Hard fantasy

Hard fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy literature that strives to present stories set in (and often centered on) a rational and knowable world. Hard fantasy is similar to hard science fiction, from which it draws its name, in that both aim to build their respective worlds in a rigorous and logical manner.[1][2][3] The two diverge in that hard science fiction uses real scientific principles as its starting point, while hard fantasy postulates starting conditions that do not, and often cannot, exist according to current scientific understanding.

Unlike its sister genre, the definition of hard fantasy is amorphous in practice. Some instances of the genre feature alternative geography and cultures without the presence of magic, dragons, and elves stereotypically found in many other fantasy settings. Other hard-fantasy settings may feature those elements but with a more detailed explanation for their existence.

The hard aspect of hard fantasy can refer to different elements. It can refer to a consistent history and folk lore, as we see from Lord of the Rings, well-defined magic systems as seen in Mistborn or The Name of the Wind, and is sometimes even applied to A Song of Ice and Fire for its political system, though the latter only defines limits of magic the main characters learn.

Examples

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lindskold, Jane (January 6, 2009). "Hard Fantasy". tor.com. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  2. ↑ Brennan, Marie. "Hard Fantasy". swantower.com. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  3. ↑ "Hard Fantasy". bestfantasybooks.com. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 Dozois, Gardner, Modern Classics of Fantasy, page xix. St. Martin's Press, 1997.
  5. ↑ "Annotation Mistborn Chapter Thirteen".

External links

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