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Types of Fiction Genres

Action and Adventure
Action and Adventure

Commercial fiction is sometimes called genre fiction because books of this type often fall into categories, such as western, gothic, romance, historical, mystery and horror. Mainstream Fiction Fiction that transcends popular novel categories—mystery, romance or science fiction, [etc.]—is called mainstream fiction.

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Children's Fiction,
Children's Fiction,

This is the golden age of reading for many children, ages 8-12. A novel, unlike the picture book, relies entirely on text to tell the story. Kids get hooked on characters at this age. Fiction genres range from contemporary to historical to science fiction/fantasy.

Classic Literary Fiction (up to 1950s),
Classic Literary Fiction (up to 1950s),

Non-fiction is not listed here. Most popular books of all time are grouped into eight genres: children’s fiction, fantasy, mystery, classic literary fiction (up to 1950s), modern literary fiction (after 1950s), magic realism, historical fiction, YA fiction. What you may have already suspected, the most popular book genre is children’s books.

Drama
Drama

Drama Genre Definition – What’s the best definition for the drama fiction genre? The drama genre is strongly based in a character, or characters, that are in conflict at a crucial moment in their lives. Most dramas revolve around families and often have tragic or painful resolutions.

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Fantasy,
Fantasy,

Fantasy is a subgenre of speculative fiction and is distinguished from the genres of science fiction and horror by the absence of scientific or macabre themes respectively, though these genres overlap. In popular culture, the fantasy genre is predominantly of the medievalist form.

General Cross-Genre
General Cross-Genre

There are many sources that help readers find and define literary fiction and genre fiction. Genres and subgenres. Some genres listed may reappear throughout the list, indicating cross-genre status. ...

Historical Fiction,
Historical Fiction,

Sarah Johnson, currently Professor/Reference Librarian at Eastern Illinois University and book review editor for the Historical Novels Review, is the author of Historical Fiction: A Guide to the Genre (2005) and Historical Fiction II (2009).

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Horror
Horror

Best-selling book series of contemporary times exist in related genres to horror fiction, such as the werewolf fiction urban fantasy Kitty Norville books from Carrie Vaughn, the erotic Gothic fiction of Anne Rice, and Goosebumps by R.L. Stine. Elements of the horror genre continue to expand outside the genre.

Magic Realism,
Magic Realism,

Magical realism can be found in most art forms throughout the world, however the literary movement of magical realism was spearheaded by Latin American authors. Particularly from these Latin American authors it is often read as a genre of political subversion.

source: bookriot.com
Matron Literature
Matron Literature

Writing genres (commonly known, more narrowly, as literary genres) are determined by narrative technique, tone, content, and sometimes length. The most general genres are epic, tragedy, comedy and creative non-fiction. They are generally (not always) defined by the cultural movement of the historical period of time in which they were composed.

Modern Literary Fiction (After 1950s),
Modern Literary Fiction (After 1950s),

Most popular books of all time are grouped into eight genres: children’s fiction, fantasy, mystery, classic literary fiction (up to 1950s), modern literary fiction (after 1950s), magic realism, historical fiction, YA fiction. What you may have already suspected, the most popular book genre is children’s books. When we add YA books, it already takes over 40% of all sales. According to the ...

Mystery
Mystery

Mystery fiction is a genre of fiction usually involving a mysterious death or a crime to be solved. Often with a closed circle of suspects, each suspect is usually provided with a credible motive and a reasonable opportunity for committing the crime.

Romance
Romance

Jane Austen is an important influence on romance genre fiction, and Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813, has been called "the best romance novel ever written".

Satire
Satire

Books in the satirical fiction genre are made up of stories that target and attack bad habits and vices through humor. The stories contain irony, wit, and sarcasm while bringing to light the vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings in human nature.

Science Fiction
Science Fiction

The study of science fiction, or science fiction studies, is the critical assessment, interpretation, and discussion of science fiction literature, film, new media, fandom, and fan fiction. Science fiction scholars study science fiction to better understand it and its relationship to science, technology, politics, and culture-at-large.

Self Help
Self Help

Self-Help Definition – What’s the best definition for the self-help genre? Books in the self-help nonfiction genre are based on one’s own effort and resources to achieve things and goals without relying on the help of others. The books in this genre can be about self-guided improvement in one’s economic standing, their intellectual state of being, and in their emotionally and self-worth state of being.

Suspense Fiction
Suspense Fiction

Popular Fiction Generally, a synonym for category or genre fiction; i.e., fiction intended to appeal to audiences for certain kinds of novels. … Popular, or category, fiction is defined as such primarily for the convenience of publishers, editors, reviewers and booksellers who must identify novels of different areas of interest for potential readers.

Thriller Mystery Fiction Legal Thriller Medical Thriller
Thriller Mystery Fiction Legal Thriller Medical Thriller

Thriller is a broad genre of literature, film and television, having numerous, often overlapping subgenres. Thrillers are characterized and defined by the moods they elicit, giving viewers heightened feelings of suspense, excitement, surprise, anticipation and anxiety. Successful examples of thrillers are the films of Alfred Hitchcock.

Tragedy Melodrama
Tragedy Melodrama

Writing genres (commonly known, more narrowly, as literary genres) are determined by narrative technique, tone, content, and sometimes length. The most general genres are epic, tragedy, comedy and creative non-fiction. They are generally (not always) defined by the cultural movement of the historical period of time in which they were composed.

Urban Fiction
Urban Fiction

Contemporary urban fiction was (and largely still is) a genre written by African Americans. In his famous essay "The Souls of Black Folk", W. E. B. Du Bois discussed how a veil separated the African American community from the outside world.

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Westerns
Westerns

Looking briefly at the definition of the Western Fiction Genre, it appears on first view to be a novel or collection of stories set in 19th century frontier America with a strong, self-reliant central character; simple plots; full of action; often involves cowboys, cavalrymen, lawmen and outlaws of the Old West.

Workplace Tell-all
Workplace Tell-all

List of writing genres ... Common genres: fiction. Speculative fiction; Alternate history. ... Workplace tell-all; General cross-genre.

YA Fiction
YA Fiction

The YA (young adult) fiction genre consists of themes, styles, and plot elements that appeal to a younger reading audience. The main character’s age often sets the age of the targeted audience (12-18 (sometimes considered teen fiction) or 16-25 years of age).