modern fantasy
Harry Potter, Tolkien, and the Roots of Fantasy
The media circus around the release of the last Harry Potter novel is finally beginning to die down, but that does little to disguise the fact that the fantasy genre is alive and well in the twenty-first century. Hundreds of millions were spent to bring Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Rowling’s Harry Potter series, C.S. Lewis’s Narnia and others to the big screen, and the gamble has paid off.
But where did the genre originate? Many have the mistaken idea that the fantasy genre began with Tolkien. Though Tolkien brought fantasy into the literary spotlight, fantasy itself has been around for far longer and indeed in some respects dates back to the very beginnings of literature.
The Epic of Gilgamesh and Homer’s The Illiad and The Odyssey, while set in familiar realms, contain many of the aspects – heroes, warring gods, monsters, quest-related adventure – that has become part and parcel of modern fantasy. Much of the fodder for modern fantasy is taken from early literature, especially myths, legends, and religion.
Related posts
The Top 5 Best Epic Fantasy Series to Read
Must Read Epic Fantasy Series
Fantasy books are very popular these days. This is probably due to the release of some very high profile fantasy movies the past couple years, including Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter movies, and the Golden Compass. The most recent fantasy movie released (at time of writing) was Inkwell. With the proliferation of these fantasy movies, there is quite a bit of interest in the fantasy genre. More and more people are starting to read fantasy books. Perhaps the most popular fantasy genre is the epic fantasy genre – a genre invented by J.R.R. Tolkien. There is so much crap in the fantasy genre that it’s hard to sift out the rubbish from the jewels. Fortunately, you can read my guide to the Top 5 Best Epic Fantasy Books.
1. A Song of Ice and Fire by George Martin
This is absolutely one of the best fantasy sagas available today. This are immensely popular fantasy novels – and with good reason. The plot of the books is extremely unpredictable and the characters are richly portrayed. The theme of this book is Grey – the characters are completely Grey. With a good mix of action, politics, and (at least at the begging) a subtle hint of the supernatural hinting at a coming danger, these books draw you right into the marvelous world. If you are looking for some of the best fantasy books, you won’t go wrong at all if you pick these books up!