Week 6: Assignment 2
Explore this Prezi link of Fiction Genres and Subgenres
The Prezi Link was useful in rediscovering some old favorite subgenres. I also used it to help me decide on some subgenres that fall outside of my comfort zone.
Week 6: Assignment 3
Pick 3 subgenres that you are unfamiliar with.
Subgenre 1: Medical Thrillers
I selected this subgenre because I really have never read or even sought out a medical thriller. Though I've happily never been pressed for recommendations from this subgenre, I'm sure a working knowledge of the subject would be useful in readers' advisory situations.
Fan Website:
Book Country - Medical Thriller
http://www.bookcountry.com/ReadAndReview/Books/GenreMap/Thriller/MedicalThriller.aspx I found Book Country's website had the most comprehensive and succinct summary of what a medical thriller is. I also decided that the representative authors and titles displayed on this website were far more apt choices than those found on say Facebook's Medical Thriller page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Medical-thriller/144107068938033?nr). Facebook, which I suppose you could argue is more representative of the opinions of fans, is decidedly skewed in favor of just plain popular material that doesn't necessarily have a great deal to do with the subgenre itself. For example on Facebook, Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code is first on the list for books in the medical thriller category, versus Richard Preston's The Cobra Event or Robin Cook's Coma, as mentioned on Book Country's Medical Thriller page.
For a more in-depth analysis of the Medical Thriller subgenre, see https://www.library.ns.ca/files/thrillers_1.pdf.
How I Found This Website:
In an effort to find medical thriller fan pages I started off with Facebook, was swiftly disappointed, and then reverted to broad-spectrum searches for "medical thriller" on several search engines.
The Buzz / Three authors or titles that typify Medical Thrillers:
Richard Preston is a wonderful example of an author of medical thrillers. From his chilling non-fiction The Hot Zone, to The Cobra Event and The Demon in the Freezer, Preston's medical thrillers will set his readers on edge and probably lead more than a few to arm themselves with Purel and disinfectant wipes. Robin Cook comes to the table with quite the array of medical thrillers to offer, including Fever, Coma, Vital Signs and Harvest. Finally, who can forget the late Michael Chriton, himself an MD by training, brought us The Terminal Man, The Andromedea Strain, and Jurassic Park, to name a fiew.
Hallmarks/Appeal Factors:
Plot-driven; fast-paced; protagonist/antagonist relationship (even if antagonist is a disease); medical or scientific background; occasional conspiracy, whether of government or medical community; accurate medical details are important for a sense of an inside look at the profession involved.
Mashups:
One popular mashup is the cross between detective mystery and medical thriller, as exemplified by Ian C.P. Irvine's helpfully titled Haunted From Within: A Mystery and Detective Medical Thriller. Deadly Syndrome, by Arline Todd is an example of another mashup, that of the Political/Medical Thriller.
Subgenre 2: Fractured Fairy Tales
I chose this subgenre because I have a soft-spot for fairy tales and am particularly delighted whenever a new interpretation or spin on a fairy tale or bit of folklore emerges, no matter the media. I've developed a mild obsession with the show Once Upon a Time and my favorite recent children's read is Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin. In any event, I chose this subgenre for personal enrichment and to enhance my children's and YA readers' advisory skills.
Fan Website:
Once more, not strictly speaking a fan website, but I found Tales of Faerie: Fairy Tale Retellings and Subgenres to offer a particuarly insightful view into the nature of the fractured fairytale: http://talesoffaerie.blogspot.com/2012/10/fairy-tale-retellings-and-subgenres.html. This blog offers working definitions and categories for what make an effective Fractured Fairy Tale:
a.) Expanded Fairy Tale
b.) Alternate Explanation
c.) Removal of Magic
d.) Expanding on a Single Element
e.) Sequel
How I Found This Website:
I coupled fractured fairy tale with subgenre and plugged these into several search engines. In the end it it was Bing that led me to the thoughtful blog cited above.
The Buzz / Three authors or titles that typify Fractured Fairy Tales:
For the buzz, I will refer you to any Jungian interpretation of the shared consciousness. Fairy tales and folklore are a part of human culture, a part of our childhood, and a traditon that we pass on through the generations. Countless analyses of the role and import of these oral and literary traditions thoroughly explore the buzz about fairytales. The particular appeal of fractured fairy tales, which are perhaps not exclusively but certainly characteristically modern in origin, is, I gather a continuation of our curiosity about the characters who appear in these fantastic tales: their motivations and their behaviors.
Hallmarks/Appeal Factors:
Fills in the details and offers answer for the curious behaviors of characters in classic fairy tales; alternate outcomes and twists in plot and character descriptions.
Mashups:
Fractured Fairy Tales in Young Adult and Children's Fiction formats - for example Princess of the Silver Woods in YA, and Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin in Children's Fiction;
Fan Website: AbeBooks - Impossible Murders: Cracking the Locked Room Mysteries http://www.abebooks.com/books/crime-writing-impossible-killer-poe/locked-room-mysteries.shtml
I also reveiwed material and opinions on several other websites, including www.goodreads.com, www.mysteryfile.com, and www.lockedroominternational.com. The last of these, while not cited as my official choice, provides an excellent selection of individual titles and and authors and succinctly summarizes the idea and/or plot behind each title.
