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Rating: 
Summary: It Truly Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!
Review: Editor Brian Thomsen has given readers a true treasure chest of wonderful stories spanning the entire American experience. I can't say enough great things about this 43 story set. The book is divided into three sections:Folk, Tall and Weird Tales
Including such classics as "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Lottery," as well as more modern tales like Stephen King's "Children of the Corn" (far superior to any of the film versions) and Ursula K. Le Guin's "Buffalo Gals, Won't You Come Out Tonight." Fantastic Americana
Boasts such classics as Mark Twain's "A Ghost Story," Stephen Vincent Benet's "The Devil and Daniel Webster" and much, much more. Lands of Enchantment and Everyday Life
Includes great stories from writers such as Edith Wharton, L. Frank Baum, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury, Gene Wolfe, Michael Bishop, Greg Bear...I could go on and on. I should point out that this collection is one of American (not British) fantasy dealing with Americans caught up in strange and fantastic situations, not one of dragons, knights, and maidens (although you may find one or two in the book). I knew the book was destined to be a winner when I read the opening selection (and the book's only poem): "this changed everything," a powerful poem about 9/11. If this book isn't on your Christmas list, email Santa today. 602 wonderful pages
Rating:
Summary: It Truly Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!
Review: Editor Brian Thomsen has given readers a true treasure chest of wonderful stories spanning the entire American experience. I can't say enough great things about this 43 story set. The book is divided into three sections: Folk, Tall and Weird Tales
Including such classics as "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Lottery," as well as more modern tales like Stephen King's "Children of the Corn" (far superior to any of the film versions) and Ursula K. Le Guin's "Buffalo Gals, Won't You Come Out Tonight." Fantastic Americana
Boasts such classics as Mark Twain's "A Ghost Story," Stephen Vincent Benet's "The Devil and Daniel Webster" and much, much more. Lands of Enchantment and Everyday Life
Includes great stories from writers such as Edith Wharton, L. Frank Baum, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury, Gene Wolfe, Michael Bishop, Greg Bear...I could go on and on. I should point out that this collection is one of American (not British) fantasy dealing with Americans caught up in strange and fantastic situations, not one of dragons, knights, and maidens (although you may find one or two in the book). I knew the book was destined to be a winner when I read the opening selection (and the book's only poem): "this changed everything," a powerful poem about 9/11. If this book isn't on your Christmas list, email Santa today. 602 wonderful pages
Rating:
Summary: An important and informative collection
Review: Fantasy has become an integral part of the American subconscious. Whether its star wars defense systems or the alternate reality of Madison Avenue, fantasy permeates our very being as a culture. Brian Thomsen shows us how fantasy literature has contributed to the American psyche helping define us as a country were anything is possible. Intriguing, informative, indispensable.
Rating:
Summary: Fans of American Fantasy, rejoice!
Review: This book is an excellent collection of fantasy stories for any fan of this genre. It brings together some of the world's best known authors and writers from this field with an almost chronological listing of fantasy stories this country has ever produced. Starting with the ultimate historically original fantasy "Rip Van Winkle" and working its way up to stories by such authors as Stephen King, Alan Dean Foster and Theodore Sturgeon, this one volume is an superb collection of American fantasy stories that every collector of this genre should add to their library. I feel that if I taught a college-level literature class on this topic, this would be my textbook. Excellent book!
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