Heroic Fantasy: Difference between revisions

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The exploits of mighty-thewed, sword-wielding heroes and their thiefly, wizardly and/or priestly companions, as they [[In Harm's Way|spend their days]] smiting evil, fighting monsters, recovering treasures and quaffing ale.
The exploits of mighty-thewed, sword-wielding heroes and their thiefly, wizardly and/or priestly companions, as they [[In Harm's Way|spend their days]] smiting evil, fighting monsters, recovering treasures and quaffing ale.


Tends to be distinguishable from [[High Fantasy]] by its scale -- the problems are generally those of the hero, not the world -- and moral standards -- absolute evil and absolute good make fewer appearances. (Well, absolute good makes fewer. Absolute evil, in the form of a [[Religion of Evil]] or the like, makes a convenient foe.) Also by its tendency to be an endless series of adventures, partly because the smaller scale makes it more plausible, and partly because the heroes are very prone to ''love'' being [[In Harm's Way]].
Tends to be distinguishable from [[High Fantasy]] by its scale—the problems are generally those of the hero, not the world—and moral standards—absolute evil and absolute good make fewer appearances. (Well, absolute good makes fewer. Absolute evil, in the form of a [[Religion of Evil]] or the like, makes a convenient foe.) Also by its tendency to be an endless series of adventures, partly because the smaller scale makes it more plausible, and partly because the heroes are very prone to ''love'' being [[In Harm's Way]].


Heavily influenced by [[Hero's Journey]], the [[King Arthur|Arthurian]] cycle, the ''[[Conan the Barbarian]]'' stories and movies, the game ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'', and classical myth.
Heavily influenced by [[Hero's Journey]], the [[King Arthur|Arthurian]] cycle, the ''[[Conan the Barbarian]]'' stories and movies, the game ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'', and classical myth.
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Sometimes it can be found in the future, often in [[After the End]] setting; sometimes it comes close to [[Planetary Romance]]. Also often features [[Medieval Stasis]].
Sometimes it can be found in the future, often in [[After the End]] setting; sometimes it comes close to [[Planetary Romance]]. Also often features [[Medieval Stasis]].


Also known as "Sword and Sorcery", a term coined by [[Fafhrd and The Gray Mouser|Fritz Leiber]], one of the genre’s [[Trope Codifier|Trope Codifiers]], in reply to a letter by [[Michael Moorcock]]. There is much debate of the definition of these genres; unkind souls have even described Heroic Fantasy as nothing but an upmarket term for Sword and Sorcery.
Also known as "Sword and Sorcery", a term coined by [[Fafhrd and The Gray Mouser|Fritz Leiber]], one of the genre’s [[Trope Codifier]]s, in reply to a letter by [[Michael Moorcock]]. There is much debate of the definition of these genres; unkind souls have even described Heroic Fantasy as nothing but an upmarket term for Sword and Sorcery.


Good live-action film and television heroic fantasies can be counted on the fingers of one hand (generally starting with the ''Conan the Barbarian'' movie). Dying is easy. Fantasy is hard! On the other hand, roughly half of all RPGs ever written fall under this genre, if not more. The odd tendency for [[Anime]] to use settings with an [[Medieval European Fantasy|obvious European flavor]] is noted.
Good live-action film and television heroic fantasies can be counted on the fingers of one hand (generally starting with the ''Conan the Barbarian'' movie). Dying is easy. Fantasy is hard! On the other hand, roughly half of all RPGs ever written fall under this genre, if not more. The odd tendency for [[Anime]] to use settings with an [[Medieval European Fantasy|obvious European flavor]] is noted.
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== Anime & Manga ==
== Anime & Manga ==
* [[Crimson Spell]] combines [[Heroic Fantasy]] with the [[Boys Love]].
* [[Crimson Spell]] combines Heroic Fantasy with the [[Boys Love]].
* Arguably ''[[Berserk]]'' goes from [[Low Fantasy]] to [[Heroic Fantasy]] at the end of the Golden Age arc where all the demons start coming out and become the main source of conflict.
* Arguably ''[[Berserk]]'' goes from [[Low Fantasy]] to Heroic Fantasy at the end of the Golden Age arc where all the demons start coming out and become the main source of conflict.
** Or it was Heroic Fantasy all along without the characters noticing. After all [[Devil in Plain Sight|Zodd the Immortal]] didn't exactly keep his existence a secret.
** Or it was Heroic Fantasy all along without the characters noticing. After all [[Devil in Plain Sight|Zodd the Immortal]] didn't exactly keep his existence a secret.
* ''[[Rune Soldier]]'' is a comedic Heroic Fantasy spin-off of the high fantasy ''[[Record of Lodoss War]]''.
* ''[[Rune Soldier]]'' is a comedic Heroic Fantasy spin-off of the high fantasy ''[[Record of Lodoss War]]''.
* The first ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (anime)|Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' anime was [[Heroic Fantasy]], as opposed to the [[Fullmetal Alchemist (manga)|manga]] and [[Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood|second anime series]], which quickly veered into [[High Fantasy]] territory.
* The first ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (anime)|Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' anime was Heroic Fantasy, as opposed to the [[Fullmetal Alchemist (manga)|manga]] and [[Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood|second anime series]], which quickly veered into [[High Fantasy]] territory.




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* ''[[The Beastmaster]]'' (only the movie, not the [[Science Fiction]] books it was based on.)
* ''[[The Beastmaster]]'' (only the movie, not the [[Science Fiction]] books it was based on.)
* ''[[Conan the Barbarian]]'' and ''[[Conan the Destroyer]]''
* ''[[Conan the Barbarian]]'' and ''[[Conan the Destroyer]]''
* Technically, the original ''[[Star Wars]]'' trilogy is [[Heroic Fantasy]] [[In Space]]. The prequels tend more towards [[High Fantasy]] [[In Space]].
* Technically, the original ''[[Star Wars]]'' trilogy is Heroic Fantasy [[In Space]]. The prequels tend more towards [[High Fantasy]] [[In Space]].
* ''[[Clash of the Titans]]''
* ''[[Clash of the Titans]]''
* ''[[Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time|Prince of Persia the Sands of Time]]''
* ''[[Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time|Prince of Persia the Sands of Time]]''
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* Lynn Flewelling's ''[[Nightrunner]]''
* Lynn Flewelling's ''[[Nightrunner]]''
* [[David Gemmell]]'s books are a prime example.
* [[David Gemmell]]'s books are a prime example.
* [[Robert E. Howard|Robert E Howard]]'s ''[[Conan the Barbarian]]''--although it bounces between "not very realistic" and "really really unrealistic" depending on the iteration. Also ''[[Kull]]'' and ''[[Bran Mak Morn]]''. To a large extent Howard invented the modern incarnation of this trope.
* [[Robert E. Howard|Robert E Howard]]'s ''[[Conan the Barbarian]]''—although it bounces between "not very realistic" and "really really unrealistic" depending on the iteration. Also ''[[Kull]]'' and ''[[Bran Mak Morn]]''. To a large extent Howard invented the modern incarnation of this trope.
* Patrick Rothfuss's ''[[The Kingkiller Chronicle]]'' (although the protagonist is leaning toward [[Anti-Hero]] territory and may get worse in the upcoming book 3).
* Patrick Rothfuss's ''[[The Kingkiller Chronicle]]'' (although the protagonist is leaning toward [[Anti-Hero]] territory and may get worse in the upcoming book 3).
* Norman Spinrad's ''[[The Iron Dream]]'' (a [[Deconstruction]])
* Norman Spinrad's ''[[The Iron Dream]]'' (a [[Deconstruction]])
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* Fritz Leiber's ''[[Fafhrd and The Gray Mouser]]''
* Fritz Leiber's ''[[Fafhrd and The Gray Mouser]]''
* Karl Edward Wanger's ''Kane.''
* Karl Edward Wanger's ''Kane.''
* C.L. Moore's ''[[Jirel of Joiry]]'', the first major female character in [[Heroic Fantasy]].
* C.L. Moore's ''[[Jirel of Joiry]]'', the first major female character in Heroic Fantasy.
* Charles R. Saunders's ''[[Imaro]]''.
* Charles R. Saunders's ''[[Imaro]]''.
* ''[[The Black Company]]''
* ''[[The Black Company]]''
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== Tabletop Games ==
== Tabletop Games ==
* ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]''. Though the game system is flexible enough that the enterprising DM can apply it to almost any [[Fantasy]] subgenre, as printed it tends toward [[Heroic Fantasy]].
* ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]''. Though the game system is flexible enough that the enterprising DM can apply it to almost any [[Fantasy]] subgenre, as printed it tends toward Heroic Fantasy.
* ''Barbarians of Lemuria'' emulates the whole Sword & Sorcery genre.
* ''Barbarians of Lemuria'' emulates the whole Sword & Sorcery genre.


