“Curious, if True”: The Fantastic in Literature

by Amy Bright (Editor/Contributor), Luke R.J. Maynard (Contributor), Gaelan Gilbert (Contributor)

The fantastic has occupied the literary imagination of readers and scholars across historical, theoretical and cultural contexts. Representations of the fantastic in literature rely on formal and generic types, tropes, and archetypes to mediate between depictions of fantasy and reality. Present in myth and folklore, the gothic and neo-gothic, and contemporary and mainstream fantasy, the fantastic reach stretches into many conceptions of literature over time. Curious, if The Fantastic in Literature presents recent articles by graduate students on the fantastic to make connections across category, genre, and historical period. These essays explore the complexity and the breath of fantasy and science fiction through groupings of text, close reading, and theoretical orientation. Fantasy is used as an organizing topic, a genre that has always allowed for a broad interpretation of its meaning. From magic realism, to high fantasy, and the interpretations of realistic novels under a fantastic lens, this collection furthers the reach of fantasy in the study of English Literature. Northrup Frye writes, the world of literature is a world where there is no reality except that of the human imagination (470). This volume expands our vision of imagination as readers and scholars of English Literature. The authors value tradition in their reading and their writing but are not afraid to reach across genre borders to show their understanding of the fantastical in literature. The ideas presented span years and literary periods, texts and genres, and show the undeniably value of interdisciplinary study to expand perspectives in the field of English.

285 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Hi.

My name is Amy Bright and I am the author of Before We Go, my first (!!!) book for young adults.

I was born in Alberta, grew up in California and Florida, went to university in New Brunswick and British Columbia, lived in Boston, and now, at twenty-four, I’m back in Alberta again.

I love reading and write about some of my favorite books at my book review blog Girl to the Rescue, which I started as a way to read more YA books in university. After finishing my MA in English I took a year off (A MUCH NEEDED YEAR OFF), and in September I’ll be starting my PhD in English in Alberta on children’s and young adult literature. If you are interested in my academic work, it can be found in the Journal of Children’s Literature and Studies in Canadian Literature.

If you would like to contact me, please send an email to girltotherescue (at) gmail (dot) com.