This is defined as stories set in magical realms where the heroes aren't always nice, or the fantasy has a definite grounding in elements other than sweetness and light. Life is often short, brutish, and nasty, with all the aspects of most human societies that we go to other fantasies to ignore. It tends to the dark and the uncomfortable, lowlife settings and Machievellian politics.

• The Thieves' World anthologies edited by Robert Aspirin and Lynn Abbey
• Lord Foul's Bane by Steven R. Donaldson
• The Borribles and The Borribles Go For Broke by M. de Larrabeiti
• The Blue Star by Fletcher Pratt
• Metal Angel by Nancy Springer