Genres Reference

Genres are categories that help readers find the kind of experience they want. They're characterized by a particular content, style, form, setting, aesthetics, tone, and/or mood. Some genres have established tropes, obligatory scenes or conventions that are easily identifiable. However, genres and subgenres often overlap and a story might fit into more than one category. We purposefully limit each book to up to 3 subgenres that best capture its aesthetics or theme. Additional elements, such as moods or tropes, can usually be found in the public tags of a book.

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Fiction

Action

Stories where a mission involving risk and danger form the primary storyline. The plot is usually suspenseful and accompanied by exciting action sequences and physical action.

Adventure

Stories that present danger or give the reader a sense of excitement. The characters may embark on an epic journey, either personally or geographically. Often the protagonists have a mission and face many obstacles in their way.

Alternate History

Stories that are based on history and explore what might have happened if certain events have played out differently. These stories focus on 'What if?' scenarios about crucial events in human history and present outcomes that are very different from the historical record.

Comedic Fiction

(Catch-all subgenre of Comedic Fiction) Aims at amusing the reader and provoking laughter through comical events or scenes, or through characters that are funny or amusing. All the subgenres below include this definition.

Dark Comedy

Stories that make light of subjects that are generally considered taboo. It is often used to provoke discomfort, serious thought or amusement. Popular themes of the genre include but are not limited to death, murder, drugs, war, violence, poverty, discrimination and sexuality.

Farce

Stories that have ridiculous plots, exaggerated characters, and over-the-top situations for comedic effect. These stories rely heavily on a sense of the absurd and often include stereotypical characters. Many farces mock the upper class, with central characters illustrating the author’s views on the idiocy, ineptitude, or corruption of the wealthy and powerful.

Parody

Stories that use sarcasm, stereotypes, mockery, or symbols to make fun of or exaggerate a specific literary genre or another’s work for humorous effect. A parody may lightly critique the original text, celebrate it, or challenge readers to think of it in a new light. However, the primary objective of the parodist is to make the reader laugh.

Satire

Stories that use humor and exaggeration to criticize something or someone, typically a public figure, social norm, corporation or government. In contrast to Farce and Parody, besides being humorous, it has a more serious undertone by shedding light on social issues or commenting on corruption, hypocrisy, incompetence, vices and other shortcomings of human nature. The stories often contain irony, wit and sarcasm. Includes 'Comedy of Manners'.

Contemporary Fiction

Stories that could happen to real people in real settings. This genre strives toward realism and often explores modern-day personal and social issues through lenses of cultural heritage. It often portrays characters coming to understand themselves and others. In this genre, the narrative takes place in a time contemporary to the author. These stories do not have elements of fantasy, sci-fi or other speculative genres.

Drama

Stories strongly based in a character, or characters, that face a life-changing conflict. These stories deal with serious emotions and often have tragic or painful resolutions. Not to be confused with the Plays genre (the performance of written dialogue).

Erotica

Stories that focus on sexual discovery and deal with sexually explicit subject matter. Romance might be a sub-plot. Unlike the Erotic Romance subgenre, Erotica stories do not necessarily conclude with a happy ending.

Fantasy

(Catch-all subgenre of Fantasy) Stories that feature magical elements or fantastical creatures that do not exist in the real world. The setting can be real or imaginary and the events are not tied to reality or scientific facts. All the subgenres below include this definition.

Comic Fantasy

Stories where the tone and content are primarily humorous or satirical in nature. They often feature puns or parodies of other fantasy works.

Contemporary Fantasy

Stories set in contemporary times (present time of the author).

Cozy Fantasy

Stories with a dominant aesthetic of coziness and an uplifting tone. Most stories have low-stakes and are character-driven. They often focus on warmth, comfort, a sense of belonging, and avoid graphic violence or mature content.

Dark Fantasy

Stories that combine fantasy with elements of horror, for example: ghosts, undead, haunted castles or monsters, among others. The stories usually have dark tones that create a gloomy world and aesthetic and aim to unsettle and provoke a sense of dread.

Grimdark Fantasy

Stories with a gritty or grim setting. They often focus on anti-heroes, characters with grey morals that hover between villains and heroes, or on criminal underworlds within fantasy societies. The characters and plotlines are morally complex or completely amoral and they often come with bleak consequences. They often involve atrocious acts and plentiful violence.

High/Epic Fantasy

Stories that take place in a fictional fantasy world and have a complex and sweeping plot. The narrative usually involves detailed world building, warfare, the rise and fall of kingdoms, large-scale quests, and a much larger cast of characters than traditional fantasy books.

Historical Fantasy

Stories that take place in a recognizable historical era of the real world different from the one the author lives in. They can also be set in a fictional world that strongly resembles a real historical period.

