Middle Earth: The World of Tolkien Illustrated (Art by David Wenzel, with text by Lin Carter) 1977

Wow. 1977. The very same year of my own Tolkien flowering (the seed had already been planted in 1973). I wonder if I may even have seen it advertised in the same places I saw The Land of Froud (also 1977), but put it from my mind because we were not a mail-ordering family just yet (certainly not to risk the princely sum of $6.95 plus shipping and handling), or because it didn’t look like it could match the Hildebrandt calendar that year, or even because I was not then so confirmed a fanatic.

To put some things in perspective, it came out forty years after The Hobbit’s first printing (in comparison, it has now been approximately 45 years since this art album was released), four years after Tolkien’s death, and twelve years before David Wenzel went on to publish (along with Chuck Dixon and Sean Deming) his graphic novel adaptation. The text by Lin Carter consists of a preface talking about Tolkien’s literary importance and then a paragraph explaining the action in each picture.  At that time, David Wenzel had been mainly a comic book artist (penciller) for such Marvel productions as The Savage Sword of Conan and The Avengers; later he illustrated the 1980 book Kingdom of the Dwarfs by Robb Walsh (see elsewhere in this blog), for which his Middle-earth work had well-prepared him.  

Although the term Middle-earth looms large in the title and might lead one to expect a broader range of subjects, including scenes from The Lord of the Rings, the drawings are confined to the story of The Hobbit, illustrating the tale more or less in order. Due to the size of several double-page pictures and printing constraints, that order is not always maintained. The pictures tend to alternate evenly between black-and-white and colored, until near the very end. But such things need only concern the very obsessively compulsive.

Wenzel’s art is very engaging, and tends to emphasize the humorous, childlike nature of The Hobbit rather than the ‘epic fantasy’ aspect so many want to read back into it once they have discovered The Lord of the Rings. An example of this would be his depiction of Smaug, still menacing, but on an elephantine and not dinosaur-like scale. One can easily see the comic book roots in such things as Bilbo’s stance and attitudes, and even without the publishing history it would be possible to date it smack-dab in the Seventies, I think. Wenzel’s later complete graphic novel adaptation shows how he evolved into a more natural and painterly approach without losing his personal style.

Even though I ‘discovered’ this volume only a few short years ago, I still wonder why I waited so long to get it. Of course, part of the answer was my comparative poverty and its comparative expense – both of which have been somewhat ameliorated. With Amazon’s The Rings of Power looming on the horizon, I am glad to have today finally got this reminder of a simpler time and of at least the related, alternative milieu of my own Tolkien past. 

J. R. R. Tolkien: In a Hole in the Ground There Lived ...

The Hobbit: An Illustrated Edition, With Text by J. R. R. Tolkien and Illustrations from the Film by Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass. (1977)

One of my inaugurating purchases from the Science Fiction Book Club (four books for a penny plus shipping), probably from late 1978. I wrote my name and phone number in it, because I had to take it to school to show off. Even through all these years I’ve managed to preserve the plastic see-through cover with Smaug on it; the occasional copies I’ve seen in used bookstores are inevitably missing it. It is somewhat brittle. John used to have (still does maybe) a smaller, softcover copy. At the time, the next best thing to having the animated special. Full of cell illustration, production art, and had two foldouts: The Elves capture the Dwarves and The Battle of Five Armies.

Ranking: Bass … I mean, Essential.

File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Animation. Hardback.

The Annotated Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Annotated by Douglas A. Anderson. (1988)

“The definitive edition of this beloved children's classic, featuring a wealth of accompanying illustrations and notes which take the reader further into both the story, and the tale of how it was written. … As with all classics, repeated readings continue to bring new detail and perspectives to the reader's mind, and Tolkien's Middle-earth is a vast mine of treasures and knowledge, its roots delving deep into folklore, mythology and language. The Hobbit is, therefore, an ideal book for annotation: as well as offering a marvellous and entrancing story, it introduces the reader to the richly imagined world of Middle-earth, a world more fully and complexly realised in The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. Douglas Anderson's annotations make fascinating reading. Additionally, many of Tolkien's own illustrations embellish the text, and numerous illustrations from foreign editions exhibit an extraordinary range of visual interpretation. In an appendix there are details of the revisions made by Tolkien at various times to the published text, which provide an uncommon and privileged glimpse into the special concerns of an exceptional and painstaking writer.” – Amazon. Includes personal photos and the postcard of ‘The Mountain Spirit’ that Tolkien labeled ‘Origin of Gandalf’. I love a fine annotated edition!

