TL;DR
7/10. The foundation volume of a multi-volume series, grounding aspiring fantasy writers in craft fundamentals, prose and storytelling, framed for the genre. A solid, useful on-ramp, held from higher by content that overlaps general craft books, the uneven coverage of a multi-author format, and being deliberately incomplete without the later volumes.
The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy, Vol. 1: Alchemy with Words, edited by Tom Dullemond and Darin Park, is the opening installment of a multi-volume series aimed at aspiring and developing fantasy writers. As the foundation volume, it concentrates on the fundamentals, the craft basics applied to the fantasy genre: prose, character, the building blocks of storytelling as they work in fantasy specifically. Drawing on contributions from a range of writers, it serves as a solid starting point for someone learning to write the genre, and judged as the entry-level foundation it is, it does a useful job, with the limits of a multi-author introductory guide.
The series structure is its organizing logic: this first volume lays the groundwork in fundamentals before the later volumes move to advanced craft and to the magic and world-building that define the genre.
Fundamentals for the fantasy writer
The volume’s value is grounding a new fantasy writer in the essential craft, the foundational skills of prose and storytelling, framed for the genre they want to write. Subtitled Alchemy with Words, it focuses on the writing itself, the sentence-level and structural fundamentals that any fiction requires but that benefit from being taught with fantasy in mind. For a developing writer drawn to fantasy who needs to build a base before tackling the genre’s distinctive challenges, this kind of foundation-first approach is sensible, and the multiple contributors offer a range of perspectives on the basics. As the on-ramp to the series and to the genre, it serves its introductory purpose.
Keep reading
Writing fantasy: building the craft foundation first — the genre fundamentals this volume covers, in the wider craft of fantasy.
The strengths and limits of the anthology approach
Like many multi-author craft guides, the book trades depth for range. Drawing on many contributors gives a variety of voices and viewpoints, which can be genuinely useful, but it also tends to produce uneven, sometimes overlapping coverage rather than the focused, coherent through-line of a single strong author, so the quality and usefulness vary essay to essay. As a foundation volume it covers fundamentals that any good general craft book also covers, so its distinct value lies in the genre framing more than in unique content, and a reader may find some of it familiar. It is a sound, broad introduction rather than a deep or definitive treatment.
Keep reading
Craft basics: the foundation under every genre — the fundamentals this volume frames for fantasy, useful across all fiction.
The honest caveats
A few honest notes. As volume one of a series, it is deliberately incomplete on its own, focused on fundamentals and pointing toward the later volumes for advanced craft and the genre’s signature elements, so a reader wanting the full picture needs the set. Its foundational content overlaps with general craft books, so the genre framing is the main reason to choose it over a broader guide. And the multi-author format means variable quality. These are the normal characteristics of an introductory anthology in a series rather than serious flaws, and they place it as a solid starting point rather than a standout.
Verdict
It is a solid, useful foundation volume for aspiring fantasy writers, valuable for grounding the genre’s newcomers in craft fundamentals framed specifically for fantasy, and as the sensible on-ramp to a multi-volume series. It earns a fair, middling-to-good rating, held from higher by the limits of its nature: as a fundamentals volume its content overlaps with general craft books, the multi-author format produces uneven coverage, and it is deliberately incomplete without the later volumes. For a developing fantasy writer who wants a genre-framed introduction and intends to continue with the series, it is a reasonable starting point; for one who already has strong general craft books, the foundations may feel familiar. A sound introduction, fairly judged.
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The Writing Hub — fantasy, craft fundamentals, and the rest of the writing life, gathered in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy, Vol. 1 about?
Edited by Tom Dullemond and Darin Park and subtitled Alchemy with Words, it is the foundation volume of a multi-volume series for aspiring fantasy writers, concentrating on craft fundamentals, prose, character, and storytelling basics, framed for the fantasy genre.
How does it fit in the series?
It is the first installment, laying the groundwork in fundamentals before the later volumes move to advanced craft and to the magic systems and world-building that define the genre. The series is structured to build from basics to the genre’s distinctive challenges.
What is its main value?
Grounding a new fantasy writer in essential craft, prose and storytelling fundamentals, framed for the genre they want to write, with a range of perspectives from multiple contributors. It serves as a sensible on-ramp to both the series and the genre.
What are its limits?
As a multi-author anthology it trades depth for range, producing uneven, sometimes overlapping coverage, and its foundational content overlaps with general craft books, so the genre framing is its main distinguishing value. As volume one it is also deliberately incomplete on its own.
Who should read it?
Developing fantasy writers who want a genre-framed introduction to craft fundamentals and intend to continue with the series. A writer who already owns strong general craft books may find the foundational material familiar.
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