Review: Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones

I was going to make this an actual TGTBTU book review, but have decided not to, mostly because (1) I’m lazy and (2) I just want to freak Lisabea out by writing up two blog posts in as many days. So, here, have a mini-review.

Title: The Tough Guide to Fantasyland
Author: Diana Wynne Jones
Genre: humorous nonfiction
Grade: A
Reason for Reading: I’ve wanted to read this book forever. I love fantasy, and I was under the impression that this book would be funny. It was.

Synopsis:

The Tough Guide to Fantasyland is a comprehensive guide for those undertaking Tours of Fantasyland. This authoritative A-Z constitutes an essential source of information for all who dare to venture into these imaginative hinterlands, providing acute insights into such mysteries as how HORSES reproduce, the varying types of VIRGIN and the importance of CLOAKS to those embarking on the Tour. Features include:

A map.
Lively background on the denizens you will meet, including Barbarian Hordes, and Elves who claim they did not evolve like humans… Certainly there seems to be no Elvish ancestral ape.
Full details on catering arrangements: Beer always foams and is invariably delivered in tankards. The Management is not concerned with the taste of it. That is your funeral.
Useful hints on coping in Fantasyland: Armour is, in the opinion of the Management, cheating. Torture is obligatory at some stage in the Tour.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a committed Fantasyland traveller, The Tough Guide has everything you need to get the most from your Tour.

My Thoughts: I loved this book. The tongue-in-cheek humor really worked for me, and it’s obvious that Ms. Jones, a fantasy writer herself, is laughing with us as she writes about the various tropes employed in fantasyland. And she’s right. I’ve seen most of these in some form or other.

I’m glad I picked this up. I know I’ll be keeping it and referring back to it periodically as I read more fantasy books.