This book is the first critical survey of Fantasy Cinema. The author breaks down the genre into Surrealism, Fairy Tale, Earthbound Fantasy, Heroic Fantasy, and Epic Fantasy, moving from Expressionism to Realism. Each category is a separate chapter. He defines Fantasy by explaining that events can either be “uncanny” or they can be “marvelous.” An ‘uncanny” event can be explained and a “marvelous” event can not. If the “uncanny” event can be explained using science then it is considered Science Fiction. Fantasy accepts the impossible as possible where as Science Fiction uses science to explain the impossible. The difference between Fantasy and Horror is that Fantasy films heal their characters where as Horror films leave their characters maimed, insane or dead.

This is a well researched and well written book. The author uses references to Jungian archetypes and Joseph Campbell's “The Hero with a Thousand Faces.” There is an extensive Bibliography and the Index is very easy to use. ( )