Fantasy literature is fantasy in written form. Historically speaking, the majority of fantasy works have been literature. Since the 1950s however, a growing segment of the fantasy genre has taken the form of video games, music, painting, and the like. Smaug in his lair: an illustration for the fantasy The Hobbit Fantasy is a genre of art that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about computer and video games. ... // Music is an art form consisting of sound and silence expressed through time. ... For building painting, see painter and decorator. ...

History

It is difficult to define the precise 'beginning' of fantasy literature, as stories involving magic and terrible monsters have existed since time immemorial. Homer's Odyssey, the second work of European literature written, satisfies the definition of the fantasy genre with its magic, gods, heroes, adventures and monsters, though at the time it would have been thought of as being based on actual historical events. Albeit on the whole, the genre, as a distinct type, began to become visible in the Victorian times, in the works of writers such as William Morris, Lord Dunsany and George Macdonald. The Sorceress by John William Waterhouse Magic and sorcery are the influencing of events, objects, people and physical phenomena by mystical, paranormal or supernatural means. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Homer (Greek: ) is the name given to the supposed unitary author of the early Greek poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. ... Beginning of the Odyssey The Odyssey (Greek Οδύσσεια (Odússeia) ) is one of the two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to the Ionian poet Homer. ... William Morris, socialist and innovator in the Arts and Crafts movement William Morris (March 24, 1834 – October 3, 1896) was an English artist, writer, socialist and activist. ... Best known as Lord Dunsany, Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany (July 24, 1878–October 25, 1957) was an Irish writer and dramatist notable for his work in fantasy and horror. ... George MacDonald George MacDonald (December 10, 1824 – September 18, 1905) was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister. ...

Some commentators assert that the South African-born, English professor of philology, J. R. R. Tolkien, was seminal to the mass-popularization of the fantasy genre, with his hugely successful publications – The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien himself, though, was largely informed by an ancient body of Anglo-Saxon myths — particularly Beowulf — but it was after his work that the genre began to receive the moniker, "fantasy." J. R. R. Tolkien's close friend C.S. Lewis, author of the The Chronicles of Narnia, also an English professor interested in similar themes, was also associated with popularizing the commercial success of the fantasy genre. A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Monarch Queen Elizabeth II... Philology, etymologically, is the love of words. ... John Ronald Reuel Tolkien CBE (3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English philologist, writer and university professor, best known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. ... This article or section contains a plot summary that is overly long or excessively detailed compared to the rest of the article. ... The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel written by the English academic J. R. R. Tolkien. ... Anglo-Saxon polytheism refers to the Migration Period Germanic Heathen religion practiced by the Anglo-Saxons in 5th to 7th century England. ... The first page of Beowulf Beowulf is an Old English heroic epic poem composed around 1100 AD. At 3,183 lines, the poem is notable for its length. ... Clive Staples Lewis (November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963), commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis, was an author and scholar. ... The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of seven fantasy novels for children written by C. S. Lewis. ...

Preeminent authors in the genre who undertook popular fantasy works after Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings phenomenon of the 1950s and 1960s are listed below.^{[citation needed]} The names listed are presented in chronological order, from the earliest published to the latest, along with their most significant works. J. R. R. Tolkien in 1916, wearing his British Army uniform in a photograph from the middle years of WW1. ... The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel written by the English academic J. R. R. Tolkien. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ...

• Michael Moorcock: The Elric of Melnibone series (first novel published 1965).
• Lloyd Alexander: The Chronicles of Prydain (first book published 1964)
• Ursula K. Le Guin : The Earthsea series (first book published 1968)
• Fred Saberhagen: The Earth End sequence (first book published 1968)
• Terry Brooks : The Shannara series (first book published in 1977)
• Piers Anthony : The Xanth series (published 1977)
• David Eddings : The Belgariad (first book published in 1982)
• Raymond E. Feist : The Riftwar saga (first book published 1982)
• Stephen King : The Dark Tower series (first book published 1982)
• Terry Pratchett : The Discworld series (first book published 1983)
• Guy Gavriel Kay : The Fionavar Tapestry trilogy (first book published 1984)
• Tad Williams : Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series (first book published 1988)
• Robert Jordan : The Wheel of Time series (first book published 1990)
• Terry Goodkind : The Sword of Truth series (first book published 1994)
• Robin Hobb : The Farseer, Liveship Traders and Soldier's Son trilogies (first book published 1995)
• Philip Pullman : The His Dark Materials Trilogy (first book published 1995)
• George R.R. Martin : A Song of Ice and Fire series (first book published 1996)
• Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman and others : The Dragonlance series (first book published in 1984)

