Is there such a thing as "Social Fantasy"

[pmmg]

I really dont know what I gravitate to, but in my writing, I dont do cozy or romantasy. Epic fantasy is mostly where I am at. Though...maybe also just plain fantasy.

If I am being really honest, I actually do not like most fantasy books I read. I prefer classics.

 

[Mad Swede]

That would also work. Solid story, if you ask me. I might also add some classics like Mio, min Mio and Bröderna Lejonhjärta. It was a very, very long time since I read those.

I did think about Bröderna Lejonhjärta, but given what that novel is really about I didn't think it was quite social fantasy. The Mumin books would count though, especially Trollkarlens Hatt, Trollvinter and Pappan och Havet.

 

[Stephen Baxter]

I did think about Bröderna Lejonhjärta, but given what that novel is really about I didn't think it was quite social fantasy. The Mumin books would count though, especially Trollkarlens Hatt, Trollvinter and Pappan och Havet.

Bröderna Lejonhjärta leans more into existential fantasy than social fantasy, though its themes of courage and resistance run deep. The Moomin books, especially Trollkarlens Hatt, Trollvinter, and Pappan och Havet, definitely fit, Jansson blends whimsy with deep psychological and societal themes.

 

[Stace]

Ellen Kushner's Riverside books might fall into this category.

 

[Gurkhal]

Thanks guys! All these suggestions are highely appreciated.

 

[Super Fantasy]

"social fantasy"?
That's how I approach writing often.

 

[Gurkhal]

"social fantasy"?
That's how I approach writing often.

That kind of makes it two of us. I'm not into big epic storylines but into more personal and, almost, everyday kind of storylines. To me the big picture in my stories tends to be a framework for the lower scale stories where things are actually happening with my characters.

 

[Dylan]

Social Fantasy could be a fascinating genre it’s like dreaming up a world where society operates under entirely new rules, whether through magic, alternate realities, or just wild ideas. Imagine a place where social hierarchies are flipped, emotions are traded like currency, or everyone’s fate is tied to a mystical force. It’s a way to play with real-world issues—like power, inequality, or human nature but wrapped in a fantastical, imaginative package. Think of it as fantasy with a deeper layer of "what if?" that makes you question how our own world works.

 

[pmmg]

Well...with that definition, I could probably name a lot more, and the ones I did name, I am not sure if they fit in. But.... if this is formally defined as a genre, I am not sure that is OP'ers question.

 

[Fidel]

I think most of what I write falls into that category. One is an exploration adventure. One is a girl trying to figure out if she's truly half-elf, as she's been told. My current series is about a troupe of performers who fall into various adventures that (so far, anyway) involve one or more murders. And I do tend to explore social interactions, as I'm fascinated by the possibilities presented by the interplay between dwarves, elves, humans, gnomes, and ogres, not to mention regional variations across each group. Even my first novel, which entailed a large-scale invasion, wasn't about saving the world but just saving the (Roman) legion long enough to save the city (Constantinople).

I agree with others here, that there are many such stories. It's just that the current Amazon best sellers tend to favor those grander stories. Blame the algorithm.

Wow, your stories sound so rich and layered! From exploration adventures to murder mysteries with performers, and deep dives into social dynamics across races, it’s clear you’re crafting worlds that feel alive and full of personality. And I love that your focus is on smaller, personal stakes rather than just saving the world. Keep doing what you’re doing, it’s unique and refreshing.

 

[dollyt8]

This might not be what you're looking for, but Gail Carson Levine's stories rarely have some world-ending plot involved that I can recall, though they're pretty much YA romance and not really high-level fantasy.

 

[faizakhan]

Yes! This is often called slice-of-life fantasy or cozy fantasy. Authors like Becky Chambers (A Psalm for the Wild-Built) and Travis Baldree (Legends & Lattes) focus on character-driven, everyday magic.

 

[Gurkhal]

Yes! This is often called slice-of-life fantasy or cozy fantasy. Authors like Becky Chambers (A Psalm for the Wild-Built) and Travis Baldree (Legends & Lattes) focus on character-driven, everyday magic.

While "slice-of-life" fantasy sounds like something for me I'm not sure about "cozy" fantasy. If earlier comments in the thread are to be believed then "cozy" fantasy includes an element of whimsicalness. And I can't say I'm overly interested in that aspect of it.