sword and sorcery
Coined by Fritz Leiber in the early 1960s, "sword and sorcery" describes a subgenre of fantasy fiction characterized by heroic adventures in magical and often brutal worlds.
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Definition
C1Literature and Film
(genre, fiction)A type of fantasy story featuring heroic characters who engage in combat and encounter magical or supernatural elements, often in medieval or ancient settings.
Example
- Robert E. Howard's Conan stories are classic examples of sword and sorcery fiction.
- The film 'Conan the Barbarian' epitomizes the sword and sorcery genre with its mix of action and magic.
C1Gaming
(genre, fantasy)A genre in role-playing games characterized by heroic adventures involving combat and magic in fictional, often medieval-like worlds.
Example
- Many role-playing games, such as 'Dungeons & Dragons,' draw heavily from sword and sorcery themes.
- The video game 'Dark Souls' incorporates elements of sword and sorcery, featuring knights and magical creatures.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "sword and sorcery":