Sorcery may refer to: Magic (supernatural), a category of beliefs and practices considered separate from both religion and science. Witchcraft, the belief.

Sorcery may refer to:

• Magic (supernatural), a category of beliefs and practices considered separate from both religion and science
  • Witchcraft, the belief and practice of magical abilities
  • Maleficium (sorcery), a form of evil magic
• Sorcery (horse) (1808–?), British Thoroughbred horse

Arts and entertainment[edit]

• Sorcery!, 1983–1985 gamebook series by Steve Jackson
  • Sorcery! (video game), 2013–2016 video game series based on the gamebooks
• Sorcery (video game), 2012 video game
• Sorcery (band), American rock band active 1976–1987
• Sorcery (Jack DeJohnette album), 1974 jazz album by Jack DeJohnette
• Sorcery (Kataklysm album), 1995 death metal album by Kataklysm
• Sourcery, 1988 fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett
• Sorcery 101, 2005 webcomic by Kel McDonald

See also[edit]

Contents.Origin The term 'sword and sorcery' was coined in 1961 by the celebrated American author in response to a letter from British author in the fanzine Amra, demanding a name for the sort of fantasy-adventure story written. Moorcock had initially proposed the term 'epic fantasy'. Leiber replied in the journal Ancalagon (6 April 1961), suggesting 'sword-and-sorcery as a good popular catchphrase for the field'. He expanded on this in the July 1961 issue of Amra, commenting:I feel more certain than ever that this field should be called the sword-and-sorcery story.

This accurately describes the points of culture-level and supernatural element and also immediately distinguishes it from the cloak-and-sword (historical adventure) story—and (quite incidentally) from the (international espionage) story too!Since its inception, many attempts have been made to provide a precise definition of 'sword and sorcery'. Although many have debated the finer points, the consensus characterizes it by a strong bias toward fast-paced, action-rich tales set within a quasi-mythical or fantastical framework. Unlike high fantasy, the stakes in sword and sorcery tend to be personal, the danger confined to the moment of telling. Settings are typically exotic, and protagonists often morally compromised.Many sword and sorcery tales have been turned into a lengthy series of adventures. Their lower stakes and less-than world-threatening dangers make this more plausible than a repetition of the perils of epic fantasy.

So too does the nature of the heroes; most sword-and-sorcery, travellers by nature, find peace after adventure deathly dull. At one extreme, the heroes of 's grieve for the end of the war and that they have no more foes equal to those they defeated; in answer to their prayers, the gods restore the enemy city so that they can fight the same war over again. An island story; a child's history of England (1906).In his introduction to the reference by, notes that the heritage of Sword and Sorcery is illustrious, and can be traced back to mythology, including the labors of, as well as to classical epics such as 's, the, and.It also has been influenced by, for instance that of which was influenced by Scottish folklore and ballads.

However, very few of Scott's stories contain fantastic elements; in most, the appearance of such is explained away. However, its themes of adventure in a strange society influenced the adventures set in foreign lands. Haggard's works included many fantastic elements.Sword and sorcery's immediate progenitors are the tales of ( (1844), etc.), ( (1921), etc.) and their imitators, such as, and, who all influenced. However, these historical 'swashbucklers' lack the truly supernatural element (even though Dumas' fiction contained many ) that defines the genre. Another influence was early fantasy fiction such as 's (1910) and 's (1924). Retrieved 13 November 2015. Clute, John; Grant, John; Ashley, Mike; Hartwell, David G.; Westfahl, Gary (1999).

The Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1st St. Martin's Griffin ed.). New York: St.

Martin's Griffin. P. 464. Moorcock, Mike (May 1961). 'Putting a Tag on It'. 2 (15): 15., Amra, July 1961. Martin, Philip (2002).

The Writer's Guide to Fantasy Literature: From Dragon's Lair to Hero's Quest: how to Write Fantasy Stories of Lasting Value (1st ed.). Waukesha, WI: Writer Books. P. 35. Strahan, Jonathan; Anders, Lou (2010). New York: Eos. P. Martin, Philip (2002).

