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The Complete Encyclopedia of Magic: The Gathering
Over the years since its launch in 1993, the award-winning Magic: The Gathering has gained thousands of fans and has been the subject of many headlines in major newspapers as its success has spread around the world. Using the random decks and packs, devotees have dueled with each other every year using mana, monsters, and magic either in a serious bid to become the Magic World Champion, or simply to enjoy this intriguing tactical game. Now, for the first time in its history, all the card sets in this highly successful trading card game have been brought together in one volume. With over 7,200 cards beautifully illustrated in full color, The Complete Encyclopedia of Magic: The Gathering is a must-have for all those devotees, whether they are fans of the magnificent color artwork throughout the book, or serious traders, players, fans or collectors.
720 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 16, 2009
While this is not so much a book to be read as it is a catalog of the world's first collectible card game, Magic: The Gathering, I have to say that I ranked this book the way I did because I enjoy the occasional leaf-through. I do this not only to remind myself of the good times I had playing the CCG, but also to recall just how much time, effort, and expense I put into playing the damn game, and how smart it was for me to get out when I did.
I had quite the collection going (three large boxes worth, with about two thousand cards in each one - and those were just my spare cards, not the ones I played with), and had managed to collect quite a few of the rarer cards and squirrel them away for trade, sale, or set completion. I originally picked up this book to help in cataloguing the cards that I did have, as well as gaining some idea of just how far I had to go, and when I saw the number of cards and collections waiting to be bought, sorted, and tucked away, I first came to the decision that maybe finding a cheaper hobby would be in order. It took a little while to break the addiction in full (because, to be honest, that's what it really was), but I credit this book with helping me start down that path.
The book itself is set up beautifully, and the cards are reproduced with clarity and beauty. The organization could have stood for a bit of revamping or reorganization in some form, but I can forgive that because of the sheer mass of the subject matter itself. It's difficult to keep track of several tens of thousands of cards, and choosing the best way to organize something of this size is a tricky venture at best.
I had quite the collection going (three large boxes worth, with about two thousand cards in each one - and those were just my spare cards, not the ones I played with), and had managed to collect quite a few of the rarer cards and squirrel them away for trade, sale, or set completion. I originally picked up this book to help in cataloguing the cards that I did have, as well as gaining some idea of just how far I had to go, and when I saw the number of cards and collections waiting to be bought, sorted, and tucked away, I first came to the decision that maybe finding a cheaper hobby would be in order. It took a little while to break the addiction in full (because, to be honest, that's what it really was), but I credit this book with helping me start down that path.
The book itself is set up beautifully, and the cards are reproduced with clarity and beauty. The organization could have stood for a bit of revamping or reorganization in some form, but I can forgive that because of the sheer mass of the subject matter itself. It's difficult to keep track of several tens of thousands of cards, and choosing the best way to organize something of this size is a tricky venture at best.
March 30, 2012
This is the last made M:TG encyclopedia-like/comprehensive book ever made before creating such a book became unwieldy. The book covers all the sets up to Apocalypse. The images of the cards are pretty good and a bigger size than what is found in Wizards of the Coast's own player guides (found in their fat packs). The book is fat and packed with cards and even commentary for each set.
However there is a flaw. The organization of the book is confusing. The first 200 pages are somewhat out of order. The book starts with 4th Edition and continues with Discontinued, Chronicles, Ice Age, Alliances, Arabian Nights, Antiquities, Legends, The Dark, Fallen Empires, Homelands, Misprints & Oddities, Promotionals, before finally getting back on track with Mirage. From there every expansion or set follows chronologically. Yes, it even includes all three Portal sets, the M:TG Starter set, Unglued, as well as a robust index.
However there is a flaw. The organization of the book is confusing. The first 200 pages are somewhat out of order. The book starts with 4th Edition and continues with Discontinued, Chronicles, Ice Age, Alliances, Arabian Nights, Antiquities, Legends, The Dark, Fallen Empires, Homelands, Misprints & Oddities, Promotionals, before finally getting back on track with Mirage. From there every expansion or set follows chronologically. Yes, it even includes all three Portal sets, the M:TG Starter set, Unglued, as well as a robust index.
March 27, 2010
Big honking guide to all Magic cards as of 2002. Lots and lots of strategy info as well. =)
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews