Genre: Fantasy

Fantasy, that genre I seem to love so much and yet the one that is so all-encompassing that most everyone would be able to find something to like in it.

A definition:

“The definition of this fictional genre could be described as something that contains rudiments that are not realistic...Fantasy is often characterized by a departure from the accepted rules...it represents that which is impossible (unexplained) and outside the parameters of our known reality.” (Found here.)

“An imaginative or fanciful work, especially one dealing with supernatural or unnatural events or characters.” (Found here.)http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fantasy

There are many different forms of fantasy.  Some basic characteristics are:

• Internally consistent setting
• Mythology and folklore are inherent in the structure of the world and may play an important part
• Internal and consistent logic
• May or may not be in a world created just for the book

From Query Tracker (written by Elana):

“Fantasy stories are set in other worlds or other realities...Magic is a huge element of fantasy stories.”

These are just some basics.  There are, of course, plenty of variations and other elements that could be incorporated into it all.

Sub-genres:

High fantasy

• Also known as epic fantasy.  Set in invented or parallel worlds.  So, my book Oracles Promise would have been considered high fantasy.  In this case, high doesn’t mean literary or over-intellectual.
• The setting can either be corollary to the real world or a world that “exists” entirely separate from the real world.  Examples of the former would be Narnia while Tolkien’s Middle-Earth is the latter.
• Generally more serious in their tone and have a grander scope than other sub-genres.
• One hero’s POV.
• Often authors of high fantasy will tell multiple stories from their world since it is so time-consuming and intensive a process to create a new world.

Sword and sorcery

• Not to be confused with the company, this sub-genre is more adventure and personal struggles than on the grand scale, humankind and all its cohorts are in danger sort of issues of high fantasy.
• Swashbuckling heroes.
• Usually incorporate a strong romance and either a very prominent magic or supernatural something or other.

Dark fantasy

• Combines fantasy elements with horror or Gothic elements.
• Humanity threatened by forces that humans don’t, can’t, or won’t understand in their fullest apparitions.

Low fantasy

• Less emphasis on the created world, on the fantastical elements
• Often take place in real-world locations
• Perhaps a less derogatory-seeming term would be urban or paranormal fantasy.

From Query Tracker: “These [urban fantasy] stories deal with magical or paranormal elements in a real world, contemporary (or urban) setting.”

Comic fantasy

• Tone is funny, as is the intent
• Set in created worlds
• Parodies other fantasy works and worlds in some way

Looking for fantasy books?

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Booklist

http://www.sfbooklist.co.uk/

Fantasy 100- Top 100 Fantasy Books

http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersykes/fantasy100/lists_books.html

Further reading

http://querytracker.blogspot.com/2009/04/defining-genres-where-does-your-book.html

My recommendations:

High fantasy

Tamora Pierce (for YA)

David Eddings (for adult.  Just stay away from his Dreamers series.)

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Urban or Paranormal

Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven series

Charlie Fletcher’s Stoneheart trilogy

What about you?  Do you have any recommendations for books we should be reading in the fantasy genre and its sub-genres?

Sources

http://querytracker.blogspot.com/2009/04/defining-genres-where-does-your-book.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fantasy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_fantasy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_fantasy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_fantasy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword_and_sorcery

http://www.findmeanauthor.com/fantasy_fiction_genre.htm