Atlantean Biography

I have just been exposed to a volume on the life and times of the local Atlantis. It's a cheery book, but for some reason, it reminds me of what people used to call 'Regency Romance' and which most people who know such things associate with that grand old dame, Georgette Heyer.

It's full of those 'more about this person later' moments and the whole thing somehow feels like a comedy of manners rather than the reasonably serious history it really is. It really is. There's a lot of meat on these bones, but it still reminds me of a paper I once heard on the seamy underside of Atlantean history (yes, madame, you know who you are... *grin* )

The production values of this tome are pretty good. It is hefty but not overly so. The layout and illustrations work reasonably well and you feel that it's a book you can settle down with. The book cover has an amusing collage of legendary Atlanteans and proto-Atlanteans, all juxtaposed to make things spicier than they ought to be. The Thunderer leans out over the book title, the Gnome is at his left elbow, and so on.

It's a good read. I recommend it. Don't worry about the amazing-looking author names. Treat the book on its own merits.