Cambridge Companion to Fantasy Literature edited by Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK, 2012.
Essays on the history and nature of Fantasy. This collection gets into some of the psychological, thematic, and historical underpinnings of Fantasy and those who read it. Definitely for the Fantasy enthusiast, but also might be interesting to dip into to find out what the scholars are talking about.
Cheek by Jowl by Ursula K. Le Guin, Aqueduct Press, Seattle, 2009.
Le Guin has been writing fantasy and science fiction for a long time, and has airs her cogent and, to my mind, correct views of fantasy. This book also contains her amazing essay on animal stories.
Encyclopedia of Fantasy by John Clute and John Grant, St. Martin's Griffin, 1998.
One of the fundamental resources of the field of Fantasy Literature.
Fantasists on Fantasy: A Collection of Critical Reflections by Eighteen Masters of the Art, edited by Robert H. Boyer & Kenneth J. Zahorski, Avon, New York, 1984.
Cool collection of essays on fantasy by writers, including J.R.R. Tolkien, Andre Norton, C.S. Lewis, Katherine Kurtz, and Michael Moorcock.
Fluent in Fantasy: The Next Generation by Diana Tixier Herald and Bonnie Kunzel, Libraries Unlimited, Westport, CT, 2008.
Reader's advisory resource. Genre is well divided, and good book selections.
Genreflecting: a Guide to Popular Reading Interests, 6th ed., edited by Diana Tixier Herald & Wayne A. Wiegand, Libraries Unlimited, Westport, CT, 2006
Reader's advisory resource. The essay on Fantasy by John H. Timmerman is much more theory than practice but it gives some idea of how readers might feel about the genre, which can be valuable.
The Gernsback Days: A Study of the Evolution of Modern Science Fiction from 1911 to 1936 by Mike Ashley & Robert A.W. Lowndes, Wildside Press: PA, 2004.
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell, 1949.
Campbell distills his comparative mythology-derived monomyth of the Hero's Journey: "A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man."
Pulp Culture: The Art of Fiction Magazines by Frank M. Robinson & Lawrence Davidson, Collectors Press, Portland, OR, 1998.
Good overview of the pulps, both in general and by genre, with many cover reproductions and a general guide to value. Don't let the mention of art in the subtitle fool you - there's just as much if not more about the history and contents.
Read On...Fantasy Fiction: Reading Lists for Every Taste by Neil Hollands, Libraries Unlimited, Westport, CT, 2007
Reader's advisory resource. Titles are organized into non-traditional lists, such as "Rated RPG: The Best Fantasy for Gamers" and "Poor, Poor Powerful Me: Accepting One's Power and Otherness." Gives you a different way of looking at RA. This would be a great book to put directly into readers' hands.
Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction, 2nd ed, Joyce G. Saricks, ASA Editions, 2009.
Reader's advisory resource. Saricks equates too much of the Fantasy genre with High Fantasy, but she has some good advice and book recommendations.
A Reader's Guide to Fantasy: An Invaluable and Comprehensive Sourcebook for Every Reader of Fantasy by Baird Searles, Beth Meacham, & Michael Franklin, Facts on File, 1982.
An older book, but very well-done. Main part is authors in alphabetical author and discusses their writing, books, and place in the fantasy canon. Also has section on series, another on awards, and one where the authors talk about a possible division of the genre.
A Short History of Fantasy by Farah Mendlesohn & Edward James, Middlesex University Press, London, 2009.
Really good basic overview of the genre from its very beginnings through 2008. Touches on important authors and themes. Knows when enough is enough for a basic overview.
Fiction
Ralph 124C 41+ by Hugo Gernsback, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, 2000. With an introduction by Jack Williamson, and including Gernsback's prefaces to the 1925 and 1950 versions. First printed serially in Gernsback's Modern Electrics from April 1911 - March 1912. Also includes the original Frank R. Paul art (possibly originally cover art in color).
Online Resources
Companion Delicious account: http://www.delicious.com/scifira
Mirrored at Diigo: http://www.diigo.com/user/scifira
Includes fiction I've read and online resources. Prompted by "To Boldly Go: Fantastical Journeys through Science Fiction Readers' Advisory," a presentation I gave at the 2011 Minnesota Library Association conference. Readers' Advisory is the art of finding people things to read.
