The Complete Encyclopedia of Magic: The Gathering

Rating:
Summary: Buggy omnibus edition of volumes 1 - 6
Review: I have in the past complained about the need for an omnibus release of the Encyclopedia's volumes to date, like that before you. I would have expected to recommend this over the individual volumes, but the main incentive there is that this is cheaper; there's no added value apart from consolidating most of the earlier volumes' material between one set of covers.

The editing team didn't review the old individual card sets' text, and it shows. The text covering the card sets has been lifted straight from the corresponding separate volumes. For example, the new and useful layout used for volumes 5 and 6 appears *only* for card sets first documented therein; the older sets' text haven't been revised even to fix page number references and "latest version of the basic set" material, let alone to utilize the cleaner layout.

An ordinary index is included, but *no* deckbuilder's index as such, and the related boilerplate at the beginning of the volume has been simplified accordingly - not such a bad thing, since that material dates very badly. (All 6 volumes' standard boilerplate has been combined, as far as how-to-use-this-guide and Collector's History material goes. As for the frills added for volume 5, see below.)

The "Misprints and Oddities" section from volume 1, ironically enough, has had errors inserted: of the 10 cards shown, only *one* has the correct card image matched with the accompanying text. The text itself remains identical - and in the same order - as in volume 1. (I didn't notice cards being transposed or messed up elsewhere.) Volume 1's "Overlong errata" was dropped. Apart from those appearing in volume 1, most of the separate sections on promotional cards and playtest cards have been dropped; all the World Championship Decks material has been dropped.

From volume 1: 4th Edition, Discontinued, Chronicles, Ice Age, Alliances, Arabian Nights, Antiquities, Legends, The Dark, Fallen Empires, Homelands. Fourth Edition's header text still proclaims that it's "the latest version" of the basic set. "Discontinued" is still an exact match for the section in volume 1. Chronicles' header text still uses volume 1's page numbers to refer to the Collector's History, and since the omnibus' boilerplate *has* been updated since volume 1, the numbers don't match. This holds for page number references throughout; Legends' page number for the errata for Mirror Universe hasn't been updated in the card list.

From volume 2. Mirage omits the Famous Cards section, although the playtest cards at the end of the card list were retained. Visions, 5th Edition, Weatherlight, and Portal haven't been modified (including "Portal is different from all the other sets in this book"). Volume 2's "Arena League, DCI" page was dropped.

From Volume 3: Tempest, Stronghold, Exodus, Vanguard, Portal: Second Age.

From Volume 4: Urza's Saga, Urza's Legacy, Classic (6th Edition), Urza's Destiny, Portal: Three Kingdoms, Unglued (my favourite), Starter. The 1998 World Championship Decks section and the playtest section were dropped.

From Volume 5: Starter-Level Set for 2000, Mercadian Masques, Nemesis, Prophecy. The preliminary essays on "Wizards of the Coast: From Basement to Belgium and Beyond" and "Artists Speak!" were dropped, as were the sections on 1999 World Championship Decks, Promotional Cards, and Playtest Cards. (The Misprints and Oddities section in volume 5 matched that in volume 1, see above.)

From Volume 6: Invasion, Planeshift, 7th Edition, Apocalypse.

That's everything.

Rating:
Summary: Useful, BUT...
Review: I like this book. It's great to have all these Magic cards in just one volume, instead of so many seperate ones. However, there are some problems.

They didn't bother to update the earlier parts, for starters. Thus, many of the erratas are out-of-date. Also, many times it'll make references to page numbers--but the things are no longer there. To top it all off, it says that 4th Edition is the newest set...then it says that 5th Edition is the newest set...then it says that 6th Edition is the newest set...then that 7th Edition is the newest set. Also, I would have liked to see Odyssey, Torment, and Judgment in here.

Still, despite all these problems, as I said, this IS a good book. But don't bother buying it if you have all the other volumes.

Rating:
Summary: Complete???
Review: I was very disapointed that the cards were not the most current. With the publication date of October 2002, and this coinciding with the release of Onslaught, I thought it would be included. My disapointment increased 10 fold when I found out that Oddyssey, Judgment, and Torment were also missing from the book. I don't understand how one can say complete! and have the buyer expect anything less than the inclusion of the Oddyssey series.

Rating:
Summary: A useful anthology but not as complete as it could be.
Review: The new Complete Encyclopedia of Magic the Gathering conveniently combines most of Volumes 1-6 of the prior encyclopedias at 1/3 the cost (an even greater savings if you buy it from Amazon). All in one handy volume. That's the good news.
The bad news is that this latest Encyclopedia doesn't cover any Magic expansions issued in the last year (Odyssey, Torment, and Judgment). This seems particularly strange since fall is usually the time when an additional volume of the Encyclopedia is released to "update" collectors and players. This anthology stops with the summer of 2001.
The Complete Encyclopedia also drops the helpful card attribute lists found in the back of the first few volumes. It does not contain Vanguard 3 and Vanguard 4--belying its claim to be "the most comprehensive book about Magic: the Gathering ever published".
Finally it has no new text and is, quite clearly, a cut-and-paste job which splices together Volumes 1-6, which were released annually over the last half decade. These leads to some ludicrous statements such as (p. 16): "Released in February 1995, Fourth Edition is latest version of Magic: the Gathering basic set." Since we are now using 7th Edition and moving towards 8th, this is clearly a case of sloppy reprinting of old text, which is no longer accurate.
I would also like to have seen a list of cards added between Alpha and Beta.
I give the book 3 stars in spite of all of these faults (and these are only after a preliminary reading), because it is so convenient to have so much of the Magic library at one's fingertips in one volume. And so cheaply.
If the editors can address these concerns in a 2nd edition, ...

