From: steven engelfried <stevene>
Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 10:40:49 -0800

It's not exactly a children's book, but one of the funniest books I read this year was Diana Wynne Jones' "The Tough Guide to Fantasyland." It's written as if it were a guidebook to guided tours of Fantasyland, like the tours that play a big part in her wonderful "Dark Lord of Derkholm" novel. It's actually a funny satire of the fantasy genre. With dictionary style entries, she defines fantasy terms and motifs, always tongue-in-cheek:
"Apostrophes. Few names in Fantasyland are considered complete unless they are interrupted by an apostrophe somewhere in the middle (as in Gna'ash)...no on knows the reasons for this. Nor does anyone really know how an apostrophe should be prounounced." There's a series of entries about animals, pointing out how there are very few of these in Fantasyland, unless they're spies, food, or transportation, yet somehow there's always plenty of wool and leather and cheese. There are also breakdowns of ten types of swords, four kinds of kings (good, bad, puppet, long-lost), six kinds of curses, etc. Great fun to browse through for anyone who's read more than a few fantasies and enjoys them despite their flaws...

- Steven Engelfried, Children's Librarian
  Deschutes Public Library System, Bend Branch
  601 NW Wall Street Bend, OR 97701
  ph: 541a7p72 fax: 541a7p73
  e-mail: stevene at dpls.lib.or.us
Received on Wed 29 Dec 1999 12:40:49 PM CST