Every now and again, I’ll hear someone say “I don’t like fantasy,” even though they’ve never read any. Of course, everyone has their own preferences in literature, which is totally fine, but I sometimes think that what people mean is that they don’t like a certain type of fantasy. There’s much more than just swords and magic when it comes to fantasy (although I happen to love books that have swords and magic).
Here are a few sub-genres, with explanations, as well as examples of books that fit into each category. Of course, I’m in no way an expert, and some of these books can fit quite comfortably in multiple sub-genres. Talk to me! Tell me what I got right, what I messed up, and what I missed completely. Here goes nothing!
Since my original post, I have learned about and read a few new subgenres, which I am now adding to the list. Let me know what you think!
High Fantasy: High fantasy is probably what comes to mind first when people hear “fantasy.” There are some characteristics that separate high fantasy from other kinds of fantasy. First of all, it’s very character-focused. The choices made by a single character, or a few, are most important. High fantasy is set in its own world with its own defined rules of magic. A common theme is good vs. evil.
Examples: The Swans’ War trilogy by Sean Russell; The Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman; The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
Epic Fantasy: Epic fantasy is, well…epic. It usually consists of a threat to the entire world and has a large cast of characters, as opposed to the few that characterize high fantasy. While The Hobbit, for example, is high fantasy, The Lord of the Rings is what I would classify as epic fantasy. There’s a larger cast of characters, and a danger to the entire world.
Examples: Game of Thrones; Wheel of Time; Lord of the Rings
Low Fantasy: Low fantasy is characterized by magical events that intrude on daily life in a normal world.
Examples: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett; American Gods by Neil Gaiman; Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Sword and Sorcery: Well, aside from the obvious (swords and magic), think romance, and adventure. Sword and Sorcery is a bit on the pulpy side (nothing wrong with that). I always picture 80’s era Sylvester Stallone as the movie equivalent of a Sword and Sorcery hero.
Examples: Conan the Barbarian; Legend by David Gemmell. Honestly, I’m on the fence about including Legend here, as it doesn’t seem as pulpy as other Sword and Sorcery books, but I’m drawing a blank on other examples. What would you add to this category?
Military Fantasy: This is pretty much what it sounds like. It’s basically military life in a fantasy setting, often following one solider, or a small company.
Examples: The Codex Alera by Jim Butcher; The Black Company by Glen Cook
Grimdark Fantasy: Don’t expect happily ever after’s or the archetypal heroes. Grimdark is marked with violence, morally gray as well as completely amoral characters. It also doesn’t shy away from violence.
Examples: Nevernight by Jay Kristoff; The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Dark Fantasy/ Gothic Fantasy: This sub-genre incorporates themes of death, fear, and romance. It has a darker tone, and elements of horror. Think Edgar Allen Poe- goes fantasy, and you’ve got the general idea.
Examples: Black Sun Rising by C.S. Friedman; Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
Urban Fantasy: This is interesting in that there are a few different routes urban fantasy is known to take: either a separate fantasy world with rules that are similar to ours or, conversely, our world with fantasy elements mixed in. Go figure.
Examples: Jackaby by William Ritter; City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Arthurian Fantasy: This is fantasy based directly on the myths and legends of King Arthur.
Examples: The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart; The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Superhero Fantasy: This is fantasy based on the character of a superhero. Easily defined.
Examples: Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson; Vicious by V.E. Schwab
RPG Lit: Combining fantasy with role playing games, the main character is generally aware that they are in a game-type world. Stats. are very much a part of the book, and the characters interact and progress through the book as they would an rpg.
Examples: The Other Normals by Ned Vizzini; Path to Villainy: An NPC Kobold’s Tale by S.L. Rowland
Fairy Tales: Starting as children’s stories, lately there have been many re-imaginings of these books that are marked by fantastical elements and magic.
Examples of fairy tale retellings: Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer; Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik; House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig; A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
Portal Fantasy: I argue that this is a sub-genre in its own right! This would be books in which the characters leave their own world through a portal/door/etc, and travel to a world with different rules than their own. Often, fantasy elements such as magic are present.
Examples: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.
Fantasy of Manners: I’m a little newer to this subgenre ( Thank you to Way Too Fantasy for telling me about this one). You won’t see many dragons or violent battles. This subgenre is defined by its wit and its use of words as weapons. There is often a sort of hierarchy and the battles tend to be more involved with social maneuvering. I tend to picture Jane Austen-meets-fantasy.
Examples: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke; Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
Sword-free Fantasy: Sans fantasy violence, sword-free fantasy uses wondrous, reality-free worlds to explore very real emotions and relationships. Look for themes of family, love, self-acceptance, or self-discovery.
Examples: The Living Waters by Dan Fitzgerald; The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune; Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons by Quenby Olson
Viking-Inspired Fantasy: This subgenre could go a few different directions. It could borrow from heavily from Norse mythology or it can be set in a world that borrows elements from the Norse mythology or Viking way of life while still having its own mythologies or pantheons.
Examples: The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwyne; The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson
Fantasy Comedy: Irreverent and witty, fantasy comedy often takes a humorous look at the fantasy genre, either creating new and entertaining fantasy worlds that focus on humor, parodying common fantasy tropes, or even poking lighthearted fun at specific works of fantasy.
Examples: The Part About the Dragon Was (Mostly) True by Sean Gibson; Harpyness is Only Skin Deep by D.H. Willison; Iliad: The Reboot by Keith Tokash
Time for you to weigh in! What did I get right? What did I mess up? What am I still missing? Let’s talk!
Witty and Sarcastic Bookclub 
Where’s the romantasy? Fantasy romance is the best subgenre! Followed closely by erotic fantasy 😀 (btw did you use Daniel Green’s video for research? You explained some of them in a really similar way and in a similar order)
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No, I didn’t watch a video. I would make sure to credit a source like that. Can you link me? Examples for romantic fantasy and erotic fantasy? I don’t read romance or erotica so I wouldn’t have examples
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Let’s hear it for Military Fantasy! (both your examples are series I happen to love)
I have not heard of Viking Fantasy. That seems oddly specific to me to be “a thing”.
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I went back and forth on Viking inspired, to be honest.
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Viking fantasy almost feels like it would be a subgenre of Historical Fantasy.
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Nice list (and I’m glad to see there are others who don’t think dark fantasy is a type of grimdark).
Re Swords and Sorcery – it’s a hard one to pin down and I struggle to think of many authors around today who are doing what I would absolutely definitely call Swords & Sorcery. I think Gemmell’s work has enough similarities that I wouldn’t demur too much about it being there (although Gemmell more often tends to be called Heroic Fantasy, which in itself is often used as a term for Swords and Sorcery); although I’d half suggest sticking it in Military Fantasy
Other S&S I’d throw out there as possibilities – CL Moore’s Jirel of Joiry, Leiber’s Grey Mouser and Fahfrd, and Moorcock’s Eternal Champion stuff. Larkwood’s The Unspoken Name has something of the feeling if you want something closer to the present day.
I’d also throw out Historical Fantasy as a category (or Historical and Alt-Historical if you want to split them into two) – good examples of historical might include Guy Gavriel Kay’s Children of Earth and Sky, or Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke. The Dragon Waiting by John M Ford is a great alt-Historical. There’s a more or less endless list of fantasy sub-genres that could be added but Historical is one I definitely would.
Oh and I just noticed a typo – Poul Anderson, not Paol Anderson
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Thanks for the heads up on the typo! I’m annoyed at myself for that one.
I haven’t read Gemmell in quite while and he’s an author that I feel could fit comfortably in a couple of different places. I personally think that’s a sign of a good writer!
This listicle is a work in progress (I think the first version is about a year and a half old) , but Historical Fantasy needs to be added. Thanks!
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There’s always one!
And yeah, Gemmell’s whole career has him all over the shop. There’s some historical, there’s some epic, there’s some s&s/heroic, there’s some post-apocalyptic/weird western… all over the place
And I look forwards to the final version 😀
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Thanks!
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I subscribe to two genres – good books and bad books. Why limit yourself?
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I like life complicated. 😜
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I like it simple, but I’m lazy. 😂
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I posted my essay about the differences and the similarities amongst grimdark, horror and dark fantasy. I’m wondering whether or not THE NEVERNIGHT CHRONICLE is one of those series that fall under both grimdark and dark fantasy.
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