From the epic of Gilgamesh, almost two thousand years BCE, to the modern fantasies of Stephen King's Dark Tower series and J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter, authors have created fictional realms that have captivated audiences. Miller has guided a team of writers to unlock the mysteries and meanings of nearly 100 fantastical lands. The essays explore the contemporary events and circumstances that influenced each work, and examine how elements of the author's life were relevant to the creation of the story.