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Speculative fiction |
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Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, as well as a work in this genre.[1]
Its roots are in oral traditions, which became fantasy literature and drama. From the twentieth century, it has expanded further into various media, including film, television, graphic novels, manga, animations, and video games.
The expression fantastic literature is also often used to refer to this genre by the Anglophone literary critics.[2][3][4][5] An archaic spelling for the term is phantasy.[6]
Fantasy is distinguished from the genres of science fiction and horror by the absence of scientific or macabre themes, although these can occur in fantasy. In popular culture, the fantasy genre predominantly features settings that emulate Earth, but with a sense of otherness.[7] In its broadest sense, however, fantasy consists of works by many writers, artists, filmmakers, and musicians from ancient myths and legends to many recent and popular works.