Rating:
Summary: A useful anthology but not as complete as it could be.
Review: The new Complete Encyclopedia of Magic the Gathering conveniently combines most of Volumes 1-6 of the prior encyclopedias at 1/3 the cost (an even greater savings if you buy it from Amazon). All in one handy volume. That's the good news.
The bad news is that this latest Encyclopedia doesn't cover any Magic expansions issued in the last year (Odyssey, Torment, and Judgment). This seems particularly strange since fall is usually the time when an additional volume of the Encyclopedia is released to "update" collectors and players. This anthology stops with the summer of 2001.
The Complete Encyclopedia also drops the helpful card attribute lists found in the back of the first few volumes. It does not contain Vanguard 3 and Vanguard 4--belying its claim to be "the most comprehensive book about Magic: the Gathering ever published".
Finally it has no new text and is, quite clearly, a cut-and-paste job which splices together Volumes 1-6, which were released annually over the last half decade. These leads to some ludicrous statements such as (p. 16): "Released in February 1995, Fourth Edition is latest version of Magic: the Gathering basic set." Since we are now using 7th Edition and moving towards 8th, this is clearly a case of sloppy reprinting of old text, which is no longer accurate.
I would also like to have seen a list of cards added between Alpha and Beta.
I give the book 3 stars in spite of all of these faults (and these are only after a preliminary reading), because it is so convenient to have so much of the Magic library at one's fingertips in one volume. And so cheaply.
If the editors can address these concerns in a 2nd edition, ...

Rating:
Summary: a great book for any magic fan.
Review: this book is great because it provides photos for every card from arabian nights apacolpyse. This in a good invesments because it combines volumes 1-6 for a lower price. it also includes history on the sets.
the book is very good because you won't stop wondering about those old cards you see in price guides for abaout 100 dollars. instead of wondering just look it up in the book. And this is also the perfect companion to the player guides you get in fatpacks. if you collected all the guides starting from the odysse expansion. You would have qa nearly completion to ahving records every cards in your library of books. It also would go with those price guides you can get every month, like scrye.
This book is the ultimate guide for adding a superb collection of your magic library and records.


Rating:
Summary: Magic the Gathering
Review: This book is very good.You can make your own price of the cards you want to sell.You can realy find out anything about Magic the Gathering you want to know. It even summarizes all of the Magic the Gatherig books that have been published.When I got it I was amazed that how many things it had on magic.I had never even dreamed about how many things that someone could write down and publish about Magic the Gathering.I think you should realy buy this book.
By your own:Lee Pennebaker

Rating:
Summary: Great book -- why the bad reviews?
Review: This is an excellent book on the Magic: the Gathering game. It has a full-color picture of every card from the first sets to Invasion and 7th Edition. It is an invaluable resource for building decks, particularly for casual play but also for tournament purposes. It doesn't have the most recent sets, it is true, but such a massive project requires months of preparation and it would be impossible to add a set issued within a week or two of its publication, unless the book producers can see -- and get pictures from -- the future. The only quibble that I have with this book is that it does not have an index which classifies cards by color and type -- that is, you can't look up to see a list of blue enchantments or white creatures. Other than that minor point, this book is a great resource and also fun to look through! :) If you like Magic, buy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Great book -- why the bad reviews?
Review: This is an excellent book on the Magic: the Gathering game. It has a full-color picture of every card from the first sets to Invasion and 7th Edition. It is an invaluable resource for building decks, particularly for casual play but also for tournament purposes. It doesn't have the most recent sets, it is true, but such a massive project requires months of preparation and it would be impossible to add a set issued within a week or two of its publication, unless the book producers can see -- and get pictures from -- the future. The only quibble that I have with this book is that it does not have an index which classifies cards by color and type -- that is, you can't look up to see a list of blue enchantments or white creatures. Other than that minor point, this book is a great resource and also fun to look through! :) If you like Magic, buy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Great for what it is but lacking for what its missing
Review: Well Hey, Its a GREAT book for what it is. I ordered it a couple days ago and its already helped me alot. Only thing is that, Although Published in Oct 2002, its missing Odyssey, Torment, Judgement, and Onslaught. I can see it missing Onslaught but in my opinion The other three are uncalled for. THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED. Oh well I guess we'll have to waitfor the next guide.