Dickerson tackles Homer, Harry Potter Prof. investigates fantasy roots in Biblical and Classical texts

Author: Derek Schlickeisen

Professor of Computer Science Matthew Dickerson's publisher released commercially last week his new book entitled "From Homer to Harry Potter: A Handbook on Myth and Fantasy." Co-authored with Augustana College Professor and Middlebury alumnus David O'Hara '91, the work investigates fantasy's roots in Biblical and classical texts as well as its manifestation in modern literature.

"From Homer to Harry Potter" casts a wide net in its search for subject matter: over 11 chapters, Dickerson and O'Hara seek to define myth and fantasy and examine both modern fantasy and its roots in older literatures.

Their goal, stated in the Authors' Note, is "to suggest a few general principles for how to think about and understand the genre of fantasy," as well as to illustrate those principles through a discussion of some of the more popular literary works of ancient and recent fantasy.

For Dickerson, understanding modern works of fantasy means examining their literary influences.

"The deepest understanding of the modern genres of fantastic literature is not possible without a good understanding of the many great works of literature over the ages that have inspired them," said Dickerson. "Fans of fantasy literature should be aware of these roots."

Dickerson describes his interest in the topic of fantasy literature as decades-old: "In addition to my graduate work in computer science, I also did graduate work in Old English Language and Literature, and Medieval Studies," he said, adding that he has translated from their original languages several "great works of medieval heroic literature."

This interest in experiencing texts of fantasy originally proved a major part of the research that went into "From Homer to Harry Potter." While Dickerson said he did examine other authors' writing on the topic of fantasy, his most important research was "a careful reading or rereading of many of these works of literature, that is, of the primary sources," including different variations of the story of Sigfried, "the archetypal Northern pagan hero," and the Icelandic Eddas.

Said fellow author on fantasy T.A. Shippey in a testimonial: "Dickerson and O'Hara are as up to date on ancient muth and epic as on the latest in contemporary fantasy."

Dickerson also cited his familiarity with co-author O'Hara as an important element in the book's production. O'Hara, with whom Dickerson became acquainted during his undergraduate work at Middlebury, now teaches Philosophy and Classics. "We have kept a close friendship over the years," said Dickerson.

While Dickerson said he feels he wrote the book well and expects to lecture frequently on the topic now that it has been released, he expressed some reservations about his publisher's choice of title. "We didn't pick the title or the cover art. I like the cover, but I think I would have preferred a more literary-sounding title, and one less trendy," he said.

"But the title, though it wasn't my first choice, will probably help to sell copies."

"From Homer to Harry Potter" represents only the latest in a series of books relating to fantasy. In 1991, Dickerson published "The Finnsburg Encounter," a Christian fantasy novel set in the Dark Ages, and in 2003 he released "Following Gandalf: Epic Battles and Moral Victory in The Lord of the Rings," an examination of some of the philosophies of "Lord of the Rings" J.R.R. Tolkien.

Dickerson is also the author of "Ents, Elves and Eriador: The Environmental Vision of J.R.R. Tolkien," a book set for release this November that examines Tolkien's philosophy regarding the natural world.

That book, which Dickerson describes as "slightly more academic," will be published as part of the University Press of Kentucky's Agrarian Studies series.