History Main / SwordAndSorcery

A subgenre of HeroicFantasy, with which it is often lumped together, but having its own distinguishing characteristics. Coined by Creator/FritzLeiber in the early '60s to define the style of his own works and those writers that inspired him, and to differentiate it from other works described as Heroic Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery is a genre of fantasy that is often [[DarkerAndEdgier considerably less glamorous]] and [[Main/RatedMForManly all about fast paced action]]. Almost universally, Sword & Sorcery stories are about mighty warriors fighting supernatural horrors with blade in hand, either an Main/EldritchAbomination or Main/EvilSorcerer. Any political or criminal leaders are usually merely an Main/UnwittingPawn of a [[Main/TheManBehindTheMan much darker power]].

Creator/RobertEHoward is widely seen as the TropeMaker of the genre, with Creator/FritzLeiber and Creator/MichaelMoorcock being the [[TropeCodifier Trope Codifiers]] a generation later. Many famous stories were first published in [[PulpMagazine Pulp Magazines]] and short story anthologies are still a popular form of the genre.

If the heroes of a story are [[Main/TheHero actually heroic]] and morally unambiguous, it's probably HeroicFantasy. If there is only a low supernatural presence, it is most likely LowFantasy. Can sometimes overlap with DarkFantasy. See also {{Wuxia}}, the Chinese version of the genre with very strong overlaps. May end up as ThudAndBlunder.

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!!Common Tropes in Sword & Sorcery:

* ''Primeval Thule'' is a campaign setting set in the world of Robert Howard's ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'' and ''Literature/{{Kull}}'', but taking place in a time between them, on the [[Main/ArtisticLicenseGeography tropical continent of Greenland]].

A subgenre of HeroicFantasy, with which it is often lumped together, but having its own distinguishing characteristics. Coined by Creator/FritzLeiber in the early '60s to define the style of his own works and those writers that inspired him, and to differentiate it from other works described as Heroic Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery is a genre of fantasy that is often [[Main/DarkerAndEdgier considerably less glamorous]] and [[Main/RatedMForManly all about fast paced action]]. Almost universally, Sword & Sorcery stories are about mighty warriors fighting supernatural horrors with blade in hand, either an Main/EldritchAbomination or Main/EvilSorcerer. Any political or criminal leaders are usually merely an Main/UnwittingPawn of a [[Main/TheManBehindTheMan much darker power]].

* They are men (and occasional women) [[Main/ActionHero of action]], larger than life and fighting evil through pure strength of will [[Main/InHarmsWay until their final breath]].
* In some way or another the protagonists are outsiders, not having a real place in society [[Main/AloneInACrowd even when among their own people]]. Quite often they are Main/TheDrifter and Main/WalkingTheEarth.
* They are ultimately motivated by self-interest, offering their martial skills either [[Main/OnlyInItForTheMoney for money]], [[BloodKnight fun]], or because doing so [[Main/NotInThisForYourRevolution benefits them in another way]].

Creator/RobertEHoward is widely seen as the Main/TropeMaker of the genre, with Creator/FritzLeiber and Creator/MichaelMoorcock being the [[Main/TropeCodifier Trope Codifiers]] a generation later. Many famous stories were first published in [[Main/PulpMagazine Pulp Magazines]] and short story anthologies are still a popular form of the genre.

* Main/AmbitionIsEvil
* Main/AntiHero
* Main/BarbarianHero
* Main/BlackAndGrayMorality
* Main/TheDarkArts
* Main/DeliberateValuesDissonance
* Main/EldritchAbomination
* Main/EldritchLocation
* Main/EvilSorcerer
* Main/GoodIsNotNice
* Main/HumanSacrifice
* Main/HumansAreBastards
* Main/MagicIsEvil
* Main/ProudWarriorRaceGuy
* Main/RatedMForManly
* Main/WarIsGlorious

* They are men (and occasional women) [[Main/ActionHero of action]], [[Main/{{Badass}} larger than life]] and fighting evil through pure strength of will [[Main/InHarmsWay until their final breath]].

'''Sword & Sorcery''' is a subgenre of HeroicFantasy, with which it is often lumped together, but has its own distinguishing characteristics. Coined by Creator/FritzLeiber in the early 60s to define the style of his own works and those writers that inspired him, and to differentiate it from other works described as Heroic Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery is a genre of fantasy that is often [[Main/DarkerAndEdgier considerably less glamorous]] and [[Main/RatedMForManly all about fast paced action]]. Almost universally, Sword & Sorcery stories are about mighty warriors fighting supernatural horrors with blade in hand, either an Main/EldritchAbomination or Main/EvilSorcerer. Any political or criminal leaders are usually merely an Main/UnwittingPawn of a [[Main/TheManBehindTheMan much darker power]].

