Have you read and re-read the same books and authors too many times? Are you looking for something new to break yourself out of a reading rut? Try a new genre!
See below a snapshot view of the following 10 genres (and sub-genres). Please use them as a gateway/portal to a new reading realm. 🙂 Just as an FYI, they aren’t in any particular order, though I’ve tried to place genres that are related close to one another on the list (i.e.: Fantasy, Magical Realism, and Science Fiction, etc.) Also, note that there is often a lot of overlap between genres so if you’d categorize a title or author in a different genre than I have, we are BOTH probably right. Finally, the suggested authors listed for each genre are in no way comprehensive. They are just a starting point.
If you have any questions or would like more suggestions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Courtney at ckleftis@yarmouthlibrary.org.
- Literary Fiction
- Domestic Fiction
- Romance
- Historical Fiction
- Suspense/Thriller & Psychological Thriller
- Horror
- Mystery & Cozy Mystery
- Fantasy & Mythology Retellings
- Magical Realism
- Science Fiction (SciFi)
Literary Fiction
What is Literary Fiction?: Literary Fiction tends to be more focused on character, theme, and style than plot. (NOTE: This doesn’t necessarily make the plot irrelevant). The writing style is often quite experimental (i.e.: stream-of-consciousness). It tends to be viewed as an elevated genre and is often award-winning (i.e.: the Pulitzer Prize & the National Book Award), but it’s not inherently elitist or snobbish! Finally, Literary Fiction often overlaps with other genres.
Key Authors (Classic):
- James Baldwin (1924-1987)
- Toni Morrison (1931-2019)
- Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)
Key Authors (Contemporary):
- Kazuo Ishiguro (1954 – )
- Cormac McCarthy (1933-2023)
- Ann Patchett (1963 – )
Book Recommendations (1-3 classics & 3-5 contemporary titles):
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) | CLASSIC or CONTEMPORARY |
| BELOVED (1988) | MORRISON, TONI | MOR | CLASSIC |
| ORLANDO (1928) | WOOLF, VIRGINIA | 12 Minerva copies | CLASSIC |
| THE ROAD (2006) | MCCARTHY, CORMAC | McCAR | CONTEMPORARY |
| CLOUD CUCKOO LAND (2021) | DOERR, ANTHONY | DOE | CONTEMPORARY |
| FATES AND FURIES (2015) | GROFF, LAUREN | GRO | CONTEMPORARY |
| THE OVERSTORY (2018) | POWERS, RICHARD | POW | CONTEMPORARY |
Domestic Fiction
What is Domestic Fiction?: Traditionally catering to upper and middle-class women, Domestic Fiction emerged in the nineteenth century. It was originally referred to as “women’s” or “sentimental” fiction and was often looked down upon or outright dismissed due to its perceived feminine qualities. Over time the genre has expanded to include a more diverse range of voices and perspectives. As indicated by its name, Domestic Fiction addresses concerns related to the home and home life, including but not limited to childbearing and childcare, marriage, etc.
Key Authors (Classic):
- Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888)
- Betty Smith (1896-1972)
Key Authors (Contemporary):
- Rebecca Makkai (1978 – )
- Anna Quindlen (1953 – )
- Steven Rowley (1971 – )
Book Recommendations (1-3 classics & 3-5 contemporary titles):
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) | CLASSIC or CONTEMPORARY |
| Little Women (1868-1869) | ALCOTT, LOUISA MAY | J ALC | CLASSIC |
| A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (1943) | SMITH, BETTY | SMI | CLASSIC |
| Family Lore (2023) | ACEVEDO, ELIZABETH | ACE | CONTEMPORARY |
| The Great Believers (2018) | MAKKAI, REBECCA | 37 Minerva copies | CONTEMPORARY |
| The Guncle (2021) | ROWLEY, STEVEN | ROW | CONTEMPORARY |
| Hello Beautiful (2023) | NAPOLITANO, ANN | NAP | CONTEMPORARY |
Romance
What is Romance?: Romance goes far beyond the Harlequin classics and dates back to mid eighteenth-century sentimental literature, like Samuel Richardson’s Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded (1740). Much of Jane Austen’s extensive output falls under the category of Romance, while also being literary classics. The genre has evolved to encompass a much wider range of voices and perspectives in recent decades, including BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ protagonists. Romance Fiction is great for a road trip or an afternoon on the beach.
