The Time-Life Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were: Creatures, Places, and People

by Michael Page, Robert Ingpen, Michael F. Page

Book Overview

Hardcover sales of more than 70,000 copies have made the Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were a classic illustrated reference to myths and legends from all corners of the world. Here--culled from... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B000H58WDA
• Release Date: January 1985
• Publisher: Time Life Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 3.65 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Buy It For The Fantasy

This book, although I only have the paperback edition, is one of my most treasured books. The illustrations are fantastic. It is easy to see how Robert Ingpen became the illustrator of more than 100 books. There is a definite transcendental quality to each and every picture. Often, I will flip through the book at night before going to sleep and allow the pictures to create stories in my mind--a peaceful way to fall asleep. Like several other reviewers, I too have found some of the information in the book to be debatable if not totally inaccurate. It is well written from an entertainment perspective and does not read at all like an encyclopedia. However, the misinformation found in several entries leads one to question ALL of the information. I find that to be rather distracting. The title of the book also distracts one from delving too deeply and getting too lost in the fantasy by suggesting that all contained here are, "Things That Never Were."

Thankyou school library!

I love this book. I sleep next to it at night. I hold it close and coo words of endearment.I found this in my school library when i was about seven or eight. (to avoid confusion from here, my school is K-12) from then on, every few months i'd check it out for a project or just fun (i was intensely into this stuff) about my freshman year they revamped the library and i couldnt find it (GASP!!) eventually i located it on the floor, open and in pain. I cried to the heavens WHY?! and promptly put it under my arm and walked away. I've had it for about 4 years in my bed between the sideboard and matress and every time i open it i find something new, interesting and inspirational. only downfall is everything is written as exact so its doesnt include many variations of myths but in these situations its a good starting point anyways.

After many years I still go back to this book for facts

I love this book. After many years and many other books and magazines, I still go back to this book for the facts. It covers such a broad spectrum of creatures, myths, fairytales, and other fantasies. It also has some very good artwork.

Simply incredible.

I first came across this book by chance in my high school library. I'd read a number of books on mythology before, but I'd never seen anything like this. It became my favorite book in the library, and I'd come back to it repeatedly. Unfortunately, the volume was lost somehow, and I've been looking for a personal copy ever since. It is an amazing compilation of mythological creatures, and for it may lack as far as depth of description is concerned, it more than makes up for in the number of entries within.

One of the most beautiful and entertaining books I've seen

I am only 16 years old, but I am one of the biggest bibliophiles you'll ever meet. I love reading every kind of book and fantasy books are some of my favorites. I got this book as a present when I was 8 (hardcover version) and even still, every time I look at it, I find something new. As others have pointed out, there are some editing errors and some things are left out, but in my opinon, the sheer beauty and wealth of information in this books allows the reader to easily overlook it. This book can be used as a reference book, but I enjoy just thumbing through the pages and reading random entries (my favorite is "White Cat's Castle"). So, I entreat any lover of books, especially fantasy, to pick up this book and enjoy!