As with other forms of speculative fiction, actions and events in fantasy very often differ from those possible in consensus reality. In many cases, especially in older works of fantasy but in many modern works as well, this is explained by means of divine intervention, magic, or other supernatural forces. In other cases, most frequently in works of modern fantasy in the high fantasy subgenre, the story might take place in a fantasy world that is wholly different from our own, complete with distinct laws of nature that permit magic.
The defining characteristics of fantasy fiction and its many overlapping sub-genres are the subject of debate among writers, scholars and fans of the genre.
One characteristic often cited to delineate the boundary of fantasy is that the story's setting differs from our own universe in a manner that is not the result of science or technology, but rather the result of magic or other anomalous phenomena. This criterion is commonly, but not universally, accepted. For example, much of children's literature might fit this definition (e.g. the works of Dr. Seuss), but is nevertheless considered by many to be a separate genre.
As a genre, fantasy is both associated with and contrasted with science fiction and horror fiction. All three genres feature elements of the fantastic and make radical departures from reality or radical speculations regarding the nature of reality. Some writers and critics therefore prefer the term speculative fiction due to the frequent crossover from one genre to another. The term science fantasy is also sometimes used to describe science fiction stories that incorporate elements of fantasy, or fantasy stories that occur in settings more commonly associated with science fiction.
Further blurring the definition, some suggest there is a distinction between the fantasy genre and the more generic "fantastic", the latter referring to the use of fantasy-like elements in other fiction genres.
History
Though the genre in its modern sense is less than two centuries old, its antecedents have a long and distinguished history.
Beginning perhaps with the Epic of Gilgamesh and the earliest written documents known to humankind, mythic and other elements that would eventually come to define fantasy and its various subgenres have been a part of some of the grandest and most celebrated works of literature. From The Odyssey to Beowulf, from Arthurian Legend and medieval romance to the epic poetry of the Divine Comedy, fantastical adventures featuring brave heroes and heroines, deadly monsters, and secret arcane realms have inspired many audiences. In this sense, the history of fantasy and the history of literature are inextricably intertwined.
The history of modern fantasy literature begins with George MacDonald, the scottish author of such novels as The Princess and the Goblin and Phantastes the latter of which is widely considered to be the first fantasy novel ever written for adults. MacDonald was a major influence on both J. R. R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. The other major fantasy author of this era was William Morris, a popular American poet wrote several novels in the latter part of the century including The Well at the World's End.
Despite MacDonald's future influence, and Morris' popularity at the time it wasn't until the turn of the century that fantasy fiction began to reach a large audience. Edward Plunkett, better known as Lord Dunsany established the genre's popularity both in the novel and short story form. Many popular mainstream authors also began to write fantasy at this time including H. Rider Haggard, Rudyard Kipling and Edgar Rice Burroughs. These authors, along with Abraham Merritt established what was known as the "Lost World" sub-genre, which was the most popular form of fantasy in the early decades of the 20th] although several classic children's fantasies such as Peter Pan and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz were also published around this time.
In 1923 the first all-fantasy fiction magazine, Weird Tales as created. Many other similar magazines eventually followed, most noticably The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. The pulp magazine format was at the height of its popularity at this time and was instrumental in bringing fantasy fiction to a wide audience in both the U.S. and Brittain. Such magazines were also instumental in the rise of science fiction and it was at this time the two genres began to be associated with each other.
By 1950 Sword and Sorcery fiction had began to find a wide audience, with the scucess of Howard's Conan and Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and Gray Mouser stories. However, it was the advent of high fantasy, and most of all the popularity of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings in the late 1960's that allowed fantasy to truly enter the mainstream. Several other series such as C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia and Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea helped cement the genre's popularity.
The popularity of the fantasy genre has continued to increase in the 21st century, as evidenced by the best-selling status of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter. Several fantasy film adaptations that have achieved blockbuster status, most notably the recent The Lord of the Rings films.
Media
- For more details on this topic, see fantasy art, fantasy literature, fantasy film, and fantasy television.
Fantasy is a popular genre, having found a home for itself in almost every medium. While fantasy art and recently fantasy films have been increasingly popular successful, it is been fantasy literature which has always been the genre's primary mdium.
Fantasy role-playing games cross several different media. The 'pen & paper' role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons was the first and is arguably the most successful and influential, though the pseudo-science fantasy role-playing game series Final Fantasy has been an icon of the computer role-playing game genre. Role-playing games have in turn spawned much new art, literature, and even music in the genre. Game companies have published fantasy novels set in their own fictional game universes; the Forgotten Realms, and Dragonlance series are some of the more popular.
Similarly, series of novels based on fantasy films and TV series have found their own niche.
Modern fantasy, including early modern fantasy, has also spawned many new subgenres with no clear counterpart in mythology or folklore, although inspiration from mythology and folklore remains a consistent theme. Fantasy subgenres are numerous and diverse, frequently overlapping with other forms of speculative fiction in almost every medium in which they're produced. Noteworthy in this regard are the science fantasy and dark fantasy subgenres, which the fantasy genre shares with science fiction and horror, respectively.
Subculture
Fans of fantasy get together yearly at the World Fantasy Convention. The first was held in 1975 and it has occurred every year since. The convention is held at a different city each year.
Additionally, many science fiction conventions, such as Florida's FX Show or MegaCon, also cater to fantasy and horror fans, and anime conventions, such as JACON or Anime Expo frequently feature showings of fantasy, science fantasy or dark fantasy series and films such as Cardcaptor Sakura (fantasy), Sailor Moon (science fantasy), xxxHolic (dark fantasy) or Spirited Away (fantasy). Many science fiction/fantasy and anime conventions also strongly feature or cater to one or more of the several subcultures within the main subcultures, including the cosplay subculture (in which people make and/or wear costumes based on existing or self-created characters, sometimes also acting out skits or plays as well) and the fan fiction subculture, the fan vid or AMV subculture, as well as the large internet subculture devoted to reading and writing prose fiction and/or doujinshi in or related to those genres.
See also
External links