Although the roots of Fantasy can be found far back in history, the literary genre itself has only been around for a relatively short period of time. Fantasy as we think of it started small and eventually blossomed through the hard work and contribution of many authors. Today, it has found its way into just about every medium you can imagine, the most popular of which are found in entertainment areas like movies and video games.
This type of literature is different from just about every other genre out there due to the fact that it incorporates supernatural phenomena and beings into the plots. Most people associate fantasy literature with magic, which is fair. A large number of fantasy writers base their stories around magic and mystical settings. But this is not all that can be found in the fantasy genre. Supernatural creatures such as vampires or werewolves often play a large role in many fantasy books and are often classified in their own sub-genre called dark fantasy. Any strange, unusual, or otherwise "impossible" thing can find a happy home in the realm of fantasy, with talking animals, new dimensions and worlds, and even new laws of physics becoming the rule rather than the exception in many stories. Of course, not every fantasy story is based on strange, alien worlds. Many take place in our own world with the strange and unusual, or supernatural, elements which make the story fantasy hidden for a large portion of the story. These stories tend to draw the lead characters into a hidden sub-world that exists as a part of, and yet remains separate from, our own world.
The popularity of books such as The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien, as well as a few other authors, have helped to propel fantasy into the spotlight. These stories, written expressly for adults, counteracts the idea that fantasy is should be restricted to the realm of childhood. Fantasy is versatile and can easily fit in both the adult world and the world of children. These books have also helped to inspire new and interesting ways to interrupt fantasy. Art based on fantastic creatures and worlds found in these stories is quite prevalent and can be found in many places, including the internet and books. Video games, television, and movies have been responsible for bringing the realm of fantasy into millions of homes around the world. Popular games such as the "Final Fantasy" series, as well as World of Warcraft, EverQuest, and so on, have gained the attention of many people who might otherwise not be interested in fantasy. These games have millions of fans and players all around the world, and that seems unlikely to change any time soon. New games, such as Trion Worlds new MMO titled Rift, are constantly being developed and launched designed to take advantage of this vast fantasy market. As new technology continues to be developed, it seems quite likely that fantasy will find a new and interesting way to adapt and find a way to keep growing in popularity.
This type of literature is different from just about every other genre out there due to the fact that it incorporates supernatural phenomena and beings into the plots. Most people associate fantasy literature with magic, which is fair. A large number of fantasy writers base their stories around magic and mystical settings. But this is not all that can be found in the fantasy genre. Supernatural creatures such as vampires or werewolves often play a large role in many fantasy books and are often classified in their own sub-genre called dark fantasy. Any strange, unusual, or otherwise "impossible" thing can find a happy home in the realm of fantasy, with talking animals, new dimensions and worlds, and even new laws of physics becoming the rule rather than the exception in many stories. Of course, not every fantasy story is based on strange, alien worlds. Many take place in our own world with the strange and unusual, or supernatural, elements which make the story fantasy hidden for a large portion of the story. These stories tend to draw the lead characters into a hidden sub-world that exists as a part of, and yet remains separate from, our own world.
The popularity of books such as The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien, as well as a few other authors, have helped to propel fantasy into the spotlight. These stories, written expressly for adults, counteracts the idea that fantasy is should be restricted to the realm of childhood. Fantasy is versatile and can easily fit in both the adult world and the world of children. These books have also helped to inspire new and interesting ways to interrupt fantasy. Art based on fantastic creatures and worlds found in these stories is quite prevalent and can be found in many places, including the internet and books. Video games, television, and movies have been responsible for bringing the realm of fantasy into millions of homes around the world. Popular games such as the "Final Fantasy" series, as well as World of Warcraft, EverQuest, and so on, have gained the attention of many people who might otherwise not be interested in fantasy. These games have millions of fans and players all around the world, and that seems unlikely to change any time soon. New games, such as Trion Worlds new MMO titled Rift, are constantly being developed and launched designed to take advantage of this vast fantasy market. As new technology continues to be developed, it seems quite likely that fantasy will find a new and interesting way to adapt and find a way to keep growing in popularity.
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