A fantasy podcast is a podcast related to or discussing the

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...

genre, which usually focuses on the magical,

supernatural Supernatural phenomena or entities are those beyond the Scientific law, laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin 'above, beyond, outside of' + 'nature'. Although the corollary term "nature" has had multiple meanin ...

myth Myth is a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society. For scholars, this is very different from the vernacular usage of the term "myth" that refers to a belief that is not true. Instead, the ...

ical, or

folkloric Folklore is the body of expressive culture shared by a particular group of people, culture or subculture. This includes oral traditions such as tales, myths, legends, proverbs, poems, jokes, and other oral traditions. This also includes material ...

. Fantasy stories are set in

fictional universe A fictional universe, also known as an imagined universe or a constructed universe, is the internally consistent fictional setting used in a narrative or a work of art. This concept is most commonly associated with works of fantasy and scie ...

s or

fantasy world A fantasy world or fictional world is a world created for fictional media, such as literature, film or games. Typical fantasy worlds feature magical abilities. Some worlds may be a parallel world connected to Earth via magical portals or items ...

s that are often reminiscent of the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

and the

early modern period The early modern period is a Periodization, historical period that is defined either as part of or as immediately preceding the modern period, with divisions based primarily on the history of Europe and the broader concept of modernity. There i ...

. Despite having a fictional setting, fantasy stories can contain or reference locations, events, or people from the real world. Characters in these stories often encounter fictional creatures such as dwarves,

elves An elf (: elves) is a type of humanoid supernatural being in Germanic folklore. Elves appear especially in North Germanic mythology, being mentioned in the Icelandic ''Poetic Edda'' and the ''Prose Edda''. In medieval Germanic-speakin ...

dragon A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...

s, and

fairies A fairy (also called fay, fae, fae folk, fey, fair folk, or faerie) is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, generally described as anthropomorphism, anthropomorphic, found in the folklore of multiple European cultures (including Cel ...

. Common types of fantasy podcasts are

audio dramas Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatised, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine ...

, narrated short stories,

role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out ...

s, or discussions and reviews of fantasy topics such as fantasy films, books, games, and other media. The intended audience of a fantasy podcast can vary from young children to adults. Fantasy podcasts emerged from storytelling and the creation of the radio. Fantasy podcasts have often been adapted into

television programs A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via Terrestrial television, over-the-air, Satellite television, satellite, and cable te ...

graphic novel A graphic novel is a self-contained, book-length form of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and Anthology, anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comics sc ...

s, and

comics a Media (communication), medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. It typically the form of a sequence of Panel (comics), panels of images. Textual devices such as speech balloons, Glo ...

. Fantasy podcasts are a subgenre of fiction podcasts and are distinguished from science fiction podcasts and

horror podcast A horror podcast is a podcast that covers fiction, non-fiction, or reviews of the horror genre generally. History Horror podcasts are typically created and run by volunteers in their free time. As some podcasts such as '' Archive 81'' and '' ...

s by the absence of scientific or macabre themes, respectively, though these subgenres regularly overlap.

Genre

As of 2021, The longest running fantasy podcast is

PodCastle ''PodCastle'' is a weekly audio fantasy fiction podcast. They release audio performances of fantasy short fiction, including all the subgenres of fantasy, including magical realism, urban fantasy, slipstream, high fantasy, and dark fantasy. As ...

, which has been actively releasing content since 2007. The most common subgenre of fantasy podcasts is

high fantasy High fantasy, or epic fantasy, is a subgenre of fantasy defined by the epic nature of its setting or by the epic stature of its characters, themes, or plot. Brian Stableford, ''The A to Z of Fantasy Literature'', (p. 198), Scarecrow Pres ...

, however, other subgenres include

urban fantasy Urban fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy, placing supernatural elements in a contemporary urban area, urban-affected setting. The combination provides the writer with a platform for classic fantasy tropes, quixotic plot-elements, and unusual charac ...