Portal Fantasy

Stories where the protagonist(s) travel to a world/dimension that's different from theirs via a portal or in another magical way. These stories are characterised by the unfamiliarity of the characters with the new world, where they go through a steep learning curve. The protagonists' journey isn't always by choice. The portal is a pivotal part of the story.

Progression Fantasy

Stories that focus on characters increasing in power and skill over time. It refers specifically to character power progression, not other types of progression (e.g. increasing wealth, noble rank, etc.) that occur in stories. Characters are often seen training to learn new techniques, finding ways to improve their existing skills, analyzing the skills of opponents, and/or gaining literal or figurative “levels” of power. This new subgenre was coined by Jess Richards and defined by Andrew Rowe in 2019.

Military Fantasy

Stories with a specific focus on military life. They often revolve around the military experiences of characters or the command and tactics of warfare. Although many stories depict epic battles, often with fantastical elements, they also may focus on the moral and psychological impact of war.

Romantic Fantasy

Stories where romance is a core element. For example, they might use elements and conventions of the chivalric romance genre, where a knight-errant with heroic qualities goes on a quest and the story emphasizes themes of courtly love.

Slipstream/Interstice

Stories that straddle the line between fantasy and literary fiction. Unlike other subgenres of fantasy, slipstream is not identified by tropes as much as by an overall feeling of strangeness. It borrows elements of surrealism, fantasy, psychological fiction, philosophical fictions and other genres.

Low Fantasy

Stories that have a plot that is smaller in scope than that of high/epic fantasy. The magical elements or events in these stories often intrude an otherwise normal world. They might include personified animals or toys, characters with exaggerated traits and altered physics, magical powers, supernatural elements and time slips. The name of the subgenre is not a remark on the work's quality.

Urban Fantasy

Stories placed in a real-world urban setting, often in the present day. This could be considered a subgenre of contemporary fantasy, but it's specifically set in a city or in densely populated areas.

Folktale

(Catch-all subgenre of Folktale). Traditional story or legend that is common to a specific culture and often passed along orally. These stories often contain a lesson to be learned. All the subgenres below include this definition.

Fable

Short stories meant to convey a moral or a useful truth, which is woven into the narrative and is often explicitly formulated at the end. There are usually animals, objects or parts of nature that speak as humans, which highlight human follies and weaknesses. These stories can be found in the literature of almost all countries and languages and are a fundamental part of the folklore of most cultures.

Fairy Tale

Stories that feature fanciful and wondrous characters such as elves, goblins, wizards and/or fairies, and take place in a fantastic or magical setting. In European fairy tales there is often a poor, brave and resourceful hero or heroine that goes through testing adventures to eventual good fortune. There are no strict rules that define fairy tales, but they often feature supernatural adversaries, relatives, helpers, powers, knowledge, or magical objects. They are sometimes associated with idealized happy endings or viewed as stories for children.

Legend

Stories that feature events or actions that are believed to have taken place in human history, and that have been handed down by tradition. Unlike myths, they are based on real persons or places, rather than gods. However, facts in the stories are stretched beyond nonfiction. Legends usually don't include happenings that are outside the realm of ‘possibility,’ but may include miracles.

GameLit

(Catch-all subgenre of GameLit). Stories with game mechanics that are essential to the plot. The story might happen entirely within a game or a game-like world, or the characters might enter a game (often in avatar mode) to meet specific challenges. The game mechanics can belong to any game genre. Not to be confused with 'Choose your Own Path' stories (where the reader's choices affect the story development, but the mechanics are not part of the story itself). All the subgenres below include this definition.

LitRPG

Stories that combine the experience of digital role playing games with traditional narrative plotlines. Character progression and visible RPG statistics (for example strength, intelligence, damage) are often a significant part of the reading experience. Some common elements in these stories are: a virtual world, meta-awareness (the protagonist knows they're in a virtual reality), and defined game rules.

Historical Fiction

Stories that take place during an authentic period in history, and are usually set in a real historical place. The plot is often a combination of real and fictional events. These stories contain a high degree of historical accuracy and detail, and they strive to portray social norms, manners, customs and traditions as accurately as possible. These books occur in a period considered historical from the author's perspective and usually require a significant amount of research, teaching about a certain period in history through a novelized story.

Horror

(Catch-all subgenre of Horror). Genre that is meant to scare, shock or disgust audiences. These stories intend to create an eerie and frightening atmosphere for the reader. Some prevalent elements of this genre include ghosts, demons, vampires, werewolves, ghouls, the devil, witches, monsters, extraterrestrial beings, serial killers, psychopaths, dark magic, the macabre, gore and torture. All the subgenres below include this definition.

