“Horror of the Twentieth Century: An Illustrated History” by Robert Weinberg (Collector’s Press, 2000)

If you can afford to buy one expensive book this year, then you have to get this book. The genre of horror has existed for a longer time than science fiction or fantasy, and so the history lesson that Robert Weinberg gives you is a most interesting and memorable one.  Learn how the genre’s roots took place with authors like Mary Shelley, Edgar Allen Poe, Robert Louis Stevenson, and – of course – Bram Stoker.  The horror genre also has a greater scope in content than science fiction or fantasy, with aspects in the paranormal, supernatural, horrific, bizarre, outrageous; many issues are taken up and analyzed that may not have been seen as horror per se in contemporary times, but were in their own time, such as The Scarlet Letter.  There are also three major mediums through which the horror genre has been expressed, beginning with the novel and the short story, and then the magazine, and finally television and film.  This book tells you what horror is all about.

Originally published on April 8th 2002.

Originally published in the Long Beach Union.

“Fantasy of the 20th Century: An Illustrated History” by Randy Broecker (Collector’s Press, 2001)

The birth of fantasy began much like that of science fiction, as a matter of fact fantasy stories and science fiction stories were often published in the same magazines, such as Amazing Stories and Weird Tales, but while Science Fiction of the 20^th Century goes into great detail on the many scifi magazines, Fantasy of the 20^th Century touches on these magazines, again with beautiful pictures, but then focuses on the many, many novels that were published within the genre, beginning most notable with authors like J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis.  What is also looked into is the world of fantasy film that has developed with the genre.  The result is a most amazing book that takes you on a unique journey through history and different mediums all pertaining to the vast genre known as fantasy.

Originally published on April 8th 2002.

Originally published in the Long Beach Union.