by Susan J. Morris

When encountering fantastical fiction in the wild, it can be quite the chore to classify it, what with all those characters, monsters, and exotic forms of magic. Sometimes, it seems, one man’s Gothic Fiction is another's Paranormal Romance—not two genres you generally want to mistake! Luckily for you, dear readers, we have found the solution: this ancient Fantasy Flowchart, a “field guide to fantastical fiction,” should suit your genre-classifying needs perfectly. With it, you can be assured you will not be embarrassed when entering into discussions with like-minded literati on whatever fictions have taken your fancy. Behold (click image to enlarge):

So there you have it! If you have questions or comments, please share below. 

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Susan J. Morris has a rare hunger for fantastical fiction, which has led her to pursue the esteemed art of editing, over six years of which was as the Forgotten Realms novels editor—as well as the more whimsical art of writing. She maintains a writing advice column on Amazon’s blog, an editorial presence at SeriousPixie.com, a husband, and two cats. She is the author of five books, the latest of which is The Faerie Locket, and if it strikes your fancy, you can follow her on Twitter @susanjmorris.