Oodles and Oodles of Fiction Genres

Genre fiction or ‘popular’ fiction is plot-driven, fictional writings where writers aim to fit into a specific genre and appeal to the fans and readers. There are over 35 different genres to choose from, some that people might not have heard of before. We have compiled a list of all the genres that fit into genre fiction.

Adventure fiction: stories where the characters are involved in dangerous and/or exhilarating scenes that gives the readers a sense of excitement

Airport novel: works of fiction that aren’t defined by plot and/or characters, but by the social function of being available primarily at international airports

Allegory: where the author uses symbolism to show the truth about the human condition

Anthology: is a collection of literary works – poems, short stories, plays or songs by a single or multiple authors

Bildungsroman: details and emphasises on the growth of the characters emotionally and morally from childhood to adulthood

Black comedy: humour that comes from the misfortunes and/or reproachable behaviour of characters

Comedy: a story with elements, characters and situations intended to amuse

Comedy-drama: a story that balances both humorous and serious elements

Comedy of errors (farce): a story involving so many energetic predicaments and misfortunes of the characters that it seems funny

Comedy of manners: a story that mocks class pretensions and/or prejudices

Crime fiction: stories based around fictionalised crimes, their detection, criminals, and their motives as the main plot

Detective fiction: challenges the readers to solve the crime using carefully placed clues before the protagonist solves it at the end

Drama: stories where the conflicts and emotions are exposed through action and dialogue to capture the emotional growth of the character.

Dystopian: set in a nightmare like world, is used to explore social and political structures within society.

Epic: used to celebrate the deeds of a real or fictitious hero – was originally a long poem like Homer’s The Odyssey

Epistolary fiction: stories constructed as a series of letters exchanged between characters

Fable: stories about supernatural or extraordinary people that learn a lesson with the help of animals,

plants, and inanimate objects that have been given human characteristics

Fairy tales: short stories aimed at children that features fairies, elves and other magical characters

Fantasy fiction: stories set in a fictional universe, most times without any reference to the real world. Often involves magic, mythical beasts, and supernatural powers and occasionally set in a medieval-like setting

Fictional autobiography: a story claiming to be a first-person account of someone’s life while combining the lives of its writer and narrator as well

Fictional biography: an account of a person’s life where that person is actually a fictional character

Folklore: all myths, legends, epics, and fables are passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation within a specific culture.

Genre fiction: stories that go for the appeal of the genre rather than the literary qualities

Gothic fiction: stories often taking place in an isolated setting and involving strange and/or dangerous happenings with elements of fear, horror, death, gloom as well some romantic elements

Historical fiction: fictional characters that are written into an accurate historical setting

Horror fiction: stories written purely to invoke fear and dread within the reader by use of supernatural and/or strange elements

Humour: a story that is written to provoke laughter, provides amusement, and filled with excitement.

Legend: legends are based on fact with a mixture of imaginative elements

Melodrama: a story that exaggerates dramatic plot lines and emphasizes action over the characters

Mystery: a story where the protagonist solves a crime or the unravelling of secrets

Mythology: a collection of traditional narratives, often based on historical events, that reveals human behaviour and natural phenomena by its symbolism. Often relating to the actions of the gods.

Pastiche: a story that imitates one or more established authors and their style

Picaresque: An story featuring a rogue or an antihero as the protagonist

Parody: a story poking fun at the pretences or weaknesses of a particular author, style, or genre

Romance: a story that focuses solely on the relationship and romantic love between two protagonists, and must end in “happily ever after”

Romantic comedy: details a romance and its complications in a light heart and funny way

Romp: an energetically comical tale

Satire: a story that pokes fun at human shortcomings such as arrogance, greed, and vanity

Science fiction: stories that deal with advanced technology and science including space flight, time travel, and it affects the individuals and civilisations within that world.

Science fantasy: a mixed genre within speculative fiction, which draws upon and/or combines the elements and styles of sci-fi and fantasy

Screwball comedy: a fast-paced story involving humour that comes from unbelievable situations and antics

Speculative fiction: Broad fiction with futuristic, fantastical, and supernatural elements

Steampunk: A subgenre of sci-fi or science fantasy with technological designs inspired by 19th-century steam-powered industrial machines. Usually set in a Victorian historical setting and includes elements of sci-fi, fantasy and horror.

Swashbuckler: an adventure story where the protagonist accomplishes great feats to aid a noble cause

Thriller: a dramatic and sometimes scary story scattered with action, adventure, and suspense

Tragedy: a story with a catastrophic and/or unfortunate ending

Tragicomedy: a story that balances humorous and heartbreaking aspects

Travelogue: a story with a plot centring on a significant amount of travel

Utopian: uses an illusionary place that projects a perfect world with perfect people.