Fantasy: Definition & Examples

The fantasy genre is defined as a story, often set in an alternate reality, which features the use of the supernatural.  
 
Examples of the fantasy genre in film & television:

• The Lord of the Rings
• The Wizard of Oz
• Pinocchio
• The Princess Bride

Examples of the fantasy genre in literature:

• C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia
• J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit 
• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
• The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald.  

Science Fiction: Heart Hole

Now hat heart hole does science fiction touch?

Since this genre mixes logic and boundary pushing, some have termed science fiction the genre of ethics and morality. This exploration of what is ethical and moral points to the fact that we desire—we need­—boundaries and absolutes. After all, God created the world with an order, both physically and spiritually. We instinctively sense that, and so science fiction pushes edges in a desperate attempt to discover what boundaries exist and what is truly unchanging in an ever-shifting world.

Therefore, it is important to read the science-fiction genre because it reminds us that there are absolutes in the world; for God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19), but that His law is truth (Psalm 119:142)—indeed, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

Science Fiction: Advantages

The science-fiction genre is much like the technology it focuses on. It has definite drawbacks and many potential dangers. But science fiction also has benefits as well:

• We are reminded that technology has much potential—both for good and for evil—but that technology itself is neutral; the use of technology is what makes it good or bad. 
• We increase our scientific knowledge, which helps us to better understand and appreciate the complex universe God has created. 
• We get the opportunity to explore what makes us human.
• Perhaps most of all, science fiction challenges us to push our faith to the logical end. This genre pushes us to make sure our beliefs are so solidly grounded that they still apply even in the most extreme and unlikely of situations.

Science Fiction: Drawbacks

Science fiction is a very logical genre, grounded in the physical realm. As a result, it can be easy to lose sight of the supernatural and the miraculous in this genre. So potential drawbacks of science fiction might be:

• Thinking everything can be explained away.
• Thinking that technology can solve all our problems.
•   Thinking all advanced technology is dangerous and evil.
• Thinking that there are no absolutes, which can lead to cynicism.

Science Fiction: Characteristics

Obviously, the most prominent feature of the science fiction genre is the science—after all, this is science fiction. So common characteristics of the science fiction genre would include:

• A fast-paced plot
• Advanced technology, like genetic manipulation, cloning, robots, artificial intelligence, and spaceships
• Complex scientific theories, such as those dealing with time travel, multiple dimensions, and string theory 
• Unusual characters, such as aliens, genetically modified beings, cyborgs (humans with a strong machine component), and androids (sentient robots)
• Boundary pushing, whether physically (e.g. space exploration), theoretically (e.g. time travel), or ethically (e.g. do androids deserve the rights of humanity?)

Science Fiction: Definition & Examples

The definition of the science fiction genre would a story, usually set in the future, featuring advanced technology.
 

Film & T.V. examples of the science fiction genre:

• Star Trek
• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• E.T.

Literature examples of the science fiction genre:

• War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
• The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells
• George Orwell’s 1984
• Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
•  Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
• The work of Isaac Asimov.

 

Adventure: Heart Hole

The adventure genre is all about the fight for survival. What heart hole does this drive to live point to? Several possibilities exist. It could be the desire for control over our circumstances. Or adventure genre could touch on our desire to overcome death. Or adventures might echo our desire to not be forgotten.

While all of these are true of the adventure genre, they point to an even deeper desire: Our desire for immortality. For we were created to be immortal. But sin introduced death, the most unnatural thing in the world, and our souls sense the unnaturalness of death—this was not the way God created the world nor is it the way He desired His world to be. The adventure genre acknowledges this discrepancy between what is and what should be.

As a result, the adventure genre is important to read because it reminds us that death has been swallowed up in Christ’s victory, no longer having a sting; and we who are perishable and mortal will one day put on the imperishable and immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:54)

Adventure: Benefits

Although the adventure genre has drawbacks we need to watch out for, this genre also has some great benefits, including:

• The reminder to take risks.
• The reminder to not fear death.
• The encouragement to consider our legacy.
• The encouragement to work toward the eternal rather than temporal.
• The learning of out-of-the-box thinking.
• The learning of creative problem solving.

Adventure: Drawbacks

The adventure genre is often great fun with its high action and death-defying actions. However, there are several drawbacks to the adventure genre which the reader needs to be aware of:

• The drive to survive and the death-defying actions will frequently trigger our adrenaline, increasing the possibility of an addiction to the adrenaline rush, just like with suspense and thriller stories.
• The adventure genre can inspire an invincible attitude, the belief that I am indestructible and can overcome anything—which isn’t true, of course, for otherwise some would have figured out how to overcome death.
• The adventure genre can feed our desire for control, especially over our circumstances, rather than fostering an attitude of trust and dependence in God.
• In the most extreme form, the adventure genre can turn man into a god.