, modern fantasy, and

dark fantasy Dark fantasy, also called fantasy horror, is a subgenre of fantasy literary, artistic, and cinematic works that incorporates disturbing and frightening themes. The term is ambiguously used to describe stories that combine horror fiction, horror ...

Science fiction and fantasy podcasts

The content of fantasy podcasts often overlaps with science fiction podcasts. These two genres are often grouped together under the label science fiction and fantasy podcasts, which is sometimes shortened to sci-fi/fantasy podcasts or simply SFF. Some examples of podcasts that cover both science fiction and fantasy topics include ''SFF Yeah!'', ''The SFF Audio Podcast'', and ''Sword & Laser''.'''' Two of the longest running science fiction and fantasy podcasts, as of 2021, are ''Sword and Laser'' and the ''

Clarkesworld Magazine ''Clarkesworld Magazine'' is an American online fantasy and science fiction magazine edited by Neil Clarke. It released its first issue October 1, 2006, and has maintained a regular monthly schedule since, publishing fiction by authors such as ...

'' podcast, which have both been regularly releasing episodes since 2008.

Style

Audio drama

The Two Princes ''The Two Princes'' is a scripted fantasy action adventure podcast from Gimlet Media. It was created and written by Kevin Christopher Snipes and directed by Mimi O'Donnell. The story focuses on two princes from warring kingdoms who become unwitti ...

'' is a popular audio drama style

LGBT LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The gro ...

fantasy podcast. Other fantasy podcasts include ''Carcerem'' and ''Roommate From Hell''. Aja Romano, for ''Vox'', compiled a list of seven fantasy audio drama podcast that included ''Kalila Stormfire's Economical Magick Services'', ''The Magical History of Knox County'', ''Victoriocity'', ''The Alexandria Archives'', ''Love and Luck'', ''Alba Salix'', and ''Supernatural Sexuality with Dr Seabrooke.'' Other fantasy audio dramas or audio fiction podcasts include ''Inn Between'', ''The Once and Future Nerd'', ''The Penumbra Podcast'', and ''The Prickwillow Papers''.

Narrated short stories

Based on an

Audio Publishers Association The Audio Publishers Association (APA) is the first and only not-for-profit trade organization of the audiobook industry in the United States. Its mission is to "advocate the common, collective business interests of audio publishers." Membership is ...

report, the audiobook industry grew thirty-four percent between 2015 and 2016. According to Andrew Liptak, for ''

The Verge ''The Verge'' is an American Technology journalism, technology news website headquarters, headquartered in Lower Manhattan, New York City and operated by Vox Media. The website publishes news, feature stories, guidebooks, product reviews, cons ...

'', this increasing listenership has contributed to the success of podcasts released by science fiction and fantasy magazines. For instance, the ''

'' releases a science fiction and fantasy podcast containing short stories read by Kate Baker. As opposed to an audio drama, the stories are read by an individual rather than a cast of voice actors. Other example of fantasy magazines that release short stories as podcast episodes include ''The BCS Audio Vault'' and ''PodCastle''.''''

Improvisation

The fantasy podcast ''

Hello from the Magic Tavern ''Hello from the Magic Tavern'' is an improvised comedy podcast hosted and produced by Arnie Niekamp, Matt Young, and Adal Rifai. The podcast is set in the fictional world of Foon, a magical realm where a fictionalized version of Niekamp is trapped ...

'' is entirely improvised except for the premise of the fantasy world in which the characters reside. The improv science fiction podcasts '' Mission to Zyxx'' and ''Voyage to the Stars'' both have fantasy themes.

Role-playing games

Dungeons & Dragons ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) originally created and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical ...

'', a

tabletop role-playing game A tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG or TRPG), also known as a pen-and-paper role-playing game, is a kind of role-playing game (RPG) in which the participants describe their characters' actions through speech and sometimes movements. Participants d ...

, is often adapted into fantasy podcasts. Marion Frayna, of

AsiaOne AsiaOne.com is a Singaporean news and lifestyle website and news aggregator. It is Singapore's first pure play digital content platform, serving readers primarily in Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. AsiaOne was launched in 1995 by Singapore ...

