5 Literary Genres You May Not Have Heard of

While we’re all familiar with standard genres, it can be beneficial to educate ourselves on the subtleties that lie within them. Today we’re going to look at five less common genres and subgenres, both old and new! By the end of this article, you’ll have learned a bit more about:

• How genres constantly evolve to suit the needs of the modern generation.
• How you can pair two or more subgenres together in fiction.
• How a marginal subgenre can attract a huge readership.
• The differences between similar genres in different cultures.

1. Eco-Gothic

Eco-Gothic represents a modern branch of its parent genre, which began in the eighteenth century. With themes of mortality, horror and romance, these tales often took place in ‘exotic’ European settings, with nature playing an important, albeit secondary role.

It’s the natural element that this emerging subgenre concerns itself with; using the Gothic as a mouthpiece to explore our current environmental anxieties. It differs slightly from Speculative fiction in the sense that it explores current fears concerning the planet rather than what may happen in the future.

To learn more about it, check out Ecogothic, a collection of essays edited by Andrew Smith and William Hughes; or if you have less time you can read this online review.

2. Gaslamp

The Gaslamp genre is interestingly more of a sub-subgenre. In other words the daughter of Historical fantasy and the granddaughter of Speculative fiction.

It often makes use of the Victorian and Edwardian eras and has many things in common with Steampunk. The main exception is a focus on magic rather than technology. It’s also more flexible when it comes to time periods and their cultural and social aspects. It employs Gothic elements and even explores alternative histories.

To discover more, why not check out the very first Gaslamp book written by the author who first coined the term?

3. Amish Romance

Although at first it seems like a dichotomy, Amish Romance is a lesser known subgenre of Christian fiction.

Extremely popular in the United States and beyond, it holds a mixed reception amongst the Amish community themselves, both in terms of content and the way in which their society and religious beliefs are presented.

Intimacy is generally avoided and when it does appear, is often the result of an ‘act of God’ where a horse-drawn cart flips over and the two love interests are forced together physically in some way. With divine approval of course.

You can take a closer look at some of these ‘bonnet rippers,’ here. If you enjoy writing romance and have an interest/knowledge about Amish communities, it may be worth considering learning more about this particular market.

4. Feminist Science Fiction

At first glance this concept appears thoroughly modern, but its roots go back as early as the seventeenth century!

Science fiction in itself challenges us to question who we are and so it comes as no surprise that it’s provided a means of exploring gender and equality.

It’s also given many female authors the ‘space’ to use their imagination in terms of examining the societal structures we live in and exploring other possibilities.

Popular works include Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson and The Snow Queen by Joan. D. Vine.

5. Fantastique

Fantastique is a French genre that’s often overlooked by anglophone Fantasy fiction and Magic realism.

While it includes many similarities, it allows for the inclusion of fantastical or supernatural elements without being wholly accepting of them, making Fantastique something rather unique.

With origins dating as far back as the Middle Ages, it shares some similarities with the Italian literary and cinematic genre Giallo; which favours the criminal and psychological.

In the face of something traumatic, both genres explore the space in which fear reigns and one’s sanity is called into question.

You can explore Fantastique further in this article from the BFI’s website.

* * *

So what are some of your favourite lesser known genres and why? Maybe like me, you don’t see yourself as a ‘genre writer,’ but like to add value to your work through learning something new? Let me know what you think in the comments section below!

Until next time,

Sophie X