LOW FANTASY
CHARACTERISTICS:
- Takes place in the real world
- can occur in the past, but mostly based in the present
- scale is personal, character driven
- survival of a few individuals
- victories always come from physical combat
- amoral hero motivated by his own interests
- world dominated by humans
- wizards and magic are bad news if they appear at all
- local dark lord who is not a big threat
- mundane magic
- shades of gray in morality (cynicism and amoral heroes who are sympathetic)
- rational rules and laws
EXAMPLES:
FICTION:
Conan by Robert E. Howard
Shadows of the Lion by Eric Flint, Dave Freer and Mercedes Lackey
My Fairy Godmother by Janette Rallison
MOVIES:
"Spirited Away"
RESOURCES:
CHARACTERISTICS:
- Takes place in the real world
- can occur in the past, but mostly based in the present
- scale is personal, character driven
- survival of a few individuals
- victories always come from physical combat
- amoral hero motivated by his own interests
- world dominated by humans
- wizards and magic are bad news if they appear at all
- local dark lord who is not a big threat
- mundane magic
- shades of gray in morality (cynicism and amoral heroes who are sympathetic)
- rational rules and laws
EXAMPLES:
FICTION:
Conan by Robert E. Howard
Shadows of the Lion by Eric Flint, Dave Freer and Mercedes Lackey
My Fairy Godmother by Janette Rallison
MOVIES:
"Spirited Away"
RESOURCES: