The prose subgenres weve listed here are in red, and subsubgenres in parentheses. It is the supergenre of everything that falls under science fiction and fantasy. Finding a succinct list of the most notable ones particularly a list with definitions and examples is not always straightforward. Mark now helps authors of all genres fiction, nonfiction, and childrens books get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company literary agent undercover and the bestselling author. I only included one book per series usually the first book because i know my fantasy readers and i know how hard it is for us to read out of order, and i picked only. Clarifications are in braces, and major categories in larger print. Most chapter books belong to a literary genre called fiction, but we sometimes split those into more specific book genres, like fantasy fiction. Typically written in a short, easytoread manner, these free online novels effortlessly attracts readers of all ages. Untethered from scientific and societal laws, and limited.
A secondary plot that reinforces this kind of conflict is sometimes included. Rating is available when the video has been rented. Well, thats urban fantasy, which means that youll likely enjoy other urban fantasy novels such as borderland and storm front. The ultimate guide to fantasy subgenres writers edit. You want a book that works well with marketing and cover. Writers of science fiction can manipulate settings to fit narratives or make up outofthisworld settings altogether. The fantasy subsubgenre of mythic fiction, similar to its twin in the science fiction category, refers to titles rooted in fables or mythology. List of thriller subgenres scribbling on the computer. You want a book that works well with marketing and cover design, and you want your readers to feel, at the least, satisfied of course, adding your own unique flair is all part of the fun.
I got really excited when i learned that speculative fiction encompassed pretty much everything i wrote. Wikimedia commons has media related to fantasy genres. You could describe sir terry pratchetts inventive discworld series as comic fantasy since rather than focusing on dangerous quests only it pokes fun at our world as well as well as genre tendencies. Kilian delves into the origins and conventions of science fiction and fantasy and goes over the many subgenres, including nanotechnology, space opera, and sword and sorcery. Much classic science fiction, including the earlier works of asimov and heinlein, fall into this category. There is much crossover with other subgenres of fantasy. Books in these subgenres are generally hard to sell to traditional publishers, although j. And the best way to break the rules and conventions of genre is to truly understand what they are and why they. Dark fiction is a huge descriptive category, almost as broad as speculative fiction. This is a list of some subgenres of sciencefiction books and movies the lines between the genres arent hard and fast.
Like how historical fantasy emphasizes historical fiction, romantic fantasy brings romance and desire to the fantasy genre. Kuang, you will find a military fantasy with an orphan girl at the center of it all. It traditionally comprises genres such as romance, mystery, thriller, horror, fantasy, and childrens books. Genres that spring from nonenglish sources, which have. There is also much overlapping between the genres and sometimes a new genre emerges that becomes trendy, such as the legal thriller or chicklit fiction. Robb, dara joy, susan kyle, susan grant, justine dare, and amanda glass. Fiction books contain a madeup story a story that did not actually happen in real life. This effect is even more pronounced in the fantasy genre. Fantasy is generally distinguished from science fiction and horror by the expectation that it steers clear of technological and macabre themes, respectively, though there is a great deal of overlap between the three collectively known as speculative fiction or science fiction. Even when conjured characters inhabit a recognizable world and speak to the human condition, fictional stories can pull readers out of their own heads. Comic fantasy includes novels where fantastic elements and humor play equal parts. Understanding your fiction genre, and its subgenres, lets you alter and conform with confidence.
Especially the further subgenres of dystopian fiction and dystopian fantasy. Genre fiction has a more mainstream, populist appeal. Like apples in the eye, romance subgenres are universal to each of these age bands. Fantasy stories have events that could never happen in real life. Since most books have elements of many different subgenres we allow our members to choose up to three that. Originally i was going to include adventure subgenres in this post, but on further thought i decided they will get their own post. Adult romance fiction will bear all of your classic romance trademarks. A common science fantasy book is a wrinkle in time by madeleine lengle. And while you may already have a sense of what kind of fantasy books you like to read or listen to.
The traditional form is what is generally thought of as historical fiction. A setting that takes place in this world, at least 30 years before the writing of the novel, with magic. Examples include aldous huxleys brave new world and george orwells 1984. This is perhaps the most popular subgenre, involving a struggle between good and evil spanning several books. Fantasy horror mystery romance science fiction thriller and suspense western fantasy photo by artem sapegin on unsplash alternate history this. Scifi writers rely on the utter suspension of disbelief, which is a fancy way of saying that you have to believe what you read no matter how implausible it may seem. Subgenres there are two main genres of booksfiction and nonfiction. From fantasy to westernand everything in betweenwe cover the major genres and subgenres available to readers today. The sister sub genre to contemporary fantasy, urban fantasy experienced a boom in the 2000s and early 2010s. Its worth a read to see some interesting distinctions. Marks authors have gotten sixfigure book deals, been on the nyt bestseller list, and published with houses such as random.
Fantasy fiction definition complete list of book genres. The alchemist by paulo coelho, 1984 by george orwell, harry potter series by j. The fantasy genre as a whole is still growing with new subgenres forming. These stories are derived from the imagination and creativity of the authors and are not based on facts. Fantasy is a genre that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, andor setting. As some answerers have already said, it would be hard to list all the subgenres, as genres are constantly changing and being added or divided, and no one holds a comprehensive agreedupon list and if they did, i cant imagine anyone agreeing upo. He forces you to ask yourself crucial questions about your own novel, and also offers practical advice on how to prepare and market your manuscript to publishers, editors. Commercial fiction books are the most popular amongst readers because there are many subgenres that follow under this category such as western, sciencefiction, romance, and mystery. Some genre writers straddle a line between genrefocused commercial fiction and the traditions of literary fiction. We also included a few links to books within that subgenre if you find one that catches your interest in particular. Books that imagine a current possibilitys impact in the future. Daughter of the forest by juliet marillier grimdark fantasy. The complete guide to the fantasy subgenres best fantasy books. With the different terms floating around out there it can be easy to confuse or overlook key subgenres.
Science fiction and fantasy are two popular childrens books genres. Few books have captivated the imagination and won the devotion and praise of readers and critics everywhere as has george r. While looking back at my drafts, i found this post, made to complete a series i wrote on science fiction and fantasy subgenres. Now, in a feast for crows, martin delivers the longawaited fourth book of his landmark series, as a kingdom torn asunder finds itself at last on the brink of peace. If you would like a definition of the fantasy genre as a whole, see. The fantasy genre is rich with a myriad of subgenres, and each has its own conventions and trends. The fantasy subsub genre of mythic fiction, similar to its twin in the science fiction category, refers to titles rooted in fables or mythology. The works are, ultimately, inspired by, or that in some way draws from the tropes, themes and symbolism of myth, folklore, and fairy tales. Historical fantasy is a subgenre of historical fiction that incorporates fantastic elements such as magic into the narrative. Speculative science fiction applies to stories in which advanced science and technology play key roles but are still secondary to sociological issues. Harry potter novels 19972007 becoming the bestselling book series of all time. For example, the trope of lavish fantasy worldbuilding. This list may not reflect recent changes learn more.
Fantasy is such an established genre, and one of the most popular on goodreads, so older books have a distinct advantage over newer books. The guide to fantasy subgenres snowy fictions books. For many readers, literary fiction provides desperately needed escapism so they can endure the difficulties of everyday life. Karl edward wagners kane books are an oftcited example. Historical fictions appeal has not dulled over time, although it has reached new heights from the 1990s to the present. The following 51 pages are in this category, out of 51 total. Fiction can be broken down into several main genres that are familiar to most readers, such as fantasy, literary, mystery, romance, science fiction. As with many other large genres of fiction, fantasy has many subgenres and types.
These genre lists, along with descriptions and examples, are presented by writing to publish for research, educational, triviabrowsing, and other purposes. Douglas adams hitchhikers guide to the galaxy is one of. Good fantasy books have been transporting people to other places and times for hundreds of. The call of cthulhu, at the mountains of madness, the shadow out of time, the dunwich horror, the colour out of space etc. Many genre publications use it in their title andor selfdescription. Fiction books are madeup and are not based on real events.
Mystery books is a story with clues, centered around a puzzling event. Check out our list of the best fantasy books of alltime below. Lighthumorous science fiction may occur within any of these subgenres, or often spoof a subgenre. The conflict in an adventure story is often man against nature. Although i do think dystopian fiction like 1984, brave new world, and the literary works the genre has inspired into film, including children of men, that have a sophisticated and complex sociopolitical commentary on the world are. Dark fantasy is an overlapping subgenre, and its stories generally feature human evil and strife, rather than supernatural monsters. What are all of the sciencefictionfantasy subgenres. A guide to subgenres in fantasy and science fiction the. Over time, this genre has developed more than 10 identifiable subgenres. Its since contracted and stabilizedalthough id argue were on the precipice of seeing a revival featuring more diverse casts and authorsbut here a couple standout top fantasy books from that prior era. However, some epublishers specialize in these books. Notable writers of futuristic and fantasy romance include j. Definitions of fiction categories and genres writers. Worlds without end is a fanrun web site and growing online community, dedicated to identifying, reading and sharing the best speculative fiction books the genre has.
1534 559 497 1457 1441 582 301 576 1364 1130 940 1060 454 945 522 1247 1136 1082 1527 721 863 1313 1466 1148 1377 1622 1072 1163 404 64 156 890 1048 1270 1622 1406 127 197 1236 448 1230 303 262 1148