The first book I ever read was The Diary of a Young Girl, an autobiography by the teenage diarist Anne Frank. I had come across its name in the newspaper, where someone had reviewed the book. Coincidentally, I found it at a local book fair behind my college. The book review in the newspaper had done a beautiful job justifying the autobiography. The Diary of a Young Girl raised my expectations about books and laid a foundation for my reading journey. I never settled with mysteries by John Grisham, Jeffrey Archer, Agatha Christie, or self-help books by people who had somehow cracked the secret code of human lives. Not even romance novels with dreamy characters and dramatic plots. That is when I discovered other genres that were rarely read and discussed.
For years, most Indian readers have been drawn to mainstream genres, like mystery, thriller, and romance. However, now people are experimenting with other genres. Moreover, social media is exposing book readers to both international and Indian authors. The success of "Tomb of Sand" by Geetanjali Shree and "Heart Lamp" by Banu Mushtaq proves the same.
Recently, I came across some book recommendations on social media platforms and found intriguing literary subgenres. Surprisingly, I’ve read a few books from these subgenres without even realising. So, I decided to explore a few of those uncommon subgenres. Let us briefly discuss them.
What is a genre and a subgenre?
A literary genre is a method for classifying and categorising literature. The action, plot, characters, and setting of a story determine the genre. That is, it provides structure to a literature’s form, content, and style. A genre comprises poetry, drama, and prose. Further, a prose can be fictional or non-fictional.
Each of the above genres is further divided into several subgenres. For example, subgenres of poetry include epic, narrative, romantic, and lyric. Similarly, subgenres of drama include tragedy, comedy, etc.
Likewise, a fictional prose can be a short story, a novel, or a novella (based on its length). Non-fiction prose could be anything from essays and articles to memoirs and biographies. Self-help and cookbooks are also non-fiction, as are academic textbooks.
Further, novels and short stories have their own genres and subgenres. The most popular ones are mystery, thriller, romance, historical, mythology, young adult, fantasy, and science fiction.
Some of the uncommon fiction genres and subgenres
It is interesting to note that numerous less conventional subgenres often blend features from more familiar genres or centre around a common theme. These subgenres, mostly speculative in nature, sit at the intersection of fantasy, science fiction, and literary fiction, creating unique worlds and styles that are distinct from one another. Below are some of the recognised subgenres, divided into four parts:-
- Subgenres of Science Fiction -
Slipstream:
American Sci-Fi author Bruce Sterling coined this term back in 1989 in one of his essays for a sci-fi magazine. At that time, he wrote that more and more mainstream or literary authors were writing better science fiction than the experts. Therefore, he believed that there exist stories that are not too hardcore science fiction, but still weird for a mainstream reader. Slipstream, he said, could be “a kind of writing which simply makes you feel very strange.”
Think of a story that feels almost like our world but is off in an absolutely unsettling way.
The website, Best Sci-Fi Books, describes Slipstream as ‘an ill-defined subgenre that usually boils down to being some combination of literary, fantastical, illogical, surreal, and jarring.’
Some famous examples of Slipstream fiction are Jorge Luis Borges’ The Aleph and Other Stories, China Miéville’s The City & the City, and Haruki Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.
“I saw all the mirrors on earth and none of them reflected me...” ― Jorge Luis Borges, The Aleph and Other Stories.
Cyberpunk:
Bruce Bethke wrote a short story in 1983, titled "Cyberpunk," and hence popularised it as a subgenre of science fiction. It is set in a futuristic, high-tech dystopia marked by cutting-edge technology and societal collapse, concentrating on individuals navigating an isolated, technologically advanced, and oppressive society.
The genre was largely established by William Gibson's 1984 novel Neuromancer. Later, Slipstream founder Bruce Sterling’s works were also categorised under Cyberpunk.
Another example is Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
“The sky above the port was the colour of television, tuned to a dead channel.” ― William Gibson, Neuromancer.
Solarpunk:
It is the positive and hopeful version of cyberpunk. It imagines a future where humankind has overcome all obstacles and solved environmental and social issues. It introduces clean technology and eco-friendly practices, featuring nature-inspired structures and designs. The "solar" in solarpunk refers to a future powered by solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources.
