-contemporary-christian-horror/
http://mikeduran.com/2012/08/holiness-and-horror/
http://mikeduran.com/2013/05/why-do-we-read-horror/
http://mikeduran.com/2013/06/h-p-lovecrafts-darwinian-horror/
http://mikeduran.com/2013/09/cosmic-horrors-amoral-universe/
http://mikeduran.com/2015/07/is-beowulf-the-first-religious-horror-story-ever-written/


Yes, that's a lot of articles, but they're really good ones. I recommend them for an enlightening experience. Of course, you may not totally agree, and that's fine. Still, it's a fascinating viewpoint.

[Raven]

I have just read the article on Beowulf, which is the last that you linked. I really enjoy Anglo-Saxon and Icelandic literature, and so I was a sucker for that article. I think that it is interesting how much weight he gives to the idea of Beowulf being a religious story/poem. In a sense, I hardly know what qualifies something as Christian or religious in general -- if it just takes references to faith, or an overt perspective on the part of the narrator or author, then I guess Beowulf qualifies. It reminds me a bit of the Icelandic saga about Grettir the Strong which contains similar supernatural foes and feats of warrior-hood as Beowulf.
The article made me think of how fantasy relates to horror in so far as fantasy is full of evil villains. One of the strengths of fantasy as a genre is that there are obviously evil bad guys. A book about war between humans can never be the same as a book about war between humans and the orcs of Tolkien, or Gandalf and a Balrog. Those creatures were horrific representations of evil, externalized forces of evil waging war for human lives. In Tolkien, Saruman gives into evil through fear and mental captivity to Sauron's power, too, so people were destroyed by evil through fear and violence in Tolkien's work (fear seen working in the effects of the Nazgul, too). In that sense, we see a lot of allegory in fantasy, even if just the externalized battle against evil.

I've never thought much about horror as a genre, but I can understand how it could be conceived of as allegorical.

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

Those are the best types of articles - they make you think about things, and it sticks with you long after. It may even change your life.

Here's a few more authors - just five this time.

DAVID LINDSAY (1876-1945)
Something of a "missing link" between his fellow Scot George MacDonald and the modern day surrealists (in Scotland), Lindsay is best remembered for a single work: A Voyage to Arcturus, a philosophical sci-fi/fantasy mindbender recounting one man's journey to an alien world orbiting the star Arcturus, where philosophical concepts take physical form. It has since become something of an underground classic, having earned high praise from the likes of Lewis and Tolkien. The rest of his rather small output is sorely neglected, though The Haunted Woman is also regarded as particularly special.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lindsay_(novelist))
TV Tropes entry on A Voyage to Arcturus (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/AVoyageToArcturus)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=lindsay_david)
Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/lindsay_david)
Violet Apple: The Life and Works of David Lindsay (http://www.violetapple.org.uk/index.php)



CHARLES WILLIAMS (1886-1945)
Similar to the state of Clark Ashton Smith in the shadow of H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard, Charles Williams doesn't really have the immediate recognition of his fellow Inklings, Lewis and Tolkien. However, he was nonetheless a great author in his own right, turning out a number of "supernatural thrillers" focusing on themes such as the intersection of the spiritual world and the physical world and the dangerous, sometimes beneficial, nature of power. His most famous works include the novels War in Heaven, Many Dimensions, The Place of the Lion, The Greater Trumps, Descent into Hell and All Hallows' Eve. He was also a respected essayist, dramatist and poet, publishing two volumes of Arthurian poetry in his lifetime, among many other works.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Williams_(British_writer))
TV Tropes entry (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/CharlesWilliams)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=williams_charles)
The Charles Williams Society (http://www.charleswilliamssociety.org.uk/)



STEPHEN R. DONALDSON (1947- )
You've probably heard of Donaldson. While he's written a couple of other series (Mordant's Need and the Gap Cycle), he's most famous for The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, a rather bleak, psychologically heavy deconstruction of high fantasy, in which the fate of an enchanted world is placed in the hands of a curmudgeonly leper. It's a large series, having finished only recently, and its morbid tone may not be for everyone. But for the patient reader, it may hold quite a few surprises.

