FAVORITE GENRES

[krue]

If you're on this forum, then Fantasy is probably one of your favorite genres. But what else interests you?

Science Fiction and Fantasy are often clumped together, although I think that there is enough of a history in each that would justify their separation. By the way, I personally prefer "Speculative Fiction" to Science Fiction!

Other than those two, I have recently had my attention grabbed by the cyber punk genre. More specifically, I enjoy the idea of "steam punk". I had already started mapping out my next series as a Western (an often overlooked genre for Young Adult Fiction). But I've since added a steam punk element into it.

Discuss your favorite genres and, more importantly, introspectively ask yourself why they grab your interest.

[bookworm579]

Fantasy and sci fi are probably my favs. I like a little bit of historical fiction too sometimes, and sometimes gothic fantasy.

OT: btw, I was wondering what you folks thought about adding some new boards and making new skins. And maybe when there are more members we'll have monthly contests and themes.

[krue]

You're right. Fantasy as a genre has many sub-elements to it. But if Gothic Fantasy is a theme that you enjoy...why?

Do you think it's because the dark nature of Goth countered with that of a typically whimsical nature of Fantasy provides with some entertainment or introspection? And if so, do you think that it says anything about you as a person? Does a person's appreciation for a particular theme in art (whether literature, music, or the visual arts, e.g.) say anything about the person themselves?

Does your view of my question above change if the person reads it purely for escapism?

[swordmaid]

Wow. Thoughtful.

Aye aye, book, sounds luvly.

Me, I like westerns (considering how I'm growing up, this might not be too surprising), fantasy, historical fiction, the Classics.
I like Louis L'amour, even if I've only read Last of the Breed and listened to The Warrior's Path and several short stories on cd (perfect for a road trip, by the way). I think what really made me like cowboys, though, was the Virginian, by Owen Wister. A lot of Sam Dale (ask Book), I based on the Virginian. I really love the way Wister writes. It's........satisfying.
Lord of the Rings takes top billing for fantasy in my mind. Right next to Narnia. But somehow I don't like calling them fantasy. They're too good. It seems like "fantasy" has become cheap (hemhem, no offense) in the more recent years, and it's almost an offense to lump them in the same category with books that are rather blah.
I love history. Stuff from another time. Old time radio, black and white movies, insanely large hoopskirts, kepis, wagon trains, cravats, ships like the Indefatigable and the Hotspur, North vs. South, small red flowers , quill pens, strawberries on Box Hill, that sort of thing.

Bother. Somehow I don't think I've kept on topic. Sorry. You caught me in a thoughtful mood today. I always feel a bit lonely when I'm thinking about history. A nice kind of lonely.
I'm wandering again. I better post this quick, before I write any more off-topic nonsense.

[krue]

"...a nice kind of lonely..."

I can appreciate that. Although I am a student of history as well, I think that when I read historical fiction I prefer it to have an element of "speculative fiction" in there. I think that it has something to do with the knowledge of what was and the possibility of what could have been. It may mean that-since I have knowledge that the characters don't-I feel more empowered as a reader.

What if Julius Caesar survived the assassination?
What if Hitler got his hands on the atom bomb first?
What if Custer survived Little Big Horn and ran for U. S. President?

All fascinating possible subjects for historical fiction!

Any more theories on why historical fiction is so popular? Not just, as an example, "because I think Victorian England is cool!". But more along the lines of, "because in Victorian England integrity and character meant so much more than today."

[swordmaid]

Blimey, I don't even want to think about what would have happened if Hitler had the A bomb. We might not be here. (Reminds me of the Back to the Future movies) However, to quote a wise lion, no one knows what would have happened.

I think part of it is because the reader almost gets to live in the other time (is that what you meant by escapism?). They can forget, for awhile, this modern world and all it's troubles.
It is also quite possible that there is a longing (perhaps buried deep, for some) in readers for what is good and right, whether they like it or not. And it seems there's more of that in the old times and books. What they thought was completely scandalous in, say, Jane Austen's time, the world hardly blinks at now. Standards were different. I think the modern reader may secretly - or openly - long for some of that innocence to return.

