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randomly's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
From Abaton to Zyundel, this massive list of made-up countries will keep any literary history fan busy for a while. Works cited range from prehistoric Greece to 1998. Old friends like Middle-Earth, Narnia, Prydain, and Earthsea are all well-represented. The maps are great throughout.
The focus is very much on European authors, and some from the US. A smart cultural critic would have a field day analyzing these authors' dreams and fears based on the countries they invented.
The alphabetical format means that in a single page, you might get a Roman epic, colonialist polemic, medieval romance, and Lovecraftian horror. The effect is sometimes pleasing, often jarring. For me, listing the countries as dictionary entries also removed some of the wonder that draws readers to these novels.
Anyway, check this one out if you want a comprehensive look at made-up places over hundreds of years.
The focus is very much on European authors, and some from the US. A smart cultural critic would have a field day analyzing these authors' dreams and fears based on the countries they invented.
The alphabetical format means that in a single page, you might get a Roman epic, colonialist polemic, medieval romance, and Lovecraftian horror. The effect is sometimes pleasing, often jarring. For me, listing the countries as dictionary entries also removed some of the wonder that draws readers to these novels.
Anyway, check this one out if you want a comprehensive look at made-up places over hundreds of years.
sarahreadsaverylot's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
5.0
scheu's review against another edition
4.0
A pretty interesting (and international!) compendium of imagined worlds. Not exactly complete by any means, even for the most recent update (1999), but still fun to poke through. Definitely worth the $9.99 I originally paid for it off the Waldenbooks bargain pile.
connablanca's review against another edition
5.0
I mean here's another one that I was just destined to love. 700+ pages (okay, no, I have not read the whole thing) on nearly every single fictional world in literature before 2000 (Middle Earth, for example, is a lengthy entry. So is Treasure Island and Oz).
Some Greatest Hits:
• Polar Bear Kingdom
• Daddy Jones' Kingdom
• Gramblamble Land
• Moomin Valley (directly SE of Daddy Jones' Kingdom)
Some Greatest Hits:
• Polar Bear Kingdom
• Daddy Jones' Kingdom
• Gramblamble Land
• Moomin Valley (directly SE of Daddy Jones' Kingdom)
scheu's review against another edition
4.0
A pretty interesting (and international!) compendium of imagined worlds. Not exactly complete by any means, even for the most recent update (1999), but still fun to poke through. Definitely worth the $9.99 I originally paid for it off the Waldenbooks bargain pile.
icecreamjane's review against another edition
4.0
Well, I haven't read it all. It's giant. But, I have it and it's awesome. It really is a dictionary full of all imaginary places. Hogwarts, Neverland, Middle Earth, Xanadou....it's got everything with full descriptions. Really awesome library collection.
plaidpladd's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book cover to cover this year. I didn't retain much besides there are a ton of books set ~inside the earth~
vermidian's review
3.0
While not really something you can just sit and read, I feel the authors did an excellent job of collecting and summarizing magical and unusual fictional places for you to read about. While I am still in the process of slowly but surely reading through this dictionary, I find that, to really find interest in many of these places, you really just ought to read the books these worlds and places came from.
I'd really love to see a science fiction one with full planets.
I'm giving this one 3 stars on the basis that I don't feel this is something people would really read. This seems more like a novelty book or a quick reference boon to me. Ultimately, you would more likely use a real dictionary than this one.
I'd really love to see a science fiction one with full planets.
I'm giving this one 3 stars on the basis that I don't feel this is something people would really read. This seems more like a novelty book or a quick reference boon to me. Ultimately, you would more likely use a real dictionary than this one.
lonesomelovee's review against another edition
3.0
just something interesting I enjoy occasionally browsing
awamiba's review
The Dictionary of Imaginary Places: The Newly Updated and Expanded Classic by Alberto Manguel (2000)