high fantasy
Invented realm fiction
High fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction set in an entirely invented world with its own geography, history, and often elaborate magic systems.
Distinguished from low fantasy, which places supernatural elements in our world, high fantasy creates complete secondary worlds—Tolkien's Middle-earth being the defining example.
The genre typically features epic quests, clear moral struggles, and richly detailed worldbuilding: She grew up reading high fantasy and still loves a good quest narrative.
Fantasy world with hobbits
- WesterosFantasy realm setting
- NarniaFictional snow-covered kingdom
- DiscworldFictional flat Earth setting
- imaginary realmInvented fictional setting
realm · kingdom · empire · map · lore · history · mythology · cosmology
Courage in danger
- courageFortitude facing danger
- braveryBoldness before danger
- chivalryKnightly code of honor
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
sacrifice · knight · warrior · hero · paladin · ranger · noble · virtue
Practice of dark magic
- wizardryPractice of casting spells
- enchantmentMagical influence over someone
- spellcastingPerforming magical incantations
- incantationSpoken magical formula
alchemy · necromancy · conjuration · divination · arcane · mana · ritual · summoning
Travel from place to place
- adventureRisky exciting undertaking
- odysseyExtended adventurous journey
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
prophecy · artifact · relic · sword · talisman · ring of power · sacred object · destiny
- epicImpressively grand in scope
- sagaExtended heroic narrative
- trilogyThree linked creative works
- worldbuildingConstructing imaginary universes for fiction
sword and sorcery · speculative fiction · allegory · good versus evil · coming of age · heroic narrative · archetype · trope
Middle-earth
Fantasy world with hobbits
- WesterosFantasy realm setting
- NarniaFictional snow-covered kingdom
- DiscworldFictional flat Earth setting
imaginary realm · realm · kingdom · empire · map · lore · history · mythology · cosmology · pantheon
valor
Courage in danger
honor · sacrifice · knight · warrior · hero · paladin · ranger · noble · virtue · fortitude
sorcery
Practice of dark magic
- wizardryPractice of casting spells
- enchantmentMagical influence over someone
- spellcastingPerforming magical incantations
incantation · alchemy · necromancy · conjuration · divination · arcane · mana · ritual · summoning · illusion
journey
Travel from place to place
- adventureRisky exciting undertaking
- odysseyExtended adventurous journey
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
fellowship · prophecy · artifact · relic · sword · talisman · ring of power · sacred object · destiny · fate
Tolkien
worldbuilding · sword and sorcery · speculative fiction · allegory · good versus evil · coming of age · heroic narrative · archetype · trope · subgenre
Orcs
Monstrous humanoid fantasy race
dwarf · orc · goblin · troll · giant · fae · unicorn · griffin · phoenix · centaur
- fantasy genresHarry Potter, grimoires, magic systems, fairy tales, magical realism
- fantasywizard, witch, magic, dragon, elf
- fantasy fictionsword and sorcery, fairy tale, hero journey, magic system, dragon tale
- speculative fictionsci-fi, science fiction, dystopia, futurism, utopia
- fiction genresfiction, novel, horror, thrillers, science fiction
- YA booksyoung adult fiction, dystopian, romance, coming-of-age, series
high fantasylow fantasy
Magic entering our world
urban fantasy · grimdark · sword and sorcery · magical realism · dark fantasy
high fantasyliterary realism
Accurate portrayal of everyday life
realistic fiction · naturalism · kitchen sink realism · social realism · contemporary fiction
high fantasyliterary fiction
Prose emphasizing craft and depth
modernist literature · postmodern literature · realist novel