A visual history book of fantasy art from Romanticism and steampunk to modern illustrations from novels, with text in both English and Japanese, this book is a fun romp through fantastic illustrations of yesteryear.
Stats
Title: The Art of Fantasy, Sci-fi and Steampunk
By Author: Hiroshi Unno
Paperback: 360 pages
Publisher: PIE International
ISBN-10: 4756249752
ISBN-13: 978-4756249753
Available on Amazon in oversized paperback format. You can find it at other online and offline booksellers, as well.
Summary of The Art of Fantasy, Sci-fi and Steampunk
Step into the world of imaginative art from Victorian times to the 1930s. Artists such as William Blake (1757-1827), J.J. Grandville (1803-1847) and William Heath Robinson (1872-1944) are showcased along with art from specific titles (such as Sherlock Holmes and Frankenstein), writers (Edgar Alan Poe and Lewis Carroll) and fanciful events (such as the various circuses and expositions around the turn of the century). Page after page gives you a glimpse into fantastic art of the past.
What Worked for Me
I really enjoyed looking at all the images. Not only are they all fanciful, but they are all historic, as well. They tell a tale of how we’ve seen things through time.
All the text is provided in both Japanese and English, so you can learn about the history of the images in both languages.
The size of the book is not too big and not too small, and because it is paper back, it is not too heavy, either. Goldilocks would have loved it!
What Didn’t Work for Me
The English text is a smaller font than the Japanese text, making it, at times, difficult to read.
And this might sound strange, but due to the paper and ink used, the book smells funny.
Conclusion
If you love old postcards and vintage images, you’ll love perusing through this book. There are images both familiar and not, which will have you examining each page carefully and flipping through the book slowly.
Score for The Art of Fantasy, Sci-fi and Steampunk: 4 Palm Trees out of 5 Possible
Grab your copy on Amazon today.
NOTE: Although I received this book free to review, that did not affect my opinion of the book. Read past reviews of books I’ve received for free and you’ll know I don’t hold my punches.
