Trees in Fantasy – Part Two: Trees as Characters
Steff Humm
In the first part of this series we looked at trees as symbolism in fantasy literature. We discussed the role of individual trees in mythologies and creation stories around the…
mythology
Atlantis, We Meet Again!
Raymond K. Rugg
The mythical lost continent of Atlantis is a staple of the fantasy genre, from the science romances of Jules Verne and Arthur Conan Doyle to the swords and sorcery of…
Faeries and Folklore – Part Two: The Evolution of Fae
Leo Elijah Cristea
Last time we looked at the faeries as a whole, a genus. But to really get to grips with the fae and just who and what they are, we need…
Elements of Fantasy: Fairies
Janie Bill
The types of spirits known as fairies exceeded the number of ways the word was spelled. Fairy godmothers were given human dimensions, oftentimes without wings. Tinkerbell was tiny with dragonfly…
Magic In Fantasy: Alternative Magic Systems
This is the forth article in our series on Magic in Fantasy. To read the earlier articles click the links below. Part One: Introduction Part Two: Real Magic Part Three:…
Fantasy: The Blueprint of the World
Lucy Hounsom
Fantasy sinks its figurative talons into us all. Its origins are ancient, with roots in the epic Icelandic Eddur and Old English poems like Beowulf. It owes a debt to…
The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris
Aleksandra Kesek
Laughter disarms the fiercest of men. – Lokabrenna A child’s fascination with something can last a long time and spark great ideas; ideas that can be turned into books. As…
Fantastical Creatures of Greco-Roman Mythology: Hippoi Monokerata
Faith M. Boughan
Welcome to the final instalment of our series on lesser-known creatures and monsters in Classical mythology! Over the past year, we’ve looked at everything from ancient dragon-like creatures to ancient…
European Dragons: From the North and East
Our final destination on our worldwide dragon journey is Europe. I know, I know—not very exciting, is it? But wait! Having looked specifically at Chinese dragons last time, it’s only…
Fantastical Creatures of Greco-Roman Mythology: Ophiotaurus
Ah, monsters. Who doesn’t love a good, unique monster now and then? As great as it is to read about another dragon or giant spider, there’s something special about a…
Fantastical Creatures of Greco-Roman Mythology: The Leukrokottas
Welcome to another instalment of Fantastical Creatures of Greco-Roman mythology! If you’ve been following this series for a while, jump down to the subtitle below. If you’re new, here’s the…
Foundations of Fantasy: Beowulf
Ryan Howse
More than any other genre, fantasy tends to examine ancient epics. Whether it’s the study of archetypes and ectypes, or a historical understanding of narrative itself, or simply a desire…