Fantasy Fiction Genre
Websites | Readers' Advisory Books | Definition | Keywords for Searching
Websites
ARRT Fantasy Genre Study - The Adult Reading Round Table (ARRT) studied the Fantasy genre from 2004-2005. Their study discusses what fantasy is and what it is not and characteristics of the genre. Sub-genres are included: swords & sorcery, Arthurian legend, fairy tales, bestiary, urban fantasy, romantic fantasy, dark fantasy, parallel/alternative worlds, political fantasy, and humorous fantasy. -- Review from -- http://www.arrtreads.org/
Readers' Advisory Books
Fantasy, the 100 Best Books
Cawthorn, James & Michael Moorcock. (1988). Fantasy, the 100 best books. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers.
Each review tells about the author, the book, and its significance in Fantasy literature. -- Review from http://www.amazon.com
Fluent in Fantasy
Herald, Diana Tixier. (1999). Fluent in fantasy: a guide to reading interests. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited.
Includes a definition of fantasy and a history of the genre. Subsequent chapters provide descriptions and annotated lists of titles in various subgenres including "Sword and Sorcery," "Saga, Myth, and Legend," "Alternate and Parallel Worlds," and "Graphic Novels." There is also a chapter on resources such as bibliographies, biographies, atlases, online resources, organizations and conventions, and awards. A glossary of common fantasy vocabulary, the "YALSA-BK Best Fantasy for YA List," and a recommended core collection are appended.
-- Review from http://www.amazon.com
Historical Dictionary of Fantasy Literature
Stableford, Brian M. (2005). Historical dictionary of fantasy literature. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press.
Includes articles on more than 700 authors and 200 entries covering the history, terminology, and scholarship on fantasy literature.
Arranged alphabetically, there are entries on types of fantasy, such as Animal fantasy, Hallucinatory fantasy, and Traveler's tale help the user classify fantasy literature. The work concludes with an extensive bibliography ranging from "General Reference Works" to "Studies of Individual Authors" and concluding with "Websites."
-- Review from http://www.amazon.com
Science Fiction and Fantasy Reader's Advisory
Buker, Derek M. (2002). The science fiction and fantasy readers' advisory: the librarian's guide to cyborgs, aliens, and Sorcerers. Chicago: American Library Association.
Science fiction and fantasy and their various subgenres are summarized, and recommended books in each subgenre are described, in this guide for librarians unfamiliar with science fiction
and fantasy. Subgenres covered include classic and general science
fiction, cyberpunk, time travel, aliens, historical fantasy, quest fantasy, and fantasy romance. An appendix lists Hugo, Nebula, Mythopoeic, and World Fantasy award winners.
-- Review from http://www.amazon.com
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Definition
Fantasy fiction features stories set in fanciful, invented worlds or in a legendary, mythic past. The stories themselves are often epics or quests, frequently involving magic. The enormous popularity of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy and J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels demonstrates the wide appeal of this genre. -- Review from http://en.wikipedia.org/
Keywords for Searching
Fantasy fiction
Fantastic fiction
Heroic fantasy (Fiction)
Fantasy literature
Use for works that feature imaginary worlds, extraordinary creatures, sorcerers, epic quests and magic.
-- From http://authorities.loc.gov
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