Voyage of the Basset

Voyage of the Basset

by James C. Christensen, Alan Dean Foster (Contributor), Renwick St. James (Contributor)

"Believing is Seeing"

In the tradition of such favorite classics as Gulliver's Travels and Journey to the Center of the Earth, Voyage of the Basset takes the reader on a fantastical journey of discovery. Through richly detailed full-color paintings and line drawings, magical kingdoms emerge from a sea of dreams.

Cassandra Aisling, who is nine years and eleven months old, doesn't care “a jot” about what sensible people think. She likes strange, mysterious, and magical things. So when her world gets tumbled upside down, she boards the H.M.S. Basset, ready to explore the landscape of her imagination. Pledging allegiance to the Basset's motto, “Credendo do Vides...Believing is Seeing,” Cassandra, her skeptical older sister Miranda, and their father, Professor Algernon Aisling, set out in search of the ancient legends. From the flickering flight of fairies and the mermaids' siren songs to a labyrinth-bound Minotaur and a fire-breathing dragon, the Aisling family witnesses firsthand the wonder of mythological worlds.

In this lavishly illustrated edition, Cassandra's adventures intertwine with her father's scientific scribblings to present both new tales and the essence of classical myths. From the two voices, readers learn the power of imagination, the importance of believing in oneself, the value of family, and the need for creative, cooperative problem-solving. The story of a magical journey and the exquisite fantasy artwork will appeal to young and old alike.

Genres: Fantasy, Art, Fiction, Childrens, Picture Books, Adventure, Middle Grade

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 1996

About the author

James C. Christensen was an American artist of religious and fantasy art.

Reviews

[Michele Fortier]

Growing up, one of my all-time favorite films was Voyage of the Unicorn, a mini-series based off of this novel. I remember borrowing the film countless times from the library and watching it over and over again. I was always so inspired by the films tagline, Credendo Vides: By Believing, One Sees. It is honestly one of the best mottos I've ever come across.

I finally got my hands on the book, which was quite the ordeal, as there was only one printing and most new copies run upwards of eighty dollars. It is absolutely delightful and beautiful. Each page is covered with GORGEOUS illustrations, sketches, and notes. The detail and beauty in each picture is stunning.

The book is a beautiful tale set in the Landscape of the Imagination, where readers follow Prof Aisling and his two lovely daughters as they set sail upon the Basset, where they encounter fairies, mythical creatures and trolls. The themes brought up by this book are so important and precious, especially in this day and age. Magic will live on as long as people continue reading books like this. It's perfect and I know I can't stop gushing, so I apologize. Read it, watch the film version (mind you, it's a bit cheesy at times) and enjoy.

[Danielle.]

I remember first reading this when I was only a kid (around 8-10 years old). I took this from my big brother's closet. He had it wrapped up. The book looked huge when I was little and The Neverending Story film popped into my head. Yes, I took it from my brother and I went into my closet with a flashlight and began reading. I never left that closet till I was finished. It felt as though I went on that voyage with Professor Aisling and his two daughters. It was unforgettable and I remembered this story till this day.

During the move from my home, it was lost and I've been craving for this book. I saw it on amazon.com and hurried and bought it. The book was still amazing. My opinion is never going to change. This book takes you to a realm a faeries, mermaids, dwarfs, and other mystical creatures.

By Believing, One Sees.

[Abigail]

"Credendo vides" - by believing, one sees. This is the motto of this magical voyage into the world of myth and folklore. The story opens as widowed Professor Algernon Aisling, who teaches mythology and legends at the nearby university, is confronted by a skeptical colleague, who claims that such fairy stories are of little value, and have no place in the academy. Disheartened, he returns home, where his daughters Miranda (sixteen) and Cassandra (nine) await him. That night, a magical flying ship called the H.M.S. Basset arrives, captained by the dwarf Malachi, and the Algernon family embark on a voyage that will take them to the heart of myth. They have many adventures, encountering all many of creatures, from mermaids to dryads. But will the professor regain his sense of perspective, or will he allow the taunting he has received to prompt him down the wrong path, when it comes to how to interact with myths and the beings who inhabit them...?

