History Main / LowFantasy

* [[AbsentAliens Human dominance]]: worlds which are populated mostly (or even exclusively) by human beings rather than the usual [[TheLordOfTheRings Tolkienesque]] mix of [[FiveRaces elves, dwarves and other humanoids]].

Low magic tends to indicate low fantasy, but not always: TheLordOfTheRings, TropeMaker for HighFantasy, is set in a low-magic world.

* ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'', pretty much. Especially in the early stories, there is one ''really'' plot important magical element (SuperSerum), with other magical elements being mostly in the background to awkward, annoying barbarians having small-scale adventures which verge on SliceOfLife. To begin with, it could have passed as a parody of HeroicFantasy - Asterix is an IdealHero, albeit a small, sneaky one, travelling around the ancient world and fighting great armies - but as the plots got weirder and more satirical (such as stories where their enemies are free market economics (''Obelix and Co'') or gentrification (''Mansions of the Gods'') and as the character-driven plots eclipse "a powerful, armoured enemy is coming, we have to stop them!" stories (''The Laurel Wreath'' is the result of AlcoholInducedStupidity on the part of the chief and ''The Soothsayer'' and ''The Roman Agent'' are all events that stem from the town's hidden insecurities) it becomes apparent they just live in a LowFantasy world.

** That said it's not ''Dark'' fantasy, most of the factions have a sympathetic side and magic is treated similarly to High fantasy, aside from [[BlackMagic Unholy magic]] which is unquestionably evil (though WhiteMagic isn't necessarily good).

* ''TabletopGame/{{Ironclaw}}'' is a rare example of a TabletopGames excursion into Low Fantasy, with an emphasis on interpersonal conflict, politics, and characters who actually have a place and role in society other than "adventurer". The relative paucity of "monsters" ([[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman Guilt Free Slaughter Victims]]) in a FunnyAnimal-populated setting gets a LampshadeHanging in one supplement:

Not to be confused with {{Demythtification}}, which is [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructed]] {{mythology}} (often featuring DoingInTheWizard).

* The ''Literature/{{Indigo}}'' series fits on most counts: It's AfterTheEnd. Sentient nonhuman beings are rare. Morality is mainly [[GreyAndGrayMorality grey and gray]]. Clan feuds are more likely than actual wars (although one kingdom does get captured by an EvilOverlord [[spoiler:who turns out not to be evil after all]]). And magic isn't particularly reliable or predictable, and is rarely powerful. However, the future of the human race ''is'' on the shoulders of our eponymous heroine and [[NonhumanSidekick her]] "[[BigBadassWolf dog]]." [[spoiler:[[MindScrew Or something]].]]

Distinguishing between low fantasy and [[MohsScaleOfSciFiHardness soft science fiction]] can be tricky. Robert E. Howard, creator of ConanTheBarbarian, wrote both; the [[Creator/HPLovecraft Cthulhu mythos]] ''is'' both.

* [[ConantheBarbarian Conan the Cimmerian]], the epitome of HeroicFantasy (or, Sword & Sorcery), is an oft-cited example of low fantasy. Just as ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'' created high fantasy, Conan founded the genre of Low Fantasy (Sword & Sorcery).

** Albeit perhaps more so in the later stories: the earlier set has Turjan of Miir, T'sain, [[spoiler:T'sais ([[JerkassWoobie after some development]]),]] and Etarr, at least.
*** Don't forget Guyal of Sfere, the protagonist of the only idealistic story in the Dying Earth.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Although the series does have shapeshifters, necromancers, sorcerers, priests that can perform miracles, magic and talking doors, it is primarily a gritty, realistic take on the genre. In particular, the series is famous for its cynicism and its strict adherence to each character's highly biased point-of-view.

* ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'', pretty much. Especially in the early stories, there is one ''really'' plot important magical element (SuperSerum), with other magical elements being mostly in the background to awkward, annoying barbarians having small-scale adventures which verge on SliceOfLife. To begin with, it could have passed as a parody of HeroicFantasy - Asterix is an IdealHero, albeit a small, sneaky one, travelling around the ancient world and fighting great armies - but as the plots got weirder and more satirical (such as stories where their enemies are free market economics (''Obelix and Co'') or gentrification (''Mansions of the Gods'')) and as the character-driven plots eclipse "a powerful, armoured enemy is coming, we have to stop them!" stories (''The Laurel Wreath'' is the result of AlcoholInducedStupidity on the part of the chief and ''The Soothsayer'' and ''The Roman Agent'' are all events that stem from the town's hidden insecurities) it becomes apparent they just live in a LowFantasy world.

* ''[[SeireiNoMoribito Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit]]'' has a disillusioned cynic trying to make up for her past deeds. Fictional medieval setting with limited magic.

* ''{{Asterix}}'', pretty much. Especially in the early stories, there is one ''really'' plot important magical element (SuperSerum), with other magical elements being mostly in the background to awkward, annoying barbarians having small-scale adventures which verge on SliceOfLife. To begin with, it could have passed as a parody of HeroicFantasy - Asterix is an IdealHero, albeit a small, sneaky one, travelling around the ancient world and fighting great armies - but as the plots got weirder and more satirical (such as stories where their enemies are free market economics (''Obelix and Co'') or gentrification (''Mansions of the Gods'')) and as the character-driven plots eclipse "a powerful, armoured enemy is coming, we have to stop them!" stories (''The Laurel Wreath'' is the result of AlcoholInducedStupidity on the part of the chief and ''The Soothsayer'' and ''The Roman Agent'' are all events that stem from the town's hidden insecurities) it becomes apparent they just live in a LowFantasy world.

* ''ShadowOfTheLion'' by Creator/EricFlint, Creator/DaveFreer, and Creator/MercedesLackey is a good example. It is set in ancient Venice, and, though magic exists, it has little more to do with the day to day life of most citizens than historical "witchcraft" did, and, indeed is treated in much the same way. [[spoiler:Except of course for protagonist Marco Valdosta who ends up fulfilling his destiny as a mage by acting as a vessel for the [[DeusExMachina Winged Lion of Venice]] and saving the city.]] Virtually the only other fantastical elements are spirits/demigods and demons (from whom humans draw magical power, so arguably these two are just different aspects of the same element).

* The ''GentlemanBastard'' series by Scott Lynch: the main characters are a gang of sophisticated con men, who tend to run around cities rife with organized crime. The magical ability of the world is actually pretty high, but it's all in the hands of a wizards' guild that appears rarely and has it in for the protagonists.

* ''Literature/TillWeHaveFaces'' by [[Creator/CSLewis C.S. Lewis]] certainly skews in this direction. Somewhat surprising from the author of ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia''.

* ''WarhammerFantasyRoleplay'' on the other hand defaults and mostly stays there. Although you ''can'' encounter very potent supernatural elements, it usually means you're in way over your head.
* ''IronKingdoms'' (at least in their RPG incarnation) take a pretty good shot at this one. Even in the tabletop battle game, wars between nations are usually concerned with either land-grabbing or religious differences (the kind with fire), but anything involving the undead Cryx faction usually veers off into ludicrous world-threatening territory.

* D20Modern: The "Shadow Chasers" setting
* BunniesAndBurrows: A game about intelligent rabbits trying to survive in a modern setting. Magic does not exist, but there are mild psychic powers (rare) and herbs can be combined into medicine. Your average monsters include humans, dogs, and owls.

* ''SunsetOverImdahl'' hits seven items out of nine on the checklist, and barely avoids the last two--it's a pointless war to keep a crumbling empire together, and magic is barely present, let alone good or evil.

* ''{{Gungnir}}'', which is gritty and set to a BlackAndGrayMorality racial conflict. The world has some magic, but anything flashy is bound to be a [[ThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow forbidden art]]; there are Sprites, but they tend to stay away from people, and the resident angel's morality and objectives are a bit questionable. It helps that this game is part of the unabashedly DarkFantasy VideoGame/DeptHeaven series.

