Print Resources
Although this book discusses science fiction in addition to fantasy, they are addressed separately making this an easy to use reference tool for readers' advisory. The fantasy section is divided into sixteen different sub-genres including author and title recommendations for each. Perhaps the most unique and therefore helpful section in this book covers recommendations for reluctant readers. Librarians will find this book a useful resource for understanding the appeal of various fantasy sub-genres.
Burcher, C.; Hollands, N.; Smith, A.; Trott, B.; Zellers, J. (2009). Core Collections in Genre Studies: Fantasy Fiction 101. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 48:3, p. 226-231.
Written by adult services staff at the Williamsburg Regional Library, this article highlights some of the major sub-genres of fantasy and gives suggestions for collection development within the genre. The article warns against not taking the genre seriously and offers tips and suggestions for building up this increasingly important collection.
DePollo, A. (2011). Banned and Challenged Books: Fantasy and the Occult. Tennessee Libraries, 61:1, p.4.
This article gives a brief overview of the banning and challenging of fantasy literature that is occurring with increasing frequency in the United States. A few reasons for the increase in challenges are mentioned including the recent explosion in popularity of the genre. A useful resource for librarians and educators trying to understand some of the negative feelings associated with fantasy.
Orr, D. (2011). Dragons Ascendant. New York Times Book Review, 31.
While the main focus of this article is on reviewing George R.R. Martin's fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, the author brings up many valid and interesting points regarding the way that the fantasy genre is currently perceived. The ways in which A Song of Ice and Fire are setting new fantasy trends and lifting the genre out of the depths of public disdain are also aptly addressed. A great article that validates fantasy as an intellectual genre.
Saricks, J. (2009). The Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (2nd Ed.). Chicago, IL: American Library Association.
In this book, which is part of the American Library Association's Readers' Advisory Series, Joyce G. Saricks goes through multiple genres in order to help librarians understand the appeal of genre fiction. The characteristics of fantasy are described in depth as part of her section on Landscape Genres. Librarians might find her charts with suggested fantasy authors and series especially helpful for readers' advisory.
Online Resources
The Fantasy Guide
This site assists readers in discovering and enjoying the world of fantasy fiction through numerous guides including Fantasy Themes, Series, and Top Ten lists. While the site is filled with great information for librarians, and fantasy enthusiasts, all website content is contributed by one author, Will Kalif, who has no apparent credentials for running this site beyond his own interest in the genre. This simply means that librarians looking for more professional information may need to look elsewhere.
Fantasy Literature
With a tagline of "Life's too short to read bad books" this delightful site is geared one hundred percent toward fantasy fiction. Over a thousand author biographies, bibliographies, countless book reviews, best of book lists, a fun interactive blog, and much more await fantasy enthusiasts on this site. This is a wonderful place to steer fans of the genre for additional information about their favorite authors or series.
Fantasy Magazine
This online magazine focuses exclusively on fantasy fiction and all its sub-genres. Through stories that focus on authors, as well as current and past published fantasy, Fantasy Magazine hopes to help readers understand where fantasy has been, is currently, and is going in the future. Some sections of the magazine must be subscribed to, however, there are plenty of free articles, podcasts, and other information available each month on their website.
The Internet Speculative Fiction Database
This database is a fine example of a community effort to catalog works of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Bibliographic data, award listings, forthcoming books, and other bibliographic information is organized in an easily searchable manner. Due to its collaborative nature, however, the site makes no guarantee of validity. So double check, but do make use of this extensive resource for basic fantasy information needs.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of AmericaWhile this is professional organization for authors of science fiction and fantasy, the public side of their website has a great deal of useful fantasy information. Articles about the genre, links to the Nebula awards, and educational materials such as fantasy reading guides are all available for free to non SFWA members from the site.
Worlds Without End
A fantastic resource for information about science fiction, fantasy and horror books. Easily organized so that browsers can quickly access book lists by genre, awards won, best of, authors and much more. The site is also an online community where readers can contribute and discuss these genres through a blog and forum. A great place to ask questions and learn about the best that the genre has to offer.
