QUEST-LOVERS TREASURY OF THE FANTASTIC, A

From Homer's Odysseus on his epic ten-year voyage to King Arthur's knights seeking the Holy Grail to Tolkien's adventurous hobbits in The Lord of the Rings, from ancient myths told around tribal fires to modern fantasy classics, the tale of the quest has long been a popular storytelling art form. Entrenched in human mythology, the theme of the hero traveling far and wide to dangerous lands is symbolic of man's eternal search for knowledge and wisdom. Sometimes the hunt is for a dragon's hoard or a wizard's talisman, for a unicorn or a destiny. Sometimes the object of the pursuit is the soul's salvation or true love. Whatever the destination, the enchantment of the journey is the quest's real treasure.