Fantasy authors get to create captivating worlds, epic battles, and unforgettable characters. We do a deep dive into the realms of fantasy subgenres and their tropes.

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When the latest Indiana Jones movie finally reached theaters,

my husband and I decided to go see Indiana Jones and the dial

of destiny on the big screen. Because Indiana Jones movies are

best viewed in a theater while consuming real movie popcorn. In

case you're wondering, the film played True to form, meeting our

expectations for Never a dull moment. Keep them guessing sort

of plot, and lots of crazy stunts. The movie includes all

the stuff Indiana Jones is known for high speed chases, evil

Nazis, mad scientists, Arcane objects, snakes, bugs, caverns,

planes, trains, and automobiles. This franchise understands the

notes it must hit and the tropes It must include to meet fan

expectations. It fits neatly in the historical fantasy sub genre

that plays on historical events and pseudo scientific artifacts.

So today, we are going to discuss fantasy tropes from high

fantasy to urban dystopia a writing proceeds authors Welcome

back to the podcast. To those of you who are new, I want to

extend a special welcome. My name is Kathrese McKee. And I'm

glad you're here. If you are a writer seeking encouragement,

information and inspiration, this podcast is for you. Let's

get to it. The fans of every fiction genre and sub genre have

certain expectations, and most of those expectations involve

tropes. fantasy stories at their heart, are intended to evoke

wonder and explore imagination. There are familiar themes,

motifs, and archetypes common to fantasy. However, these tropes

never get old because they can be combined in countless ways to

entertain us. Fantasy frequently involves quests or journeys,

magical and supernatural elements, chosen ones and

prophecies and imaginary worlds and settings. Fantasy often

includes creatures and races, fascinating beasts, and mythical

societies. Nearly always fantasy stories feature a battle between

good and evil frequently on an epic scale. So fantasy heroes

and villains tend to be exceptional too. When I first

started writing fantasy, I honestly didn't give a lot of

consideration to the tropes and expectations. I just started

writing the kind of story I wanted to read. However, I think

it would have been much better if I had really considered and

fully understood the tropes and expectations, I wouldn't have

struggled as much in the beginning. The fantasy genre is

huge, so I want to break it down into common sub genres. This

isn't intended to be an exhaustive list because really,

fantasy is only limited by the author's imagination. The first

sub genre everyone thinks of when they hear fantasy is high

fantasy, think Lord of the Rings or classic Dungeons and Dragons

quests. high fantasy is characterized by grand

adventures, and immersive worlds. common tropes include

protagonists who embark on dangerous epic quests and heroic

journeys to save the world, or at least to save their corner of

the world. Magic and supernatural elements play a

crucial role often depicted through spells, mythical

creatures, and enchanted artifacts. Medieval inspired

settings are common in high fantasy, so castles in dungeons,

Knights and feudal systems are prevalent. Often the weaponry is

medieval to traditional fantasy includes races like elves,

dwarves, Orcs, are fantastical beasts like unicorns, griffins,

and dragons. The battle between good and evil often symbolized

by a dark lord, or a menacing force is a recurring theme in

high fantasy, prophecies and chosen ones where Destiny plays

a huge role in singling out the hero is another frequent

feature. To help you identify high fantasy I'm going to list a

few example titles, the Lord of the Rings by JRR, Tolkien, A

Song of Ice and Fire, also known as Game of Thrones by George RR

Martin, you don't have to have our R as your middle initials,

but it seems to help the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, the

Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson, the Chronicles of

Narnia by CS Lewis, and so on. So I hope that helps. high

fantasy is the first thing folks think of when they hear you are

writing fantasy, but there are other sub genres. It turns out

that my own series of Martin's Mark series is low fantasy. So

what is low fantasy? This fantasy sub genre is

characterized by it's grounded in minimal use of fantastical

elements. Unlike high fantasy low fantasy tends to be more

rooted in reality, and it may incorporate elements of the

supernatural or fantastical in subtle or limited

Ways in low fantasy the primary setting is typically the real

world or a world that closely resembles the real world. My

world in Martin Spark is an alternative Earth. The animals

are familiar rather than fantastical, the characters are

human, the supernatural aspects of the series are restrained.

