  a fantasy world is a fictional universe used in fantasy fiction, for example in novels and games. typical worlds involve magic or magical abilitiesbrian attebery, the fantasy tradition in american literature, p 166-7, isbn 0-253-35665-2 and often, but not always, either a medieval or futuristic theme. some worlds may be a parallel world tenuously connected to earth via magical portals or items; a fictional earth set in the remote past or future; or an entirely independent world set in another universe.john grant and john clute, the encyclopedia of fantasy, "imaginary lands", p 495-5 isbn 0-312-19869-8 many fantasy worlds draw heavily on real world history, geography and sociology, and also on mythology and folklore. ==plot function== the setting of a fantasy work is often of great importance to the plot and characters of the story. the setting itself can be imperiled by the evil of the story, suffer a calamity, and be restored by the transformation the story brings about.john grant and john clute, the encyclopedia of fantasy, "land", p 558 isbn 0-312-19869-8 stories that use the setting as merely a backdrop for the story have been criticized for their failure to use it fully.john grant and john clute, the encyclopedia of fantasy, "fantasyland", p 341 isbn 0-312-19869-8 even when the land itself is not in danger, it is often used symbolically, for thematic purposes, and to underscore moods.michael moorcock, wizardry & wild romance: a study of epic fantasy p 72-3 isbn 1-932265-07-4 ==history== early fantasy worlds appeared as fantasy lands, part of the same planet but separated by geographical barriers. for example, oz, though a fantasy world in every way, is described as part of this world.john grant and john clute, the encyclopedia of fantasy, "oz", p 739 isbn 0-312-19869-8 although medieval peasants who seldom if ever traveled far from their villages could not conclusively say that it was impossible that, for example, an ogre could live a day's travel away, distant continents were necessary from the renaissance onwards for such fantastic speculation to be plausible, until finally, further exploration rendered all such terrestrial fantasy lands implausible.c. s. lewis, "on science fiction", of other worlds, p68 isbn 0-15-667897-7 even within the span of mere decades, oz, which had been situated in a desert in the united states when first written about in 1900, was relocated to a spot in the pacific ocean.l. frank baum, michael patrick hearn, the annotated wizard of oz, p 99, isbn 0-517-50086-8 an early example of the fantasy land/world concept can be seen in the [[
Fantasy_tropes Fantasy_worlds Fiction Imagination Setting