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サマリー
あらすじ・解説
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...