Fantasy literature has some ancient roots that have grown and flourished into what it is today through different movements, including the renaissance and romanticism. Its evolution encompasses contributions from all over the world—ghost stories, religious stories, fables, folklore, and fairy tales. Though some influences—like the stories of knighthood from the Middle Ages—are more felt than others. The fantasy genre that we know today was solidified between the nineteenth and twentieth century. Allow me to track some of its most notable components, how it differs from similar genres, and recommend some excellent new titles.

Fantasy is anything with a fantastical element. It doesn’t have to be a tale that takes place in a completely new world, fantasy can be as easy as having a magic mirror in an otherwise ordinary world. The mere existence of this unexplainable object transforms the story into one of fantasy. One time, I read a story about a girl who’d travel to Colorado to ski every year, and on her last trip she realized the ski resort she would stay at had a portal to several other worlds. A simple premise with a magical twist. 

One of the earliest forms of fantasy in recorded history is that of Homer’s Iliad and the Odyssey.[1] The mythology found within is one that has stayed with us for centuries, giving way to an indefinite number of stories that emulate some or all aspects of it. And at the center of these myths is magic, for how else does Athena burst from Zeus’s head, or Medusa survive without her head of snakes turning on her? How does Poseidon control the sea, and how are these Gods so tangible in their heavens? But Greek mythology isn’t the end-all be-all for fantasy origins. Many other cultures, legends and religious tales have influenced the genre as well. Celtic tales and Geoffrey of Monmouth’s the legend of King Arthur and wizard Merlin have spread throughout the world alongside Mayan stories of the sun and their many other Gods.[2] Creation myths from all parts of the world have at some point or another crossed paths with someone writing or telling a fantastical story that just needs something more. With such a broad definition, the sources of inspiration are truly endless.

But how did we come to have the full arcs and worlds we know today? How did stories, for the most part being passed down orally, eventually condense into a mass-market paperback, or a gold-foiled hardcover?

Well, in the Middle Ages, stories with fantastical elements were often told to teach a lesson, to protect or warn people, and to instill a sense of morality. But then during the renaissance, the priority shifted towards entertainment, and finally with romanticism, the poets made love ballads and plucked poetry out of myths.[1] John Keats’ La Belle Dame Sans Merci and Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Queen Mab are some notable examples inspiring art that, in turn, inspired even more narratives of the following decades.[3] Alongside the poets, collections of fairy tales were also bound at this time for a target audience of children.

With these changes in audience, purpose and form, towards the end of the 19th century finally came what is regarded as the first fantasy novel: Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women by George MacDonald.[1] From it, everything sort of snowballed. Lewis Carroll and H. Rider Haggard followed first with their own novels. Then, within the 20th century and amidst the wars taking place, the desire for escapism rose and fueled the classics we’ve come to know and love. In 1937 Tolkien publishes, C.S. Lewis in 1950, and Ursula K. Le Guin in 1968. The sagas of these authors, among many others, build the blueprint for current fantasy books.

Many people seem to miss and long for the age of the greats mentioned above, and it’s reasonable to feel that nostalgia. However, fantasy has not lost its momentum. It has grown exponentially and holds a wide array of subgenres. There are dozens upon dozens of would-be classic books and series out there, you just have to look beyond some of the noise to find it.

First, let’s get some things straight: fantasy and science fiction are not the same thing! Some sci-fi can be labeled fantasy and some fantasy can seem like sci-fi, but they both have their own unique definitions. Fantasy is rooted in things that aren’t real or possible, but science fiction tends to create fantastical worlds with plausible, reasonable explanations.[4] Sci-fi often shows a world that could be possible in a lost past, parallel, or future reality. Fantasy is a world that is fundamentally different with the existence of a magical element. Crossovers do occasionally happen but let’s put that aside for now.

Just kidding! My first recommendation of excellent modern fantasy is N. K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth Trilogy, particularly the first title: The Fifth Season. In this world, apocalyptic “seasons” can ravage entire civilizations. We follow characters through the survival of the latest one and are given a glimpse into what led us all to the first chapter. It is masterfully told.

Another brilliant book from recent years is Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree. Dragonriders, queens, and priests! What more could you want? Shannon makes good use of her characters to give us an in-depth view of the expansive world she has created with its own history, religion, and dubious lineages.

Next up, a deeply political fantasy title: The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson. We follow Baru, whose homeland has been colonized, as she makes her way in and through the new regime. Let’s just say, she’s playing a long game. Be warned, though, as this is a currently unfinished series with no publication date in sight for the next book.

Last but not least, a personal favorite: Tessa Gratton’s The Queens of Innis Lear. If it wasn’t obvious by the name, it is in fact based on Shakespeare’s King Lear. Three daughters fighting for a crown amidst a prophecy. Talking stars and talking trees and blood magic. Expect the unexpected, and have fun!

These titles all have my personal stamp of approval. Pick any of these up for a funky good time! But please check trigger warnings ahead of time. Thank you for reading!

[1] https://bkbass.com/essays-articles-and-musings/genre-studies/history-of-fantasy-literature/

[2] https://the-artifice.com/fantasy-writing-middle-ages-renaissance/

[3] https://fantasy.bnf.fr/en/understand/romanticism-british-literature-fantasized-middle-ages/

[4] https://fantasy.bnf.fr/en/understand/romanticism-british-literature-fantasized-middle-ages/

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