Description

Tales of the Tome

We delve into a myriad of Fantasy literature sub-genres and get lost in their descriptions, grey zones and publications. Here the Fantasy literature sub-genres we cover in our segment 'Tales of the Tome' of this Rolling Into Fantasy episode:

High Fantasy:

• Set in a secondary, often magical world with epic stakes.
• Grand, sweeping stories with a clear battle between good and evil, featuring complex world-building, often with maps, languages, and detailed histories.
• Examples:

-The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien 

- The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan

- The Chronicles of Prydain, by Lloyd Alexander

- The Inheritance Cycle, by Christopher Paolini

- The Belgariad, by David Eddings

- Throne of Glass, by Maas

- The Hobbit, by J.R.R; Tolkien

Low Fantasy:

• Set in the real world or a world similar to ours but with magical elements that are less pervasive.
• Magic and fantastical elements exist but are more subtle or rare; stories are often more grounded.
• Examples:

- Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling 

- Percy Jackson, by Rick Riordan

- The starless sea, Erin Morgenstern

- The Raven Cycle, by Maggie Stiefvater

- The Magicians, by Lev Grossman

- Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman

- The Bartimaeus Trilogy, by Jonathan Stroud

Sword and Sorcery:

•  Focuses on fast-paced, action-driven stories involving heroes, magic, and combat.
•  Emphasis on personal conflicts, battles, and adventures, often with a lone or small group of protagonists.
• Examples:

- Conan the Barbarian, by Robert E. Howard 

- Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, by Fritz Leiber

- Elric of Melniboné, by Michael Moorcock

- The Witcher series, by Andrzej Sapkowski

- Thieves’ World anthology, edited by Robert Asprin

Epic Fantasy:

• A sub-genre of High Fantasy characterized by large-scale stories, often involving world-spanning quests and battles.
•  Multi-volume series with numerous characters, intricate plots, and detailed world-building.
• Examples:

- A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R.R. Martin 

- The Stormlight Archive, by Brandon Sanderson

- Malazan Book of the Fallen, by Steven Erikson

- The Broken Empire, by Mark Lawrence

- The Faithful and the Fallen, by John Gwynne

Dark Fantasy:

•  Blends fantasy with horror, focusing on dark, often violent themes.
•  Morally ambiguous characters, grim settings, and an atmosphere of dread or despair.
• Examples:

- The Black Company, by Glen Cook 

- The First Law, by Joe Abercrombie

- Atlas Six, by Olivie Blake

- Wicked Saints, Emily A. Duncan

Historical Fantasy:

• Combines historical settings with fantasy elements.
• Real historical events, places, or figures are integrated with magic, mythical creatures, or alternative histories.
• Examples:

- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke 

- The Golem and the Jinni, by Helene Wecker

- Babel, by Kuang R. F.

- Circe, by Madeline Miller

Fairy Tale Retellings:

• Reinterpretations of traditional fairy tales.
• Familiar stories reimagined, often with a darker tone or more complex characters.
• Examples:

- Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine

- Uprooted, by Naomi Novik

- Cinderella is dead, by Kalynn Bayron

- Heartless, by Marissa...