List of species in fantasy fiction
Fantasy fiction tends to draw upon a common set of creatures that are easily recognizable to fans of the fantastic genre and have some pre-determined traits. Most are based on mythology, legends, fairy tales, or classical literature. (See List of fictional species.) Fantasy writers and authors have also created a number of monsters and races unique to their particular tales and worlds. Some of these monsters have become quite popular even among those not familiar with the writer's actual body of work, and in a few cases their popularity has spread to other media and genres.
Many fantasy worlds' humanoid species are referred to as "races". In particular, in role-playing games, "race" often refers to a species that can be played as a player character. In general, such races are humanoids of size, strength and intellect approximate to that of a human. Species available only to non-player characters are often called monsters, regardless of the actual nature of the species in question. The Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual is the most prominent RPG monster reference; many other games have similar rulebooks.
Note that this list does not include fantasy stories' names for species more properly included in other lists, such as Atani (Humans of Middle-earth) or Melnibonéans (Elves of Michael Moorcock's Elric cycle), nor does it include fictional races of humanity unless they are physiologically different enough to merit seperate consideration.
See also:
Referenced By
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons | Advanced Dungeons and Dragons | Category:list | Chainmail Wargame | Cloud Strife | Dungeon and Dragons | Dungeons & Dragons | Dungeons and Dragons | Fictional national animals | Final Fantasy | Final Fantasy 3 | Final Fantasy 7 | Final Fantasy I | Final Fantasy II | Final Fantasy III | Final Fantasy IV | Final Fantasy IX | Final Fantasy V | Final Fantasy VII | Final Fantasy VIII | Final Fantasy X | Index of lists of fictional animals | List of D&D Monsters | List of Final Fantasy characters | List of Final Fantasy locations | List of Refernce Tables | List of aliens in fiction | List of fictional aliens | List of fictional animals | List of fictional species | List of fictional species by type | List of intellectual/social/spiritual/artistic reference tables | List of list of pages | List of lists | List of lists of lists | List of races in role-playing games | List of reference tables | Lists | Lists of fictional animals | Moogle | Race (fantasy)
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