Publisher's Synopsis
There has been an acceleration of interest in fantasy fiction, which is more and more being read by adults as well as by children. In this book, the author discusses the work of more than 80 writers mostly from the past half century, and shows why their tales have proved to be so compelling. Fantasy reading does not merely provide escape from troubles and aid in developing the self, it also helps one respond to all that is outside the private self. It shows how to make sense of a confusing world by offering coherence and a sense of larger possibilities.