Examples of Solarpunk fiction include The Monk and Robot series by Becky Chambers, The Lost Cause by Cory Doctorow, A Half-Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys, and The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia by Ursula K. Le Guin.
“On Earth, people like her had never given in—only died and made way for those more willing to listen,” ― Ruthanna Emrys, A Half-Built Garden.
- Subgenre of fantasy -
High fantasy:
A subgenre of fantasy that is epic in nature, with its setting in an alternative or fictional world. The term, high fantasy was coined by Lloyd Alexander in 1971.
It is lengthy and has several characters who weren’t strong in the beginning but realise their talent and strength as the story progresses. High fantasy doesn’t include the sword and sorcery heroism, but a fight between good and evil. The characters confront a problem that threatens their world. The main plot weaves many mythological and legendary backstories into the lives of the characters.
In high fantasy fiction, there is ancient magic and inner strength, friendships and alliances that overcome all dangers, and a promising future for the protagonists.
The most famous examples of high fantasy fiction are J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series, and C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia.
“Moonlight drowns out all but the brightest stars.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings.
Grimdark:
In simple terms, it is a brutal fantasy. By its name, it is apparent that it is dark, cold, violent, and cynical, very unlike the original fantasy. The name originated from a tagline of a miniature game, Warhammer 40,000 - “In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war.”
Originally, it had the sword and sorcery of heroic fantasy; later, it evolved into the version we witnessed in George R. R. Martin’s series of novels, starting with A Game of Thrones in 1996, which is a dark epic fantasy.
Unlike traditional fantasy, which features heroes and villains, grimdark focuses on morally ambiguous protagonists or grey characters, as well as the brutal reality of human life.
Other books from this subgenre are The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin and The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang.
“Life is not a song, sweetling. Someday you may learn that, to your sorrow.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones.
Hopepunk:
The opposite of Grimdark is this fantasy subgenre. It is the hopeful and happier subgenre, which was coined by Alexandra Rowland in 2017. Her book, A Conspiracy of Truths, is a hopepunk book. It is said to provide radical hope for a better life.
Interestingly, hopepunk is also blended with sci-fi, which shares similarities with solarpunk. Becky Chambers’s works, such as A Psalm for the Wild-Built, are both solarpunk and hopepunk.
Some of the other examples of Hopepunk fiction include Binti by Nnedi Okorafor and This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar.
“We’re all just trying to be comfortable, and well fed, and unafraid.” ― Becky Chambers, A Psalm for the Wild-Built.
Bangsian Fantasy:
To define it simply, it is “a Fantasy set in the afterlife.” This subgenre includes characters (even famous historical figures) who have passed away. They communicate in a mystical or otherworldly existence. Bangsian fantasy is named after the American author John Kendrick Bangs, who often wrote such stories - The Pursuit of the House-Boat (1897) and The Enchanted Type-Writer (1899).
The stories in this subgenre offer a comical interpretation of the afterlife, featuring characters who are alive but somehow trapped among the dead, or dead characters stuck in the human world.
Popular works include Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo, and What Dreams May Come by Richard Matheson.
“It is required of every man," the ghost returned, "that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide; and, if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death.” ― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol.
Fabulism:
Another subgenre of speculative and blended fiction, Fabulism is often confused with magical realism. But the difference lies in their origin. Unlike fabulism, magical realism entered the literary world when Latin American authors wrote stories to address the political turmoil and oppression in their regions.
Fabulism, like Slipstream, doesn’t have a proper definition. It is fantastical, absurd, and it is magical, just like any fantasy. But it doesn’t focus on complex, large-scale action scenes and majestic world-building. It is concerned with exploring the self through fantastical elements and magic.
The characters struggle with interpersonal conflicts and psychological struggles, trying to find meaning in some way, even if they aren’t alive.
Some examples of Fabulist fiction are The Book of Love by Kelly Link, Parasol Against the Axe by Helen Oyeyemi, Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado, The Mere Wife by Maria Dahvana Headley, and Fruiting Bodies by Kathryn Harlan.
