| ID |
Genre |
Description |
# Books |
| 20 |
Action |
|
|
| 25 |
Adventure |
Books whose characters undergo some kind of quest or task to accomplish a goal, often a journey, and usually dangerous. |
|
| 27 |
Alternate History |
Discussion of what might have been, given different decisions and actions at key points in history -- if Hitler had won WWII, or if Hitler hadn't ever come to power, for example. |
|
| 73 |
Androids, Cyborgs & Robots |
Stories in which the main story, a major sub-theme, or one (or more) of the central characters, involves cybernetic limb replacement, anthropomorphic (i.e., human-like) androids, or autonomous robots. |
|
| 64 |
Animal |
Books which have animals as the main characters, or whose plots revolve around animals. For example, the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. |
|
| 41 |
Arthurian Legends |
Stories relating in some way to the mythology surrounding King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. May be historical, may be fantasy (or neither), but has Arthur as a central theme. |
|
| 71 |
Artificial Intelligence |
Stories in which the main story, a major sub-theme, or one (or more) of the central characters, involves or explores the role and/or nature of computer intelligence.
Examples: 2001 (HAL), Number of the Beast (Gay Deceiver), etc. |
|
| 76 |
Autobiography/ Memoirs |
Non-Fiction books about the lives of the author that wrote them. |
|
| 87 |
Avante Garde & Surreal |
Books having a deliberately non-traditional experimental story structure, and/or highly unusual or surreal writing style. |
|
| 42 |
Biographical |
Nonfiction books about the lives of real people. |
|
| 23 |
Childrens |
Books intended either to be read to children, or to be read by children who are still learning to read well, up to perhaps age 8 or so. |
|
| 62 |
Christmas |
Works about the traditional Christian holy day. |
|
| 26 |
Classic |
Books that are recognizable by a typical high-school grad, whether they've read them or not. Examples include War & Peace, Great Expectations, Of Mice & Men, The Pearl. |
|
| 65 |
Coming of Age |
Works that have an emphasis on the journey from youth to adulthood. |
|
| 72 |
Computers |
Books about computer software packages, computer hardware, computer languages and operating systems, various computer applications, the internet, and stories about same. |
|
| 5 |
Contemporary |
|
|
| 4 |
Crime & Prison |
Books in which the primary focus involves crime, criminals, gangs, the mafia, etc. |
|
| 59 |
Criticism & Commentary |
A book whose main purpose is to interpret or analyze either another work or a specific author. |
|
| 66 |
Dark Sun - Athas |
Fiction set in the "Dark Sun" campaign setting of the D20/AD&D Role Playing Game universe |
|
| 81 |
Death, Dying and Grieving |
Literature which explores the process of death, dying, and grieving from the perspective of the person experiencing it and/or the perspective of those close to him/her. |
|
| 24 |
Decision Tree |
Includes those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books you may remember. The reader chooses which parts of the book to read to form a story based on the decisions they make for the characters. |
|
| 69 |
Dragonlance |
Books set in either the world of "Krynn" (by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickmann), or in the "Dragonlance" campaign setting (which is based on Krynn) of the D20/AD&D Role Playing Game universe |
|
| 45 |
Educational, Instructional, Reference |
Books that focus on educating/instructing the reader on a particular subject (i.e., how-to books), or which are intended to serve as an information reference (i.e., encyclopedias, dictionaries, charts & tables, etc). |
|
| 13 |
Epic Saga |
A book, or often series of books, with far-reaching storylines that involve an entire region or world (or more). Usually, characters in such sagas have great effect on their surroundings. The books or series themselves tend to be long, and often dense reading. |
|
| 33 |
Erotic |
Stories in which sex and/or sensuality play a major role. Not necessarily romance, as love is not always included. Often for mature audiences only. |
|
| 14 |
Espionage |
Books in which the primary focus involves spying and spycraft, of any flavor (military, corporate, international, etc.) |
|
| 77 |
Eternal Champion |
Fiction set in the worlds of Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion, or books discussing those worlds. |
|
| 82 |
Ethics and Morality |
|
|
| 79 |
Ethnic: Latina |
Works which come from the history and legends of the Latina culture, and works that expound upon or explain the same, as well as works written by members of that culture. |
|
| 80 |
Ethnic: Native American |
Works which come from the history and legends of Native Americans, and works that explain and expound upon the same, as well as work written by Native Americans. |
|
| 44 |
Fairy Tales |
Books which deal heavily with well-known children's wonder tales such as Cinderella, Snow White, etc. Also includes stories which feature fairies, faeries, and fae as primary characters or plot devices. |