Voyage of the Basset made the perfect introductory text for the class I once taught on the connections between children's fantasy fiction and folklore. It explores a number of interesting questions, from the place of myth in the academy to the proper way to approach legendary material. It makes a strong argument for the idea that myth, folklore and legend are not something that can be quantified, and proven or disproven, but that they are real and powerful, nevertheless. It does all this while also telling an entertaining tale! I am in sympathy with the spirit of the project undertaken here, I appreciated the names - Aisling, for instance, means "dream" or "vision" in Irish - and I thought the artwork was gorgeous! This is a larger format book, in the same vein as Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time , and like that work, it spawned a series of paperback fantasies based upon it, as well as a television adaptation. Appealing in so many ways, this was almost a five-star title for me, but something - perhaps the lack of a deep emotional connection to the characters? - held me back. Still, and absolutely outstanding book for young readers who love fantasy, folklore and myth.

[Z (Through The Inked Pages)]

There is no way someone can give this less than 4 stars. This story is beautifully constructed and the illustration is eye-catching.

[Carol]

I can’t believe I loved this so much! I grew up with the film, and even today is still one of my favourite cozy fantasy films. I did not know this was a book until a few years ago, and I finally got around to it, and I just devoured it in 2 days, I couldn’t stop. And since it has illustrations you literally can see the journey and all the characters they find along the way, and I have to be honest, I loved the drawings more than the actors chosen. The fairies came in all colours and sizes, the Gremlins are terrific fun, the Dwarves and the College of Magic was one of my favourite places, everything was amazing, and it truly felt like a journey through myths and legends with a little bit of adventure here and there. Cozy read for sure, something to relax, have a lovely time and just go back to your childhood. And despite there being 6 books listed, this wraps up completely, it’s a story on its own, so I think the others are just set in the same universe with different characters.

[Ellen]

Very fun read. I read aloud to my four year old son and he loved it. Frankly it was a bit old for him, but the beautifully illustrated pages filled his imagination when he was a bit lost with the words. Believing is seeing!! Definitely recommend!!

[Melanie]

This book is imaginative and beautifully illustrated. I love the simple messages of it and the friendships.

[Sarah]

One of my favourite books of all time - the illustrations are so beautiful.

[Saralyn]

This was something I picked up to read aloud to my 5-year-old. It follows a Victorian professor and his two young daughters on a journey through a world filled with magical creatures such as fairies, mermaids, gnomes, the Minotaur, and many others. It was a nice balance of beautiful, detailed, full color illustrations and charming text. Emphasis is definitely on the paintings, but the plot is quite charming, and simple enough to make it a good choice for reading aloud to a young child (5-7 years old). It turned out to be an excellent introduction to mythological creatures for children, with sidebars that included references to the original medieval and classical texts where the creatures come from, and pen-and-ink sketches of early historical depictions of them. I'm sure older children with an interest in fantasy would enjoy reading it themselves. I would recommend it as a way to introduce children to something of classical and medieval mythology.

[Brandon Witt]

James Christensen is my favorite artist, and Voyage of the Basset does a wonderful job of showcasing his art. He does the best fantasy art I have seen, especially faries and mermaids. The story is not captivating, but it is an easy, enjoyable read. I think it is perfect to read to young children. Actually, it is a priceless book for a child to have, it would be completely magical. However, for adults, it is still an amazing book, one that you can proudly keep on your table top to show off to guests. Every single painting in this book is filled with wonderful detail, color, imagination, and life. For anyone who loves fairy tales and mythical creatures, do not pass up this treasure. You will love it from cover to cover. It is pure magic!

[Olivia]

My Mom used to read this to us before we could read ourselves and I loved it as much then as I do now. Its a wonderful story and the book is full of brilliant pictures that take the breath away. I save this book especially for lazy sunny days (because I have much better things to do on rainy ones than sit inside and read a book). I think almost anyone would love this book. It makes you feel like there's an adventure just around the corner (which there usually is) if you only wish for it hard enough.

[Rachel]

I fondly recall admiring and reading this book as a child and now that I am adult I can buy my own copy. The illustrations are gorgeous, although I think my tastes now are more for the cute and simple rather than realistic/ornate.

