Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly features fantastic creature such as elves, dwarves, gnomes,
fairies, and talking animals as well as magical beings like wizards, witches, and sorcerers. The Fantasy
setting is normally an imaginary place and often a medieval world where magic is common. Fantasy
typically avoids horror. It is generally distinguished from science fiction in that it steers clear of scientific
themes, although there is a great deal of overlap between the two.
Science Fiction is a genre in which some key aspect of the story involves science. Scifi elements include:
A time setting in the future, in alternative timelines, or in a historical past that contradicts known
facts of history or the archaeological record.
Scenes in outer space, on other worlds, or in subterranean earth.
Characters that include aliens, mutants, androids, or humanoid robots.
Technology that is futuristic such as ray guns, teleportation machines, and humanoid computers.
Scientific principles that are new or that contradict known laws of nature such as time travel,
wormholes, or faster-than-light travel.
Paranormal abilities such as mind control, telepathy, telekinesis, and teleportation.
Other universes or dimensions and travel between them.
Romance Fiction focuses on the relationship and romantic love between two people with the romance
being the key element in the story. It draws its power from the feeling that falling in love is one of the
defining moments of our lives. The end of the story is usually hopeful, leaving the reader believing that
the protagonists' love and relationship will endure for the rest of their lives. Still, some good examples of
this genre end with the lovers separated, often tragically.
Historic Fiction is set against a historical backdrop, where the setting is as important as the plot. While
considerable research goes into these books, historical accuracy is not the immediate goal; instead,
historic fact may be embellished or even changed. The main characters are usually fictional but real
historic figures may be included as secondary or minor characters; they may or may not interact with
the main characters.
A mystery usually involves a crime (most often murder), the investigative process, and the resolution of
the crime. The main character is almost always the detective or sleuth who may be an amateur or
professional and any type of person including a private investigator, a policeman, an elderly widow, or a
young girl, but he or she generally has nothing material to gain from solving the crime. The mystery
must be solved by the end of the book and readers expect to be able to solve the mystery along with the
main character. The reader is given clues, both real and false, to help solve the mystery
Readers of the Suspense Genre can expect lots of action. The main character will face a villain of some
sort and usually a problem, mystery, or escape, all of which will present numerous obstacle that must be
overcome. These stories are fast paced and intend to keep the reader on the edge of his seat,
accomplishing this through red herrings, surprises, plot twists, and cliffhangers.
In the Person Growth / Lesson genre, the main character is going through a difficult time or has recently
suffered through some bad experience. Through an encounter with some place, someone, or something
new, the main character (and the reader) learns important lessons that improve his/her life and help
him/her to cope with and move beyond his/her difficulties.
The Adventure Novel has as its main story line an exciting undertaking involving risk and physical
danger. There is an emphasis on physical and often violent action, exotic locales, and danger, generally
with little character development.
Teen / Family / Realistic Fiction focuses on characters near a teenager’s own age who deal with issues
that are important to their age group like relationships, teachers, and decisions about their futures.
Themes in Teen Fiction often focus on the challenges of youth. These stories portray an adolescent,
rather than an adult or child, as the protagonist.
Dystopian Literature has to do with the main character discovering a fatal flaw in his or her otherwise
perfect society. This means that at a book’s opening, the main character is usually blind to the injustices
of their world. As readers we often see problems right away, but the story becomes a journey, with the
character moving from satisfied, to suspicious, to conflicted, and finally to aware, where they have some
sort of realization that their world is far from perfect. Often they then rebel.
Post-Apocalyptic Fiction is set after the end of civilization due to some catastrophe such as nuclear
warfare, a pandemic, supernatural phenomena, divine judgment, climate change, or resource depletion.
The time frame may be immediately after the catastrophe, focusing on the physical, emotional and/or
psychological struggles of the survivors, or it may be considerably later, often including the idea that the
existence of the pre-catastrophe civilization has been forgotten or mythologized. Post-apocalyptic
stories often take place in an agrian, non-technological future world, or a world where only scattered
elements of technology remain. There is a considerable degree of blurring between post-apocalyptic
and dystopian fiction.
The Horror Genre’s number one goal is to produce fear in the audience. Whether the antagonist is a
monster, a ghost, or a feral animal, the basic concept is the same: the hero must fight against horrific
forces for his life, and often his soul. Common ways of creating this fear are the following:
 Using atmosphere such as gloomy weather, shadowy locations, and strange noises in the distance
to establish a supernatural world. Often the setting becomes a leading character in the work.
 An antagonist that is supernatural or has supernatural abilities including ghosts, monster, and
human, or human-seeming, villains
 The ending is left unresolved, giving the audience a sense that the threat still waits just around
the corner.
 Unexpected events keep the reader guessing and the tension level high.
 Antagonists who are thoroughly evil.
The Issue Novel’s setting is current times and the story focuses on some issue or problem that should be
of concern to the general public; often it is an issue of which many people are not aware. The book
takes a clear stance on this issue, and its goal is to convince the reader to feel the same way.
Survival Literature deals with individuals or groups surviving the elements, diseases, war, or similar lifethreatening situations. The genre addresses how and why they have found themselves in this situation
and, once there, how they manage to survive against seemingly insurmountable odds. These people are
often forced to make very difficult decisions that affect whether they or others survive.
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction. It is almost always set in the Victorian Era (1837 - 1901).
Found in this world, though, is fantastic technology that did not exist at the time and that combines the
past and the future. These could include such things as spring-powered robots, 22nd century zeppelins,
atomic power, or a steam-powered hovercraft.
Non-fiction is a factual narrative; a narrative tells what happened. It is generally assumed that the
author believe his narrative to be true or, at least, presents it to the audience as truth.