Gothic

Stories characterized by an environment of fear, the threat of supernatural events and the intrusion of the past upon the present. It differs from other horror stories by the specific theme of the present being haunted by the past, and places strong emphasis on intense emotions, pairing terror with pleasure and death with romance. These stories are often set in old castles, religious buildings like monasteries, convents, and crypts, and include ghosts, haunted houses, and gothic architecture. They might also focus on the mental and emotional decline of the protagonists.

Occult

Stories that touch on the adversaries of good as expressed in religious philosophy. They often feature mysticism, magic, supernatural occurrences and ritual practices that are not considered religion or science, and they might have devils, demons, demonic possessions, witchcraft, sorcery, dark magic, necromancy, voodoo and antichrist figures.

Paranormal

Stories that include beings and phenomena that are outside the realm of scientific explanation. They often include creatures like ghosts, aliens, shapeshifters, undead or characters with psychic abilities, like telekinesis or telepathy. They might also feature spiritualism and pseudosciences like ghost hunting, cryptozoology and ufology.

Sci-Fi Horror

Stories that use scientific advances or futuristic settings as a source of fear. They might revolve around subjects that include alien invasions, mad scientists and/or experiments gone wrong.

Survival

Stories where the main character is being hunted and is trying to survive within their circumstances, often when society collapses, crumbles or fails them. The stories often focus on people fighting for their lives in the face of terror, supernatural or apocalyptic scenarios.

Weird Fiction

Stories that blend existential or physical horror with fantasy or magical realism. They often feature nontraditional alien monsters. They often subvert cliches of the fantastic and result in discomfiting, rather than happy endings.

Literary Fiction

Stories that evoke deep thought through by offering personal or social commentaries on a particular theme. They are often character-centered and emphasize language and writing style, and as a result are considered to have high literary value. The stories can be complex and experimental, and their endings are often inconclusive and ambiguous. They may explore multicultural experiences.

Magical Realism

Stories that combine literary fiction with matter-of-fact fantastic or mythical elements. They often have a real-world setting and magical elements that blur the line between fantasy and reality. However, the supernatural elements are not central elements of the story, they only serve to make a point about reality. These stories often grapple with serious social ills, from colonialism to fascism and slavery.

Military Fiction

Stories that focus on military activities such as war, battles, combat, fighting or military life. Some stories are historical and center around fictional characters or narrations within a real historic conflict. They might present an alternate history scenario.

Mystery

(Catch-all subgenre of Mystery). Genre that focuses on stories with a puzzling crime, situation or circumstance that needs to be solved. The story follows the crime and it sometimes presents a circle of suspects, each with a credible motive and a reasonable opportunity for committing the crime. They typically feature a detective or investigator as the main character. All the subgenres below include this definition.

Caper Story

Stories told from the point of view of the criminal, rather than the detective attempting to catch them. These stories usually involve one or more crimes, often thefts, swindles or occasionally kidnappings. They take readers inside the crimes and heists, giving them full access to their motives and tricks. The protagonists are often likable characters, committing illegal activities that might benefit the greater good. Unlike most mysteries, these stories often include elements of humor.

Cozy Mystery

Stories that are light in tone, also called soft-boiled mysteries. Murder is usually involved though it’s not described in a gruesome manner. There is little to no profanity, sex or violence, or they happen off stage. The investigator is usually an amateur and almost never actually works inside the police department. The stories often happen in small towns or socially intimate communities where little to no crime usually happens.

Hard-Boiled Mystery

Stories that feature a detective who takes their job seriously, overworks, is professional, and is often fighting their own inner demons (that sometimes connects to the case at hand). Violence, sex and gruesome details are typically involved. The characters are often antiheroes, rendered cynical by dealing with systems as corrupt as crime itself. Unlike noir, hard-boiled mysteries are often gritty and unsentimental.

Historical Mystery

Stories set in a historical time period with a central plot that involves solving a mystery or a crime, usually a murder. The stories are set in a past time period from the author's perspective. Some variations include mysteries set in alternate history timelines. It does not include fiction that was contemporary at the time of writing.

Investigator

Stories that focus on whoever is solving the crime. The sleuth can be a private investigator, a nosy neighbor, someone who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time (who may also get blamed for the crime and want to clear their name), or anyone of the kind. These stories typically revolve around a homicide, although they're not too graphic. The investigator may have a friend/employee/client who plays a key role in the story.

Noir

Stories that are normally dark and grim. The protagonist is often a private investigator who is tragically flawed, but it can also be told from the victim, a suspect or a perpetrator point of view. Protagonists are so deeply flawed, self-destructive, or damaged as to almost be anti-heroes, often breaking the rules. Noir can overlap with hard-boiled, but it's generally defined by its dark, hopeless and grim tone. The story might occur in urban gothic settings.

Paranormal Mystery

Stories that include elements of the unknown, like the afterlife, ghostly beings, paranormal or mythical elements, either in the protagonist or in the society. In these stories, there’s almost always a logical explanation behind these phenomenons that the investigator solves.

