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The Classic Fantasy Collection
Before Tolkien, fantasy fiction was alive and well. This unique compilation of classic fantasy stories demonstrates the extraordinary breadth and imagination in the genre. Ranging from the supernatural horror tales of H.P. Lovecraft to the heroic adventures of Conan the Barbarian to the magical romances of William Morris, there is something for everyone here. The pioneering works of these authors set the stage for the genre we know and love today. Fantasy has seen a revival in popularity in recent years with the success of the TV show "Game of Thrones." Includes a selection of stories from the ever-popular master of horror, H.P. Lovecraft, as well as tales of the most iconic fantasy hero, Conan the Barbarian. Encompasses the entire range of fiction within the genre with stories from an array of different authors.
928 pages, Hardcover
First published July 31, 2017
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162 people want to read
About the author
H.P. Lovecraft
6,039 books19.2k followersHoward Phillips Lovecraft, of Providence, Rhode Island, was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction.
Lovecraft's major inspiration and invention was cosmic horror: life is incomprehensible to human minds and the universe is fundamentally alien. Those who genuinely reason, like his protagonists, gamble with sanity. Lovecraft has developed a cult following for his Cthulhu Mythos, a series of loosely interconnected fictions featuring a pantheon of human-nullifying entities, as well as the Necronomicon, a fictional grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works were deeply pessimistic and cynical, challenging the values of the Enlightenment, Romanticism and Christianity. Lovecraft's protagonists usually achieve the mirror-opposite of traditional gnosis and mysticism by momentarily glimpsing the horror of ultimate reality.
Although Lovecraft's readership was limited during his life, his reputation has grown over the decades. He is now commonly regarded as one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th Century, exerting widespread and indirect influence, and frequently compared to Edgar Allan Poe.
See also Howard Phillips Lovecraft.
— Wikipedia
Lovecraft's major inspiration and invention was cosmic horror: life is incomprehensible to human minds and the universe is fundamentally alien. Those who genuinely reason, like his protagonists, gamble with sanity. Lovecraft has developed a cult following for his Cthulhu Mythos, a series of loosely interconnected fictions featuring a pantheon of human-nullifying entities, as well as the Necronomicon, a fictional grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works were deeply pessimistic and cynical, challenging the values of the Enlightenment, Romanticism and Christianity. Lovecraft's protagonists usually achieve the mirror-opposite of traditional gnosis and mysticism by momentarily glimpsing the horror of ultimate reality.
Although Lovecraft's readership was limited during his life, his reputation has grown over the decades. He is now commonly regarded as one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th Century, exerting widespread and indirect influence, and frequently compared to Edgar Allan Poe.
See also Howard Phillips Lovecraft.
— Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 9, 2020
This is a very mixed bag of stories, as the only thing that connects everything is that's all the pieces are older than Tolkien.
While most of the stories are quite good (albeit showing their age), I have a distinct feeling from the layout of the stories that not a lot of work went into this anthology,
While most of the stories are quite good (albeit showing their age), I have a distinct feeling from the layout of the stories that not a lot of work went into this anthology,
May 5, 2023
A good showcase to see which classic fantasy authors one likes and which not.
Imho, the only ones here still retaining full literary value and impact for the modern reader are Lovecraft, Merrit and Howard, of which before I only knew Lovecraft.
Macdonald still holds some value, but not impact, and the rest neither, being too slow and convoluted (almost all), too vague (Machen), too archaic (Morris), too deep in humor that does not amuse us anymore (Bramah) or frights and wonders too lame for nowadays people (Chambers, Pendraves, Hearn).
A notable (negative) exception is HG Wells, whose fantasy stories (unlike his SF) I think never held none (value or impact, even for the readers of his time) and are righfully completely forgotten.
Worth reading, in enjoying its content? Mostly no.
Worth buying? Definitely yes, as a showcase to choose further readings (and avoidings).
Imho, the only ones here still retaining full literary value and impact for the modern reader are Lovecraft, Merrit and Howard, of which before I only knew Lovecraft.
Macdonald still holds some value, but not impact, and the rest neither, being too slow and convoluted (almost all), too vague (Machen), too archaic (Morris), too deep in humor that does not amuse us anymore (Bramah) or frights and wonders too lame for nowadays people (Chambers, Pendraves, Hearn).
A notable (negative) exception is HG Wells, whose fantasy stories (unlike his SF) I think never held none (value or impact, even for the readers of his time) and are righfully completely forgotten.
Worth reading, in enjoying its content? Mostly no.
Worth buying? Definitely yes, as a showcase to choose further readings (and avoidings).
July 26, 2025
Didn't actually finish this book. A few of the stories were good, but most were really stupid, so I couldn't get into them.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews