From the Cambridge Companion to Fantasy Literature, p.3:
"It is in the seventeenth century that we can find the first critical awareness of the separate existence of a genre of 'fantasy'[.]"
You need an intentionally rationalist mindset - like that that came in with the Renaissance and the Enlightenment - to separate the fantastic out in literature.
Showing posts with label Genres. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Genres. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Alternate History
I read an article recently about literary fiction authors writing genre so as to make a living, and in the comments a conversation about Science Fiction started up. One commentator asked why alternate history should be seen as part of SF? It's a fair question. Historical fiction, for example, would seem to be a likely home based on the historical factor. And alternate history doesn't necessarily fit into SF's brief involving technology/science, the future, outer space, etc. However, I think it generally fits in SF, even if it might also fit somewhere else.
1. Alternate History often involves technology and science - especially given that SF covers the broad range of science from the hard to the soft. What if the South had gotten advanced weaponry from aliens during the Civil War? What if aliens visited ancient Britain? What if the plague had never been, or had been much worse than it was? What if there had been a gentler, kinder Genghis Khan?
2. The purely speculative nature of it seems to belong to a genre which is inherently speculative. Not many, if any, genres ask "What If?" as plainly and often as SF. So it makes sense that a subgenre that is all about What If would find a home in a genre that's all about What If.
3. Alternate History asks questions about the nature of our present by questioning our past. Setting up alternate scenarios sheds light on what actually happened, as well as on the nature of humanity, history, and whatever else might be involved in that particular alternate world. This is just a different aspect of the questions SF asks every day.
4. Alternate history is arguably a sub-sub-genre of Alternate Universes - which also stands under the SF umbrella. Quantum mechanics - decision points - what if something went that way instead of this? All honored aspects of SF.
Again, this whole business of assigning labels and defining, etc. is fraught with peril. Appeal is much more important, in my opinion. Alternate History has a broad appeal - for SF and History fans for sure, and beyond depending on what you add into the genre. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter - possible appeal to those who like vampires. Is it alternate history? SF? Fantasy? Pure absurdity?
I think this defining genre thing works better as tagging than shelving. When you tag something you can put as many defining tags (or access points) as you'd like on it to find it from a variety of theoretical points of view and intellectual paths. When you shelve a tangible item, you can only put it in one place. (You could theoretically put multiple copies in multiple places, but that way potential chaos arises, especially if you need to pull every copy for some reason, so libraries just don't.) It's another way our intellectual constructs are defined by our experiences and limitations in dealing with the physical world, and it'll be interesting to see how that changes as we go more and more virtual with the data as well as the metadata.
1. Alternate History often involves technology and science - especially given that SF covers the broad range of science from the hard to the soft. What if the South had gotten advanced weaponry from aliens during the Civil War? What if aliens visited ancient Britain? What if the plague had never been, or had been much worse than it was? What if there had been a gentler, kinder Genghis Khan?
2. The purely speculative nature of it seems to belong to a genre which is inherently speculative. Not many, if any, genres ask "What If?" as plainly and often as SF. So it makes sense that a subgenre that is all about What If would find a home in a genre that's all about What If.
3. Alternate History asks questions about the nature of our present by questioning our past. Setting up alternate scenarios sheds light on what actually happened, as well as on the nature of humanity, history, and whatever else might be involved in that particular alternate world. This is just a different aspect of the questions SF asks every day.
4. Alternate history is arguably a sub-sub-genre of Alternate Universes - which also stands under the SF umbrella. Quantum mechanics - decision points - what if something went that way instead of this? All honored aspects of SF.
Again, this whole business of assigning labels and defining, etc. is fraught with peril. Appeal is much more important, in my opinion. Alternate History has a broad appeal - for SF and History fans for sure, and beyond depending on what you add into the genre. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter - possible appeal to those who like vampires. Is it alternate history? SF? Fantasy? Pure absurdity?
I think this defining genre thing works better as tagging than shelving. When you tag something you can put as many defining tags (or access points) as you'd like on it to find it from a variety of theoretical points of view and intellectual paths. When you shelve a tangible item, you can only put it in one place. (You could theoretically put multiple copies in multiple places, but that way potential chaos arises, especially if you need to pull every copy for some reason, so libraries just don't.) It's another way our intellectual constructs are defined by our experiences and limitations in dealing with the physical world, and it'll be interesting to see how that changes as we go more and more virtual with the data as well as the metadata.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Reader's Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction by Joyce G. Saricks
Reader's Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction
Joyce G. Saricks
American Library Association
Chicago
2001
Chapter 1: How to Use this Book.
Got the wrong version - should have the 2009 for the St. Kates class. I figure I'll read the 2001 as well and have a continuum.
Definition of genre: "Any sizable group of fiction authors and/or specific titles that have similar characteristics and appeal; those are books written to a particular, specific pattern." (Saricks, p.5)
Definitions of the individual genres based on readers' perceptions and expectations.
Genres covered:
Adventure
Fantasy
Gentle Reads
Historical Fiction
Horror
Literary Fiction
Mysteries
Psychological Suspense
Romance
Romantic Suspense
Science Fiction
Suspense
Thrillers
Westerns
Women's Lives and Relationships
She says the book is supposed to be provocative and not prescriptive.
"Frankly, all this genre classification is really antithetical to readers' advisory work, where we focus on what a reader wants to read and cross genres with abandon as we make suggestions. So why devote years of reading and writing to create a book that defines genres and establishes themes and authors? Because understanding fiction is the backbone of our work, and understanding the genres and conventions and the authors that exemplify them is what allow us to move readers from one to another, to be the knowledgeable resources readers expect and deserve." (Saricks, p.12)
"All of us need to give ourselves permission to enjoy reading - of all kinds - and to share that joy with other readers and give them permission to do the same." (Saricks, p.14). This brings to mind the "Readers' Bill of Rights" by Daniel Pennac and Nancy Pearl's "Rule of 50."
Joyce G. Saricks
American Library Association
Chicago
2001
Chapter 1: How to Use this Book.
Got the wrong version - should have the 2009 for the St. Kates class. I figure I'll read the 2001 as well and have a continuum.
Definition of genre: "Any sizable group of fiction authors and/or specific titles that have similar characteristics and appeal; those are books written to a particular, specific pattern." (Saricks, p.5)
Definitions of the individual genres based on readers' perceptions and expectations.
Genres covered:
Adventure
Fantasy
Gentle Reads
Historical Fiction
Horror
Literary Fiction
Mysteries
Psychological Suspense
Romance
Romantic Suspense
Science Fiction
Suspense
Thrillers
Westerns
Women's Lives and Relationships
She says the book is supposed to be provocative and not prescriptive.
"Frankly, all this genre classification is really antithetical to readers' advisory work, where we focus on what a reader wants to read and cross genres with abandon as we make suggestions. So why devote years of reading and writing to create a book that defines genres and establishes themes and authors? Because understanding fiction is the backbone of our work, and understanding the genres and conventions and the authors that exemplify them is what allow us to move readers from one to another, to be the knowledgeable resources readers expect and deserve." (Saricks, p.12)
"All of us need to give ourselves permission to enjoy reading - of all kinds - and to share that joy with other readers and give them permission to do the same." (Saricks, p.14). This brings to mind the "Readers' Bill of Rights" by Daniel Pennac and Nancy Pearl's "Rule of 50."
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
SF or Fantasy? - Genres
Is it SF? Fantasy? Something else?
- Stories that mix elements of SF and Fantasy so it’s sometimes hard to tell which genre the story belongs to.
- This is only a problem if you feel you need to label. Mostly an issue for those who like splitting hairs for one reason or another; like if your library decides to label fantasy for your patrons’ sake, or for academics. Your readers may or may not care, as long as they get the elements they want in their reading.
- Many common story elements could go either way, depending on how they’re used. Dragons - magical beings or genetically engineered constructs? Time Travel - Magically or scientifically motivated? Moving from point to point instantly without the aid of machinery - teleporation or apparation?
- Some stories are both - magical and technological universes intersect, for instant, and the fun is seeing how members from one universe operate in the other.
Pern series by Ann McCaffrey (also Lost Colony, Psionics)
Warlock series by Christopher Stasheff (also Lost Colony)
Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny
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