[krue]

Well said, sword. Would you say that is true for all fiction? That we read to forget the world in which we live? Is that saying, then, that the genre we choose to read embodies the world that we believe is the "best of all possible worlds?"

With all art we learn more about ourselves when we strive to understand it (the term used for this is "participation"). Is this what we are learning from our choice in genre? What about someone who chooses to read Horror?

[swordmaid]

I like it when you come on the forum....you make me think.

Yes, it probably is true for most fiction (I make exceptions for a few books). It's....well, when we read, we get to worry about the character's problems, not our own. Makes a nice change, I guess. It's also a way to see "how the other half lives" (whichever half that is). When it comes to this, though, I have to be careful what I choose to read because some books leave me a bit discontented with my own lot. Or perhaps wishing I'd never read them, 'cause then I could have evaded this whole issue.
"...the genre we choose to read embodies the world that we believe is the "best of all possible worlds..." Hee, if that's true for me then there's an awful lot of best worlds. I think what we re-read is what we really like. For example, I recently read the Claidi Journals (YA fantasy) and they were ok. I doubt I'll ever read them again. I read C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy for the first time 2 years ago. Ever since then, I've made a point of reading them at least once a year, and will continue to do so. I like the "ok" books well enough while I'm reading them, but the books I truly stick to are the really good ones. And these books are generally older. Rifles for Watie, Roverandom, the Space Trilogy, Lady Baltimore, Emma, Little Women, Pride & Prejudice, David Copperfield. Not all are Christian, but all are good. Clean characters that stick to their moral guns (so to speak).

So basically, "you are what you read"?
I have to be somewhere at 5 or I'd pay more attention to this last bit. Cheerio for now, and thanks for making me think! 'Tis good for me.

[kruesbabe]

Hello, its just me and here is my thought. I like the thought of Fantasy Classics or Classic Fantasy, for the stuff that is more like LOTR or Narnia. Even though some of the genre is being overdone, I like that young people are reading. It is a start; now it is up to authors to bring them around to being book snobs like us. Personally, I prefer Brit Lit, Victorian era and a few American authors of the same time period. I also like histrical fiction. My geekiest side is gardening books with fold out pictures that show you how to do it.

[swordmaid]

Classic fantasy.........I like that.
I completely agree it's good for them to read, but if they're reading lousy books is that truly an advantage? That's part of the reason I want to write. There's so many below average books out there, I'd like to provide something decent but still smashingly good.
American and Brit Lit Victorian era....can you give me an example? I've probably read some of it, I just don't know it under that heading.

Ok, I was reading a book about Jack Benny the other day, and the author mentioned one of his movies "bombed." But his radio show was a "smash." Now why do two such similar words have completely opposite meanings?!?!?!?

[krue]

I believe that she is thinking of authors like Jane Austen (British) and Henry James (American). They were Victorian Age authors who wrote about the Victorian Age.

Historical Fiction would be a contemporary author writing about the Victorian Age. We've already discussed the reasons why we may enjoy reading about a time period other than our own. Was there anything else about that time period that we still find appealing? How many movies have been released in the past few years that are set in that time period? There is an obvious draw for a large percentage of the population. Why?

Why do such similar words (in literal meaning) are such opposites (in figurative meaning)? That's an interesting question. Etymology is a fascinating subject. But it's difficult when words are invented nearly every day (slang).

[chamilion30]

My all-time vaforite is fantasy especially books written by R.L. Salvator. And i'll also read anything written by Dean Koontz (with the lights on of course). Other than that I have found a liking to historical fiction as well.

[krue]

Dean Koontz is a great writer! I haven't read anything by Salvator, though. I'll have to look him up on Amazon and see if there is something there that looks appealing.

Why do you think that you like Fantasy? Is it an escape? Do you feel you learn something about yourself though vicarious interactions with characters?

[swordmaid]

Heehee, you and your discussion-starting questions.