What is Low Fantasy?
or: writing a practice blog post, as if for Lost Island Press
Have you ever wished that magic was real?
Earth offers many modern conveniences, and it’s a lot better than most fantasy worlds. But what if you could have both?
This is the premise of low fantasy. Most people have heard of high fantasy: Lord of the Rings comes to mind. As oxymoronic as it might sound, low fantasy is a more realistic subgenre of fantasy.
A Definition of Low Fantasy
Low fantasy is fantasy set in a rational world with irrational occurrences.
It might be the same as our world in locations, technology, and systems, but with added fantastical elements. It could also be an entirely different world, where just one aspect of life is irregular.
Either way, low fantasy is set in a world where rational rules apply, just like our world. Unlike high fantasy, anything that breaks those rules isn’t considered normal, it’s an anomaly.
Examples of Low Fantasy
JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series is set in the real world, but regular people (Muggles) don’t know about the magic and mythical creatures found in it.
In Marissa Meyer’s Renegades trilogy, people with superpowers are in authority. Most superhero stories qualify as low fantasy.
Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking books show a different side of low fantasy. Set in the real world, and lacking magic, the reason for this example is Pippi’s incredible strength and cleverness.
Books that are low fantasy often fall into other genres like romance and horror. For example, Dracula by Bram Stoker is technically in a low fantasy setting, but it’s categorized as a classic horror.
Importance of Low Fantasy
While a complex world with built-in fantastical elements is fascinating to read, low fantasy is often more relatable. It’s easier to imagine a normal world with unusual elements than one with completely illogical ones.
Being more realistic, low fantasy often inspires questions and shows new possibilities in the real world around us.