High Fantasy and its Major Subgenres

Great news! The total remodel of bkbass.com is steaming along, and I’m going through my old essays, articles, and musings to completely revise their contents and presentation.

Previously, I had a series of three essays on fantasy literature. They’re getting such an overhaul, though, that there will now be five!

The third of these, High fantasy and its Major Subgenres, is now live on the website. Here’s a quick preview:

If the first things to come to mind when you think of fantasy are treks across unknown realms, sword-swinging heroes, and soaring dragons, you’re probably a fan of this side of the fantasy coin (the other side being low fantasy). Encompassing some of the oldest and most famous examples of fantasy literature, high fantasy takes us on a journey to realms wholly of the imagination, which act as a playground for almost limitless storytelling possibilities. While heroic quests are the mainstay of the genre, everything from teenage romances to murder mysteries to global wars involving the gods themselves can be found under this broad umbrella of fantasy fiction.

Check out the full essay for more!

The Fantasy Divide: Low vs High Fantasy

Great news! The total remodel of bkbass.com is steaming along, and I’m going through my old essays, articles, and musings to completely revise their contents and presentation.

Previously, I had a series of three essays on fantasy literature. They’re getting such an overhaul, though, that there will now be five!

The second of these, The Fantasy Divide: Low vs High Fantasy, is now live on the website. Here’s a quick preview:

When exploring fantasy literature, there is a clear line that can be drawn down the middle of the genre. On one hand, some fantasy stories take us on journeys contained within fantastic worlds. On the other, fantastic elements encroach on our reality or we travel from the real world to a fictional one.

I feel that at the very top of the hierarchy of fantasy subgenres lie high fantasy and low fantasy. Unlike other subgenres, which authors routinely mix and match to brew up their own unique magical potions, these categories exist as two sides of a coin, and that coin encompasses all of fantasy literature.

Check out the full essay for more!

The History of Fantasy Literature

Great news! The total remodel of bkbass.com is steaming along, and I’m going through my old essays, articles, and musings to completely revise their contents and presentation.

Previously, I had a series of three essays on fantasy literature. They’re getting such an overhaul, though, that there will now be five!

The first of these, The History of Fantasy Literature, is now live on the website. Here’s a quick preview:

If you’ve found yourself here, you probably love fantasy literature. One of the most fascinating things about the genre, I think, is where it came from and how it became what it is today. I’m also enthralled by the many fantasy subgenres and the nuances of how they explore the fantastic in different ways.

Navigating fantasy literature and its myriad subgenres can be a daunting task. In this first leg of a multi-part journey, we will discover what the fantasy genre is and explore the history of fantasy literature with notable examples of authors and works that shaped the genre.

Check out the full essay for more!

Everything ‘Punk!

Our article on the ‘Punk genres, such as cyberpunk and steampunk, is now availbable.

CLICK HERE to read the full article!

Like a mechanical octopus rising from the deep, the various ‘punk genres of speculative fiction can be surprising, amusing, and frightening! The ‘punk genres often blur the lines between different types of speculative fiction. They also share a lot of common themes, such as antiauthoritarianism and disestablishmentarianism. The commonality of these themes is largely responsible for the use of the word “punk” in their names. The views expressed in early cyberpunk works – which birthed the entire movement – reflected those of the punk subculture of the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Image result for steampunk art

Also, don’t forget to check out my articles exploring the history and sub-genres of fantasy literature HERE, and be sure to follow the page and myself for updates on my upcoming series on the science fiction genre!

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