Manuscript Discovered in a Dragon's Cave (Polish: Rękopis znaleziony w Smoczej Jaskini) is a guide to fantasy literature. It was written in the form of an encyclopedia by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski, first published in 2001. The author discusses in it the history of the literary genre, well-known fantasy heroes, descriptions of magic terminology, fantasy features, fantastic bestiary, major fantasy writers and characters, as well as the list of "85 titles that every self-respecting fan of the genre should know".
Several sections of the book discuss the essence and the limits of the genre as Sapkowski defines it, albeit rather broadly.
Polish literary critic Eryk Remiezowicz writes that the book "should become required reading for Polish educators and a model for writing textbooks on any topic. Lots of information, reasoning, well, sometimes shaky, but usually surprisingly coherent. The author rarely deviates from his enlightening course (unless he absolutely has to add that one great story), and everything is served in a thickly humorous glaze that makes digestion easier." From the very beginning the author presents the text as his subjective opinion, from the definition of the genre to sharp but witty criticism of what he does not like in it.
Notes
- The 2011 edition expanded the recommended reading list to 100 items
References
- ^ Dariusz Nowacki. "Manuscript Found in a Dragon's Cave - Andrzej Sapkowski". culture.pl. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ Eryk Remiezowicz, Bajka o bajkach
- Sapkowski, Andrzej, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction