Rating: 
Summary: Lots of errors...
Review: I'm really enjoying skimming through this interesting reference. Lots of great entries and cross-referencing. Unfortunately, I've run across several big errors. For example, MacKillop has Bran mac Febal turning to dust at the end of the story, where reference to Kuno Meyer's translation reveals that it was not Bran but one of his men that was turned to dust. Bran relates his story and then 'from that hour his wanderings are not known'. This was only one of several obvious errors. I sincerely hope they are corrected in subsequent editions!
Rating: 
Summary: Worth the extra cost
Review: Less expensive dictionaries of Celtic mythology are available, but this carefully researched, extensive volume is well worth the price. Entries cover tales and characters both mythological and historical (in Celtic materials, the difference is not always easy to discern). Besides describing what is known about the topic, each entry includes the primary references. For tales, the references include the published editions. No other dictionary offers this depth of information. Those unfamiliar with Celtic languages will appreciate the guides to pronunciation that accompany the entries. Although not faultless, this source is a necessary addition to the home library for anyone who intends to explore Celtic culture and literature. You'll use it to keep track of the players as you read the tales!
Rating:
Summary: Useful but flawed
Review: Quite frankly, if this is the best reference work on Celtic legends and culture, this only goes to show how very bad the rest are. Other reviewers have pointed out the irrelevant English items and very bad etymology; I would like to add that the book is infuriatingly uneven in its references. Some I have been able to track down; other entries have no origin listed at all, which has resulted, in one case, in a desperate and completely unavailing trawl through EVERY TITLE in the Brittany bibliography - and that for a reference which is absolutely fundamental to my research. I know this particular character and folk-tale exist; they must, because other facts I encountered confirm that they must; but because Mr. MacKillop has not given his source for his description, I am unable to proceed. And that is not the only case in which the entries let me down. It is pointless to write a reference dictionary if you are not going to give references!
Rating:
Summary: Useful but flawed
Review: Quite frankly, if this is the best reference work on Celtic legends and culture, this only goes to show how very bad the rest are. Other reviewers have pointed out the irrelevant English items and very bad etymology; I would like to add that the book is infuriatingly uneven in its references. Some I have been able to track down; other entries have no origin listed at all, which has resulted, in one case, in a desperate and completely unavailing trawl through EVERY TITLE in the Brittany bibliography - and that for a reference which is absolutely fundamental to my research. I know this particular character and folk-tale exist; they must, because other facts I encountered confirm that they must; but because Mr. MacKillop has not given his source for his description, I am unable to proceed. And that is not the only case in which the entries let me down. It is pointless to write a reference dictionary if you are not going to give references!
Rating:
Summary: Mostly Good
Review: There is much in this book that is useful about Celtic folklore and mythology. However, the etymologies are usually incorrect. This may not matter to some. It does to me. The back cover claims that this book has "authoritative...etymologies for Celtic names..." when they are in fact neither authoritative nor correct. For example, MacKillop gives for the entry Deva an etymology from Latin meaning goddess "[L. goddess]." However, the Latin for Goddess is _diva_ not _deva_. The word _Deva_ is transparently Brittonic from (Proto)-Celtic *_deiwa_. Especially annoying for me is the etymology of English words used as headings, which are out of place in a Dictionary of Celtic Mythology (I believe). So, while the entry for "Stag" is indeed useful, giving the etymology of 'Stag' from "[OE stagga]," (while at least correct in this instance), is just absurd. As for careerist motivations and cut and past "druidical" names: ... Lastly, my motivations were not careerist, but one of informing others. A book that claims to be authoritative in Celtic etymologies, I belive ought to live up to that claim. Unfortunately, this one doesn't, and others should be aware of that.
Rating: 
Summary: a solid reference
Review: This is a scholarly reference work that had an entry for every topic I could imagine ever wanting to look up. This book is a good antidote for a lot of the poorly researched or downright fanciful material that's been published regarding Celtic religion/myths/etc. Full of references to both the original stories & other scholarly works.
Rating:
Summary: Best one out there
Review: This is the best, most comprehensive, and best researched reference of its type. There are a very few errors, but such are inevitable in any reference work. They do not detract from the book's value, or the quality of MacKillop's scholarhsip.
Rating:
Summary: Best one out there
Review: This is the best, most comprehensive, and best researched reference of its type. There are a very few errors, but such are inevitable in any reference work. They do not detract from the book's value, or the quality of MacKillop's scholarhsip.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best
Review: This is the most comprehensive book on the subject; indeed, the other cited reference works seem slim compared to this one.
There's really not much competition, and if you find that MacKilop contains errors, then you should have a go with Miranda Green's, etc, and you'll come back to appreciating this volume. All nations now considered 'celtic' are comprehensively covered, including an excellent selection of Breton references. MacKillop's book is thorough and offers various ways of researching material: by title, name, paradigm, etc. So, as a paradigm, 'Stag' is a perfectly useful entry, offering a list of citations and points of reference. Since a huge amount of current Celtic studied involve endless debates about etymology, MacKilop does his fair share of comparing phonologies and histories of connotations of certain words within the Celtic languages. I didn't find many problems with these. MacKilop does a very good job of rendering different variations of the mythic tales, to include the thematic differences as represented by different versions. So, if he's telling the story a way different from how you remember it, he could just be working with a different version of the story. There's a massive bibliography if you want to do the grunt work yourself. Especially useful is that MacKillop generally offers a variety of source materials for comparisons under each heading. The etymologies are fine and simple for use, avoiding the academy-prone carreerist cavilling which is only meant to buff a reputation and whose pundits usually sign their names with made-up-merlynny Druidic sounding names (cut and pasted from the Irish dictionary.) I think the ones who would be most fussy in nitpicking wih 'accuracy' in this edition would be the ones most incapable of producing a similar sized dictionary on their own. It's fine to engage in scholarly babble about references that are at best vague, and to try and spin them to your own interpretation, in a 10 page article. It's another to compile a massive tome, such as this dictionary, documenting a rich mythological tradtion. If you're interested in the topic for any reason, this is the reference book to get. It's pretty much standard in my department. * * *
Addendum (June 08, 2002):
Other than my stating that I thought 'stag' was a useful and interesting entry, no comment of mine above refers to anyone in particular of my fellow reviewers. Quite frankly, having a row on Amazon.com about whether or not this Celtic dictionary deserves three or five stars sounds about as interesting as having my teeth pulled by a man with a forged dental certificate. My final point on this dictionary, which has been my general point, of all the dictionaries on the subject available, I feel that this one is the best of the lot. If you want a dictionary on Celtic mythology, I believe this one to be the most thorough and informative. If someone thinks this book has rubbishy bits, where should a reader go instead? I'll never claim to be clever or specialised in this huge field. I don't make a deafening screech with my literary tyres every time I review a book. What I can say is that, from my humble studies, this book did me well and led me into all sorts of new discoveries. For that, I offer the author my thanks and give him five stars.
Rating:
Summary: Mostly Good
Review: This reference book isn't perfect, but I have found that its comprehensiveness makes up for its problems. Another big plus in its favor is that it is clear and accessible, allowing both the reader with a casual interest in Celtic mythology as well as the more serious student to appreciate it.
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