Police Procedural

Stories that focus on the police investigation. The protagonist is usually a member of the police force. The stories are often heavily-researched and focus on how the crime is solved, featuring autopsy reports and forensic science. The focal point of a police procedural isn’t so much on the reader figuring out who the criminal is but rather on how to catch them and prove they were the one who committed the crime.

Suspense

Stories where the tension is high, though it has a slower pace than a thriller. The protagonist is often being pursued by someone or something, and they often have a secondary problem they need to deal with. The reader might be aware of things unknown to the protagonist.

Mythology

Stories that refer to either myths or old stories relating to religion and culture. They usually explain mysteries of nature, existence, or the universe, and often reveal human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism. The characters are often gods, goddesses, warriors and heroes.

Plays

(Catch-all subgenre of Plays). A play, also called drama, is a literary work that dramatizes events through the performance of dialogue and stage directions. It can be performed on stage, on film, or the radio. All the subgenres below include this definition.

Comedy

Plays that pit two groups, ages, genders, or societies against each other in an amusing agon or conflict. Although they might address serious issues, the tone is lighthearted, they often have ingenious wordplay or twists of phrases and they have a happy ending.

Modern Drama

Plays written after the 19th century. These stories often revolve around sociopolitical aspects of the author's life and times, like incarceration, poverty, social status, racial tension, war and everyday plights of workers.

Theatre of the Absurd

Plays that emphasize the absurdity of the human condition by employing disjointed, repetitious and meaningless dialogue, purposeless and confusing situations, and plots that lack realistic or logical development. Most of the plays of this movement were written between 1940 and 1960. Two recurring themes in these stories are a meaningless world and the isolation of the individual.

Tragedy

Plays that have situations that spiral out of control and deal with dark topics like human agony, fate, or poverty. They usually reach an unredeemable conclusion in which one or more characters die, or arrive to a terrible catharsis.

Tragicomedy

Plays with a serious plot that is delivered in a funny, sarcastic or snarky manner. The characters have broad personalities and act in stereotypical ways, they often have tragic flaws, but their acts do not result in death. These stories generally do not have a joyful or funny conclusion.

Poetry

Type of literature that conveys a thought, describes a scene or tells a story in a careful arrangement of words. The language in poems is chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound and rhythm. This includes blank verses, rhymed poetry, epics, haikus, sonnets, elegies, odes, soliloquies, ballads and lyric poetry, among others.

Romance

(Catch-all subgenre of Romance). These books have a love story as their central plot. The stories usually have a happily-ever-after or happy-for-now ending and the external plotline simultaneously brings the couple together and forces them apart. There are often defined tropes as enemies-to-lovers or friends-to-lovers. All the subgenres below include this definition.

Contemporary Romance

Stories that are set in a time contemporary to the author, and usually reflect the mores of their time. The narratives typically rely on character development to drive the protagonists toward a happily ever after.

Erotic Romance

Stories where the characters' sexual encounters drive the narrative, as sex is key to the development of the romantic relationship between the protagonists. These stories contain more explicit sexual material than other romance novels and usually have a contemporary setting.

Gothic Romance

Stories that blend traditional romance elements with horror and/or the supernatural. They often deal with mysterious or grotesque events and almost always involve a mystery. The are usually set in or around dark backgrounds of haunted castles, ruins, or homes.

Historical Romance

Stories that take place in a historical setting with romance being the main focus of the story. These books are almost always set prior to the 1970s, although this is subjective and changes with time. Note that, unlike contemporary romance, these stories are set in a different time period from the one that the author lives in. They often infuse contemporary sensibilities into historical settings, or examine the ways that love can thrive against backdrops of war and injustice. Some of the most common stories are set in Ancient, Viking, Medieval, Tudor, Elizabethian, Stuart, Georgian, Regency, Victorian, Pirate, Scottish, Colonial, Civil Wars, Western, and Native American times, among others.

Paranormal Romance

Stories that blend romance with paranormal elements of fantasy, science fiction or horror, either in an alternate reality or an original world. Complex characters, rich world building, and steamy passion are common, as is the presence of vampires, demons, werewolves, and/or other shifters. Paranormal romances can also include characters with psychic abilities, like telekinesis or telepathy.

Romantic Comedy

Stories that deal with lighthearted, humorous plotlines centered in romantic ideas and focus on the foibles of those who are falling in love. They usually have a happy ending.

Romantic Suspense

Stories that develop in the context of a crime (or potential crime) situation. High-stakes circumstances bring the protagonists together, often one or both of them face life-threatening dangers, and there are emotional and psychological barriers that must be overcome to reach a happily-ever-after. The setting is often contemporary and the narratives tend to be fast-paced and driven mainly by plot.

