The subgenre of dark fantasy is located next to such independent genres as Gothic and High Fantasy. Typically, such works use traditional fantasy surroundings, which are then complemented by mystical or horror motifs. The boundaries between Gothic novels and Dark Fantasy are very arbitrary. Dark fantasy also takes the reader to mystical and supernatural worlds, where an atmosphere of darkness and oppression reigns. At the same time, the genre does not try to scare the reader, its main goal is to tell the plot.
The term and its origin
The first appearance of the term "Dark Fantasy" dates from 1973 - the name was used by small fanzine (an amateur short-run edition). In the early 80s, the expression began to be popularized by various American publishers. In 1987, science fiction writer Jack Williamson called Dark Fantasy an independent type of mystical literary work. A few years later, in 1991, the genre was officially designated as "a story with horror elements that takes as its basis the traditional fantasy surroundings."
Genre Features
The traditional dark fantasy genre uses classic canons typical of High Fantasy. Moreover, the main theme of the struggle between Good and Evil is replaced by the theme of the victory of this Evil itself. The best dark fantasy - books with a unique gloomy atmosphere and an exciting plot. Events in such works take place in a harsh and ruthless setting, where positive characters turn out to be completely unexpected characters for the reader. The main idea of the genre is the struggle between the two facets of Evil, between its small and large manifestations. Authors of the best books of dark fantasy often resort to various shocking turns in their narratives. Such an approach is usually done in order to give fictional worlds even more realism and a sense of hopelessness.
Dark Fantasy: A List of the Best Books
Fiction is exactly the place where the Dark Fantasy genre unfolds best. Below we have prepared a list of the best representatives of this genre, which we recommend that you read to all readers!
- Joe Abercrombie - cycles "The First Law" and "Sea of Shards".
- Glen Cook - The Black Squad.
- Nick Perumov - "Diamond Sword, Wooden Sword".
- George Martin - "A Song of Ice and Fire."
- Andrzej Sapkowski - The Witcher and other storybooks from the cycle.
- Stephen King - The Dark Tower.
- Teri Brooks - Word and Void.
- Karl Wagner - "Kane".
- Ian Graham - "Monument".
- Richard Baker - "Prince of the Void".
- Alan Campbell - The Night of the Scars.
- Michael Moorcock - "Elric from Malnibone."