Offsite resources:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_R._Donaldson)
TV Topes entry on Thomas Covenant (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/TheChroniclesOfThomasCovenant)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=donaldson_stephen_r)
Official website (http://www.stephenrdonaldson.com/)



JOHN CROWLEY (1942- )
He began by writing three science fiction novels of considerable note (The Deep, Beasts and Engine Summer), but Crowley really made a name for himself with the outstanding fantasy Little, Big, which follows an eccentric American family whose ordinarily sized house is a portal to the expansive and unpredictable world of Fairy; it is regarded as one of the most significant fantasy novels, garnering praise from the likes of famous literary critic Harold Bloom. His other major work is the four-volume Ægypt, a metafictional story of a historian writing a manuscript on Hermeticism (at least that's how I can best describe it at this time.).

Offside resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Crowley)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=crowley_john)
John Crowley's LiveJournal (http://crowleycrow.livejournal.com/)



ROBERT HOLDSTOCK (1948-2009)
Like Crowley, Holdstock began with science fiction before breaking on the scene with a sequence of novels centered in the imaginary English woodland of Ryhope Wood, a microcosm in which the mythic archetypes of humanity's collective subconscious come to life. The series - Mythago Wood, Lavondyss, The Bone Forest, The Hollowing, Merlin's Wood [UK only], Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn and Avilion - is a Jungian exploration of the nature of fantasy itself, associated with the subgenre of mythic fiction, which draws from the tropes and settings of myths and fairy tales. Holdstock himself is regarded as one of the best practitioners of post-Tolkien fantastic fiction.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Holdstock)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=holdstock_robert_p)
Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood (http://robertholdstock.com/)

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

It's interesting that some (but not all) of the most highly regarded fantasy works are, in a sense, children's fiction. This has had the unfortunate response of a lot of fantasy - if not the whole genre in total - being considered "not serious literature" and consigning it to a metaphorical literary ghetto. It's only recently, in a rather relative sense, that critics are giving it a new appraisal, though some stigmatization persists. But there are a good number of "children's books" that are genuinely good and still hold the imagination captive, and for today's entries, I'd like to list a few of the finest.

ALAN GARNER (1934- )
He insists that his work was never meant to be children's fiction, but he got labeled as such regardless. Drawing on the folklore and history of his native Cheshire, Garner made a name for himself with The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, set in the town of Alderley Edge, in which two children must help a wizard retrieve a mystic pendant stolen ages ago before the minions of a dark spirit find it; this was followed by a sequel, The Moon of Gomrath. Then came Elidor, an otherworldly tale of four children entrusted with sacred treasures, and The Owl Service, an adaptation of the Welsh legend of Blodeuwedd set in modern times. One more fantasy followed - Red Shift, which spans a thousand years in the history of Cheshire - before moving on to contemporary fiction. However, only recently, he turned out the long-awaited third installment of his Alderley Edge trilogy, Boneland.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Garner)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=garner_alan)
The Unofficial Alan Garner Website (http://alangarner.atspace.org/index.html)



LLOYD ALEXANDER (1924-2007)
One of the most acclaimed writers of children's fiction, Alexander is best known for The Chronicles of Prydain, in which elements of Welsh mythology are appropriated to tell the life story of Taran, an impetuous Assistant Pig-Keeper. His other series include the Westmark trilogy of European fantasies and the globetrotting exploits of Vesper Holly. His other single novels shouldn't be disregarded, either, ranging from animal tales (Time Cat), picaresques (The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian), and foreign cultures such as Greek (The Arkadians), Chinese (The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen), Hindu (The Iron Ring), and Arabian (The First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha, The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio).