Western Romance

Stories that take place in a western setting, like the American frontier, or frontier Canada or Australia. They might be historical, but the subgenre extends to contemporary romantic works that center around cowboys or other tropes of the western genre. These stories are often infused with action and adventure.

Science Fiction

(Catch-all subgenre of Science Fiction). Stories whose content is imaginative, but lean heavily on themes of technology and future science. They might deal with the impact of actual or imagined science upon society or individuals. Some themes might include space travel, robots, alien beings, time travel, utopian aspirations, titanic disasters, strange voyages, and alternative societies, to name a few. All the subgenres below include this definition.

Apocalyptic

Stories that focus on a cataclysmic event that impacts major cities or the entire human civilization. The event could be climate based, nuclear, astronomical, medical, supernatural, or human-caused. Some stories focus on preventing the event, while others deal with its immediate impact and consequences, like mass unrest, societal breakdown and widespread death.

Cyberpunk

Stories characterized by countercultural antiheroes trapped in a dehumanized, high-tech future. They combine lowlife and high tech, and feature futuristic technological and scientific achievements, such as artificial intelligence and cybernetics, juxtaposed with societal collapse or decay. The characters are often marginalized, alienated loners who live in societies within dystopian futures, and the plots tend to be set on near-future Earth.

Dystopia

Stories with a bleak and frightening vision of the future with societies in cataclysmic decline. They often have a post-apocalyptic setting, with characters who battle environmental ruin, technological control and political oppression. These novels often explore themes like anarchism, oppression, loss of individualism, survival and mass poverty.

Hard Sci-Fi

Stories with high concern for scientific accuracy and logic. The stories often exist within the realm of scientific possibility and the technology usually takes a center-stage. Scientific concepts are usually extensively researched and explained to the reader in great detail, which helps to provide scientific realism. Generally, the themes are focused on the natural sciences, like physics, mathematics and astronomy. Some themes are plausible galactic travel, advancements in technology, and artificial intelligence.

Military Sci-Fi

Stories that revolve around war or a military conflict, and its impact on society. The stories often have strong themes about duty, honor, or heroism, feature weapons used mainly for military purposes, and some or most of the characters are military members.

Parallel Worlds

Stories that feature hypothetical self-contained realities that coexist with the main reality, also called a multiverse. This genre might serve as a backdrop for alternate histories. On some stories, the protagonist might be sent to these alternate realities and undergo adventures, while on others, those other realities intrude or affect the main reality. The characters might travel through a wormhole, also known as ‘Einstein-Rosen bridge’, a portal, or other magical means. Some stories delve into the philosophical implications of the many-worlds interpretation.

Post-Apocalyptic

Stories that portray the aftermath of an event of cataclysmic proportions in which society as we know it ceased to exist. Unlike apocalyptic stories, post-apocalyptic narratives often take place considerably later of the catastrophic event, in a non-technological future world or a world where only scattered elements of society and technology remain. They might include the existence of a pre-catastrophe civilization that has been mythologized.

Romantic Sci-Fi

Stories that blend romance with science fiction themes. They might overlap with the Paranormal subgenre, but these generally deal with time travel, sci-fi and futuristic settings.

Soft Sci-Fi

Stories that include scientific or futuristic elements but are focused on psychology, society, culture and politics, rather than going deep into the technological details. In soft Science Fiction, there is more focus on the why and less on how the technology works. These stories often depict how technology changes affect humanity, culture and relationships.

Space Opera

Stories where space is often the main setting and they have a number of recurring characters. Many space operas have themes surrounding war, politics, space exploration, rebellion, major galactic conflicts, interactions between diverse cultures and alien species, spaceships, planetary technology, mysteries from the depths of space, and mythic lost empires, all set against a backdrop of epic, sweeping storytelling. They are usually long-running series and have continuing story arcs throughout the books.

Steampunk

Stories that incorporate retro-futuristic technology and aesthetics inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. These stories involve an era or world where steam power is widely used and drives technological advancements. They are often inspired by the Victorian Era, the Industrial Revolution, the American Frontier, or other eras spanning from 1920s to 1950s. The plots often incorporate elements of science fiction, fantasy, romance and historical references.

Utopia

Stories that present an ambiguous and ironic projection of the ideal state, or perfect society. They often isolate elements of the present day that need improvement, like ecological, feminist or technological themes, and create a world that feature those improvements. However, this perfect state does not mean that the stories are free of conflict. The narratives might blur the boundary between fiction, philosophy and political science.

Slice of Life

Stories that explore everyday life and faithfully reproduce some bit of reality. They usually focus on a short episode of a character's life and incorporate mundane aspects of their daily routine as a way to discuss the character's interior world. They're characterized by realistic dialogue and characters, but they can incorporate fantastical elements. Though they're not generally action oriented, they can still be emotional.

Thriller

(Catch-all subgenre of Thriller). Type of mystery that is action-packed and fast-paced with moments full of suspense, tension, surprise, anticipation, anxiety and fear. These stories are often centered on the main character's safety and survival, they're usually plot-driven stories that keep the audience in anticipation as they build towards the climax. Literary devices like red herrings, plot twists, unreliable narrators and cliffhangers are used frequently. All the subgenres below include this definition.

Crime Thriller

Stories that are often centered around the fear of a future crime. These stories often focus on a criminal who must be apprehended by law enforcement, the military, or an agent of justice. They can also be told from the villain's point of view.

Environmental Thriller

Stories about stopping or surviving a pending environmental or biological calamity. The disaster can be man-made or natural, and is usually globally significant. This genre often embraces sophisticated scientific exposition, but is not limited to real conditions, as it can deal with real or projected ecological issues.

Epic Thriller

Stories that often involve the highest of stakes (for example, the end of the world). They usually have a large setting and they might have supernatural or apocalyptic elements.

Historical Thriller

Stories where the action and intrigue take place in an earlier time period, different from the one the author lives in. They usually capture all the action and drama of the past, and the conflict is steered by the specifics of the historical setting.

Horror Thriller

Stories that tap into the readers' fears by combining the ordinary with the shocking, terrifying and grotesque. These stories often feature serial killers, stalking, deathtraps and horror of personality.

Legal Thriller

Stories where the legal system serves as the backdrop and framework for the story’s drama. The protagonists of these stories are often picked from the key players in a court of law like attorneys, corporate litigators, lawyers, judges and jurors.

Medical Thriller

Stories that center around medical procedures, diseases, injuries, and medical facilities. They can also be about medical elements that become deadly weapons, like viruses or diseases that become epidemics. The protagonists are often doctors, and the villains might use their medical training for sinister purposes.

Military Thriller

Stories focused on military objectives or technologies. The main characters are typically military personnel or former members of the military, and the narrative is often global in scope.

Paranormal Thriller

Stories that contain elements of weird fiction, fantasy, and the supernatural, mixed with crimes, conspiracies and dark secrets. These books are often spooky, weird and unnerving. They might involve vampires, ghosts, witches, or other magical or fictional beings.

Political Thriller

Stories set against a backdrop of political power struggle, with high stakes and suspense being part of the core. The plot might include political relations, struggles or situations where a whole government is at stake. The protagonists are usually employed by the government to stop the conflict.

Psychological Thriller

Stories that explore psychological narratives. They often have a dissolving sense of reality theme and they explore the psychology of their characters, who are often unstable. The main focus of the stories revolves around the minds and behavior, revealing the complex and often tortured relationships between obsessive and pathological characters. These stories usually incorporate elements of mystery, drama, action and paranoia.

Sci-Fi Thriller

Stories that deal with futuristic and imaginative concepts like space exploration, technology, parallel worlds, time travel and extraterrestrial life. These stories often blend fiction to a credible reality to pull the reader deeper into the plot and the imminent threat.

Spy Thriller

Stories that focus on the adventures of field agents. Secrets, lies, conspiracies and undercover plots abound. These books span the national and the international, and are usually set against the backdrop of some war. They often blend the personal and the political, showing how they are inextricably linked.

Techno Thriller

Stories whose plot relies upon the heavy use of cutting-edge technology, and are focused on the dangers of that technology falling into the wrong hands. These stories are often a cross between science fiction and thrillers.

Western

Stories that typically include cowboys, outlaws, gunslingers, gunplay, and are set against the backdrop of the Old West. The landscape is an important feature of the genre, and a sense of timelessness usually pervades these stories. The stories are often set in the American Old West, Northern Mexico, frontier Canada or Australia, or a similar setting that may not necessarily be a real place. The hero is usually a loner with a mission, and revenge and betrayal are common motifs.

Nonfiction

Art

(Catch-all subgenre of Arts). Books about some artistic form: painting, sculpting, etc. These books can be about technical aspects of the medium or art form, about the artists, or about history and meaning behind famous pieces and collections. They include art catalogs, books on theory and critique, and volumes that teach artistic endeavors. All the subgenres below include this definition.

Architecture

Books about works of architecture, architects or time periods of certain styles or movements. The books can be about technical aspects of the architecture, structure or aesthetics, the history of architecture and its evolution, the cultural origin and impact of architecture, and building materials.

Film

Books about films, documentaries or narrative elements from which films are constructed. The books can be about the technology, techniques, or the process of filmmaking, or they can be documentaries about people or places instrumental to the film entertainment sector.

Music

Books about musicians, the art and writing of music, music movements, or instruments. The stories can be about the history of music, the origins or cultures of instruments, the lives of composers, or other people in the music industry.

