The Worlds of Warlocks and Whimsy: A Guide to the Best Fantasy Literature
Young and old, quiet and bold, we are all dreamers.
There’s something alluring about getting lost within the pages of a book, escaping to a world where dragons soar in the sky, witches and warlocks hide in the shadows and good always triumphs over evil.
Fantasy literature exists on a spectrum, from immersive, completely unfamiliar worlds to contemporary stories with quirky little bits of magic. However, the beauty of fantasy is that no matter how far removed it is from our reality, it touches upon universal truths we all hold closely.
Whether you’re completely new to fantasy or a seasoned reader looking for your next read, here is a quick guide to the various types of fantasy literature and a curated selection that highlights the best of each subgenre!
1. High Fantasy
From classics such as The Lord of the Rings series to the cultural phenomenon of Game of Thrones, high fantasy is perhaps the most recognisable within the fantasy genre and to some, the most intimidating.
High fantasy is an immersive subgenre that transports readers to intricately-designed fantastical realms replete with complex magic systems, rich historical lore and mythical creatures. These epic tales delve into themes of heroism, honour, and the clash between good and evil.
Unfettered by the constraints of reality, high fantasy offers readers an escape into imaginative landscapes that inspire a sense of wonder, inviting readers to explore the human experience through the lens of otherworldly adventure.
From left to right:
The Hobbit — J.R.R. Tolkien | Physical Copy, eBook, Audiobook
The Eye of the World — Robert Jordan | Physical Copy
A Game of Thrones — George R. R. Martin | Physical Copy, eBook
2. Portal Fantasy
Portal fantasy has a lot in common with high fantasy, featuring rich story worlds and grand quests to save the land from a certain evil, but it diverges from there mainly because it features heroes from our world.
The sense of awe is higher because we follow these protagonists from our familiar world into an unknown, magical one and experience the same curiosity and confusion that they do.
Whether you’re following a white rabbit into a hole (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) or coming in through a mysterious wardrobe in your uncle’s mansion (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe), you are in for an adventure into the unfamiliar.
From left to right:
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland — Lewis Caroll | Physical Copy, eBook, Audiobook
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — C. S. Lewis | Physical Copy, eBook, Audiobook
The Golden Compass — Phillip Pullman | Physical Copy, eBook, Audiobook
3. Urban Fantasy
In urban fantasy, witness the mundane become the magical as demons and deities walk amongst us. Unlike high and portal fantasy, urban fantasy brings the magic to us.
In Neil Gaiman’s bestselling novel, American Gods, he imagines a world where the gods of world mythology are real. Norse god Odin is now a conman named Mr Wednesday while Thoth and Anubis run a funeral parlour. However, the old gods’ existence is being threatened by the rise of a new world order: the New Gods, embodying elements such as Globalisation, Technology and New Media.
By setting its stories in a familiar world, urban fantasy invites its readers to look at the world around us with a more curious eye, looking for that spark of surprise in simplicity.
From left to right:
American Gods— Neil Gaiman | Physical Copy, eBook, Audiobook
City of Bones — Cassandra Clare, Mae Whitman | Physical Copy, eBook, Audiobook
Storm Front — Jim Butcher | Physical Copy, eBook, Audiobook
4. Children’s Fantasy
While children do read some of the books mentioned above, here are some fantasy books for children that can be thoroughly enjoyed by grown-up readers.
Sometimes, we just want a fun, uncomplicated read that tantalises the imagination, meeting new characters we wish were our friends and defeating bad guys who are bad to the bone.
From the hallowed halls of Hogwarts in Harry Potter to the whimsical Other World in Coraline, fantasy books for children have the potential to thrill and terrify us too.
From left to right:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone — J. K. Rowling | Physical Copy, eBook, Audiobook
Coraline — Neil Gaiman | Physical Copy, eBook, Audiobook
The Witches — Roald Dahl | Physical Copy, eBook, Audiobook
Bonus: Magical Realism
Magical realism is a genre distinct from traditional fantasy because it allows the extraordinary to exist within the everyday, treating it as a natural part of reality itself.
In The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, Nora Seed, an ordinary 35-year-old woman who lives with her cat journeys through a fantastical library where each book symbolises a different life she could have led. As the library becomes a tool for introspection for Nora, the themes of self-acceptance, personal growth, and the importance of choices emerge.
The genre utilises the magical as a bridge to discuss complex ideas, bringing together human relationships and broader ideas. These magical elements also make nuanced ideas more accessible, inviting readers to contemplate its political and philosophical themes.
From left to right:
The Midnight Library — Matt Haig | Physical Copy, eBook
One Hundred Years of Solitude — Gabriel Garcia Marquez | Physical Copy, eBook, Audiobook
Kafka on the Shore — Haruki Murakami | Physical Copy, eBook, Audiobook
Text by
Terisha Tan
National Library Board