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Annotated. Fantasy. Novel. Hardback.

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Illustrated by Michael Hague. (1984)

I had so many other books illustrated by Hague, of course I had to get this one too, especially since it was ‘The Hobbit’. I can’t say I’m especially fond of his Bilbo, though; he looks like he’s five years old and not quite heavy enough. Hague later went on to do illustrations for Easton Press editions of The Lord of the Rings; his style, more suited for juveniles, was not the best fit there, although it brings a good Rackham-esque quality here. I remember when I bought this at Hastings, I was able to bargain for a discount because the cover was damaged.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Hardback. Illustrated.

The Annotated Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded Edition. Annotated by Douglas A Anderson. (2002)

“The Annotated Hobbit: Revised and Expanded Edition is a new edition of The Annotated Hobbit (1988). This new edition includes several hard-to-find poems by J.R.R. Tolkien:

• "Goblin Feet"
• "Enigmata Saxonica Nuper Inventa Duo"
• "Iúmonna Gold Galdre Bewunden"
• "Progress in Bimble Town"
• "The Root of the Boot"
• "The Dragon's Visit"
• "Elvish Song in Rivendell" (previously unpublished)
• "Glip" (previously unpublished)
• "The Quest of Erebor"

For readers throughout the world, The Hobbit serves as an introduction to the enchanting world of Middle-earth, home of elves, wizards, dwarves, goblins, dragons, orcs and a host of other creatures depicted in The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion -- tales that sprang from the mind of the most beloved author of all time, J.R.R. Tolkien. Newly expanded and completely redesigned, Douglas A. Anderson's The Annotated Hobbit is the definitive explication of the sources, characters, places, and things of J.R.R. Tolkien's timeless classic. Integrated with Anderson's notes and placed alongside the fully restored and corrected text of the original story are more than 150 illustrations showing visual interpretations of The Hobbit specific to many of the cultures that have come to know and love Tolkien's Middle-earth. Tolkien's original line drawings, maps and color paintings are also included, making this the most lavishly informative edition of The Hobbit available. The Annotated Hobbit shows how Tolkien worked as a writer, what his influences and interests were, and how these relate to the invented world of Middle-earth. It gives a valuable overview of Tolkien's life and the publishing history of The Hobbit and explains how every feature of The Hobbit fits within the rest of Tolkien's invented world. Here we learn how Gollum's character was revised to accommodate the true nature of the One Ring, and we can read the full text of The Quest of Erebor, Gandalf's explanation of how he came to send Bilbo Baggins on his journey with the dwarves. Anderson also makes meaningful and often surprising connections to our own world and literary history -- from Beowulf to The Marvellous Land of Snergs, from the Brothers Grimm to C. S. Lewis.” – From the Publisher [quoted on Tolkien Gateway]. Expanded – yet physically smaller than the original, which makes the pictures a little harder to appreciate.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Annotated. Hardback.

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien. (2007)

This edition was produced to go along with “The History of The Hobbit” and has all the line and color drawings by Tolkien, and the cover is reproduced exactly to Tolkien’s own original design and desires.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Hardback.

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Illustrated by Jemima Catlin. (2013)

“The first new illustrated edition of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit since Alan Lee’s iconic illustrations brought the much-loved children’s tale to life in 1997. The Hobbit, illustrated by Jemima Catlin, published in both hardback and a deluxe foiled slipcase edition, contains 150 brand new colour illustrations. Jemima’s work is quirky and whimsical, taking inspiration from classic children’s book illustrators like E.H. Shephard’s Winnie the Pooh and Tove Jansson’s Moomins, along with Japanese anime from Studio Ghibli such as Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away.” – tolkienlibrary.com. Not, in my opinion, all that good, but it’s The Hobbit, dammit, and somebody already had it (was it Kenny? Or Morgandy?) and Hobbit envy DEMANDED I have it. I’M the Tolkien guy!

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Illustrated. Hardback.

