Fantasy
Fantasy is probably one of the most prominent genres. Love books like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings? These are all classified as fantasy novels, as they conform to the conventions of the fantasy genre.
A snippet of Fantasy
The dragon’s might is almost overwhelming me. It creeps closer
and closer, until it’s staring at me. A pair of midnight black eyes burned into
mine, willing me to die. In a last attempt of survival, I slowly draw out my
wand. Not a purple, sparkly stick like in some movies, but made of twisted wood,
enchanted by the greatest wizard of all time. There is a powerful aura
originating from the wand, as I whispered a spell underneath my breath, careful
not to alert the great beast. “Eamque ligande” A ball of light emerges from the
tip of my wand, engulfing me in its light. It illuminates by entire body, from
my short black hair to my scruffy black shoes. The dragon looks up at me in
fright, its scales – which were once hidden from me by the surrounding darkness
– now gleams a bright, ferocious red. The light burns up the beast, its life
slipping away in front of my eyes. As I glance away from this terrible sight, I
notice a wave of red descending from the mountains on the horizon. This is when
I realise that my battle has only just begun.
and closer, until it’s staring at me. A pair of midnight black eyes burned into
mine, willing me to die. In a last attempt of survival, I slowly draw out my
wand. Not a purple, sparkly stick like in some movies, but made of twisted wood,
enchanted by the greatest wizard of all time. There is a powerful aura
originating from the wand, as I whispered a spell underneath my breath, careful
not to alert the great beast. “Eamque ligande” A ball of light emerges from the
tip of my wand, engulfing me in its light. It illuminates by entire body, from
my short black hair to my scruffy black shoes. The dragon looks up at me in
fright, its scales – which were once hidden from me by the surrounding darkness
– now gleams a bright, ferocious red. The light burns up the beast, its life
slipping away in front of my eyes. As I glance away from this terrible sight, I
notice a wave of red descending from the mountains on the horizon. This is when
I realise that my battle has only just begun.
Conventions of the Fantasy Genre
- Mythical creatures (dragons etc.)
- Magic (includes spells, wands, etc.)
- Magical artifacts (for example, the Orb of Aldur in 'The Belgariad' by David Eddings)
- Magical people (such as witches, wizards, sorcerers, sorceresses, etc.)
- Tend to have a positive outcome/ending
- Tend to involve quests to reclaim something stolen, whether it be princess or sword
- Usually set in a make-believe place (such as Neverland in Peter Pan)
- Many tend to use the Medieval era as a setting and shape it to fit the fantasy world
- Usually a hero(s) and a villain(s), very rarely just 'people'
- Magic (includes spells, wands, etc.)
- Magical artifacts (for example, the Orb of Aldur in 'The Belgariad' by David Eddings)
- Magical people (such as witches, wizards, sorcerers, sorceresses, etc.)
- Tend to have a positive outcome/ending
- Tend to involve quests to reclaim something stolen, whether it be princess or sword
- Usually set in a make-believe place (such as Neverland in Peter Pan)
- Many tend to use the Medieval era as a setting and shape it to fit the fantasy world
- Usually a hero(s) and a villain(s), very rarely just 'people'
Some Popular Fantasy Novels
- The Lord of the Rings trilogy - J.R.R. Tolkien
- The Game of Thrones series - George R.R. Martin
- The Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling
- The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
- A Wrinkle in Time - Madeline L'Engle
- The 'His Dark Materials' trilogy - Philip Pullman
- The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss
- The Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks
- 'The Belgariad' and 'The Malloreon' - David Eddings
- The Game of Thrones series - George R.R. Martin
- The Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling
- The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
- A Wrinkle in Time - Madeline L'Engle
- The 'His Dark Materials' trilogy - Philip Pullman
- The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss
- The Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks
- 'The Belgariad' and 'The Malloreon' - David Eddings