How I found This (These) Website(s):
I performed a broad search to begin, starting simply with locked room AND subgenre. I tried the search on a couple of different search engines to see what sort of results could be garnered.
The Buzz / Three Authors That Typify the Locked Room Mystery:
- The Buzz: First really popularized by Edgar Allen Poe, Wilkie Collins and others in the 19th century, the 20th century really saw an upswing in popularity for this subgenre, and today many mystery authors contribute to the body of work that makes up the Locked Room subgenre. An Amazon subject search returns more than 1,300 titles, pulling from literature, short stories, anthologies, stand-alone mysteries and series, to name a few. I what may be the most exciting for readers is that they are involved - they can solve the seemingly impossible mystery even as (or before!) the detective or protagonist does. It's interactive, logical reading at its finest.
- Three authors or titles that typify: Scott Laming, the author of the page above, credits John Dickson Carr, (aka Carter Dickson) as the "king of the locked room mysteries" and cites The Hollow Man as THE BOOK to read for the best example of a locked room mystery. Fans the world over will agree that a second notable author in the subgenre is Edgar Allen Poe, whose The Murders in the Rougue Morgue is credited as an early example that really set the stage for the Locked Room subgenre. Finally, an appreciative nod to Edward D. Hoch, whose many and varied contributions to the subgenre are arranged in a short story format. Look for Hoch's Dr. Sam Hawthorne series for the greatest number of examples.
Hallmarks/Appeal Factors :
A locked room (literally); a seemingly impossible crime; interactive ficiton; logic-based puzzles or solutions.
Mashups:
While many of the initial Locked Room mysteries were standalone titles, one increasingly finds series mytery authors who give their series' protagonists repeated encounters with Locked Room scenarios. As mentioned earlier, Edward D. Hoch's Sam Hawthorne series is a prime example of this mashup.
Explore this Prezi link of Fiction Genres and Subgenres
The Prezi Link was useful in rediscovering some old favorite subgenres. I also used it to help me decide on some subgenres that fall outside of my comfort zone.
Week 6: Assignment 3
Pick 3 subgenres that you are unfamiliar with.
- Find a fan website for each subgenre and summarize the current buzz among fans. Why are they excited about this subgenre? How did you find the website?
- List three authors or titles that are associated with or typify each of these 3 subgenres. What are the hallmarks or appeal factors of each of the subgenres?
- Mashups of subgenres, e.g. steampunk westerns, are becoming increasingly popular. Find two titles, not shown on the flowchart, which could cross over into another subgenre. Describe your rationale.
Subgenre 1: Medical Thrillers
I selected this subgenre because I really have never read or even sought out a medical thriller. Though I've happily never been pressed for recommendations from this subgenre, I'm sure a working knowledge of the subject would be useful in readers' advisory situations.
Fan Website:
Book Country - Medical Thriller
http://www.bookcountry.com/ReadAndReview/Books/GenreMap/Thriller/MedicalThriller.aspx I found Book Country's website had the most comprehensive and succinct summary of what a medical thriller is. I also decided that the representative authors and titles displayed on this website were far more apt choices than those found on say Facebook's Medical Thriller page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Medical-thriller/144107068938033?nr). Facebook, which I suppose you could argue is more representative of the opinions of fans, is decidedly skewed in favor of just plain popular material that doesn't necessarily have a great deal to do with the subgenre itself. For example on Facebook, Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code is first on the list for books in the medical thriller category, versus Richard Preston's The Cobra Event or Robin Cook's Coma, as mentioned on Book Country's Medical Thriller page.
For a more in-depth analysis of the Medical Thriller subgenre, see https://www.library.ns.ca/files/thrillers_1.pdf.
How I Found This Website:
In an effort to find medical thriller fan pages I started off with Facebook, was swiftly disappointed, and then reverted to broad-spectrum searches for "medical thriller" on several search engines.
The Buzz / Three authors or titles that typify Medical Thrillers:
Richard Preston is a wonderful example of an author of medical thrillers. From his chilling non-fiction The Hot Zone, to The Cobra Event and The Demon in the Freezer, Preston's medical thrillers will set his readers on edge and probably lead more than a few to arm themselves with Purel and disinfectant wipes. Robin Cook comes to the table with quite the array of medical thrillers to offer, including Fever, Coma, Vital Signs and Harvest. Finally, who can forget the late Michael Chriton, himself an MD by training, brought us The Terminal Man, The Andromedea Strain, and Jurassic Park, to name a fiew.
Hallmarks/Appeal Factors:
Plot-driven; fast-paced; protagonist/antagonist relationship (even if antagonist is a disease); medical or scientific background; occasional conspiracy, whether of government or medical community; accurate medical details are important for a sense of an inside look at the profession involved.