* ''RumorsOfWar'': Mundane setting? AncientGreece. Cynicism? [[GreyAndGrayMorality Cloudy]] with a chance of [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment more clouds]]. Human Dominance? [[TheMagicGoesAway Yes]]. Heroism? [[KnightInSourArmor natch]]. [[MythArc Rumors]] [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin of war?]] Take a wild guess.

* While ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' proper is, as noted above, well within the bounds of HighFantasy, much of the history of the Third Age ([[AllThereInTheManual as elaborated in the appendixes and Tolkien's notes and letters]]) would fit a Low Fantasy setting. What magic there is in Middle-Earth is slowly disappearing as the elves give way to the kingdoms of men and ThePowersThatBe grow more detached from the affairs of the mortal world. Those supernatural agents that do still act, such as Sauron and the Wizards, tend to [[ScryVersusScry play the long game]] and work behind the scenes through their mortal allies. Human rulers spend more time bickering with one another, the elves, and the dwarves than they do warding off the great forces of evil that are sometimes literally just over the mountains.

* ''ASongOfIceAndFire'' is arguably a borderline example of low fantasy. While it has gritty realism, it also has an epic scale. It does have shapeshifters, necromancers, sorcerers, priests that can perform miracles, magic and talking doors. The amount of magic grew as the series progressed, and in the beginning was very subtle and ill-defined. Plus, most magic users are painted in the same dark tones typical of Low Fantasy, and the book goes beyond GrayAndGrayMorality straight into BlackAndGrayMorality, making it very [[SlidingScaleOfCynicismVersusIdealism cynical]] and very [[DarkerAndEdgier dark]].

* RobinHobb's [[Literature/RealmOfTheElderlings Farseer]] series is classic Low Fantasy.

* ''Literature/TalesOfTheOtori'', in which magic is rare (and controlled by a secretive network of supernatural spies and assassins), magic-users are generally feared and mistrusted, all but one of the main antagonists are non-magical, political intrigue and military strategy play as big a part in the plot as the supernatural elements, and the protagonist is a former religious pacifist turned vengeance seeker after the massacre of his village.
* The ''{{Redwall}}'' novels are another example of low fantasy, where the villains often go to war for petty reasons, [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane magic is almost nothing more than prophecy and ascended parlor tricks]], the scope is limited to Mossflower woods (or if they do go afar, wherever that place happens to be; our heroes are not going out to save the world as you'd expect in HighFantasy), and where in the earlier books, AnyoneCanDie. What breaks that mold is the FunnyAnimal cast, the BlackAndWhiteMorality, and the fact the Brian Jacques himself ostensibly [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids writes these books for kids]].

* While the various worlds of the ''FinalFantasy'' series tend to go all over the fantasy spectrum, FinalFantasyVII, FinalFantasyVIII, and (from the looks of things) FinalFantasyXV are all set firmly on this setting.

* ''{{Asterix}}'', pretty much. Especially in the early stories, there is one ''really'' plot important magical element (SuperSerum), with other magical elements being mostly in the background to the awkward, annoying barbarians having small-scale adventures which verge on SliceOfLife.

* Glen Cook's ''Literature/The Black Company'' series is Low Fantasy with a High Fantasy backdrop. The titular Black Company is a mercenary company employed in a High Fantasy-type war of Evil Empire versus Heroic Rebels. However, they aren't working for the Heroic Rebels. Definite [[GreyAndGreyMorality gray morality]]; the "Evil" Empire is more Lawful Neutral, while the "Heroic" Rebels are rather less heroic on closer examination. The main characters are all loyal to each other and the band, but are interested in survival, not saving the world. And as to magic users being rather freakishly evil, there's the Dominator...

* ''SpiceAndWolf'': one of the two main character is a wolf goddess in humanoid form, but the plot is mostly about the mundane things she and the trader she travels with encounter.