Key Authors (Classic):
- Jane Austen (1775-1817)
- Emily Bronte (1818-1848)
- Samuel Richardson (1689-1761)
- Nora Roberts (1950 – ) *a bridge between CLASSIC & CONTEMPORARY
- Nicholas Sparks (1965 – ) *a bridge between CLASSIC & CONTEMPORARY
Key Authors (Contemporary):
- Ali Hazelwood (1989 – )
- Emily Henry (1990 – )
- Elin Hilderbrand (1969 – )
Book Recommendations (1-3 classics & 3-5 contemporary titles):
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) | CLASSIC or CONTEMPORARY |
| Romeo and Juliet (ca. 1595) | SHAKESPEARE, WILLIAM | 822.3 SHA | CLASSIC |
| Wuthering Heights (1847) | BRONTE, EMILY | BRO | CLASSIC |
| Book Lovers (2022) | HENRY, EMILY | HEN | CONTEMPORARY |
| The Breakaway (2023) | WEINER, JENNIFER | WEI | CONTEMPORARY |
| Romantic Comedy (2023) | SITTENFELD, CURTIS | SIT | CONTEMPORARY |
Diversifying Romance (Beyond Cisgendered White Heterosexual Couples)
2 Book Recommendations per Sub-Category:
BIPOC Romances
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) |
| Honey and Spice (2022) | BABALOLA, BOLU | BAB |
| Part of Your World (2022) | JIMENEZ, ABBY | JIM |
LGBTQ+ Romances
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) |
| A Dash of Salt and Pepper (2022) | JACKSON, KOSOKO | JAC |
| Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date (2023) | BLAKE, ASHLEY HERRING | BLA |
Neurodivergent Romances
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) |
| The Kiss Quotient (2018) | HOANG, HELEN | HOA |
| Cassandra in Reverse (2023) | SMALE, HOLLY | SMA |
Historical Fiction
What is Historical Fiction?: Historical Fiction is literature written in the present day about earlier time periods dating at least 50 years in the past. Current trends include WWII fiction from women’s perspectives and novels set in Elizabethan England (especially in the extensive literary output of Philippa Gregory). Contemporary Historical Fiction strives to recover marginalized voices including those of women and LGBTQIA+ individuals, as well as stories that take place in non-Western European settings. Stylistically speaking, many Historical Fiction novels include dual timelines with chapters alternating between past and present-day perspectives.
Key Authors (Classic):
- Willa Cather (1873-1947)
- Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949)
Key Authors (Contemporary):
- Isabel Allende (1942 – )
- Ken Follett (1949 – )
- Philippa Gregory (1954 – )
Book Recommendations (1-3 classics & 3-5 contemporary titles):
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) | CLASSIC or CONTEMPORARY |
| My Antonia (1918) | CATHER, WILLA | CAT | CLASSIC |
| Gone With the Wind (1936) | MITCHELL, MARGARET | MIT | CLASSIC |
| Canary Girls (2023) | CHIAVERINI, JENNIFER | CHI | CONTEMPORARY |
| Girl With a Pearl Earring (1999) | CHEVALIER, TRACY | CHE | CONTEMPORARY |
| Horse (2022) | BROOKS, GERALDINE | BRO | CONTEMPORARY |
| Pillars of the Earth, Book 1 (1989) | FOLLETT, KEN | FOL Bk. 1 | CONTEMPORARY |
Non-Western European/American Historical Fiction
Beyond North America & Western Europe (6 titles):
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) |
| Half of a Yellow Sun (2006) | ADICHIE, CHIMAMANDA NGOZI | ADI |
| Hungry Ghosts (2022) | HOSEIN, KEVIN JARED | HOS |
| Pachinko (2017) | LEE, MIN JIN | LEE |
| Shanghai Girls (2009) | SEE, LISA | SEE |
| Things Fall Apart (1992) | ACHEBE, CHINUA | ACH |
| Victory City (2023) | RUSHDIE, SALMAN | RUS |
Also, feel free to check out the MML Adult Summer Reading BINGO Challenge from 2023. There was a square dedicated to historical fiction by non Western/Western European authors. Enjoy this list for more recommended titles and authors.
Suspense/Thriller & Psychological Thriller
What is Suspense/Thriller?: Suspense/Thriller Fiction is delightfully scary, written in a way that intentionally heightens the reader’s senses and frightens them within the safe confines of a book. These novels often include murder and other forms of violence so they ought to come with trigger warnings for any readers who may struggle with these dark topics. Suspense/Thriller novels are usually page-turners; so gripping they can often, but not always, be read in one sitting.
Key Authors (Classic):
- Patricia Highsmith (1921-1995)
- Dan Brown (1964 – ) *a bridge between CLASSIC & CONTEMPORARY
- John Grisham (1955 – ) *a bridge between CLASSIC & CONTEMPORARY
Key Authors (Contemporary):
- Harlan Coben (1962 – )
- Gillian Flynn (1971 – )
- Karin Slaughter (1971 – )
Book Recommendations (1-3 classics & 3-5 contemporary titles):
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) | CLASSIC or CONTEMPORARY |
| Strangers On a Train (1950) | HIGHSMITH, PATRICIA | 6 Minerva copies | CLASSIC |
| Age of Vice (2023) | KAPOOR, DEEPTI | KAP | CONTEMPORARY |
| One By One (2020) | WARE, RUTH | WAR | CONTEMPORARY |
| Pieces of Her, Book 1 (2018) | SLAUGHTER, KARIN | SLA | CONTEMPORARY |
| Portrait of an Unknown Woman (2022) | SILVA, DANIEL | SIL Bk. 22 | CONTEMPORARY |
| The Writing Retreat (2022) | BARTZ, JULIA | BAR | CONTEMPORARY |
Suspense/Thriller Sub-genre: Psychological Thriller
What is a Psychological Thriller?: A Psychological Thriller carries many of the same qualities as its parent genre, being fast-paced, frightening, dark and foreboding. It often involves explicit violence or hints of violence occurring behind the scenes. What differentiates it from other types of Thrillers is its focus on the dark and mysterious contents of the human mind. Psychological Thrillers often explore the disturbed psyches of serial killers and frequently include elements of psychological manipulation.
Key authors (Classic):
- Daphne Du Maurier (1907-1989)
- Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849)
- Alfred Hitchcock (1889-1980) (the birth of this genre in film)
Key authors (Contemporary):
- Freida McFadden (b. unknown – see her bio.)
- Alex Michaelides (1977 – )
- Stacy Willingham (1991 – )
Book Recommendations (1-3 classics & 3-5 contemporary fiction):
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) | CLASSIC or CONTEMPORARY |
| Rebecca (ca. 1938) | DU MAURIER, DAPHNE | DUM | CLASSIC |
| Tales of Terror (2005) | POE, EDGAR ALLEN | YA POE | CLASSIC |
| A Flicker in the Dark (2022) | WILLINGHAM, STACEY | WIL | CONTEMPORARY |
| Gone Girl (2012) | FLYNN, GILLIAN | FLY | CONTEMPORARY |
| Room (2010) | DONOGHUE, EMMA | DON | CONTEMPORARY |
| The Silent Patient (2019) | MICHAELIDES, ALEX | MIC | CONTEMPORARY |
Horror
What is Horror?: As a literary genre, Horror is quite similar to Suspense/Thriller in that it is deliberately terrifying and often quite disturbing for readers. Similarly, it is defined by violence that borders on the grotesque and tends to elicit quite visceral reactions of revulsion amongst its readers. What is unique about Horror (i.e.: as opposed to Suspense/Thriller) is its tendency to incorporate supernatural elements like zombies, demons, and miscellaneous other occult phenomena. Drawing its roots from nineteenth-century Gothic classics like Joseph Sheridan LeFanu and Bram Stoker’s respective depictions of vampires – Carmilla (1871) and Dracula
(1897) – as well as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818), Horror revels in the monstrous and raises questions about what truly makes a monster. In recent decades, queer authors have reclaimed this genre as a means of challenging discriminatory notions that the LGBTQ+ community is “monstrous.” Check out this list of recently published queer horror novels.
Key Authors (Classic):
- Shirley Jackson (1916-1965)
- Joseph Sheridan LeFanu (1814-1873) & Bram Stoker (1847-1912) (the birth of the literary vampire)
- Mary Shelley (1797-1851)
Key Authors (Contemporary):
- Stephen King (1947 – ) (Maine’s own) *a bridge between CLASSIC & CONTEMPORARY horror*
- Grady Hendrix (1972 – )
- T. Kingfisher (pseudonym of Ursula Vernon) (1977 – )
- Carmen Maria Machado (1986 – )
Book Recommendations (1-4 classics & 3-5 contemporary titles):
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) | CLASSIC or CONTEMPORARY |
| Carmilla (1871) | LEFANU, JOSEPH SHERIDAN | 1 Minerva copy | CLASSIC |
| Dracula (1897) | STOKER, BRAM | 5 Minerva copies
*Note (there are several other editions available in Minerva) |
CLASSIC |
| Frankenstein (1818) | SHELLEY, MARY | SHE | CLASSIC |
| The Haunting of Hill House (1984) | JACKSON, SHIRLEY | 5 Minerva copies
*Note (there are several other editions available in Minerva). |
CLASSIC |
| The Shining (1977) | KING, STEPHEN | KIN & PBK KIN (2 copies at MML) | CLASSIC/CONTEMPORARY |
| Her Body and Other Parties: Stories (2017) | MACHADO, CARMEN MARIA | 813 MAC | CONTEMPORARY |
| The Historian (2005)
*inspired by Dracula |
KOSTOVA, ELIZABETH | KOS | CONTEMPORARY |
| How to Sell a Haunted House (2023) | HENDRIX, GRADY | HEN | CONTEMPORARY |
| Mexican Gothic (2020) | MORENO GARCIA, SYLVIA | MOR | CONTEMPORARY |
| Our Wives Under the Sea (2022) | ARMFIELD, JULIA | ARM | CONTEMPORARY |
| What Moves the Dead (2022) | KINGFISHER, T. | KIN | CONTEMPORARY |
Mystery & Cozy Mystery
What is Mystery?: Mystery novels, like many other literary genres, are fairly self-explanatory. Mysteries are based around crimes, violent or otherwise, and follow detectives as they try to determine who committed said crimes, often with a lot of false alarms along the way. In other words, at their root, Mystery novels are “whodunnits.” Think of the iconic board game, later (in 1985) made into a movie, Clue: Was it Miss Scarlet in the conservatory with the lead pipe or was it Professor Plum in the library with the revolver? Are you a fan of Sherlock Holmes – a timeless character created by novelist Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887? If so, Mystery very well may be your new (favorite) genre.