|
| 84 |
Family Life |
|
|
| 2 |
Fantasy |
Speculative fiction that relies on magic and/or mythology for its differences from "reality." |
|
| 55 |
Fine Arts |
Books in which the primary focus involves one (or more) branches of the visual or performing arts: Drawing & Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Fashion, Opera, Concert Pianist, Violinist etc. |
|
| 46 |
Food & Wine |
Books in which the primary focus involves food and/or beverages. Includes (variously) cookbooks, tell alls & (auto)biographies by people in the industry, restaurant reviews & guides, ingredient and technique guides, books on making & appreciating various beverages (alcoholic or otherwise), etc. |
|
| 47 |
Forgotten Realms |
Books set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons. |
|
| 88 |
Freemasonry |
Literature by, and about, the ancient fraternal order of Free and Accepted Masons. |
|
| 48 |
Games & Entertainment |
Books intended to provide or enhance rules for game-playing, often role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons. |
|
| 90 |
Geneology |
Books whose primary subject matter involves the exploration/documentation of family trees and family history. |
|
| 32 |
Graphic Novel |
A novel whose narrative is related through a combination of text and art, often in western style comic-strip form. Includes many superhero works, such as Superman and X-men. |
|
| 67 |
Greyhawk |
Fiction set in the world of Grayhawk, or books discussing this world. |
|
| 58 |
Health, Fitness, Medical & Nutrition |
Books about healthy living, fitness and exercise, nutrition, consumer advice regarding medical conditions, etc. |
|
| 61 |
Hi-Tech |
Tales in which technology is a major focus -- whether as a goal, a tool, a weapon, or something else. Often, but not always, science fiction. |
|
| 6 |
Historical |
Stories that take place in the past. Usually the plots are things that could actually have happened and are sometimes based on true events. |
|
| 12 |
Horror |
Stories which intend to frighten the reader, whether with monsters (Frankenstein, Stephen King's It), psychological terrors (much of V.C. Andrews' work) or other methods. |
|
| 18 |
Humour |
Tales with the intent to make you laugh, or at least smile. May be sardonic observations of reality or stories of amusing fictional characters or events, among other types. |
|
| 49 |
Inspirational, Therapeutic & Self Help |
|
|
| 22 |
Juvenile |
Books intended for those who are young (or young-at-heart) but no longer exactly children. Between the ages of 6 and 12. These are the first chapter books, like Little House on the Prairie and The Black Stallian. These deal with issues that kids between the ages of 6-12 deal with--friends, school, family relationships, etc. There is generally no sexual content at all in these books, and the violence is usually minimal--and not developed with detail if it is there. |
|
| 10 |
Legal |
Books in which the interpretation and application of a society's laws play a major role. Includes courtroom fiction such as John Grisham's works, as well as books that focus on law enforcement officers and procedures of all sorts. |
|
| 78 |
Magic, The Gathering |
Books about, or set in, the "Magic: The GatheringTM" collectible card game. |
|
| 85 |
Manga |
Japanese style volumised graphic novels often possessing a linear storyline that extends to several volumes. Includes works such as Inuyasha, Naruto and Love Hina.
|
|
| 43 |
Martial Arts |
Books in which the primary focus involves the martial arts and/or martial artists. |
|
| 74 |
Mathematics |
Non-Fiction or fiction where the plot deals HEAVILY with mathematics in a central fashion. |
|
| 17 |
Mature |
Books that, for reasons usually of sexual or violent content or themes requiring more experience to interpret, would usually be deemed appropriate for adults only. [But not specifically erotic] |
|
| 15 |
Medical (Fiction) |
Stories that use current or near-future medical theories and practices as a basis. May include themes such as virus outbreaks, genetic engineering, etc. |
|
| 91 |
Middle Earth |
Material set in J. R. R. Tolkien's "Middle Earth" or in the Middle Earth Role Playing Game campaign setting (aka "MERP"). |
|
| 21 |
Mystery |
Books about the solving of a particular crime, generally a murder, or other large crime. |
|
| 57 |
Mythology & Folklore |
Books that are primarily a re-telling, collection, or analysis of the beliefs of previous or current cultures. These beliefs may be termed religion by their believers, but are often interpreted by others as allegories and wonder tales.
|
|
| 70 |
Nanotechnology |
Stories involving microscopic machines. |
|
| 86 |
Nature & Ecology |
Books that focus on the natural world. Includes novels in which a natural setting plays a major part, non-fiction books that analyze ecological cycles, works which focus on man's effect on the environment, and other similar topics. |
|
| 9 |
Nautical |
Stories set primarily on or around sea- and ocean-faring ships. |
|
| 19 |
Non-Fiction |
Now Why have I included a Genre of Non-Fiction in a database of Fiction?
