Our second part of the various Fantasy literature sub-genres we (dis)cover in this segment takes us from Urban Fantasy through Grimdark, to Flintlock Fantasy. Buckle up!

Urban Fantasy

• Set in a contemporary urban environment
• Magic and supernatural creatures exist in the modern world, often hidden from the public
• Examples:

- The Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher

- Rivers of London, by Ben Aaronovitch

- Kate Daniels series, by Ilona Andrews

- October Daye series, by Seanan McGuire

- The Iron Druid Chronicles, by Kevin Hearne

Portal Fantasy

• Characters travel from the real world to a magical or fantastical world through a portal.
• Often involves a journey of discovery or adventure in a new world with its own rules and logic.
• Examples:

- The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis

- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll

- The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper

- The Light Between Worlds, by Laura E. Weymouth

- The Fionavar Tapestry, by Guy Gavriel Kay

Mythic Fantasy

• Incorporates elements of myth and legend into the narrative.
• Often draws on classical mythology, folklore, or ancient legends to craft the story.
• Examples:

- American Gods, by Neil Gaiman

- The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller

- The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper

- The Light Between Worlds, by Laura E. Weymouth

- The Fionavar Tapestry, by Guy Gavriel Kay

Science Fantasy

• Blends elements of science fiction and fantasy.
• Incorporates advanced technology alongside magical or supernatural elements.
• Examples:

- Dune, by Frank Herbert

- The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

- The Dark Tower, by Stephen King

- Shadowrun, RPG novels

- The Broken Earth Trilogy, by N.K. Jemisin

- Lord of Light, by Roger Zelazny

- Piranesi, by Susanna Clark

- Scythe, by Neil Shusterman

Grimdark

• A sub-genre of Dark Fantasy that emphasizes bleak, dystopian settings with morally gray characters.
• High levels of violence, despair, and often a pessimistic worldview.
• Examples:

- Warhammer 40,000 series

- Prince of Thorns, by Mark Lawrence

- The Malazan Empire, series by Ian C. Esslemont

- Best Served Cold, by Joe Abercrombie

- The Traitor Baru Cormorant, by Seth Dickinson

- The Poppy War, by RF Kuang

- The Assassin's Apprentice, By Robin Hobb

Gaslamp Fantasy

• Fantasy set in or inspired by the Victorian or Edwardian eras, often featuring steampunk elements.
• Combines the aesthetics and social structures of the 19th century with magical elements.
• Examples:

- Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series

- The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern

- The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters, by Gordon Dahlquist

- The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter, by Theodora Goss

- Soulless, by Gail Carriger

Weird Fantasy

• Incorporates surreal, bizarre, or otherworldly elements.
• Often...

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...

1. Who are we?
2. What is Rolling Into Fantasy?
3. What do we plan?
4. Introducing Segments: 'Tales from the Tome' & 'Through the Palantir'

Laurent:

• Earliest memory: Star Wars, which premiered Oct. 27, 1977; later ESB & ROJ
• Other movies: Excalibur (1981); The Dark Crystal (1982 Jim Henson & Frank Oz); Conan the Barbarian (1982); The Never Ending Story (1984); Labyrinth (1986 - Jim Henson); Willow (1988)
• Literature: Fighting Fantasy books & Lone Wolf gamebooks (discovered the French versions first: Loup Solitaire, Défis Fantastique) + Stephen King (Mist)

Marie-Noor:

• Literature: Harry Potter >> Throne of glass: political intrigue, medieval fantasy, etc.
• Roleplay: “made up things” >> roleplay >> D&D >> larp
• Series/movies: Star Wars >> Game of Thrones, Arcane, She-Ra, very wide

• A bi-weekly podcast where we, Marie-Noor & Laurent, a father-daughter duo delve into the enchanting world of Fantasy.
• With an inter-generational approach spanning over more than 30 years of love for Fantasy, we explore Fantasy literature, games, pop culture, music, series & movies. Each episode connects different aspects of Fantasy, rolling seamlessly from one topic to another.
• Join us every fortnight on Thursdays as we discuss the origins of Fantasy, current news, and exciting things to come in the realm of Fantasy. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the genre, "Rolling into Fantasy" has something magical for everyone.
• You'll us on Spotify, Apple, or any other podcast player or through our website www.rollingintofantasy.org

• Exploring Fantasy literature, games, pop culture, music, series & movies. Each episode connects different aspects of Fantasy, rolling seamlessly from one topic to another.
• Sharing the passion for Fantasy & discovering new connections & guests
• Episodes air every fortnight on Thursdays

Laurent:

• Gaming books: Fighting Fantasy (Sir Ian Livingstone)
• Gaming books: Lone Wolf (Joe Dever, 1984)

Marie-Noor:

• The Poppy War, by R.F. Kuang
• DIE, by Kieron Gillen & Stephanie Hans

• What are the current Fantasy literature (sub-) genres?
• Book: Age of the God Eater: Herald
• Book: Twelve Jackals: Illicitum Book One: 1 (Moud Adel, 2024)
• Book: The Faithful and the Fallen: Malice (John Gwynne, 2012)
• Book: Voyage of the Damned (Frances White, 2024)

• The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1) by R.F. Kuang - Goodreads
• Dark Horse Comics & Wizards of the Coast team up
• The Eye of the World (The Wheel of Time, #1) by Robert Jordan - Goodreads