Key Authors (Classic):
- Agatha Christie (1890-1976)
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930)
Key Authors (Contemporary):
- C.J. Box (1958 – )
- Elly Griffiths (pseudonym of Domenica de Rosa) (1963 – )
- Anthony Horowitz (1955 – )
- Louise Penny (1958 – )
Book Recommendations (1-3 classics & 3-5 contemporary titles):
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) | CLASSIC or CONTEMPORARY |
| The Complete Sherlock Holmes (1930) | DOYLE, ARTHUR CONAN | 8 Minerva copies
*Note (there are several other editions available in Minerva) |
CLASSIC |
| The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) | CHRISTIE, AGATHA | 4 Minerva copies
*Note (there are several other editions available in Minerva) |
CLASSIC |
| The Heist: A Fox & O’Hare Novel (Book 1) (2013) | EVANOVICH, JANET | MYS | CONTEMPORARY |
| The London Séance Society (2023) | PENNER, SARAH | MYS PEN | CONTEMPORARY |
| Magpie Murders (Book 1) (2017) | HOROWITZ, ANTHONY | MYS HOR Bk. 1 | CONTEMPORARY |
| Open Season (Book 1) (2001) | BOX, C.J. | PBK MYS BOX Bk. 1 | CONTEMPORARY |
| Still Life (Book 1) (2005) | PENNY, LOUISE | MYS | CONTEMPORARY |
| The Stranger Diaries (Book 1) (2019) | GRIFFITHS, ELLY | MYS GRI Bk. 1 | CONTEMPORARY |
Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy Mysteries
What is a Cozy Mystery?: Cozy Mysteries differ from other Mystery novels in that they focus on crimes that are somewhat trivial and (usually) non-violent. Many Cozy Mystery novels include culinary themes and are infused with a delightful dose of humor and levity that other Mystery novels generally lack. In some cases, their protagonists are animals as is the case in Rita Mae Brown’s Mrs. Murphy series featuring her feline familiar, Sneaky Pie Brown.
Key authors (Classic):
- Agatha Christie (1890-1976)
Key authors (Contemporary):
- Rita Mae Brown (1944 – )
- M.C. Beaton (1936 – )
- Alexander McCall Smith (1948 – )
Book Recommendations (1-3 classics & 3-5 contemporary fiction):
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) | CLASSIC or CONTEMPORARY |
| The Murder at the Vicarage (Book 1) (1930) | CHRISTIE, AGATHA | 3 Minerva copies
*Note (there are several other editions available in Minerva) |
CLASSIC |
| Death by Dumpling (Book 1) (2018) | CHIEN, VIVIEN | PBK MYS CHI Bk. 1 | CONTEMPORARY |
| Irish Coffee Murder (2023) | MEIER. LESLIE | MYS MEI | CONTEMPORARY |
| Mastering the Art of French Murder (Book 1) (2023) | CAMBRIDGE, COLLEEN | MYS CAM Bk. 1 | CONTEMPORARY |
| The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (Book 1) (1998) | MCCALL SMITH. ALEXANDER | MYS | CONTEMPORARY |
| Wish You Were Here (Book 1) (1990) | BROWN, RITA MAE | 8 Minerva copies | CONTEMPORARY |
Fantasy & Mythology Retellings
What is Fantasy?: The speculative genre of Fantasy has its roots in the 19th-century literary, intellectual, artistic, and musical Western European movement of Romanticism. The latter developed as a reaction against the excessive realism and pragmatism of the earlier Age of Enlightenment in an attempt to reawaken the collective imagination. Its offshoot, the genre of Fantasy, evolved into an elaborate realm of Other Worlds populated with fantastical creatures, often serving as allegories for the very real human struggles we encounter here on earth. Just think of the Harry Potter phenomenon which explores the timeless battle between good and evil as well as addressing issues like prejudice and discrimination between magical and non-magical races. Finally, there are many different sub-genres of Fantasy ranging from the Epic or High Fantasy of J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin to the more gritty Urban Fantasy of N.K. Jemisin and Leigh Bardugo, among too many others to be named. While these are not the only two forms of Fantasy literature, they show how wide of a range there is when it comes to Fantasy. Since Fantasy is rooted in the imagination, it is truly limitless.
