Adventure stories filled withdanger, action, and unusual events have been popular with readers fromancient times to the present day. The new A-to-ZEncyclopedia of Adventure Fictioncovers the very best of adventure fiction, from literary classics such as Charles Dickens'sA Tale of Two Citiesand Joseph Conrad’sThe Secret Agentto tales that have enthralled younger readers for many years, such asTreasure IslandandThe Wizard of Oz,to the finest of today's adventure stories. Written by a well-knownwriter of horror and science fiction, this essential reference to thegreat works and writers of adventure fiction is sure to delight andintrigue any reader.Coverage includes:Writers, such as Jules Verne, Patrick O'Brian, Sir Walter Scott, and Edgar Rice BurroughsNovels, such asThe Scarlet Pimpernel,The Da Vinci Code,The Old Man and the Sea, andThe Spy Who Came in From the ColdStories, such as "The Most Dangerous Game" and "The Lady, or the Tiger?"Characters, such as James Bond and The ShadowTopics, such as Arthurian adventures, espionage, and pulp heroes.