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Alexander)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=alexander_lloyd)



MADELEINE L'ENGLE (1918-2007)
Although she has quite a number of books to her name, most of them being young adult stories of adolescent life, Mrs. L'Engle is known primarily for her "Kairos" science fantasy series of novels regarding a group of siblings and their friend discovering the phenomenon of folding space and time and the consequences that such actions bring. The series is chronologically divided into two "generations," the first under the Murry name (A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters) while the second follows the O'Keefes (The Arms of the Starfish, Dragons in the Waters, A House Like a Lotus), and the two come together in the last book (An Acceptable Time).

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeleine_L%27Engle)
Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/lengle_madeleine)
Official website (http://www.madeleinelengle.com/)



SUSAN COOPER (1935- )
One can only wonder what may have gone through people's heads when Over Sea, Under Stone appeared in 1965. The novel tells of three children who, under the supervision of their wise uncle, discover the hidden location of the Grail, so essential to the Matter of Britain. It's a suspenseful mystery with fantastic subtext...but eight years later, Susan Cooper would continue the story into full blown fantasy, detailing the struggle of the mystic Old Ones, servants of the Light, against the forces of the nebulous Dark. The four books that followed - The Dark Is Rising, Greenwitch, The Grey King and Silver on the Tree - would gain critical recognition and place Mrs. Cooper in the minds of many a fan.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Cooper)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=cooper_susan)
The Lost Land: The Official Site of Susan Cooper (http://thelostland.com/)



DIANA WYNNE JONES (1934-2011)
Not many fantasy writers known today can claim to have attended lectures by either Lewis or Tolkien. Diana Wynne Jones sat under both of them. Something of a precursor to J. K. Rowling, Jones's work mixes traditional fantasy with warm humor and sharp social criticism. Important works of note include the Chrestomanci series (Charmed Life, The Magicians of Caprona, Witch Week, The Lives of Christopher Chant, Mixed Magics, Conrad's Fate and The Pinhoe Egg), the Dalemark Quartet (The Spellcoats, Cart and Cwidder, Drowned Ammet and Crown of Dalemark), the Moving Castle series (Howl's Moving Castle, Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways), the short Derkholm series (Dark Lord of Derkholm and Year of the Griffin) and many single novels such as Dogsbody, Eight Days of Luke, Power of Three, The Time of the Ghost, Archer's Goon, Fire and Hemlock, A Tale of Time City, A Sudden Wild Magic and Hexwood.

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Wynne_Jones)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=jones_diana_wynne)
The Diana Wynne Jones Fansite (http://www.leemac.freeserve.co.uk/)



ROBIN McKINLEY (1952- )
Wife of the late Peter Dickinson (writer of the "speculative natural history" The Flight of Dragons), Mrs. McKinley's goal has been to provide an alternative for female readers where there previously were none (but, of course, I don't mean to insinuate that she has nothing left to offer). She is well known for her two novels set in the mythic land of Damar (The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown), as well as retellings of classic fairy tales with feminist perspectives (Beauty, Rose Daughter and Spindle's End).

Offsite resource:
Wikipedia entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_McKinley)
Encyclopedia of Fantasy (http://sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=mckinley_robin)
Official website (http://robinmckinley.com/)


There are others I could go into, including some who have influenced the modern development of children's literature.....but that's best saved for another entry.

[Raven]

I've read Alexander's Prydain novels. In fact I think you are the one who introduced me to them. I think the first was my favorite of those.
Justin, you know I still have all the letters I received from you during our VeraLoriaVie correspondence. Do you happen to have preserved any of the ones I sent you? It occurs to me it would be really fun to scan them and make an e-book for the website.

I've read L'Engles Wrinkle In Time series.

In the case of both of those authors, I think there was some good stuff but they haven't stuck with my imagination the way some of these other authors have.

Justin, have you considered having a blog? I can create a corner of the LostPathway for you if you want to also create a blog with this information and whatever other information you'd be interested in. What do you say?

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

Yeah, I remember that about Alexander. And I'll have to look for the letters. I'll have to do some digging - you know how things get moved around.

As for a blog....yeah, I'd like that. Never had the gumption to do it on my own. It would be nice to have it.