Fantasy from A to Z

From Tolkien to today—why fantasy still matters.

Fantasy isn't just about dragons, quests, and magic—it's about wonder, meaning, and the longing for a world that feels more real than our own. In Fantasy from A to Z, author Joe Vasicek takes readers on a journey through twenty-six essays that explore the heart of the fantasy genre: what makes it timeless, what gives it power, and why it continues to speak to us in a world that has forgotten how to dream.

From archetypes and epic battles to kings, magic, and the coming rise of "noblebright," Vasicek traces fantasy's roots back to the myths and moral struggles that define us as human beings. Part literary exploration, part personal manifesto, this book is a love letter to the stories that shaped us—and a roadmap for anyone who believes that the world of wonder is still worth fighting for.