Fantasy literature is a genre of imaginative fiction that often features elements such as magic, mythical creatures, and extraordinary settings. It has been around for centuries in various forms, from classic myths to modern-day books and films. Fantasy literature has become increasingly popular over the years with readers of all ages due to its ability to take us away from our everyday lives into other worlds full of adventure and excitement.

The most common type of fantasy story involves characters on quests or journeys through magical lands filled with strange creatures and obstacles they must overcome in order to reach their goal. These types of tales have been told since ancient times, particularly through oral storytelling traditions like those found in folklore. Many famous authors wrote works featuring these kinds of narratives, including JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series, which helped bring fantasy literature into mainstream culture when it was released in 1954–55. 

In addition to quest stories, many fantasies also feature characters who possess special powers, such as wizards or witches who use spells or potions to achieve their goals; gods or goddesses who interfere with human affairs; talking animals; shapeshifters capable of transforming themselves into different shapes at will; dragons (or other powerful monsters); magical weapons used by heroes against villains; alternate realities where anything can happen without consequences; time travel back and forth between different periods within time. history, etcetera. All these elements are combined to create unique tales set apart from any other kind of literary work out there.

One example that stands out among them is Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle, which tells the story of a young wizard named Ged whose journey leads him across an archipelago made up of islands inhabited by people living alongside fantastical beasts like dragons while learning about his own power along the way. This series consists of six novels written between 1968 and 2001, making it one of the longest-running epic sagas ever written within this particular subgenre.

Other notable examples include C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series, which follows four siblings on their adventures throughout a world populated by mythical beings after discovering an old wardrobe inside Professor Digory Kirke's home; H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, wherein investigators uncover dark secrets related to alien entities living beyond space and time dimensions known only as "Great Old Ones"; and the Terry Pratchett Discworld franchise, which is humorous and takes traditional high fantasy tropes mixed with satirical social commentary is aimed at adults rather than children or young adults. 

Aside from being entertaining reads, however, there are deeper reasons why people love reading or watching works belonging to the umbrella term 'fantasy'. Because they offer an escape from reality while simultaneously giving us the opportunity to explore our innermost thoughts and feelings, we may not be comfortable expressing ourselves outside of our imagination (i.e., writing fanfiction). Additionally, some argue that these stories help promote creativity and problem-solving skills through exploration of unfamiliar environments and unexpected plot twists readers come across during the course of the narrative, thus improving overall mental acuity and emotional intelligence too.

No matter what your personal reason may be, one thing remains certain: fantasy literature provides exciting escapism and allows readers to immerse themselves in completely new experiences unlike any experienced before, leaving a lasting impression even after the last page is done.