Before Amazon.com became a behemoth online bookseller, there may have been 20 genres in all of Bookdom. It was all based ono the space available, book cases available and how large he bookstore or library was. All fantasy books were in one section of the store. From there, you needed to come through the author names alphabetically or ask a store clerk if they remembered seeing the book. KDP Publishing and the Website whiz kids at Amazon put an end to that over the last decade or two.Now there are multiple genres of Fantasy and each one can be differentiated by a slight difference. Let's take a look at them starting with the three largest categories: High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy and Low Fantasy.
💥💥  High Fantasy 💥💥
This genre is made up of stories that open up a whole new world, with its own geography, culture and even people -- there could be creatures of any and all kinds. These stories are alive with lots of magic, mythology, legends and folklore. High fantasy usually deals with large-scale problems and conflicts. There are life and death stakes and the main characters are heroes, heroines and most are destined for greatness. Their journey is about fulfilling their destiny and/or saving their world from disaster. High fantasy can be more personal than Epic fantasy. High fantasy can be about personal drama, relationships while Epic Fantasy is usually bigger and more about saving the Kingdoms or a whole group of people.
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
- The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
- The Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
💥💥  Epic Fantasy 💥💥
Epic fantasy is very similar to High Fantasy in that it introduces the reader to a whole world conjured up by the author, with a unique geography, weather, history and creatures. Epic fantasy also has lots of magic and other worldly powers, all of which have rules and boundaries that are followed. Epic fantasy can have folklore, but there is more of an emphasis on myths and legends that are weaved in and out of the story.
Epic fantasy has the highest stakes, world-altering stakes, life and death stakes. They have sweeping narratives, a large cast of characters with the emphasis on kingdoms, countries or large tribes of people.
Epic fantasies are long sweeping narratives with complex plotlines. They are long stories, detailed, even multi-generational sagas.
Three classic examples of Epic Fantasy:
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien:Â This series, again, is a prime example of Epic Fantasy due to its vast scope, world-altering stakes, and large cast of characters.
- The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan: A monumental series known for its intricate plot, expansive world, and numerous characters, embodying the essence of Epic Fantasy.
- The Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson: This series is renowned for its complex mythology, morally ambiguous characters, and epic scale, making it a cornerstone of the genre.
NOTE: Lord of the Rings was cited in both High Fantasy and Epic Fantasy as it fits comfortably in each one. It stared out as high fantasy, but due to the sequels, it is now more of an epic fantasy.
💥💥  Low Fantasy 💥💥
When I first heard of this genre and found out that many vampire books fit into this category, I wasn't happy. It sounds awful -- 'low fantasy'. What kind of a name is that? However, the low fantasy refers to the level of magic and world-building that takes place in a low fantasy book.
In low fantasy, there are elements of magic, but not quite as much as you would find in high fantasy or epic fantasy. Low fantasy is the genre where magic enters the ordinary world. The narratives are grounded on earth, and the focus is on how the magical elements and powers or supernatural creatures living on earth interact with he real world. It contains elements of the supernatural that take place against the normal world.
Often, the supernatural or fantasy takes place in our world but is hidden only known to one or two characters in the story. These stories usually take place in a suburban or rural setting -- as opposed to a city setting, which would make it more of an urban fantasy -- which we will cover next.
Four classic novels that would fit into the Low Fantasy Genre:
- The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: While not strictly fantasy, this novel introduces supernatural elements into a realistic setting, making it a precursor to Low Fantasy.
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson: This classic tale explores the duality of human nature through a fantastical lens, fitting the Low Fantasy mold.
- Dracula by Bram Stoker would also fit into the Low Fantasy genre.  Dracula could also fit into a few other newer more nuanced genre categories which we will also cover next.
- The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold: This is a best selling contemporary novel that incorporates supernatural elements into a realistic setting, blurring the lines between the mundane and the magical.
