The Book of Imaginary Beings (Classics Deluxe Edition) (Penguin Classics Deluxe Editio)
by Jorge Luis Borges
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It is with a mix of relief and terror that I realize I am not within these pages - now I know I am not imaginary; but I also know that I've never been imagined: if I hadn't been, I would never have been. Not even in a fiction.
Perhaps the book was thicker in earlier editions; pages torn out by cautious librarians - surveying the newspaper birth columns - as we imaginary beings came into being. Or the pages spontaneously curled into dust.
Perhaps the book was thicker in earlier editions; pages torn out by cautious librarians - surveying the newspaper birth columns - as we imaginary beings came into being. Or the pages spontaneously curled into dust.
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recommends it for:
nearby bookshelves.
Borges explains at the beginning that the book is not intended to be read through, but opened at random and skimmed. Well, I read it through, and I don't regret it. But that's because I'm interested by very unusual things. Borges has here compiled from what is essentially a set of utterly trivial facts something with meaning. His selection is bizarre, pretty and humorous, and he describes each beast with great variation in tone. The reason for each voice only becomes clear after several be...more
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I rec'd this book as a gift from a friend; I've never even actually read ANY Borges, oddly enough.
It's not meant to be a collection of fiction (though, of course, it's not purely fact) -- it's more an encyclopedia of gods and monsters and beings mystical to mythical that Borges has found interesting over the years. It's nowhere near exhaustive, but it isn't meant to be -- I really saw it more as a compendium of things he'd run across in his research and writing over the years, and he though...more
It's not meant to be a collection of fiction (though, of course, it's not purely fact) -- it's more an encyclopedia of gods and monsters and beings mystical to mythical that Borges has found interesting over the years. It's nowhere near exhaustive, but it isn't meant to be -- I really saw it more as a compendium of things he'd run across in his research and writing over the years, and he though...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
Everyone
I have read many bestiaries in my life from obscure forgotten ones in Mexico, Spain, Portugal and to the magical and esoteric world of the Gypsies. Ants born in fire, insects that explode at midnight, and though other seem like pure creation of a race or an specific writer Borges it’s more like a compilation of a fantastic zoology. This compilation pours with Borges incessant knowledge, with his love for history and story telling.
If you have read any other bestiaries I recommend this one ...more
If you have read any other bestiaries I recommend this one ...more
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The Book of Imaginary Beings is a compendium of fictitious characters from all types of literature and tradition. Arranged alphabetically, Borges includes things from gryphons to angels to the Cheshire Cat. Peter Sis does the drawings, which are fantastic in all meanings of the word.
Look for this book if you’re in the mood to read a work that is in between fiction and non-fiction, but don’t have much time. The pieces are short and sweet; they are easy to digest, and fun.
Look for this book if you’re in the mood to read a work that is in between fiction and non-fiction, but don’t have much time. The pieces are short and sweet; they are easy to digest, and fun.
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For a book first written in 1967, the timelessness of his entries and the sumptuous journey Borges takes his readers on is not to be missed.
As Umberto Eco quips, Borges predates the World Wide Web with entries of various length and detail, imagination and fact.
As a whole and in part, TBoIB makes both a statement and non-statements (anti-statements?) that eclipse the ambitions of many of today's writers of speculative and fantastic literature.
As Umberto Eco quips, Borges predates the World Wide Web with entries of various length and detail, imagination and fact.
As a whole and in part, TBoIB makes both a statement and non-statements (anti-statements?) that eclipse the ambitions of many of today's writers of speculative and fantastic literature.
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Read in November, 2007
I read through a few entries now and then. I like it, but I'm never compelled to keep it in my hands. I'm counting this as done even though what's really going to happen is I'm just going to check in with it now and then for the next 10 years of my life, slowly working my way through.
It's fun. It's like reading Sandman comics, where you wonder "Is this REALLY an old Norse myth, or is Borges just f***ing with me?"
It's fun. It's like reading Sandman comics, where you wonder "Is this REALLY an old Norse myth, or is Borges just f***ing with me?"
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
people who like Final Fantasy summoning spells or Neil Gaiman novels
Not that this book was meant to be comprehensive in the least, but I would prefer to read something more like an encyclopedia when it comes to reading about various imagined creatures. I guess that's why all those Dragonology, Fairyopolis, etc. books are so popular. But maybe people who like glimpses of things would like this book. It would have helped if my copy had illustrations.
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I liked this book is different than what I've been reading lately. It's about a whole bunch of imaginary beings from very early writers until C.S Lewis. They are interesting stories and very creative in describing the creatures. A lot of the stories came from different cultures and these stories have helped people understand the weather, life, and human nature in general.
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Everyone loves a good bestiary! Though Borges only focuses on a handful of imaginary beings, he presents a wide scope of monsters from a variety of settings/ mythologies, relying wherever possible on original source material. I was impressed to see the Squonk of Pennsylvania included.
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Read in January, 2004
I really don't know what shelves to classify this book in, so I just chose two that seemed appropriate. What this book is, is a wonderful dictionary of fantastical creatures from all sorts of world mythologies. And who better than Borges to list their uncanny attributes?
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Read in April, 2008
An interesting bestiary compiled by Borges and filled with legendary and literary reference. Well worth the minimal dollar amount I paid.
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2 comments
Read in December, 2007
the book of imaginary beings is purely fun, and contains a surprising span of beings from a variety of sources. It would be a great book for young people, because borges is awesome, and it's a good introduction to the fantastic.
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Read in January, 1983
I loved this book when I first read it, and I still find it imaginative, fun, occasionally creepy, and marvelously (deceptively simply) well-written. Thought-provoking brief entries charge the imagination. An inspiration indeed.
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I'm giving this four stars because the man is inventive and the creatures are interesting. But I mean, it's not like this is some novel that will blow your mind or anything. It's just some pretty cool shit.
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Read in October, 2006
It's as if Borges was this old wizard who would read thousands of pages worth of arcane texts on some obscure topic, remember the most interesting parts and then describe them in two pages or less.
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the stuffed tiger on his bed and the tiger in the encyclopedia have prepared him to look without fear upon the tiger of flesh and blood
-Jorge Luis Borges, The Book of Imaginary Beings
-Jorge Luis Borges, The Book of Imaginary Beings
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Borges pours the breadth of his knowledge into this almanac of mythozoology. It is as much a tour of literature, philosophy, and culture as it is a compendium of mythical creatures.
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone interested in mythology
A fun book to open up to a random page and learn interesting facts about esoteric mythological creatures and a new spin on your favorite beasts of old like dragons and minotaurs.
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
writers, fantasy fans
The muggle version of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them?'
A dictionary of weird and wonderful creatures! Recommended for writers of lovers of fantasy!
A dictionary of weird and wonderful creatures! Recommended for writers of lovers of fantasy!
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 4.19 (476 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 4.21 (394 ratings) number of reviews: 45popular shelves
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"Chang Tzu tells us of a persevering man who after three laborious years mastered the art of dragon-slaying. For the rest of his days, he had not a single opportunity to test his skills."
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