Ten Examples of Positive Fantasy

by Rachel Neumeier

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10 books

I’m sure we all remember the Tolstoy quote about happy families being all the same, while unhappy families are all unhappy in a unique way. This idea also gets applied to literature, with an attitude that dark, hopeless, grim books are “deep” and “meaningful” and “realistic,” while literature with a positive tone is boring and unrealistic. I completely disagree with that assessment. Kindness and empathy are complex and difficult, and each and every book that showcases these qualities is different from all the others – and not in unbelievable or unrealistic ways either. It’s difficult to write a protagonist who is deeply kind; if anything, more difficult than writing a protagonist who is selfish or cruel. I’m going to define this kind of fantasy, positive fantasy, as fantasy that is infused with a deep sense of kindness and generosity at a fundamental level. Fantasy novels that fit into this category feature a complex, believable, kind protagonist; a tone that is neither gritty nor cutesy; and a story that carries the world as well as the characters into a better place by the end.

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The Goblin Emperor

Katherine Addison, 2014

Here we have a story that begins with the protagonist, Maia, and the empire both in fairly bad shape. Maia grows into himself beautifully over the course of the story, forms solid relationships even where that had seemed unlikely — particularly with his future empress — and begins reforms that are obviously going to improve life massively for his people. Maia is also unfailingly kind. This isn’t the same thing as being heroic, it’s not the same thing as being a good person, it’s not the same thing as being nice, and it’s not the same thing as being a sympathetic protagonist. Maia is kind even when it’s hard, even when he’s distracted by a thousand pressing concerns, even when the person to whom he’s kind doesn’t appreciate it or doesn’t deserve kindness. He shows that over and over. This is a quality that’s set really deep in his character. This is probably what makes this novel work so well for me.

The Cloud Roads

Martha Wells, 2011

There aren’t many books I’ve re-read so many times. Everyone’s read the Murderbot novellas now, and those are great, but this book was my introduction to Martha Wells. She’s great at description, great at setting, and especially great at drawing characters who aren’t human but who are deeply sympathetic. The whole series is wonderful.

Chalice

Robin McKinley, 2008

Surely McKinley’s warmest story. Mirasol is a genuinely kind person; that drives her actions and impulses from the start and right through everything. This is not just an example of positive fantasy, it’s also a perfect story to settle down with in front of a fireplace, with a mug of hot chocolate and a purring cat.

Erdemen Honor

C. J. Brightley, 2017

In the first book, we meet Kemen, a soldier, who is experienced, competent, practical, and honorable. Hakan, a prince facing certain problems, is intelligent, willing to learn, naturally kind, and honorable. They are both quite likable, especially as Hakan grows up a bit, though he’s not such a child as all that even at the beginning. The bad guy was possibly a little over the top for badness, plus not very competent, so the central conflict was resolved rather easily. Nevertheless, this is a good, enjoyable story, easily carried by characterization and solid writing.

Dragon Bones

Patricia Briggs, 2002

The protagonist, Ward, has been pretending to be incapable in order to protect himself from his (terrifying) father. Now, with his father dead, he has to take over as lord and completely change the way other people think about him. But what’s important in this context is that he has a whole lot of power over the titular dragon, among others, and handles that power with unfailing kindness. He’s kind in the way that defines this category.

Penric's Demon

A Fantasy Novella in the World of the Five Gods

Lois McMaster Bujold, 2016

These novellas generally have tremendous charm and are beautifully written. Warm, funny, and Penric himself is just the sort of protagonist, embedded in just the kind of story, that fits this category. These novellas have tons of added depth because they are connected to the broader Chalion world, as seen in The Curse of Chalion.

The Curse of Chalion

Lois McMaster Bujold, 2009

Surely everyone who reads this novel will be struck this little snippet of dialogue: “Any man can be kind when he is comfortable. I’d always thought kindness a trivial virtue, therefore. But when we were hungry, thirsty, sick, frightened, with our deaths shouting at us, in the heart of horror, you were still as unfailingly courteous as a gentleman at ease before his own hearth.” “Events may be horrible or inescapable. Men have always a choice – if not whether, then how, they may endure.” These lines struck me the first time I read the book and I anticipate this scene with great pleasure during re-reads.

The Safe-Keeper's Secret

Sharon Shinn, 2005

The second book of this series is my favorite of the trilogy and, in my opinion, a perfect gem of a story. If you haven’t read these, you really should. Especially if you would like stories in this subgenre where kindness is central. Here’s an tidbit from The Dreammaker’s Magic: “That was so — Gryffin always has so much pain. That you can take it away like that — it’s almost like magic.” Chase shrugged in the dark. “Kindness is a form of magic,” he said. “So everyone should be capable of at least a little. Good night. See you in the morning.” And he nodded to me and strode off. Kindness is a form of magic. Then magic had sprinkled itself across me many times, when I had not noticed its fey sparkle. I had been used to thinking of my life as bleak and full of darkness, but for the first time it occurred to me how often a stranger had stepped forward to offer me comfort and assistance, no matter how briefly. … Looked at that way, my life was a weave of brightness laid over a trembling black, a scrap of midnight velvet spangled with many jewels. …

From All False Doctrine

Alice Degan, 2014

Kit is a perfect example of a deeply kind protagonist. This novel is hard to describe. It’s kind of like a cross between a Wodehouse novel and In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden, but with demonology.

The Year's Midnight

Rachel Neumeier, 2021

I don’t usually focus on my own books in this kind of list, but this time, this is what sprang to mind as soon as I said The protagonist is kind. This is what readers who write to me about this series say. They say: Daniel is unfailingly kind and that’s what I really love about this series. That’s true. That’s what he’s like. Kindness is intrinsic to Daniel’s nature, even when he’s seriously distracted or in a terrible spot himself.