Abstract
This chapter moves away from the realistic themes of the previous chapters to explore works of young adult fiction which incorporate fantasy, myth, history and legend into the narrative. There is a clear development from older works featuring sangomas and traditional healers to more complex works in which the beliefs and shamanistic practices of the /Xam are a central part of the narrative. All of the writers have made use of South African history and myth and all of the works are situated in a clearly South African geographical landscape. The chapter ends with several works that represent a new and innovative direction in South African young adult fantasy fiction, notably horror novels and speculative fiction in which authors are experimenting with the genre without the same formerly rather rigid constraints of socio-political conditions.
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