Scope of Speculative Fiction

Submitted by Beth Krippel [1] on Mon, 08/24/2009 - 11:57am

Extraordinary Engines Speculative Fiction (SciFi/Fantasy) has often taken the possible and impossible to explore new worlds or our world in alternate times or histories. Within that larger genre are many subgenres. Amy Goldschlager (Avon/EOS) provided an explanation of several of the different subgenres in 1997. You can read her listing here [2].

In the years that have passed, some genres have brightened and others dimmed. Particularly paranormal mysteries have taken off with books like Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series [3]. Steampunk was a genre long before it was a fashion statement – H.G Wells and Jules Verne anyone? Of late, I’ve been stretching out of my epic fantasy trend (who doesn’t enjoy a good 1083 page Tad Williams third book in a trilogy now and then?) to reach into the Steampunk subgenre. A great start is the Extraordinary Engines [4] anthology. The short stories show the variety of Steampunk, from great steam-propelled boxers to airships.

Have you found a new SF subgenre you’re enjoying?

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Links:
[1] http://hcpl.net/users/beth-krippel
[2] http://www.sfsite.com/columns/amy26.htm
[3] http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=Q251133277Y34.156849&profile=webcat&source=~!library&view=subscriptionsummary&uri=full=3100001~!1056759~!9&ri=4&aspect=subtab15&menu=search&ipp=325&spp=60&staffonly=&term=Harris,+Charlaine.+Southern+vampire+novel&index=PSERIES&uindex=&aspect=subtab15&menu=search&ri=4
[4] http://catalog.hcpl.net/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=A25WD32593517.155293&profile=webcat&source=~!library&view=subscriptionsummary&uri=full=3100001~!1057046~!0&ri=1&aspect=subtab13&menu=search&ipp=325&spp=60&staffonly=&term=Extraordinary+Engines&index=.TH&uindex=&aspect=subtab13&menu=search&ri=1
[5] http://hcpl.net/taxonomy/term/39
[6] http://hcpl.net/taxonomy/term/38
[7] http://hcpl.net/category/tags/steampunk