Fantasy author, R. B. Michaels’s latest book, Knights of The Wind 978-1-95-163054-6, is based in the world, where elves, orcs, and many more dark creatures exist among humans. After evil returns to the kingdom after centuries, the peace of the land is threatened and disturbed. A powerful mage and a knight are destined to come together and help the land from falling into the deep well of evil. Fantasy is a type of fiction, but it further branches out to subgenres. Thoughts on Fantasy has combined the subgenres and its definition in the following list to help readers and prospective writers better understand fantasy and its subgenres.
· High Fantasy / Epic Fantasy
Perhaps the most traditional sub-genre, high fantasy or epic fantasy takes place in an entirely fictional fantasy world. The stories are often lengthy and epic, involving multiple characters and large-scale quests where the fate of the world rests on the shoulders of the heroes. Some people use the term epic fantasy to specifically refer to more lengthy or large-scale high fantasies, however many (myself included) use the terms epic and high interchangeably.
· Low Fantasy
A fantasy that takes place in the real world or something very like the real world and includes magical or supernatural elements ("low" does not mean this is a lesser or poorer form of fantasy!). Characters often discover secret magical forces or supernatural creatures within their supposedly normal surroundings.
· Portal Fantasy
A fantasy where characters travel from the real world into a fictional fantasy world, often through a portal or gateway. They are usually swept up in the problems and politics of the fantasy world and become important to the course of history there, then return to the real world greatly changed by their experience.
· Urban Fantasy / Contemporary Fantasy
Urban fantasy can be tricky to define as it has been used in many different ways, often interchangeably with other fantasy sub-genre terms such as low fantasy and paranormal fantasy. While it generally describes a fantasy set in an urban environment or society, it has also become synonymous with contemporary fantasy – a fantasy set in the present-day real world.
Thus an urban fantasy is generally understood to be a low fantasy set in a real-world, modern, urban society (or something closely resembling one). Many urban fantasies are also paranormal fantasies or paranormal romances.
· Paranormal / Paranormal Romance
A paranormal novel or film is a low fantasy (i.e. set in thereal world) in which supernatural creatures or talents exist and are a key focus of the story. This is often seen as a blend of fantasy and Gothic/Horror genres.
A paranormal romance is a paranormal novel or film where romance is a key focus of the plot. It is usually, but not always, a romance between a supernatural being and a human.
· Fantasy Romance / High Fantasy Romance
A fantasy romance is a high fantasy (i.e. set in a fictional world) in which romance is a core element.
· Young Adult Fantasy (YA Fantasy)
A fantasy that is primarily aimed or marketed at a young adult (teenage) readership, usually with young adult protagonists.
· Children’s Fantasy
A children's fantasy (sometimes called a juvenile fantasy) is primarily aimed at children, usually with child protagonists. Sometimes novels are considered to be both YA fantasies and children's fantasies, particularly if they appeal to an age group that bridges late childhood and the early teenage years. Interestingly, portal fantasies are also often juvenile fantasies (something I learned through putting together this list!).
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