Photography

Books about the creation, techniques and history of capturing an image with a camera. The books can be about the history of the medium, the lives of photographers, or the camera equipment. It also includes photobooks, where photographs make a significant contribution to the overall content of a book, making the textual narrative more vivid or telling an entire story, these books often portray an artist's project or a cohesive theme.

Biographies & Autobiographies

Biography

Books about a person's life written by somebody else. A biography can be about people who are alive or it could also be penned long after its subject’s death, presented as a history book that’s focused solely on the life and circumstances of one person.

Memoir & Autobiography

Books about the author's own life. A memoir is a narrative that covers an important part of the author's life, such as experience in a certain industry, or an unconventional childhood. They often focus on reflection and establish an emotional connection with the reader, rather than focusing solely on facts. Autobiographies often begin during early childhood and chronologically detail key events in the author's life. They usually include information about where the person was born and brought up, their education, career, life experiences, key challenges and their main achievements.

Business & Economics

Business

Books that are often guides to entrepreneurship and management of a business. It’s a medium for those who've had experience in the workplace or the market to share their tips and tricks. Books might include how-to or step-by-step instructions about starting, owning and running a successful business. Some common topics are: marketing, accounting and finance, management, operations, international business, and human resource management.

Economics

Books that focus on the issues related to production, distribution and consumption of goods and services, or wealth, in a country or the world. The books often offer insights and opinions on the issues and struggles that plague and unbalance the economics of goods. There are two main categories: microeconomics and macroeconomics. The first deals with the behavior of the economy, individual agents, markets and the outcome of their interactions, while the second focuses on large-scale economic factors, like national productivity.

Crafts & Hobbies

Books that focus on ideas, crafts and the skills and supplies to do them. These books often have step-by-step instructions with pictures or drawings of each step, but they can also talk about the history and cultural origins of the craft. The authors are often authorities when it comes to the craft and the books' tone and style usually reflect a bit of their personality. Some examples are origami, crochet, embroidery, knitting, calligraphy, gardening, scrapbooking, painting, pottery-making, quilting, weaving and jewelry making.

Educational

Books that provide guidance on a specific subject, they often offer helpful advice or focus on life-long learning. The books can be for adults, teenagers or kids.

Essays

Books that are a collection of themed pieces of writing whose author(s) often have some sort of authority or personal experience with the subject matter. They're typically written in the first-person and the writers use their own personal experiences to reflect on a theme or topic for the reader. They're often very introspective and personal.

Food & Drink

Books about the origins, types, preparations, families, and nutritional values of food and drinks. The books can be about different types of cuisine and their history and cultural significance, they can also explore nutritional and healing properties of food and drinks, which can be spirits, juices and other non-alcoholic beverages.

Cookbooks

Books that focus on techniques to prepare and cook food. They usually contain detailed instructions and pictures or drawings on anything from selecting the best-quality ingredients, to preparing new recipes. The books tend to have cohesive themes, like desserts, plant-based recipes, at-home experimental fine-dining, or worldly culinary adventures from your kitchen to name a few.

Health & Wellness

Books that encompass healthy lifestyles, mental and spiritual well-being. These books focus on functions of the body, practices, foods and medicines that seek to achieve a good physical and mental health. They cover many different topics like diets, sleeping habits, stress management and dealing with anxiety, exercises, and spiritual centering. Most books are written by researchers and doctors, who have the technical knowhow to offer sound insight and advice.

Fitness

Books about physical exercises and other activities that help in keeping a healthy body. They can be about specific exercises, training, foods or other habits that improve the overall wellness, strength, endurance, balance or flexibility of the body.

Humanities & Social Sciences

(Catch-all subgenre of Humanities & Social Sciences) Books oriented to the study of societies and the manner in which people behave and influence the world. All the subgenres below include this definition.

Anthropology & Sociology

Books about the study of social life and culture to understand the causes and consequences of human actions. They can be about understanding our evolutionary origins in terms of physical characteristics, environmental and social relations and culture, or exploration of social issues like governments, gender identities, inequalities and globalization, among other topics.

Fashion

Books about popular trends in clothing and ornaments. The books can be about the history or current trends of make-up, hairstyles, clothes, accessories like jewelry, shoes, etc, or about the lives of famous or trend-setting designers.

History

Books that consist of true accounts of historical eras and events. Some histories give only objective facts, while others might be told through the author's personal beliefs. These narratives provide readers with as much of the social and political contexts of events as possible with the use of rich primary and secondary sources, so as to better understand their causes and their legacies. Note that these books are not necessarily textbooks.

Language

Books about learning languages, their history and their connection with culture. The books can be guides as to how to learn any language, they can go deep into a specific language, or they can take a dive into the origins and inner workings of these complex systems.

Law

Books about laws and legal systems, how they work, their origins and history.

