High fantasy - Definition and Overview

High fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy fiction that is set in invented or parallel worlds. These stories are serious in tone, often epic in scope, dealing with themes of grand struggle against supernatural evil forces.

Other typical characteristics of high fantasy include fantastical races (such as elves and dwarves), magic, wizards, invented languages, coming-of-age themes, and multi-volume narratives.

In some high fantasy, a contemporary, "real-world" character is placed in the invented world. Purists might not consider this to be "true" high fantasy.

Some of the most famous examples include:

• J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (set in Middle-earth)
• Terry Brooks's The Sword of Shannara and its sequels
• Lord Dunsany's The King of Elfland's Daughter
• E. R. Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros
• Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar Saga and others
• David Eddings' Belgariad and The Malloreon
• P. C. Hodgell's God Stalk and its sequels
• Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series
• Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea and its sequels
• George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series
• Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast series
• Margaret Weis's and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance series
• Tad Williams's Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series, beginning with The Dragonbone Chair
• Roger Zelazny's Amber series
• Stephen R. Donaldson's The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series
• Robin Hobb's The Farseer Trilogy
• Katharine Kerr's Deverry