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien. (Russian 2005)

“I do not read Russian; I do not speak Russian. So why would I buy (at a rather steep price, at that) a book almost completely in Russian? Why, because it's an edition of The Hobbit with original illustrations, both painted and sketched, of course! I first discovered the existence of this volume on a site called Babel Hobbits (fortuitous name!), a place dedicated to foreign editions of Tolkien. Here I found out not only the date of publication (2005) and the name of the illustrator (Denis Gordeev), but also reproductions (via photographs, not scans) of all the color illustrations. These were detailed enough and obscure enough, due to the book not laying completely flat, to excite my admiration. I could see that here were pictures that were definitely Tolkienian, but untouched by most Western conceptions: a vision characteristically Russian. I conceived the compulsion to own this book. First, I had to make sure I got the right Russian Hobbit. There have been at least several different editions over the years, and some have been re-released in the last decade or so. Apparently there are Tolkien enthusiasts over there as rabid as any in the world. I finally tracked down what I made sure was the correct one on eBay; the seller was actually in Russia, and the shipping was almost half again the cost of the book. Fortunately I was flush at the time with my tax return, so I dropped almost ninety dollars on a book that not only had I read many times before, but at the same time couldn't read at all. And I sat down to wait. It takes a long damn time for a package to come from Russia. I waited almost three months. During that time I constantly fretted; after the second month I checked the mailbox obsessively, and even began to wonder if maybe I had been suckered. What the heck could I do if someone half a world away had simply taken my money and ran? I had almost decided to contact the seller (there was no tracking on the package) if only to comfort myself, when at last a wrinkled, exotic looking bundle finally turned up on the porch. My Russian Hobbit had arrived. It is a beautiful book, and a revelation in person. Not only are there the paintings displayed at Babel Hobbits, there are little pencil sketches on every page to illustrate small elements of the story, if only a pipe or a plant or a sword or a bat. A particularly good one was of Smaug's skeleton moldering on the bottom of Long Lake. Bilbo himself seems based on the body type of a real (human) dwarf; the dwarves are in contrast closer to "normal" body types, and only a little shorter than the elves and men who appear. The style of clothing, weapons, and even hair and beards are (to my eyes) in a definite traditional historic Russian mode. What I found particularly refreshing was the complete freedom from the influence of the Jackson films which has lately swamped Tolkien art.  The type of painting is what I can only describe as a clear "Northern" method, as opposed to the misty "Celtic" style of, say, Alan Lee; it is realistic in depiction and not stylized like other Russian illustrations, especially those clearly aimed at younger readers. Two elements I found interesting were the absence of quotation marks and that the table of contents was placed in the back of the book; I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me, if this is just true of all Russian books. And so it joins my Tolkien books as certainly the most exotic curiosity in my collection. Its interesting format and unique visual interpretation helps me to once more look at an old favorite in a new way. As a lover of both Middle-earth and book illustration, I am very pleased indeed.” – Power of Babel, (2015).

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Russian. Hardback.

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, by J. R. R. Tolkien; Adapted by Charles Dixon, Illustrated by David Wenzel. A Graphic Novel in Three Parts, Part I (1998), Part II (1999), Part III (1999). Eclipse Books.

“In 1989 The Hobbit was adapted in a three issue comic book series, published by Eclipse Comics. The story was adapted from the original by Chuck Dixon, and illustrated by David T. Wenzel. Even as a young boy David Wenzel, of Durham, knew he wanted to be an artist. When he went to Hartford Art School and read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, he knew he wanted to be an illustrator. The Hobbit has been a big part of his life ever since. "Back then, there were no illustrations for the book," he said, "so I started illustrating it because I thought it needed drawings. My senior year I had a show of paintings that I did for The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings."
His drawings at a Simsbury gallery drew the attention of a publisher, who asked him to redo the illustrations for Middle Earth, the World of Tolkien Illustrated. After freelancing for Marvel Comics, he and his friend, Rob Walsh, who was versed in Nordic mythology, decided to work together on a book he had conceived. "The premise," Wenzel said, "was to make one of Tolkien’s character races seem to exist in reality. We found out that there were incidences where dwarfs were integral to moments in history. Some of the hieroglyphics in ancient Egypt show dwarfs making jewelry. Their small hands allowed them to make intricate designs." When a college friend learned that the publisher he was working for was doing a graphic novel version of The Hobbit, he told them, "You gotta call David Wenzel." Wenzel illustrated the three volumes that eventually were compiled into one book.” – TolkienLibrary.com

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Graphic Novel. Adaptation. Softcovers.

