This is an interesting piece, but I'm unconvinced that "fantasy, as an enduring publishing genre, is hardly older than I am" (author born in 80s). Not to say that Tolkien and Del Rey weren't important catalysts, moderls, innovators, etc. but there were plenty of fantasy stories in pulp that got turned into books & series. Not so much epic fantasy, but a lot of swords and sorcery
@GregSadler Plenty of Fantasy of all types before Del Rey
Del Rey was important maybe in USA, almost unknown in UK & Ireland.
Crazy headline.
Lord Dunsany, George MacDonald, L. Frank Baum, and people republishing or translating old stuff like Lady Guest, Lady Gregory, Lang & co.
It started in the Paris Salons in 17th C.
Loads of Authors never published by Del Rey 1960s to 1980s.
USA Wizards of the Coast / Dragonlance High Fantasy clones.
I read Tolkien & many other Fantasy mid to late 1960s.
Add comment