Your idea of High Fantasy?

[Desdichado]

The story, sure. And I think romance is surely a big part of High Fantasy. It's the setting of Gawain and the Green Knight; it is nothing if not High Fantasy. Think of it as the Paladin's side quest to go get his Holy Avenger.

Gawain and the Green Knight, if it were written today and pegged to a modern genre, would be low fantasy because it takes place on our Earth and not in a fantasy setting.

 

[RFisher]

I don't think I often used the term "high fantasy". If I'm trying to classify a particular fantasy work I guess I might say "Arthurian", "Tolkeinesque", "Sword & Sorcery" (REH & Lieber being the standard), or "post-D&D". In any case--and I guess those terms really are examples of it--I guess I'm more likely to compare to other works than to define broad categories.

 

[Glak]

high fantasy: good vs evil, magic is wonderous and uncommon, good vs evil, the common man, Tolkein, oh and good vs evil

low fantasy: loot, magic is just another tool, mercenaries, D&D

 

[Turanil]

When I hear people tell of High Fantasy, rather than Heroic Fantasy, I don't know what they are meaning exactly. I suppose that High Fantasy is a sub-genre of heroic-fantasy which action is set in mountainous regions? And Low-Fantasy happen in the lowlands?

More seriously, my own definition would be:
- High Fantasy: Elric the Necromancer. Incredible things, deities, etc., and eventually the whole world is affected.
- Sword & Sorcery: Conan. The tough guy slays a few demons and black sorcerers, but otherwise, things continue normally on the planet, and there is no thing like vampire trees, demon swords, parallel planes, and what not.

 

[Arnwyn]

Beats me. I always thought "high fantasy" were some weird buzz words that people constantly throw around on the internet - and are essentially meaningless.

And, by the responses in this thread, my views haven't changed.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Most of what I think has already been stated with world-shaking epic quests fantastic creatures and the like. One other thing for me is that in high fantasy wizards and the like are typically held in high regard (or feared if evil), magic is usually flashy and powerful. In low fantasy settings magic is smaller, less common. Wizards are more often more like shamen and the ordinary people may respect them and think they are wise, but they are not in awe of them.

 

[Felix]

...if it were written today and pegged to a modern genre...

And if we had some bread we would could make a ham sandwhich if we had some ham.


If the entirity of High v Low fantasy is defined by the world being called "Earth" then there's no bloody relevant difference twixt the two. The only way there could be relavance is if it is in the feel of the work, and not just the nametags. And the feel of Arthur's Camelot feels like High Fantasy to me. It's mystical, magical, and other-worldly. Who cares if the island they live on is called England?

 

[Sir Elton]

And if we had some bread we would could make a ham sandwhich if we had some ham.


If the entirity of High v Low fantasy is defined by the world being called "Earth" then there's no bloody relevant difference twixt the two. The only way there could be relavance is if it is in the feel of the work, and not just the nametags. And the feel of Arthur's Camelot feels like High Fantasy to me. It's mystical, magical, and other-worldly. Who cares if the island they live on is called England?

The Enchantment of Britain. Something that occured with the Dolorous Stroke.

 

[Sir Elton]

pleasant *bump*.

 

[Wombat]

High Fantasy, for me, does come down to matters like LotR, but also the tales of King Arthur (esp. the Quest for the Holy Grail), Tigana, Earthsea, or anything else, whether in this world or another, where there is an epic quest and epic struggle. This could also move over to Gilgamesh and similar myths and mythcycles.

Low Fantasy, conversely, is more like Fafhrd & the Grey Mouser, Conan, and most small-unit combat books that I have read. There is no epic struggle over morality, only the gathering of goods, the daily survival, the small triumphs and tragedies.

Now I like some books that are High Fantasy and some which are Low; equally, there are bad examples on either side of the equation. In the end for me, however, the distinction between the styles is one of higher purpose versus personal accomplishment.