The Well at the World's End

- from The Well at the World's End, William Morris, . Kelmscott Press, 1896

Speaking of science fiction/fantasy books, a fantasy book I really loved when I was a teenager was The Well at the World's End by Pre-Raphaelite artist William Morris. It wasn't the best written but it gave me the feeling that something magical was about to happen to me. Here's a bit about it from Wikipedia ...

Although the novel is relatively obscure by today's standards it has had a significant influence on many notable fantasy authors. C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien both seem to have found inspiration in The Well at the World's End: ancient tables of stone, a "King Peter", and a quick, white horse named "Silverfax" are only a few, to say nothing of Ralph's journey home as denouement, anticipating the Hobbits' return and battle for the Shire.

My copy looked like this ...


But the original looked like this ...


The story can be read online here.