Science Fiction & Fantasy Literature Definitions

High Fantasy

Set in an alternative, entirely fictional ("secondary") world with its own, albeit internally consistent, rules that separate it from the real world.

Speculative Fiction

A broad category of narrative fiction that includes elements, settings and characters created out of imagination and speculation rather than based on reality and everyday life. It encompasses the genres of science fiction, fantasy, science fantasy, horror, alternative history and magic realism.

Magical Realism

A literary genre or style associated especially with Latin America that incorporates fantastic or mythical elements into otherwise realistic fiction.

Dark Fantasy

A subgenre of fantasy which can refer to literary, artistic and filmic works that combine fantasy with elements of horror

The Fantastic

A subgenre of literary works characterized by the ambiguous presentation of seemingly supernatural forces

Low Fantasy

Characterized by being set in the real ("Primary") world, or a rational and familiar fictional world, with the inclusion of magical elements. This can be described as non-rational events occuring in a rational setting.

Modern Science Fiction

The only form of literature that consistently considers the nature of the changes that face us, the possible consequences and the possible solutions. The branch of literature which is concerned with the impact of scientific advance upon human beings.