http://cache.io9.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/io9.com.png http://io9.com/tag/fantasy http://io9.com/tag/fantasy

Jonas hasn't had the easiest eighth grade year. He just lost his mother in a house fire. His father won't tell him which high school he'll be going to. And he spends most of his time doodling and daydreaming when he should be doing schoolwork. But his talent for imagination may come in handy when he finds himself on a journey through a magic mirror. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5884230&view=rss&microfeed=true

Brimstone Angels by Erin M. Evans is not your typical fantasy novel. There's jealousy, unbidden powers, forbidden lust — and not a magic Macguffin in sight. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5883847&view=rss&microfeed=true

We read fantasy books for all sorts of reasons, including escapism, gritty action, and immersion into detailed, ornate worlds. But one great reason to read fantasy novels is because many of the genre's best works deal with how to be a good, ethical human being. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5881928&view=rss&microfeed=true

Dear Hollywood, please stop making movie trailers. Why? The art of the preview was perfected 29 years ago in The Philippines by the 1983 horror movie The Killing of Satan. Does The Killing of Satan also win the best title of all time contest? I wouldn't bet against it. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5877748&view=rss&microfeed=true

Howard Andrew Jones' Plague of Shadows is a solid entry in the "what happens to adventurers in their twilight years?" sub-genre of fantasy. The elf Elyana used to wander the world with her doughty companions, slaying evil wizards and malicious dragons. As the years passed, some friends died, others got old, and some treaded less heroic paths. When an old friend becomes afflicted with a magical disease, Elyana has to seek the one item that can save him. It's your standard "fetch the magic MacGuffin" plot, but the twists and turns along the way make this an adventure with unexpected heart and quite a few thrills. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5880055&view=rss&microfeed=true

Chemical engineering student Emil Johansson has a very simple goal: "to place every character in J.R.R Tolkien's fictional universe in a family tree." For his Lord of The Rings Project, he's gone far and beyond Gimli, son of Glóin. Get lost among the infinite progeny on Middle-earth right here. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5878326&view=rss&microfeed=true

If young adult novels teach us anything, it's that the fated hero who battles back evil will be a child with a pure heart. Given that those meddling kids are always thwarting their plans for world domination, wouldn't it be easier if those would-be world conquerors loaded the dice of fate and ensured that someone less than worthy got the mark of destiny? Maybe an adult who care more about models and bottles than the wonders of magic? More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5877957&view=rss&microfeed=true

George R.R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons was everything we'd hoped it would be — but now we can't wait to read the next book, The Winds of Winter. How can we keep from going mad with impatience to find out what happens to Tyrion and Daenerys? More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5876715&view=rss&microfeed=true

Just for kicks, fantasy author Jim C. Hines decided to pose like the female protagonists on the cover of his novel The Stepsister Scheme. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5875868&view=rss&microfeed=true

We really dug the debut of Chris Roberson (iZombie) and Rich Ellis' Memorial, a promising new series about an amnesiac young woman who suddenly becomes embroiled in magical weirdness. Courtesy of IDW Publishing, here's an exclusive seven-page sneak peek at the upcoming second issue. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5875968&view=rss&microfeed=true

Here's an exclusive preview of Dark Horse's upcoming Conan the Barbarian series by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan (interview here). You can read an exclusive two-page preview of the first issue below, and check out a gallery of the series' sword-swinging covers, including a first look at the fourth issue's cover art. Conan the Barbarian #1 hits stands February 8.