, recommends learning how to play the game by watching or listening to other people play on

live streams Livestreaming, live-streaming, or live streaming is the streaming of video or audio in real time or near real time. While often referred to simply as ''streaming'', the real-time nature of livestreaming differentiates it from other non-live ...

(such as ''

Critical Role ''Critical Role'' is an American web series in which a group of professional voice actors play ''Dungeons & Dragons''. The show started streaming partway through the cast's first campaign in March 2015. Campaign one ended in October 2017 aft ...

'') or podcasts (such as ''

The Adventure Zone ''The Adventure Zone'' is a weekly comedy and adventure actual play podcast, in which the McElroy family play ''Dungeons & Dragons'' along with other role-playing games. The show is distributed by the Maximum Fun network and hosted by brother ...

''). These fantasy podcasts often include players asking questions and actively learning the rules of the game and regularly involve players making jokes and improvising rather than following a script.'''' Other ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing or actual play podcasts include ''The Broadswords'', ''

Rivals of Waterdeep ''Rivals of Waterdeep'' is an American actual play web series, with a podcast adaptation, where the cast plays ''Dungeons & Dragons'' using the fifth edition ruleset. It is set in the ''Forgotten Realms'' campaign setting and the show's Dungeon ...

'', ''Tavern Tales Junior'', and ''Roll For Wenches''. Other role-playing game systems have been used to create fantasy podcasts such as ''Welcome to Warda'' which uses the Fate system, ''Queer Dungeoneers'' which uses Dungeon World, and ''Very Random Encounters'' which uses a different role-playing system for each campaign.

Discussion and critique

Fantasy podcasts such as ''SFF Yeah!'' and ''Sword & Laser'' cover news of fantasy related media and discuss or review the latest releases. For instance, ''SFF Yeah!'' discusses the latest science fiction and fantasy books.'''' Rather than discuss or review fantasy related media, nonfiction podcasts like ''

Imaginary Worlds Imaginary Worlds may refer to: * Fictional universes * Imaginary Worlds: The Art of Fantasy, a 1973 study of the modern literary fantasy genre by Lin Carter * Imaginary Worlds (podcast), an episodic science fiction and fantasy podcast {{dab ...

'' and ''Words to That Effect'' explore, analysis, and deconstruct fantasy worlds and the themes and tropes used in the genre.

Adaptions

Some

web series A web series (also known as webseries, short-form series, and web show) is a series of short scripted or non-scripted online videos, generally in episodic form, released on the Internet (i.e. World Wide Web), which first emerged in the late 1 ...

have been adapted into podcast form, including shows such as ''Critical Role'', ''High Rollers'', and ''Girls, Guts, Glory''. Fantasy podcasts have been adapted into books, comics, and film. For instance, ''Sword and Laser'' has been adapted into a book and ''The Adventure Zone'' has been adapted into both books and comics. ''The Two Princes'' has been adapted into film. Fantasy magazines have been adapted into podcasts or vice versa. For instance, the ''

'' podcast and ''The BCS Audio Vault'' produced by Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online Magazine. Fantasy podcasts have been used by businesses as marketing campaigns to increase brand visibility. For instance, the German software company,

SAP Sap is a fluid transported in the xylem cells (vessel elements or tracheids) or phloem sieve tube elements of a plant. These cells transport water and nutrients throughout the plant. Sap is distinct from latex, resin, or cell sap; it is a s ...

, produced a podcast entitled ''Searching for Salaì''.

References

External links

* on FictionPodcasts.com * on Podchaser * on

Player FM Player FM or PlayerFM is a podcast A podcast is a Radio program, program made available in digital format for download over the Internet. Typically, a podcast is an Episode, episodic series of digital audio Computer file, files that users can ...

{{Fantasy fiction, state=expanded Fantasy Fantasy genres Speculative fiction Fantasy podcasts