Mundane Fantasy is a unique sub-genre of Fantasy and a category that I find completely fun to write in. What makes it Mundane? Well, that simply means the story is set in modern times and is recognizable to the readers. (No epic world- building here.) The main characters are also easier to identify with because they experience similar situations that we all go through, including high-school drama, real family issues, betrayal, first love's, and your normal every day-to-day activity. Although this sub-genre is the total opposite of traditional High Fantasy, magic and fantasy elements still find their way into this mundane world- thus leading our hero on an unexpected and sometimes magical adventure.
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Just because it has "Mundane" in the title doesn't mean it has to be boring. In fact, there are a lot of well-written page turners out there:
1. The Builders by Daniel Polansky is considered Mundane Fantasy. It's a gritty story about a band of ex-mercenaries seeking revenge for something that happened five years prior. The twist? The main characters are not-so-cute fury woodland creatures.
2. The Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare. Set in modern times, magic and supernatural forces do exist in this world but are kept secret. The main theme revolving around each of her works is the idea of self-acceptance and coming into one's own in relation to the choices we make and the consequences that follow.
3. The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie is a fantastic example of the genre. His stories are visually amazing, and his books blow any competitors out of the water! The trilogy centers on the fortunes of a variety of characters as they navigate through a growing war and other conflicts. Any supernatural forces that exist are so intrinsic that your suspension of disbelief is not a requirement.
4. The Broken Empire Trilogy by Mark Lawrence definitely falls under the category of Mundane Fantasy. The worlds takesplace in our reality- sometime in the future when science and magic collided and then destroyed one another. Most relics left over are considered "magical"- but the readers will recognize them as a logical invention. The writer takes something fantastic, like the existence of necromancers, and makes it logical and rather unremarkable.
