fantasy
DEFINITION:
Fantasy is speculative fiction based on magic or myth. The plots usually emphasize journeys, whether psychological or physical, and stress the importance of human virtues through individual acts of courage, sacrifice, and kindness. Long-running series are very popular, an example being the Piers Anthony Xanth novels. Complex and internally consistent rules support the manifestation of magical beings and actions, but the appeal is to the reader's emotions, not intellect.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Mythical beasts abound, and everyday animals gain special powers (speech, telekinesis). Other universes exist, and magic is used to travel between them. Objects become filled with power and even personality, and conflict is often over possessing these swords, rings, cloaks, etc. The mythology of every culture is mined for ideas. A focus on the arts is common. They are plot-driven above all else, though the frame and setting build the fantasy world for the reader. Urban settings are the exception, not the rule.
APPEAL:
Fantasy worlds are rich, and beautiful, and embrace the natural world. The characters are fluid, often transforming literally (from human to wolf) or figuratively (from goose girl to Queen). Emotional strengths are paramount: bravery, kindness, love. There is often a strong element of romance, or the satisfaction of finding one’s “proper” place in the world. The stories speak to a long history of human belief in myths and magic.
SUBGENRES:
Arthurian: the King Arthur myths, in historical or modern settings; Epic: Multi-volume series, “high” or formal language, complex cast of characters or races; Games: Based on role-playing games; Historical: A familiar time and place is infused with fantastic events; Magic and Mages: Quests, sword and sorcery, with the structure and rules of magic at the core; Not-quite-horror: Werewolves, vampires, and other demons integrated into human society, often with a mystery plot; Urban Fantasy: Magic and mythology in city settings.
TRENDS:
The fantasy genre is diversifying, with some of the most acclaimed recent fiction coming from authors of color who often draw from their cultural backgrounds. For instance, S.A. Chakraborty's The City of Brass weaves in Middle Eastern stories from the Arabian Nights. Fonda Lee's Jade City, Ken Liu's The Grace of Kings, Zen Cho's Sorcerer to the Crown, and R.F. Kuang's The Poppy Wars are inspired by Asian mythology and history.
The Afrofuturism and Afrofantasy genre pioneered by Octavia Butler is informed by African folklore and tradition and includes authors like Charles Saunders, Tananarive Due, David Anthony Durham, and Marlon James.
Today's fantasy writes female characters as complex heroines with emotional depth. Feminist themes come into play in books like Samantha Shannon's The Priory of the Orange Tree, set in a matriarchal society, and the short story anthology Dangerous Women. Themes of sexuality are found in work by authors like Charlie Jane Anders, Sofia Samatar, V.E. Schwab, Seanan McGuire, and Malinda Lo.
Although fairy tale retellings have always had their place in fantasy (check out early examples The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter or Red As Blood, or, Tales From the Sisters Grimmer by Tanith Lee), there has been a renewed interest in the subgenre for adult readers. Naomi Novik's standalone novels Uprooted, which received the Nebula Award for Best Novel, and Spinning Silver helped reestablish fairy tale retellings as a fantasy mainstay.
AUTHORS:
Classic - Marion Zimmer Bradley, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Mervin Peake, J.R.R. Tolkien, T.H. White
Dark Fantasy - Anne Bishop, Simon R. Green, Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Anne Rice, Chelsea Quinn
Yarbro
Dragons - Marie Brennan, Anne McCaffrey, Naomi Novik, Margaret Weis, Elle Katherine White
Epic Fantasy - Terry Brooks, David and Leigh Eddings, Raymond E. Feist, Terry Goodkind, Marlon James, Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, Tad Williams
Historical - Katherine Arden, Stephen R. Lawhead, Ami McKay, Madeline Miller
Humorous - Piers Anthony, Jasper Fforde, Tom Holt, Christopher Moore, Terry Pratchett
Legends - J. Gregory Keyes, Patricia McKillip, Gergory Maguire, Juliet Marillier, Rosalind Miles, Jack Whyte
Quest/Adventure - Louis McMaster Bujold, Robin Hobb, Guy Gavriel Kay, Dennis McKiernan, Mickey Zucker
Reichert, R.A. Salvatore, Sharon Shinn
Urban Fantasy - Steven Brust, Jim Butcher, Charles DeLint, Neil Gaiman, Seanan McGuire
Fantasy is speculative fiction based on magic or myth. The plots usually emphasize journeys, whether psychological or physical, and stress the importance of human virtues through individual acts of courage, sacrifice, and kindness. Long-running series are very popular, an example being the Piers Anthony Xanth novels. Complex and internally consistent rules support the manifestation of magical beings and actions, but the appeal is to the reader's emotions, not intellect.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Mythical beasts abound, and everyday animals gain special powers (speech, telekinesis). Other universes exist, and magic is used to travel between them. Objects become filled with power and even personality, and conflict is often over possessing these swords, rings, cloaks, etc. The mythology of every culture is mined for ideas. A focus on the arts is common. They are plot-driven above all else, though the frame and setting build the fantasy world for the reader. Urban settings are the exception, not the rule.