More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5874976&view=rss&microfeed=true

These days, fantasy novels seem to be all about realism. Or at least, semi-realism. Magic is pushed to the fringes, and only happens in rare cases. The focus is on gritty, relatable characters in a vaguely noir-ish world. Whether in epic fantasy or urban fantasy, there's been a bit more restraint lately in terms of throwing around other-worldly elements. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5874601&view=rss&microfeed=true

Between Vertigo's Fables comics, ABC's Once Upon a Time, NBC's Grimm, and the endless upcoming Snow White movies, you've probably brushed up on your old familiar fairy tales. But the Brothers Grimm have a whole canon of stories that aren't constantly readapted for page and screen. The webcomic anthology Erstwhile Tales gives some love to the more obscure Grimm's fairy tales. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5873732&view=rss&microfeed=true

Disney movies are most people's first encounter with the fantasy film genre. While the fantasy worlds of Disney are based on old fairy tales, they often introduce lots of weird twists of their own. Including a healthy serving of WTF. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5872495&view=rss&microfeed=true

If fantasy artist Frank Frazetta had ever worked for Disney, perhaps we would have seen Mickey Mouse on a distant sand and sandals world plagued by ferocious monsters. This Frazetta-inspired painting gives us a glimpse of the Micky fantasy adventure that never was, but ignores one important question: What would Minnie be wearing? More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5872154&view=rss&microfeed=true

Over at Fantasy magazine, Genevieve Valentine has a great essay looking at the major dragon archetypes, and what they represent to the human heroes who deal with them. Valentine begins by describing the "dragon as force" archetype: More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5871174&view=rss&microfeed=true

In the webcomic North World, the most famous dungeon-delving adventurers have tie-wearing accountants. You might run into your blacksmith at the local burrito stand or Chinese restaurant. Pizza parlors need to be prepared against the occasional viking attack. And young swordsman Conrad has to worry about the mystical bear spirit following him around his hometown — when he isn't stressing about his ex-girlfriend's wedding. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5870438&view=rss&microfeed=true

Artist Colleen Corradi Brannigan has taken it upon herself to illustrate all fifty-five of the fantastical cityscapes described in Italo Calvino's 1972 novel Invisible Cities. She's not finished with this project, but she's pretty darn close at this point. As you can see from her above depiction of the migratory, clone cities of Eutropia, she's working with several media to depict the bizarre locales described by Marco Polo. Here's but a sampling of her completed cities.

More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5867012&view=rss&microfeed=true

Why has fantasy gotten so gritty and violent? Why are we so obsessed with Game of Thrones and book sagas about severed limbs and dirty deals, instead of epic quests involving elves and singing swords and Ultimate Evil? Writer David Chandler shares a fascinating theory over at SFSignal. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5866663&view=rss&microfeed=true

Magic is mysterious and ancient, and its workings are often beyond the understanding of mere mortals. But that doesn't mean that magic doesn't have rules. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5866306&view=rss&microfeed=true

Look everyone, it's an Apollo bar! Once Upon a Time didn't want you to forget that the writers behind Lost were working on this fantasyland series. But even the odd Lost easter egg couldn't lighten up the bleak past of the dancing and singing cricket. Who knew we'd care so much about the sad backstory of a bug? More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5863217&view=rss&microfeed=true

If you've been wondering just what's wrong with unemployed people, and why they won't just go get a job, then Ursula K. Le Guin has some answers for you. In the time-honored tradition of fantasists and fabulists, she's phrased her answers in the form of a fable. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5862142&view=rss&microfeed=true

Anne McCaffrey wasn't just the inventor of Pern, the world where a whole society is based on dragon-riding. She was also an incredibly influential author who helped transform the way science fiction and fantasy authors wrote about women, and the way all of us thought about bodies and selfhood. She was the first woman to win a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award, as well as a Grand Master of science fiction. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5862031&view=rss&microfeed=true

War looms over the fantasy world of The Meek as a grieving emperor heeds his demonic tiger advisor. A brigand on a quest to kill her boyfriend stumbles onto a city of children. And the only girl who can save the world can't bother to put on a shirt. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5858771&view=rss&microfeed=true

When you see Jason Momoa cut through a bunch of dudes as though they were just butter statues, you don't realize how much work goes into every sword thrust and flying severed head. Until you see a video like this one. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5858734&view=rss&microfeed=true

