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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. FeistRaymond E. Feist (born 1945) is an American author, mostly specialising in fantasy fiction. Published works Midkemia/Kelewan Many of his works have been set in the interconnected worlds of Midkemia and Kelewan. Riftwar trilogy Magician (1982) #:This book's Riftwar Saga and others
- P. C. HodgellHodgell (b. 1951) is an American fantasy writer and artist. Bibliography Blood and Ivory: A Tapestry 2002 (short story collection, some new, some previously released) Dark of the Gods 2000 (omnibus of God Stalk Dark of the Moon and short story Bones Seeke's God Stalk and its sequels
- Robert JordanAlternative meaning Robert Jordan (character) for the character of Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls Robert Jordan is a pen name for James Oliver Rigney, Jr. 1948-). He is best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series.'s The Wheel of TimeThe Wheel of Time (abbreviated tWoT WOT or WoT is a fantasy book series written by Robert Jordan, notable for the extreme density of its plotting, the intricate detail of its imaginary world, its generally pessimistic tone in which almost anything that ca series
- Ursula K. Le GuinUrsula Kroeber Le Guin (born October 21, 1929), is an American author. While she has written novels, poetry, childen's books, and essays, she is best known for her science fiction and fantasy, which she has written in the form of novels and short stories.'s A Wizard of EarthseaA Wizard of Earthsea first published in 1968, is the first of a series of books written by Ursula K. Le Guin and set in her fantasy archipelago of Earthsea. The tale of the eponymous wizard after this, his first great adventure continues in The Tombs of A and its sequels
- George R. R. MartinGeorge Raymond Richard Martin (born September 20, 1948 in Bayonne, New Jersey) is an American writer of science fiction and fantasy, and also a screenwriter and producer. He has been an instructor in journalism (in which he holds a master's degree) and a's A Song of Ice and FireA Song of Ice and Fire ASoIaF is an epic fantasy series by George R. It is the best-known of his works, and has spawned a successful trading card game and board game. The books are known for extremely detailed and intriguing characters, sudden and often v series
- Christopher Paolini's Inheritance trilogy
- Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast trilogy
- 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
Fantasy