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien.

Movie tie-in release (2012), with a photo of Bilbo (Martin Freeman) stepping out of Bag-End. Had to have it.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Softcover.

The Hobbit: A Musical. Book by Ruth Perry, Lyrics by David Rogers. (1972)

“This adaptation of ‘The Hobbit’ is authorized by Professor J. R. R. Tolkien.” When I was in 3^rd Grade in 1972, our class went to see a production of this play put on at the high school by the Drama Department under Nancy Rowley. This was my first introduction to the world of Middle-Earth, and Tolkien was still alive; he would pass away in the September of 1973. Years later when I was in the drama class myself, I got this play from her library, along with a couple of pointed dwarf-hats and Bilbo’s green bobble hat that were still in the wardrobe. I remember seeing “Thorin Was Here” painted on some of the old flats. It seemed unbearably ancient to me then, and now … it’s like the memory of the memory of a forgotten world.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Play. Adaptation. Softcover.

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Illustrated by the Author. (1988)

Houghton Mifflin. Softcover with a dust jacket; picture by Alan Lee. Used to be Kameron’s second-hand copy, former owner’s name on the inside page.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Softcover.

J. R. R. Tolkien The Hobbit, Illustrated by John Howe. A 3-D Pop-Up Adventure. (1999)

Possibly (nay, certainly) the simplest and strangest of my Tolkien ‘books’; it’s more of an artifact. Only the fact that it’s between covers convinces me it belongs in this list.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Pop-Up Book. Adaptation. Hardback.

Guides and Flights of Fancy

New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology, Edited by Felix Guirand, with an Introduction by Robert Graves.  

“A comprehensive reference guide to ancient and prehistoric legend, exploring the folklore and mythology of every nation and civilization.” - Amazon. Besides which, this is where for years I kept that picture of me and Mike as dog-trainers. Illustrated with photos of artifacts and art.

Ranking: Gotta Keep It.

File Code: Encyclopedia. Mythology. Hardback.

Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, Consultant Editor Robert Holdstock. Foreword by Isaac Asimov.

One of the early purchases from the Science Fiction Book Club. I remember it was in John’s books for a long time. I always enjoyed explanations and histories and analyses, and Sci-Fi was allied with other branches of Imaginative Literature. I think the picture of Darth Vader on the cover was part of it that helped lure us in; we wanted anything about Star Wars, and it was not just yet the Juggernaut that the franchise became. Science Fiction was always trying to be the grown-up at the table, and this book has pictures of four bare boobs and a penis to prove it. Profusely illustrated, but no other porno. About 40 years out of date, but pretty good up to that period.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Science Fiction. Encyclopedia. Hardback.

The Star Trek Encyclopedia: A Reference Guide to the Future Updated and Expanded, by Michael Okuda and Denise Okuda, with Debbie Mirek.

Accurate up to 1997. Illustrated with photos from the TV shows and films, and graphics by Doug Drexler. There was a time when I was very involved with Star Trek but starting with the Next Generation movies my enthusiasm began to trail off, and after Star Trek: Enterprise it completely died. I still have this Encyclopedia as a melancholy remembrance.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Encyclopedia. Science Fiction. Hardback.

Horror: A Connoisseur’s Guide to Literature and Film, by Leonard Wolf.

A 1989 work by Wolf (of ‘The Annotated Dracula’), it is what it says on the label. Short synopses and a look at the significance of works of horror. Full of black-and-white drawings and stills. A nice browser.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Guidebook. Horror. Hardback.

The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy: The Definitive Illustrated Guide. General Editor: David Pringle. Foreword by Terry Pratchett.

A brilliant full color guide to Fantasy, produced at the end of the 20^th Century (1999). Looks at the types of Fantasy, Fantasy in movies, magazines and television, the authors, the major characters, the imaginary worlds, and Fantasy terminology. The sparkling illustrations are like the sudden burst of color when Dorothy steps into Oz, compared to the black-and-white monotone that had prevailed in books like this before.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Fantasy. Guide. Hardback.

The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Science Fiction: The Definitive Illustrated Guide. General Editor: David Pringle.

A brilliant full color guide to Science Fiction up to 1996, from the classics to the pulps to the movies to TV to the magazines. Covers the authors, the fictional characters, and the terminology, colorfully presented with famous book covers, movie stills and posters, and photos of the people who produce Science Fiction. A good browser as well as a guide.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Science Fiction. Guide. Hardback.

Kids’ TV: The First 25 Years, by Stuart Fischer.

1946 – 1973, which nearly enough coincides with my childhood’s end. A season by season look at children’s programming, noting trends and changes of standards. Includes who wrote the shows, who produced the shows, what channel they were on, who voiced the shows, and what seasons they were rerun. Illustrated with black-and-white Still and production art. “Back in my day, the Internet was called books.”

Ranking: Essential Reference.

File Code: Television Kids’ Shows. Reference. Hardback.

Children’s Television, 1947-1990, by Jeffery Davis.

“Over 200 Series, Game and Variety Shows, Cartoons, Educational Programs and Specials”. In some ways a more complete if less visual guide than “Kids’ TV: The First 25 Years”. A memory jogger and a browser.

Ranking: Essential Reference.

File Code: Television Kids’ Shows. Reference. Hardback.

Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987, by George W. Woolery.

An exhaustive reference book on one of my favorite subjects. Who produced them, who wrote and animated them, who voiced them, and when and where they appeared. Some black and white illustrations, but not as many as you would hope.

Ranking: Essential Reference.

File Code: Animation. Reference. Hardback.

The Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family (Seasons 1 - 8), Edited by Ray Richmond; The Simpsons Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family … Continued (Seasons 9 – 10), Edited by Scott M. Gimple; The Simpsons Beyond Forever!: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family … Still Continued (Seasons 11 - 12), Edited by Jesse L. McCann; The Simpsons One Step Beyond Forever! A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family … Continued Yet Again (Seasons 13 – 14), Edited by Jesse L. McCann, Created by Matt Groening.

After that last book, I just gave up. Wasn’t really worth it then. All the best seasons were over, and degeneration was setting in. Also, reruns were much more abundantly available everywhere.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Reference. The Simpsons. Softcovers.

Cereal Boxes & Prices: 1960’s: A Tribute & Price Guide, by Scott Bruce.

It’s probably hard for most people to understand how integral a part of childhood cereal was for us when we were little kids. This was partly because the cereal mascots often had their own cartoon shows that amounted to half-hour long commercials (a practice banned in the early 70’s; now people in some countries are trying to banish the cartoon mascots even from the boxes). Our breakfast cereal was the one thing we were really allowed to choose when Mom went shopping, and we often picked it according to what prize we saw offered. And they were real prizes too, most often, right there in the box, little toys you could play with the minute you found them. Some of it was brittle gimcrackery that looked great but didn’t last long, like the pale purple buzzard noddy head, but others were “little animals” like the Winnie-the-Pooh cereal bowl hangers or the Freakies, some of which survive to this day. This book is a colorful tribute and reminder of childhood; I wouldn’t mind sharing a bowl of Crispy Critters with Linus the Lion right now.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Nostalgia. Reference. Softcover.

Squeaky Toys: A Collector’s Handbook & Price Guide, by L. H. MacKenzie.

“A Schiffer Book for Collectors”. Squeaky toys go back in my life before even conscious memories. Who knows how much of my aesthetic outlook was formed by the somewhat random choices of toys our parents made? The spectacles, walking stick, and valise (we called it a ‘purse’ because it was the most familiar term at the time; the same way we called our underwear ‘panties’ because that’s what Mom called them) of the ‘Omi’ lion, the glasses and umbrella of Professor Worm, the yellow sleepy-eyed Owl, made a strange trinity of wise friends that I could take on adventures. After a time, of course, we played with them less and less, but while stuffed animals wasted away and toys with movable parts broke and were lost or thrown away, the squeakies lived on almost untouched (though their squeakers were long gone). ‘Omi’ still has some crayons inside that got pushed into the squeaker hole through idle childhood fiddling – there’s no way I can write that sentence without it sounding dirty. This book is a handy helper that identifies the companies, time periods, types, and prices of squeaky toys. It helps me identify Mike’s old Lambie as a Rempel product. But I’ve never found even a picture of another ‘Omi’ anywhere, ever; not even on eBay. A guide not so exhaustive as suggestive and a glance at an alternative childhood’s ‘could-have-beens’.

Ranking: Nostalgic Keeper.

File Code: Toys. Guide. Softcover.

