J.R.R. Tolkien: Master of Imaginary Worlds

Description: Born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, this author is best known for his original worlds and creatures, many of whom appear in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings stories. Through a thorough exploration of his life and work, Edward Willett brings into sharp focus, the inner workings of the mind of this author who made fantasy writing what it is today. Photographs and Internet addresses are included.

Review Quotes: This series focuses on writers who are popular with teen readers, and although several authors contribute, the entries are extremely consistent in format. Each book has a comparable number of pages and features a time line, suggestions for further reading, and words to know. The differences in the individual titles arise from the authors' approaches to their subjects. With his focus in J. R. R. Tolkien on Tolkien's love of languages, Willett depicts him as a teacher, a scholar, and finally an author. Ray Bradbury is a study of an author's inspiration and passion. Mass emphasizes early influences on Bradbury's life, including magic and the movies and how they shaped Bradbury's career as a writer of science fiction and fantasy. Wade's Joan Lowery Nixon is the most anecdotal of the three volumes. Wade relates events and stories from Nixon's life as she discusses the author's career.