The Writer's Guide to Fantasy Literature: From Dragon's Lair to Hero's Quest: how to Write Fantasy Stories of Lasting Value (1st ed.). Waukesha, WI: Writer Books. P. 37. Camp, L.

Sprague de (1976). Literary Swordsmen and Sorcerers: The Makers of Heroic Fantasy.

Sauk City, Wis.: Arkham House. P. 116. de Camp, L. Sprague (1976). Literary Swordsmen and Sorcerers: the Makers of Heroic Fantasy. Sauk City, Wisconsin: Arkham House.

P. xi. Moorcock, Michael (2004). Wizardry & Wild Romance: A Study of Epic Fantasy (rev. Austin, Tex.: MonkeyBrain. P. 79.

Clute, John; Grant, John; Ashley, Mike; Hartwell, David G.; Westfahl, Gary (1999). The Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1st St. Martin's Griffin ed.).

New York: St. Martin's Griffin. P. 845. Moorcock, Michael (2004). Wizardry & Wild Romance: A Study of Epic Fantasy (rev. Austin, Tex.: MonkeyBrain.

Pp. 80–81. Clute, John; Grant, John; Ashley, Mike; Hartwell, David G.; Westfahl, Gary (1999). The Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1st St. Martin's Griffin ed.). New York: St. Martin's Griffin. Pp. 444–445.

Pringle, David; Pratchett, Terry (2007). The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy. North Sydney, N.S.W.: Random House Australia. P. 34. Clute, John; Grant, John; Ashley, Mike; Hartwell, David G.; Westfahl, Gary (1999).

The Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1st St. Martin's Griffin ed.).

New York: St. Martin's Griffin. P. 300. 15 February 2010 at the. Moorcock, Michael (2004). Wizardry & Wild Romance: A Study of Epic Fantasy (rev.

Austin, Tex.: MonkeyBrain. P. 82. de Camp, L. Sprague (1976). Literary Swordsmen and Sorcerers: The Makers of Heroic Fantasy (1st ed.). Sauk City, Wisconsin: Arkham House. Bingham, 'The Enduring Influence of Cervantes' in 'Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Spanish Literature and Culture' (published in Spanish, French and English).

^ Stiles, Paula R. (November 2011). Broad Universe.

Archived from on 28 December 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2012.

de Camp, L. Sprague (1976).

Literary Swordsmen and Sorcerers: The Makers of Heroic Fantasy (1st ed.). Sauk City, Wisconsin: Arkham House. P. ix: Chapter IV (Lovecraft), Chapter VIII (Smith). Waggoner, Diana (1978). New York: Atheneum. Pp.

Howard, Robert E.; Sweet, Justin (2006). Kull: Exile of Atlantis. New York: Del Rey.

P. xix. Clute, John; Grant, John; Ashley, Mike; Hartwell, David G.; Westfahl, Gary (1999).

The Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1st St. Martin's Griffin ed.). New York: St. Martin's Griffin. P. 661. Clute, John; Grant, John; Ashley, Mike; Hartwell, David G.; Westfahl, Gary (1999). The Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1st St.

Martin's Griffin ed.). New York: St. Martin's Griffin. P. 990. Clute, John; Grant, John; Ashley, Mike; Hartwell, David G.; Westfahl, Gary (1999).

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Higashi, Masao (2009). Ai, Ishidou (ed.). Encyclopedia of Japanese fantasy writers (in Japanese).

Kokusho Kankōkai. P. 45. Bradley, Marion Zimmer (1984). Sword and Sorceress. New York: DAW Books. P. 11.

Strahan, Jonathan; Anders, Lou (2010). New York: Eos. P.

Bradley, Marion Zimmer (2001). Sword and Sorceress XVII. Fairy fencer f fairy list. New York, NY: DAW Books. World Fantasy Convention. World Fantasy Board.

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Pp. 186–187.External links The dictionary definition of at Wiktionary. in.