A new bookstore has opened in my Oxford neighborhood. Given the academic reputation of this city of dreaming spires with its medieval colleges and historic libraries, one might think such a bookstore would cater to a highbrow and scholarly readership. But no, it exclusively stocks “romantasy,” a fusion of romance and fantasy literature, and the fastest-growing sector of the global book trade.
The literary genres of romance and fantasy have been popular for centuries, but their fusion into romantasy is relatively new. Many argue that the 1983 novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley, “The Mists of Avalon,” which upended traditional Arthurian mythology, started the trend. This was followed by Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” books, blending historical adventure, time-travel fantasy, and an emotionally central romance. These books established the template: fantasy as a stage for romantic destiny, psychological intimacy, and female-centered moral stakes.
.png)
.png)