Are Greek gods just automatically camptastic? The Immortals looks like it will push mythological glitter to its absolute limits — but there's been a long history of insanely goofy movies about Hercules, Zeus, Perseus and other Hellenistic bruisers. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5857337&view=rss&microfeed=true

Courier Nadia steps through an ordinary gate and finds herself in an extraordinary world populated by flying battleship whales and bizarre creatures in dashing chapeaux. But this cotton candy land is threatened by a skeletal adversary and Nadia's own nightmares. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5856510&view=rss&microfeed=true

Faerie artist Brian Froud is one of our favorite illustrators of the weird and fantastical — but we're especially fascinated by his design work on The Dark Crystal. Now a new exhibition is opening in New York that showcases the work of Brian, Wendy and Toby Froud, plus some "lost" Labyrinth concept art. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5856224&view=rss&microfeed=true

In October of 1936, J.R.R. Tolkien delivered to his publisher the manuscript of what would become one of the most celebrated fantasy books of all time. In September of the following year, The Hobbit made its debut, with 20 or so original drawings, two maps, and a cover painting by Tolkien himself. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5855406&view=rss&microfeed=true

Wow. I did not think the ABC's new fairy-tale show Once Upon A Time could out-cheese its pilot — and I was so, so, so, so wrong. This weekend's episode brought in Pam from True Blood to out-crazy them all, with a tiny unicorn and a witch fight! More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5855072&view=rss&microfeed=true

Fantasy has a problem – it is inherently kitsch. What do I mean by kitsch? Crap that people unaccountably like. I'm a fantasy fan, so please don't put your fist through your computer screen just yet. Give me a chance to explain. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5854383&view=rss&microfeed=true

Last week, as part of their month-long celebration of Ursula K. LeGuin's Wizard of Earthsea, Manhattan's Center for Fiction gathered four fantasists, including Naomi Novik and Lev Grossman, to explain why fantasy matters. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5849948&view=rss&microfeed=true

The New Yorker's Adam Gopnik has written an excellent retrospective on Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth, in recognition of the iconic book's fiftieth anniversary. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5848372&view=rss&microfeed=true

In an Old West populated by centaurs, mad mystical cow rustlers, and bovine missionaries, the wise-cracking, hard-drinking demon girl Kit — armed with an otherworldly gun — is out for revenge against her former outlaw gang. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5847729&view=rss&microfeed=true

Now that we officially know the 100 greatest science fiction and fantasy books, according to NPR's fine readers, there's some great reading material waiting for all of us. But which of these great books is best for you? It's a dazzling amount of options, after all. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5844991&view=rss&microfeed=true If you're lucky enough to be in New York, then October is going to be a brilliant month for you — the Center for Fiction is putting on a whole month of science fiction and fantasy discussions, in honor of Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea. It's all part of "The Big Read," a month-long program focusing on a single book. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5844566&view=rss&microfeed=true

Watch Daffy Duck transform into a Heavy Metal-esque Wizard with magic powers, bikini-ed groupies and his own guitar solo. We never thought we'd see fantasy style cartoon cleavage in the middle of a Merrie Melodies — well done, Looney Tunes. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5844258&view=rss&microfeed=true

A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin does a fair number of interviews, but his Sound of Young America interview with John Hodgman might be the best one ever. Hodgman does a great job of getting Martin to talk about his thoughts on writing and geek culture — starting with the fan mail a teenage Martin wrote to the Avengers comic. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5842798&view=rss&microfeed=true

Rejoice, fans of The Descent Doomsday — director Neil Marshall is coming to HBO's Game of Thrones. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5839867&view=rss&microfeed=true A major trope in paranormal romance — and plenty of other types of sagas — lately is the idea that two people are destined to be together, or are "bond-mates." Over at Genreville, Rose Fox does a great job of examining why this idea strays into disturbing territory, by removing free choice and turning romantic relationships into a form of imprisonment. More »
]]> http://io9.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5836078&view=rss&microfeed=true