Welcome, fellow traveler! You have officially been introduced to the realm of the fantasy genre and are ready to begin your quest in writing your story. The time has come to look even closer at the elements that have already been introduced as well as other elements that may arise later in the writing process for this particular genre so that you are well-equipped for the journey ahead.
Let us begin by asking this question: what kind of fantasy would you like to write about?
While it would be an impressively amazing accomplishment, no story can house every element within this genre for it is far too broad. So, the best and easiest first step to take would be to pick a focus and find a subgenre to write about. There are quite a few fantasy subgenres and some can even be combined, but let us focus on the more common and well-known ones that are used in fantasy.
7 Well-Known Fantasy Subgenres
1. Sword and Sorcery
We’ll start with perhaps the most famous of fantasy subgenres. Sword and sorcery is just how it sounds: heroes who wield swords and/or magic, go on epic quests, and complete a purpose that can either save an individual’s life or an entire world. If you are into writing action and incorporating more fantasy elements such as creating unique worlds, using magic, including various races, and other fun fantasy elements, this is the genre for you. Two famous series can be categorized under this famous subgenre as J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series and George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series are both considered sword and sorcery in which case the characters are fighting to save the world. Another series that has gained popularity that falls in this subgenre is Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher series and is an excellent example of one hero fighting to save one who he considers a daughter.
2. Medieval/Arthurian
Two other popular subgenres that can go hand in hand would be focused on medieval times and Arthurian legends. While the actual time period was most certainly harsh in real life, present-day media has romanticized it in a way where readers imagine knights in shining armor saving damsels in distress from fire-breathing dragons. The Princess Bride by William Goldman took the medieval subgenre and crafted a humorous and fairytale-like fantasy adventure. T. H. White wrote an Arthurian retelling in The Once and Future King, giving readers a story following King Arthur from when he was just an unappreciated boy named Wart to his dying days as a respected king.
3. Christian
Arthurian legends could easily fall into Christian fantasy, as well, since the crusades King Arthur and his knights embarked on have a focus of finding the Holy Grail, but there are other ways to incorporate Christianity into fantasy. This particular subgenre can seem rather strange and some readers may even see it as, for lack of a better word, blasphemous; however, it can be an incredible opportunity to spread the Word of God to an audience who may have already accepted Jesus into their lives or may make a nonbeliever curious to know more about what the Bible says. The most famous Christian fantasy series would be C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia as Lewis disguises religious aspects through animals and magic. Another series is a rather surprising one as dragons are incorporated into the spiritual war between God and Satan in the DragonKeeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul.
4. Fable/Fairytale
Stories of magic beans, little mermaids, golden gooses, and more are imaginative creations we all grew up with and still enjoy reading even as adults. Fairytales and fables are shorter fantasy pieces that can be a bit easier to tackle when it comes to writing, but keep in mind that fairy tales usually originate in folklore while fables always teach a lesson or moral on how to behave in the world. There are so many fairytales and fables out there to read and enjoy, ranging from Grimms’ Fairy Tales to stories by Hans Christian Andersen to Aesop’s Fables and more.
5. Magical Realism/Historical/Military
While each can stand on its own as a story, these three subgenres can usually be found combined together into one story. Magical realism uses magical elements in a way that seems a bit more realistic, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. These are the stories that, when read, can make it seem like the realm of fantasy truly exists. Series like the Temeraire series by Namoi Novik takes place during the Napoleonic War, yet the opposing sides use an air force consisting of dragons to try and gain the upper hand. The Poppy War series by R.F. Kuang takes place during the Second Sino-Japanese War and focuses on a young woman who turns the tides with her power of shamanism. Both of these stories focus on historical events that actually happened, but insert fantastical elements to change events around.
6. Legendary/Mythological Retellings
For those out there who love the stories and tales of mythology, regardless of what culture the stories come from, this subgenre is for you. This subgenre takes well-known mythological and legendary stories and either retells or creates alternate storylines. Greek mythology is most certainly the more popular choice as stories such as Circe by Madeline Miller, Ithaca by Clarie North, and A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes are but a few of many; however, other authors have tackled other mythologies such as Norse mythology in The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec, Asian mythology in Daughter of the Moon by Sue Lynn Tan, African mythology in Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen, and more. If you feel daring, you can even incorporate multiple mythologies together as Neil Gaiman did in American Gods and Richard Paolinelli did in When The Gods Fell.
7. Supernatural/Dark
The fascination of the supernatural and macabre is one that continues to this day. While there can be other more realistic stories that tell of true encounters with spirits and demons, the world of fantasy can really bring more unusual creatures such as vampires, werewolves, and other creatures that go bump in the night. Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files series takes place in the real world setting of Chicago; however, the main character acts as a detective in the supernatural, taking on cases that involve vampires, demons, spirits, faeries, and other monsters. You can also get the creative juices flowing and craft a new kind of monster as Neil Gaiman created the Beldam in Coraline. Dark fantasy does not necessarily have to focus on creatures, but also villains with dark intentions such as the Dark One in Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series and Flagg in Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series.
Final Thoughts
We have covered but a few of the more popular fantasy subgenres, but you can also dabble with elements of romance, dystopian, superhero, coming-of-age, and more, all set within fantasy settings. As some of these examples suggest, feel free to mix and match subgenres together to make your story stand out to your reading audience. The examples of books provided can really help you get a feel for specific subgenres you may be interested in, so be sure to use them as references, if needed.
Once you have narrowed down the subgenre(s) for your unique story, you will be ready to officially begin your quest by sitting down to write!
