Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #517124 in Books
• Published on: 2004-11-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 206 pages

Synopsis
Newly revised and expanded by the author, this study of epic fantasy analyzes the genre from its earliest beginnings in Medieval romances, on through practitioners like Tolkien, up to today's brightest lights.

Customer Reviews

Wizardry and Wild Romance
If you're at all familiar with Moorcock's divergent take on fantasy literature, then there will be little in this book that will take you by surprise. The book is a collection of essays about various aspects of high/epic fantasy writing, culminating in the infamous 'Epic Pooh' essay in which Moorcock accuses J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis of producing a form of 'corrupted romanticism' that is nostalgic for a rural past that can't be regained (and probably never actually existed). Moorcock cites the likes of Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea series as an admirable counterpoint, and essentially this is the aim of the book: to call on both authors and readers to maintain a level of artistic and intellectual integrity in reading and writing fantasy literature. It is by no means a new argument, but it never hurts to be reminded, and Moorcock substantiates his arguments with comprehensive examples that are a result of being widely read and immersed in the genre for quite a number of years.

The major flaw in Moorcock's writing is a frustrating tendency to quote enormous chunks of his source novels at the expense of digging deeper into his arguments. One could argue that the texts speak for themselves and little extrapolation on Moorcock's part isn't required, but I paid for his interpretation and perspective. It's great that he has so much material to substantiate his claims, but it has the frustrating effect of breaking up his writing in places. Despite this, Moorcock remains an influential figure and his arguments in this book shouldn't be ignored.

Essential for anyone interested in fantastic literature...
...especially, of course, epic fantasy.

Wizardry and Wild Romance is a slim volume, without padding. (Although you could argue that the Introduction from China Mieville and the Afterward from Jeff VanderMeer, each distinguished fantasists themselves, constitute filler.) The contents range from discussions of the history of the genre under study and its origins, through to its present incarnations in the work of Mieville (the supberb Perdido Street Station) and K G Bishop (The Etched City), and to a scathing, though fair polemic aimed at Tolkien.

(Afraid I still love The Lord of The Rings, but Moorcock is largely correct, and dead on when it comes to Papa Tolkien's pernicous literary legacy.)

As I said, I consider this essential reading for anybody interested in the genre. Certainly no writer's shelf is complete without it.

Seán Padraic Birnie