Read On…Fantasy Fiction

Offering readers' advisors a wide-ranging look at fantasy fiction, Hollands, an RA specialist at the Williamsburg Regional Library, VA, organizes over 800 titles by appeal factor, in terms both broad, like story, character, language, and mood, and highly specific, like steampunk, Arthurian legend, and even brevity. The detailed table of contents makes the book ideal for browsing, and the index of authors, subjects, and titles serves the reader looking for an exact match. Two appendixes address suggested trilogies and series and past winners for various awards. A brief history of fantasy adds some deeper context to the themed lists presented here. Award winners and appropriate YA suggestions are marked, as are recommended choices for readers new to the genre….[t]he text's accessible arrangement makes a handy ready-reference for brief questions, and the sheer number of possibilities all but guarantees readers will find something appealing. Recommended for all RA collections in public libraries. * Library Journal *
[A] very good introduction to the topic of fantasy fiction and provides an excellent starting point for referring library customers to authors and titles that may be of interest to them….Readers of fantasy fiction will enjoy this book and will find many other books to read. Thus, it will be a useful purchase for most public libraries. Academic libraries that support classes in fantasy literature or creative writing will also benefit from having the book on their shelves. * American Reference Books Annual *
This latest volume in the Read On series is a wonderfully useful readers' advisory tool for the fantasy genre….[A] great tool for librarians who need a quick readers' advisory reference in this extremely popular genre. Plan to keep it handy when teen fantasy fans, always avid readers, come looking for more recommendations. * VOYA *
The newest entry in the Read On readers'-advisor series, Fantasy Fiction is an important contribution to readers' advisory. Annotations for more than 800 titles are arranged by the familiar appeal factors of story, character, setting, mood, and language….Hollands' book is more than just another reference source for fantasy fiction. His pithy, insightful, and sometimes just plain funny annotations also make this nearly impossible to put down. The book will be helpful to readers' advisors working with fantasy readers but is bound to appeal to fans as well, so make sure copies are readily available for browsing….[H]ighly recommended for all public libraries. * Booklist, Starred Review *
Whether you're exploring the genre yourself, building your library's collection, or helping your patrons find something fantastical to read, Neil Hollands's Read On…Fantasy Fiction is a useful toolbox. More than 800 titles are organized into 100 categories, and the quirkiness of some of the categories….[i]s one of the hallmarks of the publisher's Read On series. * American Libraries *
This volume was compiled to assist librarians in providing readers' advisory services to adults and children who enjoy fantasy fiction. Some 800 titles in the genre are organized into approximately 100 thematic lists, which are then sorted alphabetically by author. Some of the sub-genres and themes highlighted include coming-of-age stories, the making and breaking of curses, Arthurian fantasy, barbarian warriors, graphic novels, and puns. * Reference & Research Book News *
Librarians who do readers advisory for teens or adults will wonder how they ever got along without this funny, opinionated, wide-angle guide. Hollands has arranged approximately 800 titles, each with a brief, enticing annotation, into over 100 topical lists of 10 or fewer titles….Nearly all of the titles within those lists are in print and include enduring classics and books recently published. Though the focus is on books for older readers, younger ones are served by a few lists, and titles particularly recommended for teens are marked with a symbol. Award winners are similarly labeled, and also listed by award in an appendix. Other standard resources, such as Ruth N. Lynn's Fantasy Literature for Children and Young Adults (Libraries Unlimited, 2005) are more comprehensive, but not so current, or as engagingly written. * School Library Journal *
[A] near perfect guide to fantasy literature in all its guises from Clive Barker's Abarat (the first entry in the lovely index) to David Zindell, the last entry….One of the best reading list guides I've ever had the pleasure to read! Highly recommended for readers for their use at home and for librarians who have the same job as Hollands does -- be they a general reference librarian or a children's librarian. It's that good. * greenmanreview.com *
Read On—Fantasy Fiction benefits from Mr. Holland's knowledge of fantasy fiction. Every aspect of fantasy fiction's appeal is explored by Mr. Holland, including links to the mystery genre or Celtic history… June Michelle Pulliam and Anthony J. Fonseca have packed Read On—Horror Fiction with enough different points of entry into horror fiction to make it easy to help readers find something interesting. * Collection Management *
Part of Libraries Unlimited's Read On series, Hollands's book lists over 800 fantasy titles arranged by their primary appeal factor. An excellent resource for quick lists of fantasy for readers and librarians * Reference & User Services Quarterly *
Neil Hollands…compiles an informative read about the genre…This book is highly recommended for public librarians who engage in reader's services. * Public Libraries *
…excellent resource for RA and collection development librarians and the readers they serve. . . . Hollands not only leads readers to new books (or old forgotten favorites) but gives the stumped librarian a place to find everything from culturally diverse titles to action-packed stories that will appeal to gamers. * Reference & User Services Quarterly *