Key Authors (Classic):
- C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)
- J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973)
Key Authors (Contemporary):
- Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) *a bridge between CLASSIC & CONTEMPORARY
- Neil Gaiman (1960 – )
- T.J. Klune (1982 – )
- V.E. (Victoria) Schwab (1987 – )
Book Recommendations (1-3 classics & 3-5 contemporary titles):
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) | CLASSIC or CONTEMPORARY |
| The Fellowship of the Ring (Book 1 in Lord of the Rings) (1954) | TOLKIEN, J.R.R. | TOL | CLASSIC |
| A Wizard of Earthsea (Book 1) (1968) | LEGUIN, URSULA K. | YA LEG | CLASSIC/CONTEMPORARY |
| Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (1990) | GAIMAN, NEIL & TERRY PRATCHETT | PBK GAI | CONTEMPORARY |
| The House in the Cerulean Sea (2020) | KLUNE, T.J. | KLU | CONTEMPORARY |
| The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (2020) | SCHWAB, V.E. (Victoria) | SCH | CONTEMPORARY |
| The Magicians (Book 1) (2009) | GROSSMAN, LEV | 24 Minerva copies | CONTEMPORARY |
| The Priory of the Orange Tree (Book 1) (2019) | SHANNON, SAMANTHA | SHA | CONTEMPORARY |
Fantasy Sub-genre: Mythology Retellings
What is a Mythology Retelling?: A fun sub-genre within Fantasy that has exploded in recent years is Mythology Retellings. It’s pretty self-explanatory: in essence folktales and mythology from around the world, but especially of ancient Greece, retold by contemporary writers. Many of these retellings are in the voices of women, queer characters, or other characters representative of various marginalized groups. In some cases these myths are retold but in modern (vs. ancient/timeless) settings. A super fun example of this is a sort of Urban Fantasy-style, gritty retelling of the story of the Greek goddess, Artemis, set in modern NYC. Check it out!
Key authors (Contemporary):
NOTE: Most, if not all, of these authors are women as this sub-genre of fantasy tends toward queer and feminist retellings of myths that traditionally portray women in a negative light.
- Natalie Haynes (1974 – )
- Madeline Miller (1978 – )
- Jennifer Saint (b. unknown)
Book Recommendations (5-7 contemporary fiction):
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) | CLASSIC or CONTEMPORARY |
| Ariadne (2021) | SAINT, JENNIFER | SAI | CONTEMPORARY |
| Circe (2018) | MILLER, MADELINE | MIL | CONTEMPORARY |
| Daughter of the Moon Goddess (Book 1) (2022) | TAN, SUE LYNN | TAN | CONTEMPORARY |
| Gods of Jade and Shadow (2019) | MORENO- GARCIA, SYLVIA | 17 Minerva copies | CONTEMPORARY |
| Kaikeyi (2022) | PATEL, VAISHNAVI | 16 Minerva copies | CONTEMPORARY |
| Stone Blind (2023) | HAYNES, NATALIE | HAY | CONTEMPORARY |
Magical Realism
What is Magical Realism?: Magical Realism is similar to Fantasy in that it involves elements of the supernatural and/or occult, but these elements are embedded within an otherwise realistic environment. There is somewhat of a blurry line between these two interrelated genres, however they aren’t 100% interchangeable with one another. Magical Realism, in contrast with Fantasy, tends toward the surrealistic: dreamlike and deliberately confusing in narrative style and plot. While a global phenomenon, as a genre it is deeply embedded in Latin-American literature. Magical Realism, like Fantasy, is also often inspired by folklore and fairy tales; a theme encountered in increasingly popular Mythology Retellings. For a deeper dive, from the perspective of literary agents, check out this short video unpacking the (somewhat subtle) differences between Magical Realism and Urban Fantasy, from a YA perspective. Here’s another short article exploring what distinguishes Magical Realism from Fantasy.
