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Articles on Fantasy literature
Displaying 1 - 20 of 22 articles
Fantasy fiction provides more than escapism for young readers.
Potions, spells and alchemy are intriguing to children and adults alike. A professor of literature explains what’s behind this fascination and reveals where to experience the magic of transformation.
The BBC’s adaptation flopped in 2000. But times have changed.
The literary world is mourning one of science fiction’s greatest novelists.
Terry Pratchett opted to have his crushed by a steamroller.
A fly scientist ponders the genetics of bananas and dwarves, women and love in reviews of his favourite fiction and non-fiction books.
Given Pullman’s trenchant critique of despotism, his new trilogy will certainly be read allegorically.
Tolkien and Zamenhof are two of imaginary languages’ most successful proponents – yet their aims were very different.
Science fiction is a popular and lucrative genre – but most authors are men and relatable female characters are sadly lacking. Given this entrenched sexism, it’s time for publishers to take affirmative action.
This Saturday it will be a year since Alzheimer’s stole Terry Pratchett from the world. We mark the occasion with a beginner’s guide to his most enduring creation, the 41-book Discworld series.
Do you run wild in Fallout, or vicariously hunt zombies in The Walking Dead? Three philosophers investigate the enduring appeal of the post-apocalypse.
J R R Tolkien died over 40 years ago and since then there have been over 30 titles bearing his name. Is this warranted?
‘I knew and counted Terry among my friends, and I watched Alzheimer’s slowly and insidiously strip him of attributes and faculty.’ So what can we make of his final Discworld novel, published posthumously?
When conspiracy theorists label games and literature “Satanic,” what does it say about their own imaginations and ability to engage in play?
The Hobbit trilogy can be seen as one of the lowest points of the blockbuster culture.
It was only appropriate that the news of Terry Pratchett’s death at the age of 66 was announced not only by his publisher, but via his own Twitter account.
In 1937 a fairy tale about a reluctant hero with hairy feet was published by a tweedy English academic called JRR Tolkien. The Hobbit was an instant success – and its mighty sequel The Lord of the Rings…
Children’s fantasy has become a lucrative global industry, and duly producers are plumbing all kinds of magical authors. Enid Blyton’s Magic Faraway Tree is only the latest children’s classic destined…
Fans of J R R Tolkien must wonder why there is any controversy associated with the recent publication of his 1926 translation of Beowulf. For them anything new from Tolkien is welcome. But imagine if Tolkien’s…
Top contributors
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Senior Lecturer in Fantasy and Children's Literature, Co-Director, Centre for Fantasy and the Fantastic, University of Glasgow
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Professor in Publishing Studies, University of Stirling
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Vice-Chancellor and President, University of South Australia
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Associate Lecturer, University of Notre Dame Australia
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Associate Professor of Philosophy, Deakin University
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Associate Professor of Narratology, University of Sydney
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Senior Lecturer in Philosophy of Education, University of Birmingham
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Senior Lecturer in English, Macquarie University
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Deputy CIO; Member of English Faculty; Member of Merton College, University of Oxford
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Wellcome Trust Research Fellow, University of Glasgow
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Emeritus Professor of English, University of Kentucky
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Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, The Open University
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Professor of Marketing and Media Research, University of Münster
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Director of Graduate Education and Principal Lecturer in Psychology, University of Huddersfield
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Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Texas State University