While the island-hopping nature of the story allows for nonstop action and loads of fantastical encounters, having so many characters makes most of them pretty flat. I found the story simple and appropriate for children (and perhaps influenced by LDS theology?).

[Elizabeth]

So, cool thing about this book, is that my 4th and 5th grade class at my elementary school fought over this book. It was the girls vs. the boys and our little friend groups competed on who would check out the book each week we went to the library. It was constantly in circulation and probably taped up beyond recognition once we graduated on to middle school.

[Georgia Dunn]

A simply gorgeous book with a great story to tell, memorable characters, and beautiful details to take in on every page. This is a lifelong favorite book of mine, one I return to time and again.

[Reading Fury]

I dipped in and out starting in the spring, but last week I really sat down and started reading John C. Christensen's tale of a magical voyage on the HMS Basset. Before I continue, let me just say the art work is lush, rich, astounding, beautiful! If all I did was look sat the illustrations, it would be rich reward. The tale is commensurate with the visual craft. We have a frame story. Professor Aisling teaches at a university that values science over all and is about to discontinue the humanities component, including the Professor's course on mythology. He is desperate to prove the worth of myths, and by extension literature. While out on a walk with his two motherless daughters, Cassandra and Miranda, he sees a strange old vessel. It turns out to be the Basset, manned by dwarves and assisted by gremlins (who aren't so bad but are definitely curious and underfoot at times). Also, the ship is bigger inside than outside. And so they impulsively embark on a voyage. Turns out the mythological world heard of Professor Aisling's need and have come to aid him in proving myths are real, and so the main story of the voyage begins. Along the way they meet a manticore, minotaur, mermaids, harpies, Oberon and Titania, fairies, ogres, trolls, Medusa, a dragon, and all manner of such creatures. As they travel, the Professor begins to change. Instead of sticking to the motto "Credendo Vides (Believing is seeing), he becomes rapacious in gathering evidence to waive in front of the university's naysayers. As he loses sight of the individuality of each creature and the true worth of mythology, things go awry and ultimately reach a breaking point. No spoilers here, but the Professor gets a wake up call that restores him to himself and his beliefs. He returns to our world well able to defend mythology and stories against those who dismiss all such creative endeavors. The fact (literal meaning) is that stories and mythology are not real, they are not true, but they contain the Truth. And it is a truth that math, science, and technology cannot explain. Perhaps they can explain how something occurs but can they ever explain the great Why? Or the value and place of each creature here, beyond the food chain, etc. There is great beauty in this world once we take time to look. Don't get me wrong. I appreciate antibiotics and indoor plumbing, but it took a creative mind to see experiments through or to imagine inventions. And that's what the Professor explains: magic, mythology, and stories require imagination. Without imagination science cannot exist. A hypothesis is an act of imagination, a thought of "what if." And imagination lifts us from a literal survival mode to a quality of thinking and living that is beautiful. While this book could easily be read as allegory for various religious/spiritual viewpoints, I think its intended meaning is about the individual spirit, the imaginative mind, and the loving heart. Believing is seeing, not just what's in front of us, but what has been, is, and might be.

[Amber Robbins]

Absolutely wished more children's books would be allowed to escape the industry standard 40 pages like this one did! The illustration is breathtaking and far more beautiful than any modern digital children's book could ever hope to be. The story has very important and meaningful lessons in it to teach children about growing up, whimsy being important to foster the ability to creatively generate problem solving skills, and several cautionary safety tales. From what I can see, this had to be printed in Japan likely because it is 168 pages and most children's book publishers here in America won't humor it with fears children won't remain engaged that long. I don't see how with how well written it is and how beautiful the art is! My only complaint is the very rushed feeling epilogue at the end. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

[Robert Jones]

I've spent too much time on the internet over the years, and as such, have had my patience for constant cynicism and know-it-allness stripped away almost completely. Taking a deep dive into a story about belief and wonder does my soul good. Even better that the story is illustrated by Christensen, whose visuals are simply amazing. He's much better at the drawing and painting part of the book than the writing, but his narrative style is simple enough to be charming. It really is a very good book, in the vein of children's fantasy adventures like The Chronicles of Narnia or Alice in Wonderland or Oz. And I can't overstate just how beautiful the artwork is.