Adventure: Characteristics

The stories found in the adventure genre are generally about a fight to survive. As a result, common characteristics of the adventure genre would include:

• A plot-based story
• A wild or uncivilized setting, which is not ruled by normal law, whether it is the jungles of South America, a deserted island, or the open ocean.
• A plot which revolves around a man vs. nature struggle, rather than a man vs. man struggle, making nature the indirect (or in some case, direct) villain.
• Characters who are unusually smart, physically strong, and able to adapt.
• Occasionally includes a quest of some kind (think the Ark of the Covenant in the first Indiana Jones film), which in turn triggers the fight for survival.
• Many death-defying actions

Adventure: Definition & Examples

Adventure genre definition: A story about characters who are struggling for survival. This genre, as a result, would include the subgenres of western, high-seas adventure, and survivalist fiction.
 
Examples from film and television:

• Indiana Jones
• The Lone Ranger
• Pirates of the Caribbean

Literature examples of the adventure genre:

• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
• Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defore
• Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne
• Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss
• The westerns of Louis L'Amour
• The westerns of Zane Gray

Suspense & Thriller: Heart Hole

The suspense & thriller genre contains fast-paced stories about characters on the run, trying to stop or survive the villain. Hardly the stuff of great theology, or so it may appear on the surface. What heart hole could such stories possibly touch on?

At first, the heart hole of the suspense & thriller genre may appear to be the desire for justice, much like with mysteries, though the suspense & thriller would specialize on bringing to justice those above the law.

But I think the suspense & thriller genre drives deeper than that. We all feel at times like evil is overwhelmingly powerful and that there is no way to withstand it. Suspense and thrillers give us hope that there are people of integrity willing to stand for right and that evil will be stopped eventually. So I think the suspense & thriller genre fills our desire for safety and protection.

Therefore we need to read suspense & thriller novels because it reminds us there is One who protects, that is the LORD, who neither slumbers nor sleeps. For He will protect us from evil, keep our soul, and guard our going out and our coming in forever. (Psalm 121)

Suspense & Thriller: Benefits

Every genre has drawbacks. Every genre has benefits. The suspense & thriller genre is no different. There are drawbacks to reading much suspense and thriller, as we saw yesterday. Likewise, the suspense & thriller genre comes with benefits as well:

·        We are reminded in suspense & thriller novels that even those who seem to be above or outside the law will be held accountable for their actions.

·        Because suspense and thrillers deal with extreme circumstances, we have an opportunity to study gray areas, determining what ultimately makes an action right or wrong.

·        We are provided examples of integrity in the suspense & thriller genre. Most of these protagonists receive a chance to make their problems go away by keeping their mouths shut, but if they do, the villain will get away with wrong. So these stories challenge us to think about when and how we stand our ground.

Suspense & Thriller: Drawbacks

Since characteristics of the suspense & thriller genre include high stakes and a protagonist on the run, the potential drawbacks for suspense and thriller stories might include:

·        Desensitization to violence, for many of the same reasons as mysteries.

·        Addiction to an adrenaline rush. Because the characters are often placed in a fight-or-flight situation, our fight-or-flight adrenaline also kicks in providing an emotional rush. That rush can be quite addictive and will require more and more intense situations to create the same high.

·        Paranoia and distrust of those with authority or power. These stories usually deal with people “above” or “outside” the law, who gain the legal immunity they need because their power, money, and/or influence.

·        The temptation to believe we can justify the means by the ends. Because the characters in these stories are frequently backed into a corner where they cannot rely on the law for help, sometimes it makes us think it’s okay take the law into our own hands—that is, extract vengeance or revenge.

         

Suspense & Thriller: Characteristics

The suspense & thriller genre is closely related to mysteries. Therefore, it is no surprise that it carries many of the same characteristics—plots written at a fast pace and with much tension driving the story forward.

However, what sets suspense and thriller novels apart from mysteries is that the protagonist isn’t trying to figure out who the villain most of the time. Rather, the focus of the suspense or thriller is on trying to stop or survive the villain. Sometimes this will take the form of preventing a crime before it happens. Or it might deal with bringing to justice someone who has evaded the law for one reason or another. Either way, the protagonist will be on the run, unable to go to normal law enforcement agencies for one reason or another.

As a result, the protagonist’s life might be in danger. His family, his property, his career, and his reputation might be at risk. Moreover, the stakes—the potential negative repercussions of failure—are much higher: we are not simply trying to solve a murder, but stop a corrupt official from becoming president or prevent a mob takeover of a city, for example.

Suspense & Thriller: Definition & Examples

The definition of the suspense & thriller genre: A story about threatened characters who must stop the opposition before it is too late.

A main difference between thrillers and suspense novels is that thrillers tend be more action and higher tension than a suspense novel.

