The Dictionary of Imaginary Places

The Dictionary of Imaginary Places catalogs over 1,200 fictional locations from literature, mythology, and folklore. This encyclopedia-style reference work provides detailed entries for invented settings ranging from Atlantis to Oz, complete with maps, illustrations, and geographical data. Authors Alberto Manguel and Gianni Guadalupi document each location's physical features, customs, architecture, and notable inhabitants with the precision of real-world geographers. The entries draw from sources as diverse as Homer's epics, science fiction novels, children's stories, and indigenous legends spanning multiple cultures and time periods. Each place is treated as a real destination, with practical information about climate, transportation, local customs, and points of interest a traveler might encounter. The authors maintain a scholarly yet playful approach throughout, blending academic rigor with the spirit of imaginative exploration. The work stands as both a reference guide and a meditation on humanity's timeless drive to create and map invented worlds. Through its encyclopedic collection of fictional geographies, the book reveals how imagined places reflect and shape cultural dreams and aspirations.

Readers describe this reference book as a fun browse but not a comprehensive resource. Many appreciate the detailed entries and hand-drawn maps showing fictional locations from literature and folklore. Likes: - Cross-references between related places - Mix of familiar and obscure locations - Illustrations help visualize the settings - Writing style captures each place's unique character Dislikes: - Excludes post-1990 works and science fiction locations - No entries from video games or modern media - Inconsistent depth - some entries brief, others lengthy - Small text size hard to read - Black and white illustrations only A reader on Amazon notes: "The entries read like a travel guide to places that don't exist." Several mention using it as inspiration for tabletop gaming campaigns. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (180+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.2/5 (900+ ratings) Most common complaint: "Needs an updated edition with modern fantasy locations."

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An Atlas of Fantasy by J.B. Post Maps from fiction, legend, and myth illustrate the geography of invented worlds from Middle-earth to Oz through cartographic representations.

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⚜️ The Dictionary of Imaginary Places maps over 1,200 fantasy lands, from Atlantis to Oz, complete with detailed geographical features and native inhabitants 🗺️ Each fictional location in the book includes actual coordinates and scale, allowing readers to understand the relative size and position of these imaginary realms 📚 Co-author Alberto Manguel served as a personal reader to blind author Jorge Luis Borges, who greatly influenced his literary perspective on imaginary worlds ✒️ The book's illustrations were created by Graham Greenfield in the style of medieval maps and Victorian-era atlases, adding authenticity to the fictional entries 🌟 While the first edition published in 1980 focused mainly on Western literature, later editions expanded to include locations from Asian, African, and South American stories