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FantasyFantasy is a literary genre that embraces supernatural elements and often takes place in alternate universes that have their own languages, physics, lifeforms, and societies. Though the narratives are usually based on themes and archetypes from antiquity—with tales of good versus evil and heroes' journeys—modern fantasy is generally considered to have begun in the 19th century. At the time, it was often deemed unserious literature for younger readers.
The genre gained particular popularity in the 1950s with JRR Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" series, which introduced a new level of sophistication to the genre and, consequently, appealed to a more adult audience. The publishing industry, eager to capitalize on a commercial hit, began publishing more fantasy titles. This decision would cultivate an even larger audience that would continue reading later in life.
In the decades that followed, fantasy developed a passionate following. Although primarily a cult interest, several touchstones of popular culture—such as "Dungeons & Dragons," "Harry Potter," and "Game of Thrones"—have kept the genre in the public eye.Explore Fantasy
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One writer believes fantasy is a form of realismThe literary genre has become massively popular in the 2020s, turning a previously marginal form into a mainstream concern. Spufford, a literary novelist who grew up loving books that explored fantastic worlds, argues that fantasy is so popular because it so accurately reflects the real world. the GuardianJRR Tolkien redefined fantasy for a new generationTolkien’s debut novel, 1937’s “The Hobbit,” was aimed at young adults, yet it felt far more serious than the whimsical tales of Lewis Carroll or L. Frank Baum. "What Tolkien does is take the 'otherworld' fantasy developed in the 19th century and makes it child-sized, melding it with folklore and Norse myth," notes Farah Mendlesohn, the author of “Rhetorics of Fantasy.” NewsweekRomantasy blends fantasy and romanceThe subgenre—primarily aimed at female readers and sometimes bordering on erotica—has become a sensation, due in no small part to its popularity on social media platforms like TikTok. Writers like Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros harken back to early Gothic works, which similarly sought to combine the supernatural and the erotic. PasteUrsula K. Le Guin worked to dismantle fantasy's clichésThe author is one of the genre’s most legendary names, constructing high fantasies like “The Earthsea Cycle” that detail intricate new worlds. In 2004, she delivered a lecture criticizing books and movies that rely on a simple formula: white characters, Medieval settings, and a battle between good and evil. “Whenever I find a fantasy that is set in a genuinely imagined society and culture instead of this lazy-minded, recycled hokum,” she said, “I feel like setting off fireworks.” Ursula K. Le GuinThe US paperbacks of Tolkien's books led to the popularization of fantasyTolkien initially resisted publishing his books in paperback because of the stigma attached to the format, with many believing that serious fiction was first published in hardback. When Ballantine Books eventually published the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy in 1965, though, the genre became more popular, leading Ballantine to continue publishing adult fantasy and expanding the genre’s bounds. Reactor MagazineLewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' turned the fantasy genre upside downA lot of 19th-century British fantasy was often stiff; its children’s literature was often overly didactic. Carroll’s novel—about a young girl who falls into an unusual world full—was neither, offering vivid, psychedelic imagery and seemingly nonsensical word games. The GuardianThe word ‘fantasy’ wasn't used to describe the genre until the 20th centuryThe word—at least as a word used to describe fiction—didn’t appear in the Oxford English Dictionary until 1949. Scholars believe that’s due to the arrival of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, an influential publication, and the rise in fantasy’s popularity following World War II. Jane FriedmanEarly English fantasy writers built on horror and Gothic textsAfter the success of 19th-century books like Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and Robert Louis Stevenson’s “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” readers were eager for more stories that deviated from realism. Early 20th-century texts like George MacDonald’s “Phantastes” and Lord Dunsany’s “The King of Elfland’s Daughter” met the moment, laying the groundwork for the fantasy genre. BnF‘Beowulf’ is a foundational text for modern fantasyThe story is the earliest surviving poem in the English language and enshrined many Anglo-Saxon ideals about heroism, loyalty, and adventure. JRR Tolkein was an enthusiastic fan of the poem, even lecturing about it in 1936, and mirrored many of its themes in “Lord of the Rings.” Critics have also highlighted the influence on later fantasy stories, including “Harry Potter.” National Endowment for the HumanitiesFantasy has dozens of subgenres“Fantasy” itself is a rather broad way of characterizing fiction. The genre encompasses many subgenres, including epic (like JRR Tolkein’s “Lord of the Rings”), dark (like Neil Gaiman’s “Coraline”), or even superhero (like your favorite Marvel or DC comics). Captured in WordsFantasy and science fiction are distinct genres, though they sometimes overlapFantasy stories take place in universes where magic exists; science fiction stories take place in universes that are still grounded in the physics of our world. In science fiction, supernatural powers have scientific explanations. Think of “Spiderman”: Peter Parker gains his powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider. Writer's DigestThe 100 best fantasy booksThis is a comprehensive list of the genre’s most significant works, chosen by a panel of some of the genre’s leading writers, including NK Jemisin, Neil Gaiman, and George RR Martin. It runs the gamut, from “The Arabian Nights” to the present day and is sure to offer more than one new addition to your reading list. TIMEA lot of high fantasy relies on constructed languagesIn "Lord of the Rings," there's Elvish. In "Avatar," it's Na'vi. In "Game of Thrones," it's Dothraki. The languages draw readers into these fictional stories, imbuing the worlds with a sense of realism. Linguist John McWhorter argues these are real languages because they have grammatical rules and evolve over time. TED-EdJRR Tolkien believed fantasy literature was an entirely different worldTolkien effectively invented modern fantasy, which often relies on an intricate universe, complete with its own languages, cultures, lifeforms, physics, and systems. When an author did this effectively, he called it “Faërie”—a sort of enchantment that transports the reader into the fictional world. Literary HubFantasy is heavily influenced by myths, legends, and folk talesIn fantasy, anything is possible, mirroring the supernatural worlds of history’s earliest stories. The narrative voice of fantasy is often similar to early tales, too, with an affinity for the magisterial rather than the contemporary. New York Public LibraryFantasy is a genre that relies on the supernaturalFantasy is a literary genre that embraces supernatural and magical elements. While the stories often follow common narrative archetypes, like a quest, they frequently take place in elaborately constructed worlds, which sometimes have their own complex physics, lifeforms, and societies. Masterclass'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' was the first major American fantasyBaum blended elements of Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm, and Lewis Carroll, placing them in an American context. The illustrations of William Wallace Denslow brought the fantastical elements to life, as seen below. The book was an instant smash hit, selling out its initial 10,000-book pressing within the first eight months. By the time it entered the public domain in 1956, it had sold 3 million copies. Library of CongressWales has had a massive influence on fantasy music, movies and books Many of "The Lord of the Rings" settings and languages are rooted in the country's landscape and dialect. Studio Ghibli icon Hayao Miyazaki was inspired by Wales' countryside. Rock band Fleetwood Mac used Welsh myths as a basis for songs. Literary HubFantasy sports can also offer community Fantasy leagues often carry over from year to year, allowing people to hang on to (or forge) connections with others. Matthew Berry, a fantasy football analyst for NBC Sports, argues, “the truth is it’s all about the people. It’s not the draft, it’s not the trash talk or the punishments … It’s the people who make the draft and the trash talk and the punishments and the winning what it is.” The Sports EthicistFantasy sports can have adverse health effects Experts warn that fantasy sports, including fantasy football, can encourage obsessive use because they offer hits of dopamine. Daily fantasy games, which function more like gambling, are especially problematic. www.heart.orgFantasy sports have turned fans into 'second screen' consumersThe rise of smartphones made fantasy sports more accessible and contributed to a phenomenon called “second screen consumption,” where sports fans are not only watching a live broadcast but are simultaneously watching the statistics from that game play out in their fantasy matchup. The ConversationSome allege the NFL has shifted gameplay toward fantasy Recent rule changes in the league have increased passing and point-scoring, which critics argue is motivated by a desire to appeal to fantasy-loving viewers who might be frustrated by slower, lower-scoring games. Bleacher ReportAs fantasy football grew more popular, the NFL began adapting By the late 1990s, CBS, ESPN, and Yahoo had all launched their fantasy platforms, allowing the game to grow even more popular. By 2009, the NFL took note and began offering coverage that explicitly focused on fantasy metrics, including “RedZone,” a popular Sunday show that allows viewers to tune into the most crucial moments from around the league—or across their fantasy rosters. One fantasy football league has been running for over four decadesThe Fantasy Football League began in 1980, before fantasy football was available online. The group, which began in Northern California, originally used a touchdown-only format because it was easier to score in the preinternet era. The Press DemocratBy the 1980s, fantasy football was a national activityThe Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League was a private league, but by the end of the ‘60s, a bar in Oakland opened the first public fantasy football league. Over the next few decades, the game grew more popular, as evidenced by this how-to article from a 1980 issue of “Inside Sports.” Internet ArchiveGeorge Blanda was the first fantasy football draft pickThe first pick in the Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League was future Hall of Famer George Blanda, then an Oakland Raider. Blanda played quarterback and kicker. Because of his dual role, the GOPPPL allowed him to be drafted twice, by two separate competitors. ESPN.comThe first fantasy football league began in Oakland, California Winkenbach organized the Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League, the first fantasy football league. The game allowed team owners to draft players from both the NFL and the AFL, then separate leagues, and create an impossibly epic roster. Sports IllustratedThe inventor of fantasy football first experimented with two other sports In the mid-1950s, Wilfred “Bill” Winkenbach, a part-owner of the Oakland Raiders, concocted two fantasy sports games: one for Major League Baseball and one for the Professional Golfers’ Association. In 1962, he invented fantasy football alongside two writers from the Oakland Tribune. A 1930s card game birthed modern fantasy sports"National Pastime" used the statistics of real Major League Baseball players to determine a winner, creating the template for the modern fantasy sports model. National Baseball Hall of FameFantasy sports began in the 1860s“Sebring Parlor Base Ball,” a tabletop board game in which players flicked a coin as if they were hitters is believed to be the first game that allowed players to imagine themselves as athletes without actually taking part in physical activities. John ThornThe 300 best fantasy football players everFantasy leagues (and their corresponding group chats) are no strangers to arguments, and this list will likely inspire a few spirited ones. Ten ESPN writers were asked to pick 30 of the undisputed greats of fantasy football, making for a fascinating look back at the all-stars of the digital gridiron ESPN.comAn estimated 49 million people played fantasy football in 2022The number, estimated by the Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association, has grown exponentially since the start of the century. While fantasy sports in general are popular, football is the most popular, with an estimated 79% of fantasy participants playing fantasy football. Fantasy Sports & Gaming AssociationFantasy football is a head-to-head game based on NFL statsCompetitors draft players from across the NFL, then earn points for their real in-game achievements, like touchdowns, receptions, and interceptions. The team with the most points in a given week wins. Snowman Sports Media'Daily fantasy' is a high-stakes subset of fantasy sportsThe form, pioneered by platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings, uses anonymous daily leagues and large payouts, looks more like typical betting than the season-long, community-minded setup of more traditional fantasy. FRONTLINE PBS | Official'RedZone' intentionally appealed to fantasy fansThis short documentary explains how the NFL Network show quickly became a hit for football fans, especially those looking to monitor the stats for their fantasy teams. NFLIn 1974, 'Dungeons and Dragons' turned fantasy into a gameInspired by the fantasy paperback explosion of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson published the original incarnation of the game, which immersed players in worlds similar to fantasy fiction. Since then, several newer editions have been released. In recent years, podcasts and livestreams featuring individuals playing the game have gained popularity. NPRThe fantasy-based tabletop role-playing game 'Dungeons and Dragons' has seen a renaissance in the last few yearsIt's becoming mainstream after being relegated to the dorks for decades. LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman has contemplated the role the game played in his own formation as a person and a business leader. Masters of ScaleFantasy football is now a $10B industryCurious about how fantasy football grew into a global empire? This video breaks down how a losing Oakland Raiders team led to the first form of fantasy football, long before the internet and smartphones made it a worldwide phenomenon. 1440Chat with famous, historical, and fantasy figures with this chatbotCharacter.ai—a generative AI-based chatbot platform—allows you to have free-flowing conversations with a wide range of people. From celebrities to famous figures from the past, the platform relies on a neural language model to process huge amounts of text, learning from conversations with users to develop responses. A number of observers have referred to the platform as "making AI fun," with user time on site surpassing a whopping two hours per day. Character.aiBrowse a pamphlet warning parents about the dangers of 'Dungeons & Dragons'Bothered About Dungeons & Dragons was a nonprofit dedicated to counteracting what it considered the “Witchcraft Suicide Violence” of the fantasy roleplaying game. It includes a list of recent teenage suicides, arguing that they all had “one common denominator: ALL WERE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS.” Archive.orgTolkien's grandson says 'Lord of the Rings' was influenced by WWIJRR Tolkien fought in World War I, an experience his grandson, Simon Tolkien, says informed the fantasy legend’s famous trilogy. The companionship between Frodo and Sam and Sauron’s pervasive evil, according to the younger Tolkien, were directly influenced by time on the battlefield. BBC'Harry Potter’ became the first kids' book to top the New York Times list since 1952After its 1998 US release, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone" reached No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list—the first children’s book to do so since "Charlotte’s Web." By September 1999, the first three books held the top three spots on the list. EBSCORowling adopted initials to appeal to young male readersAt her publisher’s suggestion, Joanne Rowling used the pen name “JK Rowling,” believing boys might be less likely to buy a fantasy novel written by a woman. JKR'Labyrinth' initially floppedThe fantasy movie, directed by Henson and starring David Bowie, exited theaters less than a month after its release. Later, though, the movie would become a cult classic and would inspire many writers and artists to create similarly whimsical worlds. Literary HubMost TV viewers simultaneously watch a second screen83% of American TV watchers simultaneously watch a second screen, like a phone, laptop, or tablet. Sometimes that screen might complement what's on the screen (like fantasy football managers watching a game while watching their rosters) but other times it is entirely unconnected. MNTN ResearchA 2024 cheating scandal cast doubt on the industryIn 2024, National Fantasy Football Championship, a fantasy league with big payouts, fired one of its employees for manipulating data. The episode cast doubt on the relatively unregulated industry, despite the league coming down hard on the nefarious worker. NBC NewsConsumers are buying more books now than they were 20 years agoInterest in reading spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued building since then. The romance and fantasy genres in particular have been especially popular, with titles celebrated on BookTok, a wing of TikTok dedicated to reading, spurring the craze. Sherwood NewsAs ‘Game of Thrones’ grew more popular, its fans grew more criticalGeorge RR Martin's “A Song of Ice and Fire” series began in 1996 as a series of fantasy novels and gained popularity in the 2010s through the TV series “Game of Thrones.” As the series gained more viewers, fans and critics grew more critical of the show, with particular vitriol reserved for the series finale. Carnegie Mellon UniversityExplore NASCAR’s dozens of tracks across the US and MexicoSee detailed information on every track used for NASCAR’s top three divisions. Tracks vary in shape, length, and seating capacity. Fantasy Racing Cheat SheetKing's books are now taught by college professorsStephen King’s horror, fantasy, and science fiction were once considered lowbrow and unworthy of serious academic study. That's changed over the last 50 years, with King courses and symposiums taking place at universities around the world. The University of Melbourne
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