Fantasy without Magic is still Fantasy, right?
by Laurel
(from California)
Question: I've created in my novel an Island with its own culture and people, completely devoid of contact with the outside world. Never does it even try to contact the outside world. There is no fantasy and technically it could fit into any time period in the real world, but it is completely fictional and has its own problems. Even though it doesn't have dragons or magical superpowers, does it still count as Fantasy?
Thanks for your time!
Question: Ooooh great question!
Usually, fantasy is defined as a story with fantasy (non-real) elements, which can take the form of ...
* magic (people or objects that can break the laws of nature)
* non-existent species, often with magical powers (e.g. centaurs, witches, vampires)
* non-existent places (fantasy worlds, other dimensions, hidden places within the real world)
In the latter category fall stories such as jungle romances (stories about lost kingdoms) or planetary romances (set on imaginary planets). Both of these often contain magic and/or magical species as well. We would call them "high fantasies," in the sense that few people from the real world (except in some cases the protagonist and his/her friends) can get to them.
(A great example of a story with a fantasy setting, but no magic or magical species, is "The Library of Babel" by Jorge Luis Borges.)
It sounds to me as though you may be writing a high fantasy, since the story takes place in a non-existent, imaginary world.
However, the real issue is which shelf in the bookstore to put your story, and that is an area where you may need to rely on your publisher, who should have some expertise as to which readers it will appeal to.
For instance, would you want it among all the "sword and sorcery" books labelled high fantasies? Probably not, if it contains no magic or swashbuckling. You don't want to disappoint readers.
Depending on how it is written, the book might be better off in the literary, mainstream, or magical realism section. Or, depending on the plot, it might fit under romance, mystery, suspense, etc.
If you already have a fan base in the fantasy genre, it might be more profitable to market the book as a fantasy. But if it's a first novel, it might be better to not get hung up on a label.
- Home
- Genres
- Genre Questions
- Fantasy without Magic is still Fantasy, right?
Search this site...
|
||
| site search by freefind |
100% Human Generated Content!
All
articles on this website were written by a human being -- one possessed of flaws and limitations, but also with a personal perspective and a desire to help fellow
writers. No article on this site was written by or with the aid of artificial intelligence (AI).
Popular Articles
Mini-Course
Never be stuck for a great story idea again! This online mini-course will show you how to create simple ideas for original characters and build a plot around each character that contains the essential elements needed for a compelling story.
Recent Postings
-
Writing thoughts and diary entries.
Question: This is my first time trying to write, I constantly imagine fictional scenarios, so I decided to write a novel with them, but in my idea, we -
Synopsis Format
Question: Hello! Thank you for answering my question about how many characters to add in a synopsis! I should have included this question with my last -
How many characters to include in a synopsis
Question: Hello! I'm new to your site, and I love it! I didn't see a question and answer page for synopsis writing, so I wasn't sure where to post this
"I've read more than fifty books on writing, writing novels, etc., but your website has the most useful and practical guidance. Now that I understand how a novel is structured, I will rewrite mine, confident that it will be a more interesting novel." - Lloyd Edwards
"Thanks to your "Create a Plot Outline in 8 Easy Steps," I was able to take a story that I simply just fooled around with and went willy nilly all over, into a clearly defined, intriguing battle where two characters fight to keep their relationship intact, and try to find a balance in control of themselves and their lives. Thanks to you, I'm not ashamed of the poor organization of my writing." - Nommanic Ragus
"I am so glad I found your site. It has helped me in so many ways, and has given me more confidence about myself and my work. Thank you for making this valuable resource, for me and my fellow writers. Perhaps you'll hear about me someday...I'll owe it to you." - Ruth, Milton, U.S.A.
"I never knew what to do with all the characters in my head, but since discovering Dramatica I am writing again in my spare time. Thank you for making this available. Yes, it is a bit complex, and it does take time, but I love it because it works." - Colin Shoeman
"I came across your website by chance. It is a plethora of
knowledge, written in a simplistic way to help aspiring writers. I
truly appreciate all of the information you have provided to help me
successfully (relative term) write my novel. Thank you very much!" - Leo T. Rollins
"I
can honestly say that this is the first website that is really helpful.
You manage to answer complex questions in relatively short articles and
with really intelligent answers. Thank you for taking the time to write
these articles and sharing them so generously." - Chrystelle Nash
"...had no idea that a simple click would give me such a wealth of valuable information. The site not only offered extremely clear and helpful instructions but was a very enjoyable read as well. The education from your wonderful site has made me a better writer and your words have inspired me to get back to work on my novel. I wish to give you a heartfelt thanks for How to Write a Book Now, sir." -- Mike Chiero