Dystopian fiction and Utopian fiction (positive future earth society)
has traditionally been a subgenre under the "Science Fiction" genre
such as Huxley's "Brave New World" & "1984". However, because
dystopian sci fi has recently expanded and become more popular, a new
subgenre labeled "Apocalyptic" or "Post Apocalyptic" fiction such as
McCarthy's "The Road" and Atwood's "Year Of The Flood" has developed
but it makes sense to keep the subgenre under the sci fi genre.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, "Science Fiction" has morphed with or
become confused with "fantasy". Why is it associated with sci fi at
all instead of associated with say "fairy Tales"?
Again, traditionally, sci fi was always defined as the story/plot/
theme being based on "scientific principles" and laws which made
sense. "Fantasy" was fantasy because it is based on "non-science"
such as spirits, magic--think of unicorns.
A rubric or guide I try to follow is how does Sears and/or LC label
the genres and subgenres--"Sports Fiction" or "Sports Stories",
"Horror Tales" or "Horror Fiction or Stories. Does Sears/LC even
recognize certain genres and subgenres? For instance, LC has "War
Stories" (also "War Poetry") but I know library/book professionals
that do NOT accept the fiction genre. They would place Webb's major
Vietnam War novel, "Fields Of Fire", just under "historical fiction".
Bob Hicks
Arkansas City High School Library
Arkansas City, KS 67005
bob.hicks@usd470.com
On May 21, 2010, at 8:10 AM, Cheryl Whitmore Stevens wrote:
> I am not sure how genres are "officially" created, but it seems to
> be from recent posts and HITs that we have created the genre of
> Dystopian Fiction. There are certainly enough tween and teen books
> in this area for it to be a genre. What are others thoughts on this?
>
> Cheryl Whitmore Stevens, MLS, MA Ed. Psych
> Library Media Specialist
> Mansfield, CT 06250
> cwstevens@earthlink.net
>
>
> God bestows gifts upon us and places challenges before us, it is how
> we share those gifts and meet those challenges that makes us who we
> are.
>
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