APPEAL:
Fantasy worlds are rich, and beautiful, and embrace the natural world. The characters are fluid, often transforming literally (from human to wolf) or figuratively (from goose girl to Queen). Emotional strengths are paramount: bravery, kindness, love. There is often a strong element of romance, or the satisfaction of finding one’s “proper” place in the world. The stories speak to a long history of human belief in myths and magic.
SUBGENRES:
Arthurian: the King Arthur myths, in historical or modern settings; Epic: Multi-volume series, “high” or formal language, complex cast of characters or races; Games: Based on role-playing games; Historical: A familiar time and place is infused with fantastic events; Magic and Mages: Quests, sword and sorcery, with the structure and rules of magic at the core; Not-quite-horror: Werewolves, vampires, and other demons integrated into human society, often with a mystery plot; Urban Fantasy: Magic and mythology in city settings.
TRENDS:
The fantasy genre is diversifying, with some of the most acclaimed recent fiction coming from authors of color who often draw from their cultural backgrounds. For instance, S.A. Chakraborty's The City of Brass weaves in Middle Eastern stories from the Arabian Nights. Fonda Lee's Jade City, Ken Liu's The Grace of Kings, Zen Cho's Sorcerer to the Crown, and R.F. Kuang's The Poppy Wars are inspired by Asian mythology and history.
The Afrofuturism and Afrofantasy genre pioneered by Octavia Butler is informed by African folklore and tradition and includes authors like Charles Saunders, Tananarive Due, David Anthony Durham, and Marlon James.
Today's fantasy writes female characters as complex heroines with emotional depth. Feminist themes come into play in books like Samantha Shannon's The Priory of the Orange Tree, set in a matriarchal society, and the short story anthology Dangerous Women. Themes of sexuality are found in work by authors like Charlie Jane Anders, Sofia Samatar, V.E. Schwab, Seanan McGuire, and Malinda Lo.
Although fairy tale retellings have always had their place in fantasy (check out early examples The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter or Red As Blood, or, Tales From the Sisters Grimmer by Tanith Lee), there has been a renewed interest in the subgenre for adult readers. Naomi Novik's standalone novels Uprooted, which received the Nebula Award for Best Novel, and Spinning Silver helped reestablish fairy tale retellings as a fantasy mainstay.
AUTHORS:
Classic - Marion Zimmer Bradley, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Mervin Peake, J.R.R. Tolkien, T.H. White
Dark Fantasy - Anne Bishop, Simon R. Green, Laurell K. Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Anne Rice, Chelsea Quinn
Yarbro
Dragons - Marie Brennan, Anne McCaffrey, Naomi Novik, Margaret Weis, Elle Katherine White
Epic Fantasy - Terry Brooks, David and Leigh Eddings, Raymond E. Feist, Terry Goodkind, Marlon James, Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, Tad Williams
Historical - Katherine Arden, Stephen R. Lawhead, Ami McKay, Madeline Miller
Humorous - Piers Anthony, Jasper Fforde, Tom Holt, Christopher Moore, Terry Pratchett
Legends - J. Gregory Keyes, Patricia McKillip, Gergory Maguire, Juliet Marillier, Rosalind Miles, Jack Whyte
Quest/Adventure - Louis McMaster Bujold, Robin Hobb, Guy Gavriel Kay, Dennis McKiernan, Mickey Zucker
Reichert, R.A. Salvatore, Sharon Shinn
Urban Fantasy - Steven Brust, Jim Butcher, Charles DeLint, Neil Gaiman, Seanan McGuire