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Fantasy is my favorite literary genre. It transports you out of this world into new universes and possibilities. In a fantasy novel, anything can happen–quite literally. The author doesn’t abide by the laws of nature and predictable outcomes.

Let’s explore what fantasy is and the different types of fantasy and fantasy sub-genres.

What Is Fantasy?

The fantasy genre focuses on fantastical or imaginary elements. It’s a very broad genre that includes any book that steps out of the natural laws and elements of nature.

While magic is most often associated with fantasy, it isn’t a requirement for the genre. Fantasy can include a number of fantastical elements, including:

• Magic
• Supernatural elements
• Magical or mythical creatures
• Monsters
• Fairies, vampires, werewolves, and other mythical races
• Imagined worlds
• Superheroes

10 Types of Fantasy in Literature

You can break the fantasy genre down further into subgenres and types of fantasy. Here are ten of the most popular fantasy subgenres.

1. High Fantasy/Epic Fantasy

High fantasy, often called epic fantasy, are imaginative stories that occur in a world entirely separate from our own. A unique characteristic of high fantasy is its own world system, natural laws, and races.

Because the author creates his or her own world, they have no restrictions on what can take place.

High fantasy often focuses on a primary hero who must accomplish a quest or go on a long journey.

Some well-known examples of high fantasy include The Lord of the Rings and Eragon.

2. Low Fantasy

Low fantasy still uses magical elements, but they occur in the real world. Because the magical meets the realistic, authors must consider natural laws when incorporating magical races and items in the story for it to feel real.

Sometimes low fantasy includes entire magical systems and groups in the real world, like Harry Potter and Inkheart. However, low fantasy may just include a single magical element and its small impact on the real world, like The Indian in the Cupboard.

Low fantasy has further subgenres that differentiate what the stories focus on, including:

• Magical Realism: Magical elements are a normal and accepted part of the regular world
• Paranormal Romance: A romance subgenre that incorporates supernatural creatures like vampires

3. Urban Fantasy

Urban fantasy falls somewhere between low and high fantasy. What sets it apart is its city setting. Urban fantasy may take place in modern, recognized cities, but they don’t have to.

For example, batman may be considered urban fantasy, but Gotham is a made-up city that pulls from elements in the real world.

Urban fantasy also tends to have similar aesthetics (think leather clothing, motorcycles, and muted colors).

A well-known urban fantasy is City of Bones.

4. Mythological

Mythological fantasy pulls from folklore and ancient myths. Greek and Roman gods are popular characters authors use. Viking mythology is also growing in popularity.

The Illiad and The Odyssey are classic examples of mythological fantasy. Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a modern mythological fantasy.

5. Dark Fantasy

Dark fantasy, also sometimes called gothic fantasy, is a combination of horror and fantasy. Rather than a story of brave heroes and epic journeys, it’s a story of monsters and frightening scenarios. Dark fantasy does not guarantee a happy ending or victory over the villain.

Often in dark fantasy, the horror story includes supernatural elements or happenings the characters cannot explain. Authors will sometimes use the dark fantasy identifier if the story includes more external forces rather than internal ones of traditional horror and thriller.

Edgar Allan Poe is a classic example of a dark fantasy writer.

6. Fairy Tales and Fables

Fairy tales and fables are short-form fantasy stories. Fables, on the one hand, aim to teach a lesson using fantastical elements like talking animals. Fairy tales are usually merely for entertainment.

Fairy tales typically are light-hearted and have a happy ending (though the original Little Mermaid may beg to differ). In fairy tales, life is idealized. Picture overly happy, bright, and sunny settings and people who sing to animals and never have a bad hair day.

7. Science Fantasy/Sci-Fi Fantasy

Science fantasy, or sci-fi fantasy, is a cross between science fiction and fantasy. It may have mythological creatures like dragons, but it may also use science-based elements like spaceships or lightsabers.

Some argue Star Wars falls into the Sci-Fi Fantasy category because there are fantastical elements, races, and powers in addition to advanced science. Marvel superheroes may also be considered science fantasy since they have supernatural abilities, but those abilities have a scientific explanation.

8. Dystopian Fantasy

Dystopian novels occur in the distant future, where society is often corrupted and broken. There is usually a hero who aims to right the world or fight an unfair dictatorship.

Some might argue dystopian novels fall more into speculative fiction, especially if the novel holds true to the current world but has a different government and world order.

However, if the dystopian world contains advanced (almost fantastical) technological advancements and even hints of magic, it falls into dystopian fantasy.

Two primary examples of dystopian fantasy include The Hunger Games and The Lunar Chronicles.

9. Historical Fantasy

Historical fantasy build worlds based on real historical times. Medieval times are most popular to use in fantasy worldbuilding. Historical fantasy may also pull in characters and stories from history, like King Author.

Historical fantasy usually contains familiar elements such as:

• Castles
• Sword fights
• Horse riding
• Historical or culturally-inspired clothing
• Historical battle maneuvers

10. Crossworlds Fantasy

Crossworlds fantasy involves parallel worlds, time travel, or world travel. It doesn’t just deal with one place and time or one world.

Characters may travel between the real world and a fantasy world or multiple fantasy worlds.

Some of the most famous examples of crossworlds fantasy include The Chronicles of Narnia and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

What Is Your Favorite Fantasy Subgenre?

Let me know your favorite types of fantasy and books within that fantasy subgenre.

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