This book offers new approaches and a comprehensive overview of the diverse field of fantastic literature and its related areas. In the introductory theoretical section, a historical account as well as a critical examination of various theoretical frameworks are presented. In terms of defining a lexical field, related genres are classified and differentiated, and the ambiguous connection to the book trade and readership is addressed. The genuine conflict between the literary level of reality and the fantastic is outlined and explored through concrete case studies. In two independent sections, the author examines the sub-aspects of female fantastic literature and provides insights into the fantastic urban literature of Vienna.