Aspects of Fantasy

This anthology of twenty-five essays on fantasy in literature and film gives a striking view of the decline of realism and the penetration of the fantastic mode into the mainstream of fiction. Introduced by William Coyle's illuminating discussion of the nature of fantasy, the essays offer a wide range of perspectives. They include discussions of the creators of fantasy, fantastic creatures, fantasy and the media, the relationship of fantasy to literary tradition, and the relevance of fantasy to contemporary concerns. Among the literary subjects considered are Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Meyrink's Der Golem, Artaud's Theatre of Cruelty, vampire tales, horror films, modern fantasy epics, extraterrestrial civilizations, superheroes, and jesters, together with writers ranging from Ursula Le Guin, Arthur C. Clarke, and Tolkien, to Mark Twain, Lewis Carroll, and Shakespeare.