[Mandi]

It's official: this is the most imaginative book I've read so far this year!!

I found this gem at the half price books and fell absolutely in love.

The illustrations are to die for. A beautiful and charming mix of playful sketches with rich realistic paintings.

The story itself was sweet with the perfect level of emotional depth and sincerity. I had a lovely time reading a chapter or two before bed each night.

Idk if anyone else has even heard of this book but I'm thrilled I discovered it, and I'm excited to learn more about this author!

[Shauna]

I almost stopped reading this book. Although the Aisling family meets creatures such as manticores and sea serpents, there is never any danger, nor is there any sense of urgency. A safe fairyland doesn't make a compelling story. Fortunately, the plot picks up in the second half of the book.
It's the illustrations that are the real highlight of the book though. James Christiansen's paintings are beautiful! It's worth picking up a copy of Voyage of the Basset just to peruse the illustrations.

[PFD]

This was a real treat! I watched the miniseries first (renamed "Voyage of the Unicorn") and thought it was just okay, but it still intrigued me. I wanted more, just of better quality. I ordered the book online and imagine my surprise when I opened a children's book. But I loved it even more than "Dinotopia." It had beautiful illustrations and a story about imagination and wonder to truly get lost in. Plus, it's a quick read.

[Michael Beyer]

This is an absolutely wonderful book. The stories are fanciful, engaging, and mythological. The illustrations blend together with the story-telling flawlessly. And it takes you on a one-of-a-kind adventure like you have never seen before. I highly recommend it, especially to other artists who have ever thought of doing a book like this. It founds the genre.

[Lily]

My dad read this to me from a very young age. I read it by myself as soon as I could read. I recently bought it for the girl I babysit. The story is absolutely beautiful with incredible descriptions. The story is incredibly well written and I would suggest it to anyone who would like to relive a bit of their childhood when they were young and believe in such a fantastic world.

[Savannah]

When I was young, my mom would take my brother and I to the little library that was about 10 minutes from where we lived. Almost every time we went I would always get this book. The art is beautiful, the story is so wonderful. I absolutely loved this book so much I ended up buying myself a copy when I found it!

[Nina]

Voyage of the Unicorn, the movie that was based on this book, was classic of my childhood. And then I found out that there was a book, so of course I had to check it out. And it didn't disappoint! It's a fun and easy read for a child and has gorgeous illustrations. There is both nothing special about this fairy-tale magic book and everything special about it.

[Ashley]

This book was filled with such wonder and lovely magic.

I watched the mini series as a child and fell in love with it. The book had the exact same feelings attached. This should be a must have for any child's library. The illustrations were gorgeous and the story simple but effective.

Believing is seeing.

[Braden Shamo]

I read this as a child and had warm nostalgia, I was so excited when I found it.

It wasn’t as good as I remembered. The artwork is stunning, and that’s really what this book is: a venue to show off Christensen’s art. The story is very much secondary. My 8 year old enjoyed it. It didn’t age as well as I’d hoped.

[Stacey Miller]

I can't count the times I've read this charming story. It's something everyone should experience at least once. Whether it's for a small child at bedtime, or an adult who just needs a little magic, don't hesitate to curl up with this one.

[Frances Cannon]

I read this book when I was little, and recently found a copy in my adulthood to re-read. The book did not disappoint! The story and illustrations are extravagant and multi-layered, involving journal entries, fantasy narrative, pen sketches, and rich paintings.

[Kyle O’Keefe]

4.5 Love the message in this book, the story is exciting, the characters grow, but really the winning element of this book is the art. The art is astonishing. I would get “crendendo vides” (by believing one sees) as a tattoo. What a beautiful sentiment.

[Foxxi]

This is the book that made me fall in love with magic and fantasy books.
My dad read it to me as a kid before introducing other classics like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. I was into Star Wars so he thought it was a good segway.

Really enjoy it and the images.