Best of
Fantasy

1956

The Chronicles of Narnia


C.S. Lewis - 1956
    But Lewis did not stop there. Six more books followed, and together they became known as The Chronicles of Narnia.For the past fifty years, The Chronicles of Narnia have transcended the fantasy genre to become part of the canon of classic literature. Each of the seven books is a masterpiece, drawing the reader into a land where magic meets reality, and the result is a fictional world whose scope has fascinated generations.This edition presents all seven books—unabridged—in one impressive volume. The books are presented here in chronlogical order, each chapter graced with an illustration by the original artist, Pauline Baynes. Deceptively simple and direct, The Chronicles of Narnia continue to captivate fans with adventures, characters, and truths that speak to readers of all ages, even fifty years after they were first published.

The Silver Chair and The Last Battle


C.S. Lewis - 1956
    . . where owls are wise, where some of the giants like to snack on humans (and, if carefully cooked, on Marsh-wiggles, too), where a prince is put under an evil spell . . . and where the adventure begins. Eustace and Jill escape from the bullies at school through a strange door in the wall, which, for once, is unlocked. It leads to the open moor . . . or does it? Once again Aslan has a task for the children, and Narnia needs them. Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, they pursue the quest that brings them face to face with the evil Witch. She must be defeated if Prince Rilian is to be saved. Enter this enchanged world countless times in The Chronicles of Narnia. The Last Battle:The last battle is the greatest of all battles.Narnia ... where lies breed fear ... where loyalty is tested ... where all hope seems lost.During the last days of Narnia, the land faces its fiercest challenge -- not an invader from without but an enemy from within. Lies and treachery have taken root, and only the king and a small band of loyal followers can prevent the destruction of all they hold dear in this, the magnificent ending to The Chronicles of Narnia.

Till We Have Faces


C.S. Lewis - 1956
    Lewis reworks the classical myth of Cupid and Psyche into an enduring piece of contemporary fiction. This is the story of Orual, Psyche's embittered and ugly older sister, who posessively and harmfully loves Psyche. Much to Orual's frustration, Psyche is loved by Cupid, the god of love himself, setting the troubled Orual on a path of moral development.Set against the backdrop of Glome, a barbaric, pre-Christian world, the struggles between sacred and profane love are illuminated as Orual learns that we cannot understand the intent of the gods "till we have faces" and sincerity in our souls and selves.

The Anything Box


Zenna Henderson - 1956
    The Grunder, a thing of horror which, if defeated, restores love... The Noise-Eater, created by a child out of his fevered imagination, gobbles up anything--or anyone--that makes a sound... The Coveti, residents of an alien world poisoned by the intrusion of the stranger from Earth... The Beast Hill, an ordinary mound of earth, except that its grass resembles fur, and--doesn't it move?

Boy in Darkness and Other Stories


Mervyn Peake - 1956
    Disturbingly atmospheric, these stories are told with the force and simplicity of allegory. This special volume includes rare stories as well as some never-before-seen illustrations.

The Magic and The Sword: The Greek Myths Retold


Miriam Cox - 1956
    Sturdy textbook binding. Illustrated throughout by Harold Price.

The Circus of Dr. Lao and Other Improbable Stories


Ray BradburyShirley Jackson - 1956
    Lao and Other Improbable Stories): Ray Bradbury• The Circus of Dr. Lao: Charles G. Finney• The Pond: Nigel Kneale• The Hour of Letdown: E. B. White• The Wish: Roald Dahl• The Summer People: Shirley Jackson• Earth's Holocaust: Nathaniel Hawthorne• Busby's Petrified Woman: Loren Eiseley• The Resting Place: Oliver La Farge• Threshold: Henry Kuttner• Greenface: James H. Schmitz• The Limits of Walter Horton: John S. Sharnik• The Man Who Vanished: Robert M. CoatesCover Illustration: D. Schwartz

Myths and Legends of the Ages


Marion N. French - 1956
    

The Amazing Vacation


Dan Wickenden - 1956