1997

JK Rowling publishes ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’, and an entire generation of young readers is quietly brainwashed. Their parents, wondering what all the fuss is about, are swiftly hooked too. At the same time, erstwhile indie whingers Radiohead release their third LP ‘OK Computer’. The album’s stylistic similarity to beardy-weirdy, fantasy-fuelled ’70s proggers like Pink Floyd and Yes does not go unremarked.

From geek to chic: How fantasy became cool

In the film world and beyond, pointy ears, swordfights and capes are finally in vogue. Here's how they got there

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A couple of decades ago, being a fantasy nerd was one notch above being a flasher on the social-acceptance scale. Now Tolkien is winning Oscars, barbarian warriors are sexy and George Clooney has grown a shaggy beard. Resident fantasy fanatic Tom Huddleston charts how swords and sandals became cool…

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