Michael John Moorcock (born December 18, 1939, in London, England) is a prolific English writer primarily of science fiction and fantasy who has also published a number of literary novels. ... Stormbringer (Lancer, 1967) Elric of Melniboné is a fictional character created by Michael Moorcock. ... Book cover of The High King Lloyd Chudley Alexander (born January 30, 1924) is the author of a number of fantasy books for children and adolescents, as well as several adult novels. ... The Chronicles of Prydain is a five-volume series of childrens fantasy novels by Lloyd Alexander. ... Ursula Kroeber Le Guin [ˌɜɹsÉ™lÉ™ ËŒkɹobɜɹ ləˈgWɪn] (born October 21, 1929) is an American author. ... Cover to 1991 Bantam Books paperback edition of A Wizard of Earthsea, illustrated by John Jude Palencar Earthsea is a fictional realm created by Ursula K. Le Guin for her short story The Word of Unbinding, published in 1964, but that became more famous in her novel A Wizard of... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Terry Brooks Terry Brooks (born January 8, 1944) is a writer of fantasy fiction. ... This article is about the fantasy series. ... Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob (born August 6, 1934 in Oxford, England) is a writer in the science fiction and fantasy genres, publishing under the name Piers Anthony. ... Xanth is a fantasy world created by author Piers Anthony for a series of novels. ... David Eddings (born July 7, 1931) is an American author who has written several best-selling series of epic fantasy novels. ... The Belgariad is a five-book fantasy epic written by David Eddings. ... Raymond Elias Feist (born 1945, Los Angeles, California) is an American author, mostly specialising in fantasy fiction. ... The Riftwar Saga is a series of fantasy novels by Raymond E. Feist. ... Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of over 200 stories including over 50 bestselling horror novels. ... The Dark Tower painting by Michael Whelan The Dark Tower is a series of seven books by American writer Stephen King that tells the tale of lead character Roland Deschains quest for the Dark Tower. ... Terence David John Pratchett OBE (born April 28, 1948, in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England[1]) is an English fantasy author, best known for his Discworld series. ... Cover of an early edition of The Colour of Magic; art by Josh Kirby Discworld is a comedic fantasy book series by the British author Terry Pratchett set on the Discworld, a flat world balanced on the backs of four elephants which are in turn standing on the back of... Canadian author Guy Gavriel Kay Guy Gavriel Kay (born November 7, 1954) is a Canadian author of fantasy fiction. ... The Fionavar Tapestry is a trilogy of fantasy novels by Guy Gavriel Kay, set partly in our own contemporary world, but mostly in the fictional world of Fionavar. ... Robert Paul Tad Williams (born March 14, 1957) is the author of several fantasy and science fiction novels, including Tailchasers Song, the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series, the Otherland series, and The War of the Flowers. ... Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is Tad Williamss epic fantasy trilogy, comprising The Dragonbone Chair (1988), Stone of Farewell (1990) and To Green Angel Tower (1993). ... For other persons named Robert Jordan, see Robert Jordan (disambiguation). ... This article is about a fantasy series. ... Terry Goodkind (born 1948) is a contemporary American writer and author of the best-selling epic fantasy series, The Sword of Truth, which according to his publisher TOR in an August, 2006 press release[1] has more than 10 million copies in print and has been translated into 20 different... On the cover of Stone of Tears, Richard is seen holding, presumably, the Sword of Truth. ... At the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow, August 2005 Robin Hobb is the pen name of Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden (born 1952 in California). ... Philip Pullman CBE (born October 19, 1946) is an English writer. ... The trilogy (U.K versions), in order of succession from left to right. ... George R. R. Martin, circa 1986 George Raymond Richard Martin (born September 20, 1948 in Bayonne, New Jersey) is an American writer of science fiction and fantasy, and also a screenwriter and producer. ... A Song of Ice and Fire (commonly abbreviated as ASoIaF) is a series of epic fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin. ... Margaret Baldwin Weis (born March 16, 1948 in Independence, Missouri, United States) is an extremely prolific fantasy novelist who, along with Tracy Hickman, is one of the original creators of the Dragonlance game world and has written numerous novels and short stories set in the world of Krynn. ... Tracy Raye Hickman (born November 26, 1955) is a best-selling fantasy author, best known for his work on Dragonlance as a game designer and co-author with Margaret Weis, while he worked for TSR. They also wrote the Dark Sword trilogy, the Death Gate Cycle, and the Sovereign Stone... The current edition Dragonlance logo, as seen on all books published in the more recent times. ...

Style

Fantasy has been distinguished from other forms of literature by its style.

Ursula K. LeGuin, in her influential essay, "From Elfland to Poughkeepsie", criticized the use of a colloquial and modern-day style for writing high fantasy.^[1] While she admired the archaic style for its ability to distance prose into a fantasy world rather than appear as a modern world in disguise, when it was used by masters such as Lord Dunsany and E.R. Eddison, she also noted that it was a dangerous trap for fantasy writers because it was ridiculous when done wrong.^[2] Michael Moorcock observed that many writers would use archaic language for its sonority and to lend color to a lifeless story.^[3] Ursula K. Le Guin at an informal bookstore Q&A session, July 2004 Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (born October 21, 1929), is an American author. ... High fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction that is set in invented or parallel worlds. ... A fantasy world is a type of fictional universe in which magic or other similar powers work. ... Best known as Lord Dunsany, Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany (July 24, 1878–October 25, 1957) was an Irish writer and dramatist notable for his work in fantasy and horror. ... Eric Rucker Eddison (November 24, 1882 - August 18, 1945) was an English civil servant and author. ... Michael John Moorcock (born December 18, 1939, in London, England) is a prolific English writer primarily of science fiction and fantasy who has also published a number of literary novels. ...

The fantasy world requires, like any genre, appropriate language, and that language can vary. In various forms of fairytale fantasy, even the villain's language would be inappropriate if vulgar.^[4] Fairytale fantasy is a diverse subgenre of fantasy fiction, starting perhaps with Charles Perrault and other writers who took up the folktales of their time and developed them into literary forms. ...

See also

• List of fantasy novels
• Fantastique

Some notable fantasy novels and novel series, in alphabetical order by title: Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z  - External links Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix namely... Fantastique is a French term for a literary and cinematic genre that overlaps with parts of science fiction, horror and fantasy. ...

Footnotes

References

• Todorov, Tzvetan [1970] (1973). The Fantastic: A Structural Approach to a Literary Genre, trans. Richard Howard, Cleveland: Case Western Reserve University. ISBN 0-8295-0245-9. 

Tzvetan Todorov (Bulgarian: ) (born on March 1, 1939 in Sofia) is a Franco-Bulgarian philosopher. ...

External links

• Fantasy 100: Top 100 lists and short reviews of the all-time greatest fantasy books, films and TV shows