Not all reference tools make a successful transition from print to electronic formats. Happily, Masterplots Complete does not fall into this category. Clear, well‐designed software provides access to the full 80‐volume Masterplots reference set on world literature. Patrons and librarians alike will find this well‐designed CD‐ROM quite useful to answer a wide range of reference questions.
The hallmark of the program is its ease of use in all aspects of installation and searching. It runs on both IBM (386 or higher with Windows) and Apple (68030 or higher) compatible computers. No modifications to operating system files are required. The well‐written manual plus ample online help is available for both installation and searching.
Salem Press used AND Complex search and retrieval software as the search engine. The main menu provides six basic search modes: title, author, textword, locale of work, genre, subject, and principal characters. Once in a particular index, users may browse through the alphabetical list of search terms or key terms into the menu search box. The program then moves to the point closest to the entered word. By clicking on the search icon on the tool bar, patrons can use advanced search methods incorporating Boolean operators, wildcards, proximity locators, and multiple indexes. The tool bar includes icons for search history, moving between search results, printing, and downloading.
The database consists of essays on individual works, author biographies, and descriptions of primary characters ‐ all taken from the print version. When searching by title, the results screen also displays links to the biographical and character essays. Likewise, author searches display both biographical materials and list of works by that writer. Entries also include detailed bibliographies.
Questions currently answered by the Masterplots print version or other similar tools can be handled by this program. For example, patrons wanting information on works dealing with abortion can conduct a subject search and locate 65 entries. The genre search mode is useful for locating entries for books on similar themes. A search on alternate history produced 132 items. Patrons needing a list of works set in a particular geographical area or setting will find the locale mode useful. A search for materials set in Vietnam located 21 works.
Masterplots Complete stands as a very useful electronic version of a classic print source. It also stands as a model on how to design a successful product. Patrons and librarians will like the system’s ease of use and valuable content. Also, the $750 purchase price makes it a bargain in comparison to the price of the eighty volume print set. This database is recommended for all school,public, and academic libraries.
