What is Fantasy?

You've all seen the science fiction and fantasy section in book stores, the paper-back covers sporting images of strange people and even stranger beasts. Harry Potter brought fantasy into the mainstream.

Still, what makes a story fantasy? Is it just unicorns and dragons, or is there something more?

You may already be a fantasy fan and not know it.

"Speculative Fiction" is the parent genre of science fiction, horror, and fantasy. In science fiction, these elements are scientifically plausible, or at least scientifically portrayed. In fantasy, the elements are events, beings, and circumstances that simply could not happen in reality. The author makes no attempt to explain them scientifically, because they are, instead, magical. In horror, either the scientific or fantastic element creates fear.

For a story to be fantasy, magic must play a central role, and it takes but one magical element to create a fantasy tale. Now, some people believe in real magic, and that by properly using magical energy, they can change their lives. Prayer can be considered essentially the same thing. In fantasy, this is exaggerated above any beliefs about magic in the real world. Wizards use spells with obvious effects, such as shooting a fireball from their hands or immediately healing a deep cut. Magic also includes what is blatantly outside our reality and not portrayed scientifically, anything from mythical creatures to wishes coming true.

One of its most popular sub-genre is high fantasy, exemplified in Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings". It involves powerful characters in world-threatening situations. Sword and sorcery focuses on medieval style battles and magic, while light fantasy is absurd or humorous. J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series is a wonderful example of modern fantasy with many high fantasy elements.

Some movies are clearly fantasy, such as, well, "Lord of the Rings," but you've likely seen movies and not realized they could be classified as fantasy. "Groundhog Day", "Liar Liar", "Big" and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" are all fantasy stories, though you won't find them in the science fiction and fantasy sections of a video store.

Fantasy helps us explore morality. At a basic level, fantasy novels are about good and evil. You'll rarely find a fantasy short story or novel that preaches, but odds are it will get you to think about right and wrong.