Tales of the Tome

Our second part of the various Fantasy literature sub-genres we (dis)cover in this segment takes us from Urban Fantasy through Grimdark, to Flintlock Fantasy. Buckle up!

Urban Fantasy

• Set in a contemporary urban environment
• Magic and supernatural creatures exist in the modern world, often hidden from the public
• Examples:

- The Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher

- Rivers of London, by Ben Aaronovitch

- Kate Daniels series, by Ilona Andrews

- October Daye series, by Seanan McGuire

- The Iron Druid Chronicles, by Kevin Hearne

Portal Fantasy

• Characters travel from the real world to a magical or fantastical world through a portal.
• Often involves a journey of discovery or adventure in a new world with its own rules and logic.
• Examples:

- The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis

- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll

- The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper

- The Light Between Worlds, by Laura E. Weymouth

- The Fionavar Tapestry, by Guy Gavriel Kay

Mythic Fantasy

• Incorporates elements of myth and legend into the narrative.
• Often draws on classical mythology, folklore, or ancient legends to craft the story.
• Examples:

- American Gods, by Neil Gaiman

- The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller

- The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper

- The Light Between Worlds, by Laura E. Weymouth

- The Fionavar Tapestry, by Guy Gavriel Kay

Science Fantasy

• Blends elements of science fiction and fantasy.
• Incorporates advanced technology alongside magical or supernatural elements.
• Examples:

- Dune, by Frank Herbert

- The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

- The Dark Tower, by Stephen King

- Shadowrun, RPG novels

- The Broken Earth Trilogy, by N.K. Jemisin

- Lord of Light, by Roger Zelazny

- Piranesi, by Susanna Clark

- Scythe, by Neil Shusterman

Grimdark

• A sub-genre of Dark Fantasy that emphasizes bleak, dystopian settings with morally gray characters.
• High levels of violence, despair, and often a pessimistic worldview.
• Examples:

- Warhammer 40,000 series

- Prince of Thorns, by Mark Lawrence

- The Malazan Empire, series by Ian C. Esslemont

- Best Served Cold, by Joe Abercrombie

- The Traitor Baru Cormorant, by Seth Dickinson

- The Poppy War, by RF Kuang

- The Assassin's Apprentice, By Robin Hobb

Gaslamp Fantasy

• Fantasy set in or inspired by the Victorian or Edwardian eras, often featuring steampunk elements.
• Combines the aesthetics and social structures of the 19th century with magical elements.
• Examples:

- Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series

- The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern

- The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters, by Gordon Dahlquist

- The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter, by Theodora Goss

- Soulless, by Gail Carriger

Weird Fantasy

• Incorporates surreal, bizarre, or otherworldly elements.
• Often defies conventional fantasy tropes, blending the fantastical with the strange and inexplicable
• Examples:

- The City & the City, by China Miéville

- Annihilation, by Jeff VanderMeer

Fantasy of Manners

• Focuses on social intrigue, etiquette, and the personal dynamics of the upper classes, often in a fantastical setting.
• Emphasizes wit, dialogue, and social maneuvering, often with romantic or comedic elements.
• Examples:

- Sorcery and Cecilia, by Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer

- Tooth and Claw, by Jo Walton

- The Goblin Emperor, by Katherine Addison

- The Curse of Chalion, by Lois McMaster Bujold

- The Privilege of the Sword, by Ellen Kushner

- Howl’s moving Castle, by Diana Wynjones

Flintlock Fantasy

• Set in a world where firearms and other early modern technologies coexist with magic.
• Often set in or inspired by the 17th-19th centuries, focusing on military campaigns, revolutions, and the clash of technology and magic.
• Examples:

- The Shadow Campaigns, by Django Wexler

- His Majesty's Dragon, by Naomi Novik

- The Powder Mage trilogy, by Brian McClellan

Links:

• The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
• Powder Mage Universe — Brian McClellan
• His Majesty’s Dragon - Naomi Novik
• The Shadow Campaigns Archives - Django Wexler
• Howl’s Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones
• Swordspoint (Riverside, #1) - Ellen Kushner
• The Curse of Chalion - Lois McMaster Bujold
• The Goblin Emperor - Katherine Addison
• Tooth and Claw - Jo Walton
• Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot - Patricia C. Wrede
• Annihilation — Jeff VanderMeer
• The City & The City - China Miéville
• Soulless - Gail Carriger
• The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter - Theodora Goss
• The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters - Gordon Dahlquist
• The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern
• The Parasol Protectorate Series - Gail Carriger
• Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy, #1) - Robin Hobb
• The Poppy War (#1) - R.F. Kuang
• The Traitor Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson
• Best Served Cold - Joe Abercrombie
• Novels of the Malazan Empire – Ian C. Esslemont
• Prince of Thorns - Mark Lawrence
• The Novels of Warhammer 40K; Where to Begin?
• Arc of a Scythe Series - Neal Shusterman
• Piranesi - Susanna Clarke
• Lord of Light - Roger Zelazny
• The Broken Earth Archives - N.K. Jemisin
• List of Shadowrun books
• The Dark Tower - Stephen King
• Original Dune Series – Frank Herbert
• The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
• American Gods - Neil Gaiman
• The Fionavar Tapestry – Guy Gavriel Kay
• The Light Between Worlds – Laura E. Weymouth
• Dark is Rising - Susan Cooper
• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Caroll
• The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
• Iron Druid Chronicles - Kevin Hearne
• The October Daye Books - Seanan McGuire
• Kate Daniels Books - Ilona Andrews
• Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch
• Dresden Files – Jim Butcher