[allanon]

Well,we discussed many types of fantasy in topics like "Poll:Heroic Fantasy" or "Good old days".But which is your favourite:
a] a traditional fantasy with elves and dwarves[LotR,RiftWar,Shannara,DragonLance]
b] a modern "Superfantasy" with powerful magicians[WoT,SoT,Belgariad]
c] "Swords and Sorcery"[Conan,Grey Mouser,Hawkmoon]
d] something else["Chronicles of Amber]
e] childish books[Narnia,Harry Potter]
What? I prefer a].

[Metosblat]

B

[EE]

D, notably the Wars of Light and Shadows (J. Wurts)

Cool when you get the least bit challenged by what you read...

... whatever ...

[Bardos]

F) New, human-based fantasy, with no elves, dwarves, orcs, etc (Song of Ice and Fire, The Runelords)

[FitzChivalry]

All kinds of fantasy can bring a good story if the author is good enough.
But my favorite is series with big political conflicts, armies clashing, magic users practice their dark art in the shadows and assassins being sent to eliminate rivels.
Song of ice and fire, wheel of time, riftwar...

[Zsinj16]

A. is my favorite.

[Pathir]

It's not the type of fantasy that makes it good, but the talent of the writer and his ability to bring his characters and world alive in the minds and hearts of it's readers.
Good fantasy, if it is in the right hands, can have many forms.
Why restrict yourself to type A, B, C Or whatever? Otherland for instance is not traditional fantasy or SF, but the blend makes for a terrific book. And there are many more examples like that. The only question you should ask yourself is:is it any good?

[Zsinj16]

Allanon, what's the difference between Swords and Sorcery and traditional fantasy? I've always considered the two to be under the genre of Swords and Sorcery.

[lior]

I think the differences between a, b and c are subtle.

I like all of them, as long as the story is good, it doesn't matter, although a is probably the hardest category to be original in.

[Rhaegar]

My favorite type of fantasy is... well, I'm not sure how to describe it. Well, for lack of a better term I'll call it "adult fantasy". This type of fantasy assumes that the reader can handle anything, the good, the bad, and the ugly. GRR Martin, and to a lesser degree Donaldson are authors that I like for thier "mature approach".

But I also enjoy some "lighter" type fantasy every now and then.