It is because there are many authors who have written a lot of Fiction and some non-fiction... |
|
| 63 |
Novelisations |
Books that are based on stories that have already been presented in other forms of media such as, but not limited to; movies, television shows, radio programs, and videogames. |
|
| 31 |
Philosophy |
Works that represent attempts to understand the "greater truths" or humanity -- why are we here? what is good, and what is evil? -- through analysis rather than through speculation. |
|
| 35 |
Poetry |
Books in which the primary focus is on the beauty of the written word, in all it's varied splendors |
|
| 29 |
Politics |
Books in which the primary focus involves politicians, the political process in general, major political incidents, political commentary, etc. |
|
| 38 |
Post-Apocalypse |
Speculative fiction of what might happen were our world to undergo cataclysmic change, along the lines of nuclear annihlation, another ice age, etc. Often a subsection of science fiction, but not always. |
|
| 39 |
Psionic Powers |
Books that have as a focus extraordinary powers of the human mind such as telekinesis, telepathy, and mind control. |
|
| 68 |
Ravenloft |
Books set in the "Ravenloft" (vampires, werewolves & gothic horror) campaign setting of the D20/AD&D Role Playing Game universe. |
|
| 30 |
Religion |
Books that have as a focus or strong base one or more of the world's major religions. May be non-fiction accounts and interpretations of the religion(s), or fiction that relies on an understanding of them. |
|
| 3 |
Romance |
The trials, tribulations and triumphs of falling in love. Always has a happy ending, but not necessarily marriage. |
|
| 50 |
Science |
Books that discuss current or past scientific advances, theories, and practices. |
|
| 1 |
Science Fiction |
Speculative fiction that relies on technology and/or an expanded definition of current laws of science for its differences from "reality." |
|
| 56 |
Short Stories |
Books that include multiple stories (plural) of less than novel length ... |
|
| 16 |
Sport |
Non-fiction books about real-world sporting events, games, and figures, or fiction in which the world of sports plays a heavy role. |
|
| 51 |
Star Trek |
Fiction set in the world of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek, or books discussing that world. |
|
| 54 |
Star Wars |
Fiction set in the world of George Lucas' Star Wars, or books discussing that world. |
|
| 36 |
Suspense |
|
|
| 34 |
Theatrical |
Stories in the form of dramatic plays or screenplays. May also include books which feature the world of theatre as a main focus. |
|
| 11 |
Thriller |
|
|
| 40 |
Time Travel |
Books, often science fiction, which include and focus on travel through time, be it to the past or farther into the future than the normal passage of time allows. |
|
| 52 |
Travel & Tourism |
Books which provide information on traveling to specific locales, and things to look for while you're there. |
|
| 37 |
Vampire |
Stories which feature vampires -- blood-drinking creatures of the night, typically -- as major themes or characters. The vampire(s) in question may be heroes or villains, or both! |
|
| 89 |
Velgarth |
Stories and books set in Mercedes Lackey's fantasy world of Velgarth, including Valdemar, Karse, the Tayledras & the Shin'a'in, among other areas and races. |
|
| 60 |
Virtual Reality |
Books which employ a world of computers that is separate from ours, but emulate it in some way. Typically science fiction, although there may be cases where our current technology approaches virtual reality, as well. |
|
| 7 |
War |
Books that discuss and analyze factual wars, or the theories behind the same, or books that focus on events and figures during fictional military engagements. |
|
| 8 |
Western |
Stories set in America's "Old West," a time of cowboys, indians, frontier living, and shootouts with the sheriff or marshal. |
|
| 75 |
Young Adult |
Books for the adolescent reader, i.e., between the ages of 12 and 18. These deal with the more serious issues faced by kids in their teens--they are significantly more raw--sexual content (though not containing, usually, the heavy "heaving bosom, masculine ,...uh...love muscle" descriptors. These books contain issues like teen pregnancy, dating violence, parental abuse, horror lite, and general "life experiences" that are common to the adolescent. |
|
| |
