#classic fantasy

[elkrisen]

youve been talking about classic/vintage fantasy lately - share some favs? i recommend dragonriders of pern if you havent read them. theyve aged kinda poorly in some ways but are a masterclass in worldbuilding and genre blending

I don't know if it's the weather or the need for escapism but it's been the genre I've been really luxuriating in lately. I'm more interested in memorable characters/settings over complex worldbuilding and my tastes reflect that.

BOOKS:

The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle (03') - two sisters move to a house on a hill with a mysterious history. a strange and inhuman suitor comes to court the oldest. (this was my favorite book as a child)

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Mariller (99') - the youngest of seven, a girl is tasked by the fairy queen with the fate of her six brothers and two warring kingdoms.

Howl's Moving Castle by Dianne Wynne Jones (86') - a simple girl becomes caught in the quarrel between a witch and wizard leaving her body transformed and life forever-changed.

The Queen's Own Fool by Jane Yolen (00') - a queen takes a girl into her court to be her personal fool. (this one isn't necessarily fantasy, more historical fiction but it was also a childhood favorite)

The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski ('93) - a man undergoes extensive mutation to fulfill the occupation of witcher, a monster slayer. this is a collection of short stories about his travels.

I've been recommended The Wood Wife by Terri Windling (96'), Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre ('78), Deerskin by Robin McKinle ('93) and The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington ('76) so those are all next on my docket. I also am really curious about Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner ('87) which is a queer classic fantasy.

FILMS:

The Princess Bride ('87) - the most classic of all classic fantasy.

Photographing Fairies ('97) - a war photographer is given photographs that indicate the existence of fairies. his search for the truth leads him to a small and mysterious village full of secrets.

The Company of Wolves ('84) - a feminist retelling of little red riding hood involving werewolves and beautifully crafted dreamscapes.

Viy ('67 ) - a monk is tasked with guarding the body of a witch that arises each night and attempts to kill him.

I plan on watching Himiko ('74), The Messenger ('99), Born of Fire ('87), Beauty and the Beast ('78) , The Red Shoes ('48) Ladyhawke ('85), Legend ('85), and Exalibur ('81)

SERIES:

The 10th Kingdom (00') - a girl and her father find themselves falling through a portal and into a world of fantasy and fairy tale. (this one has my favorite werewolf character of all time)

Voyage of the Unicorn (01') - a father and his two daughters find themselves on a magical ship on a quest to find out what happened to their missing mother. (cheesy, not even really good. just a childhood staple of mine that I'm very fond of)

if anyone else has recommendations of classic fantasy that predate the early 2000s I would love to hear it! I'm always on the lookout for new ones to add to my lists.

[einarbaldvin]

Encounter XII. Ink on paper. 33x48 cm.

[whimsy-of-the-stars]

guys guys guy GUYS!!!!

THERE’S GONNA BE AN EARTHSEA GRAPHIC NOVEL AND IT LOOKS SUPER PROMISING!!

also the cover looks like THIS!

and here is the article:

it comes out on March 11, 2025! I’m so excited!!

[skunts-own-truth]

Wargames Atlantic, the folks that make the incredible plastic Quar kits, have released a few kits in a new “Classic Fantasy” line of minis! Check these out:

You get these two kits together, and that’s pretty much everything you need to represent any starting human character in Warhammer Fantasy RPG, and some excellent options for Mordheim!

[timorpanico]

Elric of Melniboné

+ timelapse ❣️

[ithinkthereforeiamnot]

Very possibly already posted

Funny and wholesome questions about lotr copyright

[fantasyfolks]

~ Classic fantasy vibes ~

[stlptr]

[judgeitbyitscover]

Chronicles in Amber (1970-1991) by Roger Zelaney

Cover art by Tim White

Mass Market paperback editions: Avon Books, 1986-1992

Chronicles in Amber books in order

Nine Princes in Amber (1970)

The Guns of Avalon (1972)

Sign of the Unicorn (1975)

The Hand of Oberon (1976)

The Courts of Chaos (1978)

Trumps of Doom (1985)

Blood of Amber (1986)

Sign of Chaos (1987)

Knight of Shadows (1989)

Prince of Chaos (1991)

[omie-wise]

Random, Short King of My Heart

I'm doing a closer re-read of the Chronicles of Amber than I usually do and ha ha WOW, I forgot how much of a DICK Random is in the first book. Just an absolute woman-hating asshole.

Like, Corwin isn't exactly Mr. ERA, but Random is NOT in a good place.

Although to be fair EVERYONE is way more of a dick... and they all get literally humanized as the series goes on.

It's also interesting how in "9 Princes in Amber" they have a lot more power over Shadows, and more flexibility in how they use that power. An awful lot of stuff from the first book was retconned pretty quickly.

Brand remained an unhinged dildo, at least.

[sci-fi-fantasy-art-collection]

Frank Frazetta

[einarbaldvin]

Four skeleton warriors and their floating master. Ink on paper.

[devileaterjaek]

WarCraft - Orcs & Humans (DOS) Join our community on //Discord// Support me on //Ko-Fi//

[ghiaccioicyyy]

Rough Part of Town, by Larry Elmore

[roxysretrodrive-in]

Kathryn Crosby (Kathryn Grant) as Princess Parisa

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)

[blackfinchart]

Anyone else fricken LOVE Valheim??

I very sincerely hope it’s where I wind up when I die the idea of ranching lizard-cows and farming turnips and slaying zombies and keeping wolves as pets is my idea of a cozy time

Anyway the Swamp is by far my favorite zone, it’s so menacing and atmospheric; it feels like a classic fantasy adventure the most of all zones imo. I wish I could grow crops there so I could enjoy the vibes at all times but alas my carrots n onions will not flourish!

I hope you like my Swamp fanart haha