* Heroism: High fantasy heroes are usually all-around nice guys who stand up for the little guy and fight the bad guy. Low fantasy heroes tend to be [[KnightInSourArmor bitter cynics desperately clinging to their broken moral compass]] or devil-may-care anti-heroes who save the woman from the evil sorcerer just for the sex. At the very least, they tend to be more of a FlawedHero than a KnightInShiningArmor.

* Heroism: High fantasy heroes are usually all-around nice guys who stand up for the little guy and fight the bad guy. Low fantasy heroes tend to be [[KnightInSourArmor bitter cynics desperately clinging to their broken moral compass]] or devil-may-care anti-heroes who save the woman from the evil sorcerer just for the sex.

* The ''Gentlemen Bastards'' series by Scott Lynch: the main characters are a gang of sophisticated con men, who tend to run around cities rife with organized crime. The magical ability of the world is actually pretty high, but it's all in the hands of a wizards' guild that appears rarely and has it in for the protagonists.

* RobinHobb's Farseer series is classic Low Fantasy.

* ''Ironclaw'' is a rare example of a TabletopGames excursion into Low Fantasy, with an emphasis on interpersonal conflict, politics, and characters who actually have a place and role in society other than "adventurer". The relative paucity of "monsters" ([[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman Guilt Free Slaughter Victims]]) in a FunnyAnimal-populated setting gets a LampshadeHanging in one supplement:

* In ''VideoGame/MountAndBlade'', there are [[LikeRealityUnlessNoted no magic, monsters or mythical beings to be seen - just regular medieval life]] in a fictional world with [[AlternateUniverse alternate Earth geography]] and fictional nations, that are ''very'' [[FantasyCounterpartCulture close to the historical ones they were based on]]...

Not to be confused with [[HeroicFantasy pulp fantasy]], which is high fantasy with low quality. Also not to be confused with {{Demythtification}}, which is [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructed]] {{mythology}} (often featuring DoingInTheWizard).

Compare with MagicRealism, MundaneFantastic and DarkFantasy. Contrast with StandardFantasySetting, DungeonPunk, and UrbanFantasy, plus the tropes mentioned above.

LowFantasy is a catchall, and rather inexact, term for that sub-genre of {{fantasy}} that is neither [[HighFantasy high]] nor HeroicFantasy, and usually not UrbanFantasy, though it may overlap with the other sub-genres. Not a good way to define a genre, but English is funny like that -- [[TVTropesWillRuinYourVocabulary especially our particular brand of it]].

* Literature/{{Discworld}}, particularly from about ''Discworld/MenAtArms'' onwards as Pratchett begins to explore how a city like Ankh-Morpork would actually ''work''. However while the ''feel'' is often LowFantasy the actual setting - with dwarfs, trolls, extra-dimensional elves and dragons, interactive deities, recurring threats to reality itself and numerous wizards and witches - is more HighFantasy. Much of the humour comes from meshing the two forms together (for example, in Discworld/{{Sourcery}} the magic is very much HighFantasy, but the ''magicians'' are as LowFantasy as they come) and much of the plot and conflict come from the juxtaposition of the idealism of High Fantasy against the cynicism of Low Fantasy.

* Although a series about talking cats may sound like HighFantasy, ''Literature/WarriorCats'' has some very distinct LowFantasy qualities, with its dark tone, GrayAndGreyMorality, increasingly [[DysfunctionJunction dysfunctional characters]], and minimal involvement of supernatural forces.
* Alan Campbell's ''Literature/DeepgateCodex'' trilogy combines many LowFantasy elements with a {{steampunk}} setting.
* ''Literature/RonjaTheRobbersDaughter'' is a great example of a LowFantasy children's book.

* ''Ironclaw'' is a rare example of a TabletopGames excursion into LowFantasy, with an emphasis on interpersonal conflict, politics, and characters who actually have a place and role in society other than "adventurer". The relative paucity of "monsters" ([[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman Guilt Free Slaughter Victims]]) in a FunnyAnimal-populated setting gets a LampshadeHanging in one supplement:

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