Key Authors (Classic):
- Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986)
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1927-2014)
Key Authors (Contemporary):
- Isabel Allende (1942 – )*a bridge between CLASSIC & CONTEMPORARY
- Salman Rushdie (1947 – ) *a bridge between CLASSIC & CONTEMPORARY
- Laura Esquivel (1950 – )
- Ruth Ozeki (1956 – )
Book Recommendations (1-3 classics & 3-5 contemporary titles):
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) | CLASSIC or CONTEMPORARY |
| Collected Fictions (1998) | BORGES, JORGE LUIS | 863 BOR | CLASSIC |
| One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) | MARQUEZ, GABRIEL GARCIA | GAR | CLASSIC |
| The House of the Spirits (Book 1) (1985) | ALLENDE, ISABEL | ALL | CLASSIC/CONTEMPORARY |
| Midnight’s Children (1981) | RUSHDIE, SALMAN | 8 Minerva copies
*Note (there are several other editions available in Minerva) |
CLASSIC/CONTEMPORARY |
| The Book of Form and Emptiness (2021) | OZEKI, RUTH | OZE | CONTEMPORARY |
| Like Water for Chocolate (1989) | ESQUIVEL, LAURA | 33 Minerva copies | CONTEMPORARY |
| Sharks in the Time of Saviors (2020) | WASHBURN, KAWAI STRONG | WAS | CONTEMPORARY |
Science Fiction (SciFi)
What is Science Fiction?: Science Fiction (SciFi) is a type of speculative fiction based on our collective imagination about outer space and the mysterious vast cosmos we reside in here on earth. It tends to be futuristic, often in dark and dystopian settings (i.e.: novels of space colonization in the wake of irreversible climate damage on our home planet). For a non fiction take on these SciFi fantasies, check out this fantastic book, Astrotopia: The Dangerous Religion of the Corporate Space Race. Other recurring themes are parallel universes, extraterrestrial civilizations, as well as epic dramas set in other galaxies “far, far away” as in the iconic film series, Star Wars. Recently this genre has shifted away from its traditionally white and male-dominated roots and has branched off into the queer feminist sub-genre of Afrofuturism. If you wish to explore this increasingly popular trend check out the works of Octavia Butler and Rivers Solomon, among numerous others. For more about Afrofuturism feel free to check out the librarian, Courtney’s, February 2024 (Black History Month) blog post about it.
Key Authors (Classic):
- Douglas Adams (1952-2001)
- Philip K. Dick (1928-1982)
- Frank Herbert (1920-1986)
Key Authors (Contemporary):
- Margaret Atwood (1939 – ) * a bridge between CLASSIC & CONTEMPORARY
- Octavia Butler (1947 – ) *a bridge between CLASSIC & CONTEMPORARY
- Emily St. John Mandel (1979 – )
- Andy Weir (1972 – )
- Martha Wells (1964 – )
Book Recommendations (1-3 classics & 3-5 contemporary titles):
| TITLE (pub. year) | AUTHOR | CALL # (or # of Minerva copies) | CLASSIC or CONTEMPORARY |
| Dune (Book 1) (1965) | HERBERT, FRANK | PBK SCI-FI | CLASSIC |
| The Man in the High Castle (1962) | DICK, PHILIP K. | 6 Minerva copies
*Note (there are several other editions available in Minerva) |
CLASSIC |
| The Handmaid’s Tale (2017 ed., © 1986) | ATWOOD, MARGARET | ATW | CLASSIC/CONTEMPORARY |
| Parable of the Sower (Book 1) (1993) | BUTLER, OCTAVIA | BUT | CLASSIC/CONTEMPORARY |
| All Systems Red (Book 1) (2019) | WELLS, MARTHA | WEL | CONTEMPORARY |
| Klara and the Sun (2021) | ISHIGURO, KAZUO | ISH | CONTEMPORARY |
| The Martian (2014) | WEIR, ANDY | WEI | CONTEMPORARY |
| The Ministry of the Future (2020) | ROBINSON, KIM STANLEY | ROB | CONTEMPORARY |
| Station Eleven (2014) | MANDEL, EMILY ST. JOHN | MAN | CONTEMPORARY |
