The Treasury of the Fantastic edited by David Sandner and Jacob Weisman : Review

The fantastic, the supernatural, the poetic, and the macabre entwine in this incomparable culmination of storytelling. Imaginative stories of wit and intelligence weave through vivid landscapes that are alternately wondrous and terrifying. Bringing together major literary figures from the 19th and 20th centuries—from Alfred Lord Tennyson and Edith Wharton to Edgar Allan Poe and Oscar Wilde—these masters of English and American literature created unforgettable tales where goblins and imps comingle with humans from all walks of life. This deftly curated assemblage of notable classics and unexpected gems from the pre-Tolkien era will captivate and enchant readers. Forerunners of today’s speculative fiction, these are the authors that changed the fantasy genre, forever. Description from Goodreads

The Treasury of the Fantastic is truly that, a comprehensive collection of fantastical literature from throughout the many years covering the romanticism era to the early twentieth century. Bringing classics such as The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe, Morte D’ Arthur by Alfred Tennyson, The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde, The Mysterious Stranger by Mark Twain and dozens of others all within the bounds of a single book.

This collection contains many of the essentials, the well-known stories we’ve all read or heard reference to growing up, to ones that have fallen into the dark clutches of obscurity. With the great diversity of these tales, readers are sure to feel the stirrings of familiarity, of nostalgia, and of wonder. Readers of both classical and fantasy literature will feel right at home within these pages. I personally loved most of the tales, though there were of course some that I struggled through; with forty-four stories in this collection, there’s bound to be something for everyone.

This treasury isn’t one that you’ll be able to read through quickly, many of the stories are not light reads, and require careful reading to fully process and appreciate the writing. While it’s an exquisitely curated collection, and most certainly worth the read, it’s best read in multiple sittings. As well, I do recommend reading the foreword, I know it’s something some people skip over, but it explains why some stories were included, and others not.

I received a free copy of this publication in exchange for an honest review.