Action fiction is a
literary genre that focuses on stories that involve high-stakes, high-energy, and fast-paced events. This genre includes a wide range of sub-genres, such as
spy novels
Spy fiction is a genre of literature involving espionage as an important context or plot device. It emerged in the early twentieth century, inspired by rivalries and intrigues between the major powers, and the establishment of modern intelligen ...
,
adventure stories, tales of terror and intrigue ("
cloak and dagger
"Cloak and dagger" was a fighting style common in the Renaissance involving a knife hidden beneath a cloak. The term later came into use as a metaphor, referring to situations involving intrigue, secrecy, espionage, or mystery.
Overview
In "The ...
") and
mysteries. This kind of story utilizes
suspense
Suspense is a state of mental uncertainty, anxiety, being Decision-making, undecided, or being Doubt, doubtful. In a Drama, dramatic work, suspense is the anticipation of the wikt:outcome, outcome of a plot (narrative), plot or of the solution t ...
, the tension that is built up when the reader wishes to know how the
conflict between the
protagonist and
antagonist is going to be resolved or what the solution to the puzzle of a
thriller
Thriller may refer to:
* Thriller (genre), a broad genre of literature, film and television
** Thriller film, a film genre under the general thriller genre
Comics
* ''Thriller'' (DC Comics), a comic book series published 1983–84 by DC Comics i ...
is.
Genre fiction
Action fiction is a form of
genre fiction
Genre fiction, also known as popular fiction, is a term used in the book-trade for fictional works written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre, in order to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre.
A nu ...
whose subject matter is characterized by emphasis on exciting
action sequences. This does not always mean they exclude character development or story-telling. Action fiction is related to other forms of
fiction, including
action film
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include l ...
s,
action games and analogous media in other formats such as
manga and
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
. It includes martial arts action, extreme sports action, car chases and vehicles, suspense action, and action
comedy
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
, with each focusing in more detail on its own type and flavor of action. It is usually possible to tell from the creative style of an action sequence, the emphasis of an entire work, so that, for example, the style of a combat sequence will indicate whether the entire work can be classified as action adventure, or a martial work. Action is mainly defined by a central focus on any kind of exciting movement.
List of action novels
* ''
58 Minutes
''58 Minutes'' is a 1987 thriller novel by American novelist Walter Wager. The novel was the basis for the 1990 film ''Die Hard 2''.
Plot
Frank Malone is a divorced NYPD captain who is waiting at JFK international airport in New York City fo ...
'' (1987)
* ''
The Bourne Identity'' (1980)
* ''
The Chinaman'' (1992)
* ''
The Equalizer'' (2014)
* ''
First Blood'' (1972)
* ''
Man on Fire'' (1980)
* ''
Nothing Lasts Forever'' (1979)
See also
*
Action-adventure game
*
List of genres
This is a list of genres of literature and entertainment ( film, television, music, and video games), excluding genres in the visual arts.
'' Genre'' is the term for any category of creative work, which includes literature and other forms ...
*
Pace (narrative)
*
Spy fiction
*
Thriller novel
Notes
References
*
External links
*
{{Narration, state=collapsed
Literary genres
Fiction-writing mode
Narratology