* Creator/RobertEHoward's ''Literature/ConanTheBarbarian'', ''Literature/{{Kull}}'' and ''Literature/BranMakMorn''.

* The ''TabletopGame/DarkSun'' setting specifically aims to emulate old pulp stories and is heavily influenced by ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'', as well as ConanTheBarbarian.

* ''Primeval Thule'' is a campaign setting set in the world of Robert Howards ''Literature/ConanTheBarbarian'' and ''Literature/{{Kull}}'', but taking place in a time between them, on the [[Main/ArtisticLicenseGeography tropical continent of Greenland]].

* The ''Film/Deathstalker'' movies are classic examples of '80s grindhouse sword and sorcery.
* ''Film/Beastmaster''

If the heroes of a story are [[Main/TheHero actually heroic]] and morally unambiguous, it's probably HeroicFantasy. If there is only a low supernatural presence, it is most likely LowFantasy. Can sometimes overlap with DarkFantasy. See also {{Wuxia}}, the Chinese version of the genre with very strong overlaps.

* They are men (and occasional women) [[Main/PragmaticHero of action]], [[Main/{{Badass}} larger than life]] and fighting evil through pure strength of will [[Main/NoHoldsBarredBeatdown until their final breath]].
* In some way or another the protagonists are outsiders, not having a real place in society [[Main/MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch even when among their own people]]. Quite often they are Main/TheDrifter and Main/WalkingTheEarth.
* They are ultimately motivated by self-interest, offering their martial skills either [[Main/OnlyInItForTheMoney for money]] or because doing so [[Main/NotInThisForYourRevolution benefits them in another way]].

* There have been plenty of ''Conan'' {{RPG}}s over the years, with another one currently in work by Modiphius Entertainment.

* There have been plenty of ''Conan'' RPGs over the years, with another one currently in work by Modiphius Entertainment.

If the heroes of a story are [[Main/TheHero actually heroic]] and morally unambiguous, it's probably HeroicFantasy. If there is only a low supernatural presence, it is most likely LowFantasy. Can sometimes overlap with DarkFantasy. See also Main/Wuxia, the Chinese version of the genre with very strong overlaps.

* ''VideoGame/Diablo'': The first game more than the second and third, which grew more into EpicFantasy.

Creator/RobertEHoward is widely seen as the Main/TropeMaker of the genre, with Creator/FritzLeiber and Creator/MichaelMoorcock being the [[Main/TropeCodifier Trope Codifiers]] a few generations later. Many famous stories were first published in [[Main/PulpMagazine Pulp Magazines]] and short story anthologies are still a popular form of the genre.

If the heroes of a story are [[Main/TheHero actually heroic]] and morally unambiguous, it's probably HeroicFantasy. If there is only a low supernatural presence, it is most likely LowFantasy. Can sometimes overlap with DarkFantasy.

* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'': Aside from the unusual setting, the movies match the genre perfectly

* ''Franchise/TheWitcher'': [[TheHunter Monster hunter]] Geralt travels the land, killing monsters and lifting curses for coin, using swords, alchemy, and magic.

* ''Sword Sisters'' set in the Franchise/RedReaper universe and published by Creator/RagnarokPublications takes place in one such world.

* ''Sword Sisters'' set in the Francise/RedReaper universe and published by Creator/RagnarokPublications takes place in one such world.

* They are men (and occasional women) [[Main/PragmaticHero of action]], [[Main/Badass larger than life]] and fighting evil through pure strength of will [[Main/NoHoldsBarredBeatdown until their final breath]].

Creator/RobertEHoward is widely seen as the Main/TropeMaker of the genre, with Creator/FritzLeiber and Creator/MichaelMoorcock being the [[Main/TropeCodifier Trope Codifiers]] a few generations later.

* ''Literature/Beowulf'', as well as its many adaptations.
* Creator/RobertEHoward's ''Literature/ConanTheBarbarian'', ''Literature/{{Kull}}'' and ''Literature/BranMakMorn''. To a large extent Howard invented the modern incarnation of this trope.
* Michael Moorcock's ''Literature/TheElricSaga'' (another {{Deconstruction}}).

[[redirect:HeroicFantasy]]