Romantic fantasies have taken the book world by storm in recent years, but fantasy stories that allow us to break free of the rules and limitations of our own world and reality are as old as human history. We wanted to learn more about the genre's history and its variations and sub-genres.
What's the difference between fantasy and science fiction? Between high fantasy and low fantasy? What about all the sub-genres? Are Romantasy really something new or are they just a marketing ploy? How about cozy fantasy? Join us as we take a deep dive into fantasy and add lots of books to our TBR that will help us escape the current reality!
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Books we're reading in this episode:
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Just for the Summer by Abby Jiménez
Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler
The House Witch by Delemhach
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Sources:
- https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-the-fantasy-genre-history-of-fantasy-and-subgenres-and-types-of-fantasy-in-literature
- https://litjoycrate.com/a/blog/fantasy-book-tropes?srsltid=AfmBOoqZ5EBUD7-q8IYgOI0pTKRcyZmSfBLyexpqCVQrgkF8Mybxz7DQ
- https://www.britannica.com/art/fantasy-narrative-genre
- https://bookriot.com/fantasy-sub-genre-primer/
- Dassler, J. (2021). Women in Literature: The Impact of Feminism on Fantasy Literature, 1950-1990. International Social Science Review, 97(4), 1–20.
- Schlobin, R. C. (2011). Mendlesohn, Farah, and Edward James. A Short History of Fantasy. Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts, 22(2), 292+
- https://zipdo.co/book-sales-by-genre-statistics/
- https://www.tonerbuzz.com/blog/book-and-reading-statistics/
- https://fantasy-faction.com/2015/classic-female-fantasy-writers
- https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jun/27/sff-community-marion-zimmer-bradley-daughter-accuses-abuse
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_fantasy
- https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/13/style/shadow-daddies-r
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Intro and outro music: "The Chase," by Aves.
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