“We don’t create a fantasy world to escape reality. We create it to be able to stay.”
Fantasy remains one of the most enduring and beloved genres in the literary world. However, the term ‘fantasy’ covers a wide range of subgenres, all of which house their own unique quirks and charms. Whilst you’re still likely to find the usual assortment of magic and sorcery, the way in which they are used to present the world, its lore and characters can vary quite dramatically. Which is where labels such as ‘high fantasy’ and ‘low fantasy’ come in handy for sorting these stories. Join us today at What We Reading as we run you through everything you need to know about high fantasy vs low fantasy! We’ll be running you through the major differences between the two, providing some of the best examples and how you can start incorporating them into your writing!
What’s The Difference Between High vs Low Fantasy?
First off, it’s worth sparing a line on what makes a story ‘fantasy’. Any book that features elements of the unexplainable or unbelievable can be considered fantasy.
The differences between high and low fantasy are all in the setting. High fantasy stories are set in worlds that are made up. On the flip side, low fantasy tales take place in the real world. Magical elements either find their way into the world, or they have already existed within it – either way, these stories aren’t any less magical than their high fantasy counterparts!
What Is High Fantasy?
Sometimes referred to as ‘traditional fantasy’, ‘epic fantasy’ or ‘sword and sorcery fantasy’, high fantasy goes all in immersing readers in an outlandish magical world. The most recognisable form fantasy stories take, these are the sorts of books most people think about when they think about the genre.
Most high fantasy novels feature mythical or otherwise non-human creatures, feature-rich and expansive histories and lore where the lines between good and evil are firmly set.
High Fantasy Characteristics
What makes a book considered high fantasy vs low fantasy? All high fantasy novels feature the following elements.
Alternate Magical Worlds
The most defining characteristic of high fantasy is the secondary world it takes place in. ‘Secondary world’ means a world that is separate to the one we’re used to taking up residence in. Writers make up secondary worlds entirely from the ground up using their imaginations and creative skills. These worlds will have their own legends, folklore, histories, geography and laws and customs.
Secondary worlds can either be in an entirely different universe to our own such as J.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth in The Lord of the Rings or George R.R. Martin’s Westeros in A Game of Thrones. Alternatively, they can be tied to our primary world such as Narnia in C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia.
Mythological Elements
Most of the fantasy has its roots in myth and folklore. From knights, dragons, and trolls to the ever-expanding list of books influenced by Middle Eastern, American and Asian mythology, high fantasy novels commonly borrow elements from these stories for their worlds.
Even when authors conjure up never-before-seen creatures and fantastical elements, the chances are they have taken some inspiration from a myth or legend.
One of the best habits to get into as a fantasy writer is to ensure your stories and settings blend original and folkloric elements. This will make your writing fresh and original but also maintain a familiarity that your readers will latch onto.
Expansive Worldbuilding
What makes high fantasy books often so beloved is how much detail authors pour into ensuring their worlds are distinctive, fleshed-out and fully realised. These worlds need to feel like actual places where actual people live.
Successful high fantasy authors are able to break down the entire histories of their worlds, describe the differences in architecture, laws, religions and cultures of their major cities and settlements, break down the politics, laws and conflicts in play, and describe attitudes toward class, race, gender and sexuality.
It is the responsibility of a writer to be able to know their high fantasy worlds as intimately as they know their own. They should be able to make it feel as real as if they had been born and raised in them themselves.
High Stakes
The majority of high fantasy books are about sprawling epic battles and huge conundrums where the consequences are set to affect the entire world. Having a stripped-back small-scale affair is fairly uncommon in this subgenre.
High fantasy stories usually feature the protagonists becoming embroiled in the politics of the world, finding themselves at the centre of the stakes at play. The heroes will usually be pushed to their limit, and be forced into choices that balance their interests against the greater good.
What Is Low Fantasy?
Unlike high fantasy, low fantasy stories are set in a world that we can recognise as our own. Rather than transporting readers to unfamiliar worlds filled with magic, low fantasy authors put the magic square in front of them. As we established above, this choice of setting is referred to as a ‘primary world’.
Low fantasy vs high fantasy incorporates genres such as urban fantasy, magical realism, historical fantasy, dystopian fiction, speculative fiction and dark fantasy. All of these novels bring the fantastical into a real-world environment.
Low Fantasy Characteristics
Still wondering what goes into low fantasy stories? Here’s a closer look at some of the key components of the genre.
A Normal World
The defining characteristic of a low fantasy book is that it is grounded in the real world, usually in a time period that is either the present or close to it (except for in the case of historical fantasy). The actual setting can vary from the rural countryside to a sprawling metropolis; the point is that it’s clearly in the ‘real’ world.
Quirks and elements that are unfamiliar can be used to distinguish the world from the one in which the reader finds themselves. For example, dystopian novels may distort certain aspects of society or technology. What doesn’t change is the sense of recognition a reader will get from it.
Magic, Monsters And Superpowers
Whilst low fantasy stories are rooted in reality, they are still stories jam-packed full of magic and the supernatural. Whether this magic is abundant and everywhere, or subtle and hidden is entirely up to the writer.
An example of this may be a low fantasy novel such as Stephanie Meyers’ Twilight, where creatures like vampires and werewolves freely live in our societies. These creatures are staples in the fantasy genre but are shown living their daily lives in a way that is familiar to readers.
Low fantasy authors can use dynamics like this to lift a piece of literary fiction into a new market of readers and show how magic is capable of being discovered anywhere and everywhere.
Lower Stakes
Another one of the fundamental differences between low vs high fantasy is the stakes normally in play across the narrative. Low fantasy novels normally centre on very intimate and personal arcs. Rather than the grandiose destinies and battles between good and evil in high fantasy, low fantasy tends to be more character-driven.
A nice way of remembering this difference is by how the plot is less driven by the way magic affects the world, and more by how magic affects individuals.
Instead of being confronted with an enemy that threatens the fate of the world, the main characters in a low fantasy story may have to grapple with their own fate or the fate of a loved one.
Differences Between High Fantasy Vs. Low Fantasy
To quickly sum up the main differences between high and low fantasy:
- Stakes: High fantasy stories focus on a bigger scale, whilst low fantasy tales are normally personal journeys.
- Settings: Low fantasy stories are set in our own world that we live in and recognise, whereas high fantasy features worlds and settings that are entirely made up.
Which Is Right For You?
Now that you know the fundamental differences between low and high fantasy, how do you go about determining which is right for you and your writing?
The first tip we would suggest would be to consider what types of stories you like to read and watch. If you love the epic worlds in high fantasy, you may be inspired to create one of your own. Alternatively, if you have a compelling character journey you want to put to paper, grounding your magic in the real world with a low fantasy affair would make more sense.
Overall, you should write a high fantasy novel if you love sprawling battle scenes, well-developed magic systems and rich storytelling that incorporates elements of mythology and folklore. Alternatively, low fantasy authors allow you to view magic from a human lens. These stories allow you to answer big questions about the world we all know through a smaller perspective, with elements of the fantastical providing a fresh and enticing twist.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
