This is of course true, and very well put. As for fantasy fiction, the kind of books you describe are the (often illegitimate) children of the JRR Tolkien phenomenon. "Weird tales" actually have a long and wide (though semi-hidden) history. You might check Fritz Leiber or Jack Vance, if you're not already familiar. There's a continually confusing and contested overlap with science fiction.

Hey, if you're going off-topic, go big.

BTW, GRR Martin is DAMN good.