Philosophy

Books that explore the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence as an academic discipline. They also explore fundamental truths about one’s self, the world, and their relationships, arguing the answers to life's most basic questions.

Politics

Books about the structures, people, practices, and social impact of governments. Some political books are based more on anecdotal evidence, others are on par with academic papers in terms of depth of research. In either case, they usually pick out a specific feature or structure in society to analyze with a critical eye. Warfare, force and power themes are also included in this subgenre.

Psychology

Books about the study of mental function and behaviors. Some books are more clinical in nature, while others might overlap with self-help. Books can be about understanding how the brain works, improving memory functions, assisting with relationship building, describing mental disorders, and applying treatments to improve roles of social, behavioral and cognitive health, among other themes.

Religion & Spirituality

Books that explore the organization of collective beliefs, culture and world views, as well as the personal transformations involved with believing in a power greater than one's self. Some books are theory-based, some are written from personal experience, and some are structured like a self-help book. They explore themes like the meaning and origin of life and the universe, usually under a god or deity, the foundations, history and beliefs of a specific religion, and techniques or journeys about finding and believing in a god, deity or a greater power, among others.

Gender & Sexuality

Books about health, relationships, exercises and activities that pertain to sex and sexual behavior, as well as the nuances, struggles, stresses and health issues related to the socially constructed characteristics of gender. The books encourage the discussion, knowledge and understanding of issues that are important to gender and sexual identity.

Theology

Books that deal with the systematic study of the nature of the divine and religious beliefs.

Humor

Books that creatively analyze and reflect on real-world events through the prism of the author's point of view. These books can be eye-opening social commentaries on a particular theme or subject that is often overlooked. The stories are often told in a humorous, political and/or meditative way.

Journalism

Books that are about investigating and uncovering the truth about news relevant topics. The authors do in-depth investigations and often enthrall readers with the twists and turns of real events and details of actual underground operations, conspiracies, cover ups or corruption, and court dramas, to name a few.

Parenting & Family

Books that contain tips, instructions and help from experts for parents. Books can be about baby care, education, discipline, bonding, understanding the psychology of young minds, finding the best environments for a child's development, among other topics. These books provide useful insigths and advice to help readers become better guardians and caregivers.

Science, Nature & Technology

Astronomy

Books about the branch of science that deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole. These books can also be about space missions, planet colonization or terraforming, astronaut experiences, among other similar topics.

Biology

Books about evolution, genetics, diversity, plants and animals, or ecology.

Chemistry

Books about the study of properties, composition, and structure of substances, or their transformations.

Mathematics

Books about the abstract science of number, quantity and space. The books can be about theory or the practical application of mathematical methods.

Medicine

Books about medical practices, medicines used to treat illnesses, newest technology and instruments used in the medical profession.

Nature

Books about animals, plants, other elements found in nature, the environment or the structures and balance that keep it healthy, alive or strong. These books can be about our relationship with the natural world, specific animals, or issues that impact the natural world, like pollution and global warming.

Physics

Books about the branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of matter and energy, and their interactions. Some topics include mechanics, heat, light, radiation, sound, electricity and magnetism.

Popular Science

Books that make an interpretation of science intended for a general audience. These books take complex research and processes and explain them in an interesting and accessible way to people who are not experts. They are often written by professional science journalists or by scientists.

Science

Books about the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world. These books are often based on scientists' academic research, and they aim to make sense of the world we’re currently living in. They can span from introductory to advanced topics. They pose intriguing questions and hypotheses about the universe and often borrow tropes from the fiction genres to engage the readers.

Technology & Engineering

Books about the application of scientific knowledge to practical purposes, including the design, development, building and use of machinery, equipment, hardware or software. These books can be about the history of, or explain the use of tools, machines, techniques, systems, and methods used to solve problems, achieve goals or make our lives easier.

Self-Help

Books that offer advice on personal improvement, forming habits, reaching goals, increasing productivity, overcoming anxiety, improving understanding, among other topics. Self-help books can be research-based, or they can be reflective.

Sports

Books about sports and how they're played, the history or origin of a specific sport and the lives or reminiscences of famous players or coaches of popular sports.

Travel

Books that feature travel memoirs and travelogs. These books often straddle the line between informing on the many cultures of the world and self-reflection.

Travel Guide

Books with information about a place, city or country, designed for the use of visitors and tourists. Travel guides might focus on different aspects of travel, and they usually include information about budgeting, languages, places to visit (or avoid), accommodation, restaurants, transportation and activities. Maps and photographs are often included.

True Crime

Books that examine real-life crimes and details of the actions of real people associated with and affected by these criminal events. The books are highly researched and some are memoirs, written by those closest to the tragedies. The crimes most commonly include murders, but the books can also deal with kidnappings, domestic disappearances, heists, theft of secrets, cons and other violent and non-violent crimes.