Resumen
Realms of Fantasy is an overview of the chief classic fantasy mileaus, of the most stolid and conservative fashion. It is a large, heavy book that starts out by attempting to define the genre and follows by classifying fantasy into several sections (fantasy set in the past, far future, alternate Earths, lost worlds, etc.). Of course, this is all absolute nonsense. Nevertheless, the controlled, easygoing tone and the parallels drawn between works in the genre make this useful, even slightly enjoyable reading.
After the introduction there is one of the most important pages in the book: a listing of the works set in the mileaus described within, complete with authors. I have yet to see a more useful list of reading suggestions in the sub-genre of classic fantasy.
And, finally, the bulk of the pages is occupied by the sections on the settings themselves. Sections on Middle Earth, Atlantis, Lost Worlds, Peakes Gormenghast, Urth, Earthsea, Thomas Covenants the Land, Moorcocks Elric, and Robert Howards Conan stories, cover the settings idealogy, works of literature set in these mileaus, the authors mindset, and detail the chief events outlining these settings. Accompanying illustrations seek to further elucidate the settings. Oddly enough, several cornerstone settings are inexplicably absent (most noticeably, McCaffreys Pern and Zelaznys Amber).
In a nutshell, these overviews are tepid invitations to enjoy the genre of fantasy. This book serves out its purpose well.