 

Examples of the suspense & thriller genre from film & television:

• Mission: Impossible
• James Bond
• Person of Interest 

Examples of suspense & thriller novels:

• The work of Ian Fleming (creator of James Bond)
• The work of John Grisham
• The work of John le Carre
• Much of Charles Dickens’ work, such as Oliver Twist and The Tale of Two Cities

 

Writing Friend Activities

Some people think the writer's job is primarily staring out a window and daydreaming. While we might do some of that, we are often busy doing much, much more. Here's some of what my writing friends have been up to:

Brenda Anderson started a list of Christian fiction about mother's on her Facebook page here. Add some of your favorites to the list or check out the books others have recommended.

Elizabeth Goddard's latest romantic suspense, Deception, is available for pre-order! Check out all the news here.

Sharon Hinck has been posting some great blogs about finding freshness in Scripture and seeing the takeaways in life here. And while there, make sure to take time to sign up for her newsletter on her home page as well!

Carol Oyanagi also has a blog, where she tackles a wide variety of issues.

Stacy Monson is celebrating the one-year anniversary of her book Shattered Image, and there's still to participate in the giveaway at here.

Mystery: Heart Hole

The heart hole of mystery: Our desire for justice.

We were created in the image of God, who is just, but because of sin, we live in a dark world that frequently seems unfair. Mysteries assure us that evil will be punished eventually.

So ultimately the mystery genre is important to read because it helps us not to be deceived, reminding us that God is just and will not be mocked: we will reap what we sow. (Gal. 6:7)

 

Mystery: Benefits

Every genre comes with drawbacks. But every genre also has benefits. Some of the benefits of mysteries:

• They teach logic and how to be observant; after all, half of the fun of mysteries is trying to figure it out before the protagonist does!
• They remind us of the consequences of leaving “small” sins unchecked; few people, even in fiction, ever start out intending to commit murder.
• They offer us an understanding of the why behind awful things. Random crimes always seem doubly terrible to us because of their randomness; mysteries allow us to see the why.
• They assure ius that we will reap what we sow. The criminal will be found and punished, no matter how smart or insidious.

Mystery: Drawbacks

Common drawbacks of the mystery genre:

• The desensitization to violence. After all, murder or other violent acts are usually central to the story.
• Cynicism, which comes from dealing with the dark side of humanity on a consistent basis.
• Fear, seeing criminals around every corner. While murder is frequent enough, the type portrayed in fiction is far rarer than mysteries tend to make us think it is. 

Mystery: Characteristics

The most common characteristic of the mystery story is the need to solve a puzzle. Most frequently the main character of the story, the protagonist, is trying to figure out who committed a crime,  although less frequently the puzzle comes from how the crime was committed or why. Also, in stories for younger readers, the puzzle to be solved may not be a true "crime." 

Additional Characteristics:

• A complex plot, with many twists and turns in what happens.
• High suspense as the protagonist races to unravel the puzzle before time runs out.
• A protagonist who is smart and sometimes quirky, often talking in a unique and recognizable way. (Think Sherlock.)
• An unknown villain, since part of the mystery is who did it.

         

Mystery: Description & Examples

Definition of Mystery:
A story about a person or group of people trying to solve a puzzle.

Film & Television Examples:

• Perry Mason
• Castle
• Hawaii 5-0

Literature Examples:

• G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown stories
• Lord Peter Whimsy novels by Dorothy Sayers
• Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
• Until There Were None by Agatha Christie.
• Sir Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories   

Introduction to Genre Overview

Fiction is one of the most powerful forces in our world today.

Through story, we can walk a mile in another person’s shoes. Through story, we gain words and images to explain our emotions. Through story, we see truth moved from the abstract to the concrete. Through story, we realize we aren't alone in in the world. As novelist John Olson puts it, “Story gives us a glimpse of the reality we can’t see because we’re so distracted by the fantasy of our lives.”   

Yet it seems like many of  us don’t utilize the power of fiction to its maximum. Some fear it and never give it a place in their lives. But more often, we become stuck in a rut, only reading one or two genres.

Why do we get stuck in a rut? I think largely this has to do with our heart holes. For humans are fallen beings. We were designed to be perfect, but when Adam and Eve sinned, a huge void was opened up within the human heart. Things we were created to experience and feel and do were lost, and whether we acknowledge their existence or not, we sense the gaps keenly.

Genres help us to deal with those gaps. Why? Because genres result from the consistent use of certain elements. Those elements are used consistently because they evoke a specific response. They evoke that specific response time after time because they touch on one of those gaps, one of those heart holes Therefore, when we favor one genre over another, it is often because we feel more keenly the heart hole which that genre helps heal.

Therefore, by understanding literary genres, we better understand ourselves and what we crave. More than that, by reading a variety literary genres we broaden our perspective of ourselves and of our world around us, enabling us to better understand other people and what they desire, which in turn helps us to serve them better with compassion.

So over the next few week we'll be looking at the most prominent fiction genres--their characteristics, their benefits, their drawbacks, and the heart holes they address