The Wood Beyond the World (Wildside Fantasy)
by William Morris
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Read in January, 1990
recommends it for:
Fantasy fans who aren't put off by archaic language
For Morris (who was not only a writer, but an artist, scholar, and handicraft enthusiast as well), medieval Europe was a still --relevant social and economic model for the regeneration of modern society. It also profoundly influenced his creativity. His fantasies, which are (along with those of Lord Dunsany and George MacDonald) among the most influential works in the genre before Tolkien, are set in a medieval environment that serves as an invented fantasy world. They're also written in a de...more
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Read in June, 2008
The fantastic romances of William Morris are among the most important early works in the evolution of the fantasy genre, and The Wood Beyond the World is one of his canonical tales. The book is short, barely 100 pages, and even then, this is not a book full of action and excitement. No, this is a book with a dream-like quality, as Golden Walter leaves his native city and strikes off into the enchanted land hidden behind the sheer cliffs and mountains of the coast. He falls into an almost ...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
Tolkein fans
William Morris was a big inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkein. Clint has been a Morris fan for years, and I've been wanting to check out his romances for a long time. The writing style is "old world." This is good for a real fantasy fan, or anyone interested in myth and folktales... And now that I've finished this one, I can say it was interesting, but not the most compelling folk story. I think there are other Morris works that are better. This one is a romance, but much of it is left indef...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
fans of classical fantasy
I checked this book out after I heard that it is supposedly the 'first' fantasy novel written. While I can't prove or disprove the veracity of the claim, I thought the book itself wasn't bad. It was almost...cute, and there were definitely some fairytale-esque moments present. I found the hero to be a little annoying, I'm not sure if it was because of his general meekness which was a very strong element throughout the story until the last chapter or so. I wouldn't recommend this for readers ...more
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Read in November, 2007
I quit on this one. I just couldn't work up any interest.
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