Genre Fiction: History and Cliches

by staff

For those looking to expand their knowledge of speculative fiction even more seriously, Rutgers has an extensive list of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, from reading guides to encyclopedias to bibliographies. Some of the recommended material is a bit outdated (not to mention dense), but is otherwise a great lead for anyone ready for serious research.

Anatomy of Wonder: A Critical Guide to Science Fiction (Fifth Edition), by Neil Barron, is an outstanding reference (and considered by many as the definitive guide) for those looking for a comprehensive overview of science fiction, including the history of science fiction as well as critical review. For serious readers, a true jewel.

And for those just looking to avoid writing stories that are already familiar to audiences (and editors), Strange Horizons‘ Stories We’ve Seen Too Often (a section of their submissions guidelines) is an outstanding place to start. Its companion list on horror is also helpful (and humorous).

For a quick but nicely organized history, Wikipedia has entries on crime fiction, westerns, and fantasy.

Adam Roberts’ The History of Science Fiction (Palgrave Histories of Literature) is an in-depth history of science fiction, starting with the Greeks and continuing to modern times (published 2005). At 392 pages, it goes well beyond the general outlines available on the internet.

Horror Literature is a free course at Suite101, written by Catherine Bitzer. While it can’t compare to a full-length book, it’s surprisingly thorough in its brief overview of the history of horror, including the theory of horror literature, its relationship to religion, monsters, and more.