Wizardry And Wild Romance: A Study Of Epic Fantasy
(non-fiction)
London: Gollancz, 1987 (August) hardcover and simultaneous trade-sized paperback;
original prices: £10·95 (h/c), £5·95 (p/b);
160 pages;
I.S.B.N.s: 0-575-04146-3 (h/c) & 0-575-04147-1 (p/b);
cover artist: Les Edwards;
illustrated throughout (with artwork, book & magazine covers, photographs, etc.) by various hands.
As stated by this 1987 book’s sub-title, Wizardry And Wild Romance is “A Study Of Epic Fantasy”. A later American edition, published as Wizardry & Wild Romance, included additional “revised and expanded” content (see below)…
First American (& “revised and expanded”) edition: Austin, Texas: MonkeyBrain trade-sized paperback, 2004 (May);
as Wizrardry & Wild Romance: A Study Of Epic Fantasy;
original price: $18·95;
206 pages;
I.S.B.N.: 1-932265-07-4;
cover artist: John Picacio;
no illustrations;
introduction by China Miéville;
afterword by Jeff VanderMeer.
Gollancz mass-sized paperback, 1988 (August 4th);
original price: £2·95;
237 pages;
I.S.B.N.: 0-575-04324-5;
cover artist: Rodney Mathews (sic);
no illustrations.
Contents (first editions [see below for American edition’s differing content]):-
p. 13: Introduction;
p. 21: ‘Origins’;
p. 43: ‘The Exotic Landscape’;
p. 75: ‘The Heroes And Heroines’;
p. 105: ‘Wit And Humour’;
p. 121: ‘Epic Pooh’;
p. 141: ‘Excursions And Developments’;
p. 151: Sources;
p. 157: Index (not on Contents page).
Contents (American edition):-
p. 11: ‘Michael Moorcock – Extreme Librarian: Introduction’ (as ‘Introduction’ only, on contents page) (non-fiction) by China Miéville;
p. 15: ‘Foreword’ (as ‘Author’s Foreword’ on contents page) by Moorcock;
p. 25: ‘Origins’;
p. 45: ‘The Exotic Landscape’;
p. 79: ‘The Heroes And Heroines’;
p. 109: ‘Wit And Humour’;
p. 123: ‘Epic Pooh’;
p. 141: ‘Excursions And Developments’;
p. 149: Sources;
p. 153: “Appendices” comprising:-
p. 155: ‘Epic Fantasy: Review Of The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson’ (as ‘Epic Fantasy – Review Of The Broken Sword’ only, on contents page);
p. 159: ‘Spaced On The Absurd: Review Of The Velocity Gospel (Accomplice Book 2) by Steve Aylett’ (as ‘Spaced On The Absurd – Review Of The Velocity Gospel’ only, on contents page);
p. 163: ‘The Experience Of Dreams: Review Of The Etched City by K.J. Bishop’ (as ‘The Experience Of Dreams – Review Of The Etched City’ only, on contents page);
p. 167: ‘Patterns Of Chaos: Review Of White Apples by Jonathan Carroll’ (as ‘Patterns Of Chaos – Review Of White Apples’ only, on contents page);
p. 171: ‘Metropolitan Dreams: Review Of Mrs Charbuque And The Physiognomy by Jeffrey Ford’ (as ‘Metropolitan Dreams – Review Of Mrs. Charbuque & The Physiognomy’ only, on contents page);
p. 175: ‘Romantic Disciplines: Review Of Perdidio Street Junction by China Miéville’ (as ‘Romantic Disciplines – Review Of Perdidio Street Junction’ only, on contents page);
p. 179: ‘Mervyn Peake: Foreword To Vast Alchemies by G. Peter Winnington’ (as ‘Mervyn Peake – Foreword To Vast Alchemies’ only, on contents page);
p. 183: ‘Facing The City: Review Of Veniss Underground by Jeff VanderMeer’ (as ‘Facing The City – Review Of Veniss Underground’ only, on contents page);
p. 189: ‘An Afterword’ (as ‘Afterword’ only, on contents page) (non-fiction) by VanderMeer;
p. 195: Index;
p. 195: About The Author (uncredited).
Moorcography.org 