Revision as of 00:41, 25 February 2015

The exploits of mighty-thewed, sword-wielding heroes and their thiefly, wizardly and/or priestly companions, as they spend their days smiting evil, fighting monsters, recovering treasures and quaffing ale.

Tends to be distinguishable from High Fantasy by its scale—the problems are generally those of the hero, not the world—and moral standards—absolute evil and absolute good make fewer appearances. (Well, absolute good makes fewer. Absolute evil, in the form of a Religion of Evil or the like, makes a convenient foe.) Also by its tendency to be an endless series of adventures, partly because the smaller scale makes it more plausible, and partly because the heroes are very prone to love being In Harm's Way.

Heavily influenced by Hero's Journey, the Arthurian cycle, the Conan the Barbarian stories and movies, the game Dungeons and Dragons, and classical myth.

Sometimes set in a world that looks an awful lot like medieval Europe, although it can range all the way back to a "forgotten prehistory" such as in Conan the Barbarian, or even the "classical" period (ancient Greece, Mesopotamia, etc.), as found in Xena: Warrior Princess (this variant is sometimes called "Sword and Sandal" and more burly versions are called "Thud and Blunder"). May involve Mythopoeia.

Sometimes it can be found in the future, often in After the End setting; sometimes it comes close to Planetary Romance. Also often features Medieval Stasis.

Also known as "Sword and Sorcery", a term coined by Fritz Leiber, one of the genre’s Trope Codifiers, in reply to a letter by Michael Moorcock. There is much debate of the definition of these genres; unkind souls have even described Heroic Fantasy as nothing but an upmarket term for Sword and Sorcery.

Good live-action film and television heroic fantasies can be counted on the fingers of one hand (generally starting with the Conan the Barbarian movie). Dying is easy. Fantasy is hard! On the other hand, roughly half of all RPGs ever written fall under this genre, if not more. The odd tendency for Anime to use settings with an obvious European flavor is noted.

See also Two-Fisted Tales, Pulp Magazine.

Heroic and epic Fantasy of Chinese cultural origin is known as Wuxia.

Contrast Sword and Sandal. See also Medieval European Fantasy.

Not to be confused with Low Fantasy, which is simply Fantasy in a down-to-earth setting.

Nor to be confused with Demythtification, which is Mythology reimagined as Historical Fiction.

Examples of Heroic Fantasy include:


Anime & Manga


Comic Books

  • Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis was an attempt to make the titular character's comic this genre.
  • Mouse Guard: Heroic fantasy with mice soldiers. And it's awsome!
  • Red Sonja.


Film


Literature


Live Action TV


Tabletop Games

  • Dungeons and Dragons. Though the game system is flexible enough that the enterprising DM can apply it to almost any Fantasy subgenre, as printed it tends toward Heroic Fantasy.
  • Barbarians of Lemuria emulates the whole Sword & Sorcery genre.


Video Games


Web Comics


Western Animation

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