cover image Lost Worlds

Lost Worlds

John Howe, . . Kingfisher, $16.99 (95pp) ISBN 978-0-7534-6107-5

Here are some high-style guidebooks to vampires, dragons, and more.

Lost Worlds John Howe . Kingfisher , $16.99 (96p) ISBN 978-0-7534-6107-5

Comprehensive context complements effulgent illustrations in this survey of 24 legendary worlds. Some, like Thebes and Pompeii, existed, while others, such as Shambhala or Asgard, are speculative. Historical details (“In 539 B.C., the Persian king Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon”) and occasional photographs of ruins and ancient art objects help place the locales in history or in the imagination. Howe, who was a conceptual artist for Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies, often strikes a pensive tone: “Atlantis is beyond our reach, beyond our most wishful thinking... under the restless waves of myth and legend.” Reflective readers and those with an interest in ancient civilizations will appreciate this exciting and carefully crafted book. Ages 9–12. (Nov.)