Magic realism is a literary genre that weaves fantastical or magical elements into otherwise realistic narratives, presenting the extraordinary as ordinary. Unlike fantasy, which creates entirely alternate worlds, magic realism grounds its magical elements in recognizable reality, treating supernatural events as natural parts of everyday life. The genre often explores cultural, political, and social themes through the lens of the magical, allowing authors to address complex issues through metaphor and symbolism. What makes magic realism unique is its matter-of-fact treatment of magical events, where characters and narrators accept the impossible as part of their normal experience, inviting readers to question the boundaries between reality and imagination.

Magic realism emerged in Latin American literature in the mid-20th century, with Gabriel García Márquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" (1967) serving as the genre's defining work. The term was first used by art critic Franz Roh in 1925 but gained literary prominence through Latin American authors who used magical elements to express cultural and political realities. The genre has since spread globally, with authors from various cultures adapting its techniques to explore their own social and historical contexts.