"Why do certain objects have an extraordinary ability to fascinate us and spark wonder, while others do not?"

So asks Davide Fumagalli in the pages of this work - the first of its kind - which studies the genesis, history, development, and modern day mania surrounding objects that interrupt the logical mind and confound the senses. These impossible objects he has dubbed impossiblia.

Readers will journey through the lands and minds of great artists, puzzle makers, ship-in-bottle builders, optical illusion designers, craftsmen, magicians, and creative problem solvers.

From the work and methods of M.C. Escher to the godfather of impossible bottles, Harry Eng, Impossiblia traces the origins of this super-secret and wildly popular subculture in a way no author has before. (And a few secrets behind their creation are revealed in its pages for the first time.)

Richly illustrated and stylized with original photographs of the author's own creations and many previously unpublished images of the miraculous works of those who inspired him, Impossiblia is a delightful combination of striking visuals and never-before-chronicled history.

• 176 pages, hardbound
• Oversize (10 x 10") coffee-table book
• Smyth sewn binding
• Richly illustrated with over 150 color photographs and drawings
• Introduction by puzzle master and game designer Mark Setteducatti

The perfect gift for those who love puzzles, problem solving, and curious creations, and an ideal introduction to this mysterious world.