“Time is a row of small and hateful stitches. No one slips through that door once it has been shut.” ― Kelly Link, The Book of Love.
LitRPG, or Literary Role-Playing Game:
It is an interesting subgenre set in a fantastical, sci-fi world. It combines the elements of computer RPGs with storytelling. It makes the readers feel like they’re watching a movie in a video game world. This concept isn’t new; however, it evolved as a literary subgenre only in 2013. Several Asian countries have released their versions of litRPG.
Famous novels in this subgenre include AlterWorld by Dimitriy Rus, Ritualist by Dakota Krout, The Land (Five novels) by Aleron Kong, etc.
“You're responsible for what you have tamed.” ― Dimitriy Rus, AlterWorld.
- Historical fiction subgenres -
History and historical fiction have always been fascinating. And the Indian Literary scene has multiple exceptionally written books (both in English and Indian languages) from these genres. It might take years to finish all these books by Indian authors before we move to international authors who have also written great historical fiction.
Historical fiction blends various other fictional genres like romance, mystery, and fantasy, and places them in a real historical setting, like the World Wars.
Historical fiction is also written for children. For example, Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.
But there are specific subgenres of historical fiction that are not very well known. Some of them are:
Art historical fiction:
A cult famous amongst people who love art and closely follow renowned artists. Imagine a fictional narrative around the time period when Van Gogh lived, giving the readers a peek into his life and his struggles to paint the masterpieces we admire today. If you liked to imagine this, read Lust for Life, a novel by Irving Stone.
Art historical fiction, as the name suggests, blends the actual artwork or the real artist with fiction.
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier is one of the famous books in this subgenre. Others are The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan, My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk, and Painter in Rome: A Novel by Stephanie Storey.
“He saw things in a way that others did not, so that a city I had lived in all my life seemed a different place, so that a woman became beautiful with the light on her face.” ― Tracy Chevalier, Girl with a Pearl Earring.
Alternative History:
It is a subgenre of speculative (and historical) fiction where the story explores historical events as if they turned out differently, changing the trajectory of history as it is understood today.
It explores the ‘what-if’ scenarios of famous historical events and makes us reimagine history. It involves every aspect of that event - social and political, and also blends both historical facts and fiction. This might make some readers confuse it with historical fiction. But as we already know, the genre, historical fiction, doesn’t alter history.
The 1953 novel Bring the Jubilee by Ward Moore alters the result of the American Civil War. The 1968 sci-fi novel reimagines the Spanish Armada. Another example is Robert Silverberg’s Roma Eterna, which considers the possibilities when Moses fails at his duty. John F. Kennedy's assassination is prevented in Stephen King’s work, 11/22/63.
“Why should you believe your eyes? You were given eyes to see with, not to believe with. Your eyes can see the mirage, the hallucination as easily as the actual scenery.” ― Ward Moore, Bring the Jubilee.
Time Travel Fiction:
Features characters or objects moving between different points in time, often interacting with historical periods. This subgenre might involve altering timelines, creating contradictions, and even time loops. The characters involved may attempt to change the future by interfering in the events.
It blends historical fiction, science fiction, and sometimes, other genres as well. For instance, the well-known novella The Time Machine by H. G. Wells, written in 1895, is a time travel fiction blended with science fiction.
The series, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, is the perfect example of the subgenre of time travel fiction in which the character travels to the historical past, 18th-century Scotland.
Other novels in this category are Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveller's Wife and Octavia Butler's Kindred.
"I will find you. Even if it takes me 200 years." ― Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.
Westerns:
This subgenre of historical fiction narrates the tales from the American frontier, typically set in the 19th or 20th century, where the environment and way of life of that era influence the storyline. The protagonists are mostly cowboys and/or Native Americans who try to establish law and order in a newly settled region. It situates the story in a time period when the western expansion of the United States was taking place, hence the name. The common themes are freedom and struggle for survival dominate this genre.
Famous Western novels are Centennial by James Michener, Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey, The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt, My Ántonia by Willa Cather, and Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry.
