The Tough Guide to Fantasyland
First edition (UK) | |
| Author | Diana Wynne Jones |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Steve Crisp (first) Tony Sahara (rev.) |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Fantasy literature, adult fiction, parody |
| Genre | Dictionary |
| Publisher | Vista Books Firebird Books (rev.) |
Publication date | 1996 2006 (rev.) |
| Publication place | United Kingdom United States (revised) |
| Media type | Print (paperback) |
| Pages | 223 pp 234 pp (rev.) |
| ISBN | 978-0-575-60106-2 |
| OCLC | 34674975 |
| 828/.91407 | |
| LC Class | PR6060.O497 Z468 1996 (same) 2006 |
| Followed by | Dark Lord of Derkholm (fiction) |
The Tough Guide to Fantasyland is a nonfiction book by the British author Diana Wynne Jones that humorously examines the common tropes of a broad swathe of fantasy fiction. The U.S. Library of Congress calls it a dictionary. However, it may be called a fictional or parodic tourist guidebook. It was first published by Vista Books (London) in 1996. A revised and updated edition was completed in 2006 and published by Penguin (Firebird Books), first in the U.S.
Jones has written many fantasy novels, mainly for children or young adults, including some that simply rely upon and some that subvert common fantasy motifs. (The) Dark Lord of Derkholm (1998) is one that subverts, and a conceptual sequel. It is set in a fantasy world that maintains the cliches detailed in the Tough Guide for the benefit of commercial tourism from our world.