Mashups:
One popular mashup is the cross between detective mystery and medical thriller, as exemplified by Ian C.P. Irvine's helpfully titled Haunted From Within: A Mystery and Detective Medical Thriller. Deadly Syndrome, by Arline Todd is an example of another mashup, that of the Political/Medical Thriller.
Subgenre 2: Fractured Fairy Tales
I chose this subgenre because I have a soft-spot for fairy tales and am particularly delighted whenever a new interpretation or spin on a fairy tale or bit of folklore emerges, no matter the media. I've developed a mild obsession with the show Once Upon a Time and my favorite recent children's read is Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin. In any event, I chose this subgenre for personal enrichment and to enhance my children's and YA readers' advisory skills.
Fan Website:
Once more, not strictly speaking a fan website, but I found Tales of Faerie: Fairy Tale Retellings and Subgenres to offer a particuarly insightful view into the nature of the fractured fairytale: http://talesoffaerie.blogspot.com/2012/10/fairy-tale-retellings-and-subgenres.html. This blog offers working definitions and categories for what make an effective Fractured Fairy Tale:
a.) Expanded Fairy Tale
b.) Alternate Explanation
c.) Removal of Magic
d.) Expanding on a Single Element
e.) Sequel
How I Found This Website:
I coupled fractured fairy tale with subgenre and plugged these into several search engines. In the end it it was Bing that led me to the thoughtful blog cited above.
The Buzz / Three authors or titles that typify Fractured Fairy Tales:
For the buzz, I will refer you to any Jungian interpretation of the shared consciousness. Fairy tales and folklore are a part of human culture, a part of our childhood, and a traditon that we pass on through the generations. Countless analyses of the role and import of these oral and literary traditions thoroughly explore the buzz about fairytales. The particular appeal of fractured fairy tales, which are perhaps not exclusively but certainly characteristically modern in origin, is, I gather a continuation of our curiosity about the characters who appear in these fantastic tales: their motivations and their behaviors.
Hallmarks/Appeal Factors:
Fills in the details and offers answer for the curious behaviors of characters in classic fairy tales; alternate outcomes and twists in plot and character descriptions.
Mashups:
Fractured Fairy Tales in Young Adult and Children's Fiction formats - for example Princess of the Silver Woods in YA, and Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin in Children's Fiction;
Subgenre 3: Locked Room Mysteries
I've received a number of requests for recommendations from customers who are avid fans of mysteries and mystery series. While I do find that www.stopyourekillingme.com provides a wealth of information and clues as to what titles and series I might recommend next, I find myself at a bit of a loss when it comes to recommending Puzzle mysteries or Locked Room mysteries, hence my selection.
Fan Website: AbeBooks - Impossible Murders: Cracking the Locked Room Mysteries http://www.abebooks.com/books/crime-writing-impossible-killer-poe/locked-room-mysteries.shtml
I also reveiwed material and opinions on several other websites, including www.goodreads.com, www.mysteryfile.com, and www.lockedroominternational.com. The last of these, while not cited as my official choice, provides an excellent selection of individual titles and and authors and succinctly summarizes the idea and/or plot behind each title.
How I found This (These) Website(s):
I performed a broad search to begin, starting simply with locked room AND subgenre. I tried the search on a couple of different search engines to see what sort of results could be garnered.
The Buzz / Three Authors That Typify the Locked Room Mystery:
- The Buzz: First really popularized by Edgar Allen Poe, Wilkie Collins and others in the 19th century, the 20th century really saw an upswing in popularity for this subgenre, and today many mystery authors contribute to the body of work that makes up the Locked Room subgenre. An Amazon subject search returns more than 1,300 titles, pulling from literature, short stories, anthologies, stand-alone mysteries and series, to name a few. I what may be the most exciting for readers is that they are involved - they can solve the seemingly impossible mystery even as (or before!) the detective or protagonist does. It's interactive, logical reading at its finest.
- Three authors or titles that typify: Scott Laming, the author of the page above, credits John Dickson Carr, (aka Carter Dickson) as the "king of the locked room mysteries" and cites The Hollow Man as THE BOOK to read for the best example of a locked room mystery. Fans the world over will agree that a second notable author in the subgenre is Edgar Allen Poe, whose The Murders in the Rougue Morgue is credited as an early example that really set the stage for the Locked Room subgenre. Finally, an appreciative nod to Edward D. Hoch, whose many and varied contributions to the subgenre are arranged in a short story format. Look for Hoch's Dr. Sam Hawthorne series for the greatest number of examples.
Hallmarks/Appeal Factors :
A locked room (literally); a seemingly impossible crime; interactive ficiton; logic-based puzzles or solutions.
Mashups:
While many of the initial Locked Room mysteries were standalone titles, one increasingly finds series mytery authors who give their series' protagonists repeated encounters with Locked Room scenarios. As mentioned earlier, Edward D. Hoch's Sam Hawthorne series is a prime example of this mashup.
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