“And you must forget what you are—were—I mean, and be happy. When you remember that old life, you are bitter, and it hurts me.” ― Zane Grey, Riders of the Purple Sage.
Fictional Biographies:
These kinds of narratives depict the life of a historical figure but incorporate imaginative details about their life to bridge the gaps and construct a story worth reading. Essentially, it blends facts and fiction. The character could be a real person or a fictional person imitating a real figure.
Authors have the freedom to choose which part or event from their lives to experiment with. They also invent and reimagine new perspectives to make the narrative interesting.
Some of the popular examples of this genre include Orlando by Virginia Woolf, An Equal Stillness by Francesca Kay, Michael Cunningham’s The Hours, and Paula McLain’s The Paris Wife.
“But there are still the hours, aren't there? One and then another, and you get through that one and then, my god, there's another.” ― Michael Cunningham, The Hours.
- Other interesting subgenres -
Epistolary:
It is a genre rather than a subgenre that narrates stories through a series of documents, most commonly letters, but also diary entries, emails, or even newspaper clippings and receipts. It provides an intimate perspective of the writer.
It gives a touch of reality to the story.
Samuel Richardson is considered the father of the epistolary novel, as his first novel, Pamela or Virtue Rewarded (written in 1740), was epistolary in nature. Later, he wrote Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady, which was also written in the same form.
Epistolary novels can include letters written by one or more characters. For instance, Bram Stoker’s work Dracula has more than two characters writing the letters. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was also epistolary and written in first-person narrative.
Other famous examples include Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Poor Folk, The Colour Purple by Alice Walker, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, and The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga.
“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.” ― Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein.
Ecofiction:
A subgenre of Ecological Literature, with environmental themes, that tells stories about how human negligence causes ecological disasters and their consequences.
Nature is the central character. Novels and short stories in this genre often narrate the complex relationship between nature and mankind. Interestingly, ecofiction incorporates other genres, such as science fiction, historical fiction, and mystery.
Most read books in this genre include The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, The Overstory by Richard Powers, Amitav Ghosh’s Gun Island, The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey, and Where the River Runs Gold by Sita Brahmachari.
“Everywhere you look, there is evidence of the enchantment of decay, of a kind of beauty that can only be revealed by a long, slow fading.” ― Amitav Ghosh, Gun Island.
Ergodic:
Not a typical genre and does not have a straightforward narrative. Stories that fall under this category are complex and require the undivided attention of the reader. With interesting characters, unusual formatting, or non-linear storytelling, Ergodic stories are dynamic and challenging for the readers. The stories have multiple narratives and layers that unfold as we continue to read.
Espen J. Aarseth, in his 1997 work, Cybertext: Perspectives on Ergodic Literature, describes what Ergodic literature is. He coined the term, Ergodic, in which ‘ergon’ means ‘work’ in Greek. He referred to the stories that need readers to jump between pages, solve puzzles, or decode unique formatting to make sense of the plot. This might remind some of you of the interactive stories usually written for children or the interactive video games that proceed as the player chooses a path to move forward, with the results often uncertain.
BookRiot says, “it’s less about the book’s narrative and more about how the author presents that narrative on the page.”
The most read novel in this genre is House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski. Other examples are Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar, Parabola by Lily Hoang, Illuminae by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, and a book of poems by Guillaume Apollinaire, Calligrammes.
“Little solace comes to those who grieve when thoughts keep drifting as walls keep shifting and this great blue world of ours seems a house of leaves moments before the wind.” ― Mark Z. Danielewski, House of Leaves.
Conclusion:
The list above is not complete. Many literary subgenres are a mixture of two or more existing genres. And because of this, the list of unusual subgenres could be endless and as strange and confusing as one can suspect. Imagination has no bounds - creative writers and authors confirm this with every book they write. A glance at all the above subgenres would make one believe that an author is nothing less than a magician. Therefore, it is significant that we honour their creations, continue to fuel our curiosities, and keep exploring. We never know which story might take us on an unforeseen and hard-to-believe adventure the next time.