Praise for the anthologies of
Jacob Weisman, editor
“From the evocative images of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s ‘Kubla Khan’ andLord Byron’s ‘Darkness’ to Mark Twain’s devil tale, ‘The Mysterious Stranger,’ and Max Beerbohm’s devil plus time travel fantasy, ‘Enoch Soames,’ the 44 stories and poems in this compilation of fantastic literature provides a solid grounding in the development of the genre. Because most of the writers are ‘mainstream’ rather than genre authors, this collection also makes a good case for fantasy as literature, while the presence of Edgar Allan Poe, H. G. Wells, and Lord Dunsany alongside Edith Wharton, Emily Dickinson, and E. M. Forster breaks down the barrier between literary and genre fiction. VERDICT: This is an important collection for all lovers of fantasy and literature.”
—Library Journal
“The Treasury of the Fantastic truly is a treasury of wonderful stories. . . . Turns out there’s not a dud to be found.”
—Fantasy and Science Fiction
“A marvelous mix of classics and rarely seen works, bibliophile’s finds and old favorites . . . a treasury in every sense and a treasure!”
—Connie Willis, author of Doomsday Book and To Say Nothing of the Dog
“The fantasy tradition in English and American literature is rich and varied and strange. This is the book to read to find out what you never knew you needed to know.”
—David G. Hartwell, editor of the Year’s Best Fantasy series
“It was an absolute delight to see so [many] of these authors collected here and finding new treasures I hadn’t realized really fell into the realm of fantasy.”
—My Shelf Confessions
“The Treasury of the Fantastic is truly that, a comprehensive collection of fantastical literature from throughout the many years covering the romanticism era to the early twentieth century . . . an exquisitely curated collection. . . .”
—The Arched Doorway
“Heroes and their mighty deeds populate the pages of this delightfully kitschy yet absorbing anthology of sword and sorcery short stories from the 1930s onward. Hartwell and Weisman have selected some of the best short-form work in the genre, starting with the originator, Robert E. Howard, and his tales of Conan the Barbarian. The heroes are tough, savvy, and willing to knock a few heads in to get the job done. The soldier of Glen Cook’s Dread Empire and Fritz Leiber’s Grey Mouser make strong appearances, as does Michael Moorcock’s Elric of Melniboné and his dread sword, Stormbringer. Female heroes are as ruthless as their male counterparts: C. L. Moore’s Jirel of Joiry walks through Hell and back to get her revenge, while George R. R. Martin’s Daenerys Stormborn becomes a true queen by outmaneuvering an entire city of slavers. This is an unbeatable selection from classic to modern, and each story brings its A game.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“The 19 stories in this volume span a time period from 1933 to 2012 and provide a strong introduction to this fantasy subgenre.”
—Library Journal
“Awesome collection, very highly recommended.”
—Nerds in Babeland
“Superbly presented . . . reignited this reader’s interest.”
—SF Site
“A big, meaty collection of genre highlights that runs the gamut from old-school classics to new interpretations, it serves as an excellent introduction and primer in one.”
—Green Man Review
“Hard and fast-paced fantasy that’s strong from the first piece right through to the last.”
—Shades of Sentience
“Hartwell and Weisman’s choices are top-notch and provide both an excellent introduction to the subgenre for new readers and exciting reading for long-time fans.”
—Grasping for the Wind
“This engaging anthology is a terrific way to meet some of the best fantasists for those unfamiliar with their works and for returning vets a chance to enjoy fun short stories.”
—Midwest Book Review