Tomart’s Encyclopedia & Price Guide to Action Figure Collectibles (Volume One: A-Team to G. I. Joe; Volume Two: G. I. Joe to Star Trek; Volume Three: Star Wars to Zybots), by Bill Sikora and T. N. Tumbusch.

Includes Playsets and Vehicles, up to 1996. I’ve gone through a rather intense relationship with action figures most of my life, from MEGOs Planet of the Apes, to Playmates Star Trek: The Next Generation, to Toybiz “The Lord of the Rings” and beyond, as quite a few 25-gallon plastic bins can attest. A toy and ‘playings’ were (and are) one of the most concrete ways to partake in a beloved franchise. The next best thing to having the entire collection, this copiously complete guide allows an opportunity to gloat and dream about what I have and don’t have, without having to unpack some heavy bins.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Toy Guide. Reference. Softcovers.

Wizardology: A Guide to Wizards of the World, by Dugald A. Steer and A. J. Wood.

More of an artifact than a book almost, it feigns to have been written by Merlin and contains fun, games and ‘lore’ for the young would-be wizard. It is illustrated by five people (Nghiem Ta, Anne Yvonne Gilbert, John Howe, Tomislav Tomic, and Helen Ward); I am not sure which is responsible for the woodcut-like engravings which to me are the best feature of this book, but my bet is on Tomic. A book combining whimsy and some authentic occult lore for budding young pagans, it is in the ‘Ology’ series, and I am sure owes its existence in part to Harry Potter. Had a toy tie-in of various wizard action figures.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Art Book. Wizards. Reference. Padded Hardback.

The Flight of Dragons, by Peter Dickinson. Illustrated by Wayne Anderson.

Appeared in the wake of the popularity of “Gnomes”; Another book I got from The Science Fiction Book Club. “The Flight of Dragons is a 1979 speculative evolution book …  According to Dickinson's hypothesis, the chief obstacle to admitting the (past) existence of dragons is the difficulty of powered flight by so large an organism. To resolve this, he introduces a dirigible-like structure in which hydrochloric acid would dissolve large amounts of rapidly growing bone, releasing massive amounts of hydrogen that, once aloft, would support the body above the ground. The dragon's wings are traced to "modifications of the ribcage" (an anatomical evolutionary path shared by the genus Draco), and the expulsion of fire from the throat, as a means of removal of excess gas. The absence of fossil evidence is traced again to the internal acids, which (in Dickinson's view) would dissolve the bones soon after death … In 1982, Rankin/Bass Productions released a made-for-TV animated film The Flight of Dragons, aspects of which were based on Dickinson's novel. For example, the character design in the film bears a resemblance to the illustrations in the book, and its lead character takes his name from the author, Peter Dickinson. However, the animated film derives most elements of its story line from the novel The Dragon and the George (by Gordon R. Dickson).” – Wikipedia. The style of the artwork never completely appealed to me (though some individual pictures were great) but “I desired Dragons with a profound desire” and this was one of the only books dedicated to them that I could find at the time. I have a DVD copy of the animated special now (it is middling good) and I used to have a Del Rey paperback of the Dickson novel (those confusing author names!) but the cover got damaged, I sold it, and feel no need to replace it.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Dragons. Speculative Evolution. Hardback.

Kingdom of the Dwarfs, Illustrated by David Wenzel, Text by Robb Walsh.

Another ‘speculative history’ art book in the wake of “Gnomes”, I bought this through The Science Fiction Book Club when I was in high school. I was already a big fan of the fantasy race since “The Hobbit”, and this look at dwarfs in lore and legend offered a nice little ‘what-if’ they had been real, in the guise of a supposed archeological dig in an underground kingdom. Wenzel had already done work related to Middle-Earth, and went on to do the graphic novel adaptation of “The Hobbit”.  I think the art is more important here than the text.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Legend. Feigned History. Art. Hardback.

Castles, by Alan Lee. Written by David Day. Designed and edited by David Larkin.

Coming in fairly close to the end of the “Gnomes” fantasy art book vogue (1984), this book takes a look at famous castles in legend, myth, and fantasy. Its main feature is as a showcase for Alan Lee (who had already done work on “Faeries” and would later go on as a major art designer for Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings”). David Day would become well-known to me as a bit of a corpse-grinder in his recycling and repackaging of his writings about Middle Earth and other aspects of fantasy.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Castles. Art Book. Hardback.