The article analyzes the situation in modern Russian mass literature, which arose due to broad public interest in the historical past of the Russian people and, as a consequence, in the motives, plots and images of Russian folklore. Using the example of a number of works of so-called Slavic fantasy, it is proved that in mass literature folkloristic authenticity is not of fundamental importance. In fact, a new pseudo-historical tradition is being invented, which is gradually becoming entrenched in the mass consciousness. Key words: popular literature, folklore, Slavic fantasy, tradition, modern Russian fiction, science fiction, fantasy, folkloristics, Propp, Afanasiev, patriotism, Russian history.