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Formats
Collection - A collection of stories.
Graphic novel - A novel with graphics.
Non-fiction - Like fiction only not.
Novel - No explanation yet.
Play - A thing with actors in.
Poetry - No explanation yet.
Unallocated - Has not been allocated a format.
Web novel - Like a novel only on the Web.
Genres
Contemporary - Set in the present day. Contemporary fiction may contain references to events in the past but the matter of the novel should involve events taking place in the postulated present day that are compatible with what we know of the world.
Crime - Crime fiction includes 'whodunnits', courtroom drama and any other sub-genre in which a committed crime is the leading motivator of the plot.
Fantasy - Set in an alternative world to this one, traditionally fantasy fiction environments are predicated on magical rather than scientific principles. Examples would include J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and C. S. Lewis' Narnia series. Elves are common, rivets are rare.
Historical - Historical fiction is set in the past, usually in a period of which the history is commonly known but occasionally in the far distant past of the earth. Unless the book is also fantasy, magicial realism or science fiction it should be as historically accurate as its author is capable of to be categorised in this genre.
Horror - Books which appeal to the darker side of the psyche. Horror in our definition includes scenes of extreme violence, sadism and death.
Magical realism - Set in this reality this kind of fiction deals with the appearance of magical situations or events in this universe. Examples would include Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children and the works of Angela Carter.
Myths and legends - This category includes fairy-tales, creation stories, tales of gods and heros and re-tellings of the above. However, unless the work of fiction considered involves in some way established mythological memes, it should be classed as fantasy.
Science fiction - Commonly set in the future of this world or universe, this kind of fiction stretches the possibilities of current scientific knowlege to their furthest extent. These books generally involve a space faring or otherwise technically advanced culture.
Undefined - Undefined (this should not really be required)
Subgenres
Children's book - A book classified as a children's book should have been published by a childrens' fiction publisher with children aged 16 or under its intended audience. For example 'Ender's Game', although it involves a child as the central character, is not a children's book. Philip Pullman's Sally Lockheart series, however, are children's books despite the fact that the protagonist is an adult.
Erotica - Erotica refers to a book which is in some way intended to appeal to male or female eroticism. This category includes both hard and soft-core pornography and should be added as a sub-categorisation to any book which involves a significant use of sexual imagery or situations.
Humour - The humour sub-category can be applied to any book which, in addition to its main genre classification, also has a comic or otherwise humourous bent. (A book should not be classified as humour because the reviewer finds it a joke.) Examples of books which deserves humour as a sub category would include Terry Pratchett's Discworld series which is 'Fantasy / Humour' or Robert Asprin's Phule's Company which is 'Science Fiction / Humour'.
Media tie-in - This sub-category should be applied to any work which has been produced in response to an original inspiring idea in another genre. This would include books based on graphic novels, role-playing games or films. There would be a case for arguing that the graphic novel 'The Dark Knight Returns' is a media tie-in because it is based on the idea of 'Batman' in earlier comics, films and a TV series.
These are the types of book we have at the moment, but if you think you've got something that doesn't fit into any of these, do feel free to suggest a new one, using the form below. You must be a registered reviewer on the site to make a suggestion, so if you're not, go to register first.
Suggest a new format, genre or subgenre
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