Sometimes I wish I had incorporated dragons into this

series, but it's way too late for that. One of the defining

characteristics of low fantasy is its focus on the internal

struggles and personal journeys of its characters, rather than

grand battles, or epic world saving quests. The fantastical

elements in low fantasy may be mysterious or subtle, often

taking the form of folklore, superstitions, or glimpses of

the supernatural magic, if it is present, is rare, dangerous or

hidden. Low fantasy stories explore themes such as moral

ambiguity, human nature, and the blurred lines between reality

and the supernatural. The tone of low fantasy can range from

dark and gritty to introspective and philosophical. It may

incorporate elements of other sub genres like mystery,

historical fiction, or horror, blending them with a fantastical

to create a unique narrative experience. As you can tell, low

fantasy is not easy to pin down and often crosses with other

fantasy some genres. Examples of low fantasy works include Neil

Gaiman's Neverwhere, where an ordinary man discovers a hidden

world beneath London, and Guy Gavriel Kay's tick up to Ghana.

And I hope I said that right which combines elements of

historical fiction with subtle magical undertones that brings

us to historical fantasy historical fantasy blends

fantasy elements with real historical settings and events.

tropes in this sub genre involve alternate histories, or

divergent timelines where magic or mythical elements intertwine

with historical accuracy. Authors skillfully integrate

real historical figures, cultures and societal structures

into their narratives by exploring social and cultural

themes through a fantasy lens. historical fantasy provides a

fresh perspective on the past, balancing authenticity, and

imaginative elements allows for engaging in thought provoking

storytelling. If you write in this particular sub genre,

really get your history right because people will know. So

Indiana Jones and the dial of Destiny fits in the historical

fantasy sub genre. Examples of books that are historical

fantasy include Jonathan strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna

Clarke Outlander series by Diana Golden, and the Baroque cycle by

Neil Stevenson. Let's keep moving with the urban fantasy

sub genre. Urban Fantasy is one of my favorite sub genres and

that probably means I'm kind of messed up. Urban Fantasy brings

fantastical elements into contemporary settings. tropes in

this genre include hidden magical societies coexisting

with the modern world. protagonists with supernatural

abilities, who navigate intricate systems of magic,

urban environments that include mythological creatures, such as

vampires, werewolves, and the Fae, mystery and action are

often components so characters work to unravel supernatural

secrets in grapple with personal conflicts. The blending of the

familiar and the fantastic, such as magic lurking beneath city

streets creates a unique sense of wonder and intrigue. A few

examples of urban fantasy are the Dresden Files by Jim

Butcher, quart of midnight and deception series by K M. che

Harry Potter series by JK Rowling, Percy Jackson and the

Olympians series by Rick Riordan, the Mortal Instruments

series by Cassandra Clare and the Raven Cycle series by Maggie

Stiefvater. Alright, let's move on. The fairy tale fantasy the

world of fairy tales is where most of us had our first

encounter with fantasy. Disney wouldn't exist if it wasn't for

fairy tales. The main thing you need to know about fairy tale

fantasy is that it is rooted in traditional folklore, and aims

to reimagine, or retell classic stories. tropes in this sub

genre include the use of familiar characters and settings

from well known stories, moral lessons and themes of good

versus evil. magical objects and transformations often serve as

plot devices. Endings may adhere to the happily ever after trope,

or subvert expectations, providing unexpected twists and

turns. The Power of Storytelling itself is emphasized in fairy

tale fantasy, and the story serves to highlight the enduring

nature of fairy tales and their ability to capture the

imagination. Examples of fairy tale fantasy stories include the

Lunar Chronicles, by Marissa Meyer, start us by Neil Gaiman,

the Fairyland series by Katherine in voluntee.

The light Princess by George MacDonald and the fairest Beauty

by Melanie Dickerson. And finally, I would like to mention

science fantasy, which crosses over with science fiction tropes

include a fusion of advanced technology with magical or

mystical worlds. protagonists navigate space opera or

planetary adventures while in canter encountering fantastical

elements. The combination of magic and futuristic concepts

raises philosophical and ethical questions. science fantasy is a

unique blend of genres that bridges the gap between science

and fantasy. In my opinion, doctor who fits this space, get

it space, the doctor is surrounded by gadgets and gizmos

and travels through space and time to explore strange new

worlds. Oh, I think I'm crossing into a different series there.

Actually, you could make an argument for including a few of

the Star Trek episodes here. Examples of science fantasy

books include the space trilogy by CS Lewis, Dune by Frank

Herbert, and every Star Wars book ever written. Fantasy is

messy. But fantasy authors get to create captivating worlds

epic battles and unforgettable characters. I hope you have

enjoyed this deep dive into the realms of fantasy where the

timeless tropes continue to ignite our imaginations and

transport us to extraordinary worlds. My question for this

week is what are your favorite fantasy books series or authors?

Leave your answer right pursuits.com forward slash

podcast forward slash 62. That's all I have for today. Until next

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