Writing genres (more commonly known as literary genres) are

categories Category, plural categories, may refer to: Philosophy and general uses *Categorization, categories in cognitive science, information science and generally *Category of being *Categories (Aristotle), ''Categories'' (Aristotle) *Category (Kant) ...

that distinguish

literature Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include ...

(including works of

prose Prose is a form of written or spoken language that follows the natural flow of speech, uses a language's ordinary grammatical structures, or follows the conventions of formal academic writing. It differs from most traditional poetry, where the f ...

poetry Poetry (derived from the Greek ''poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings i ...

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

, hybrid forms, etc.) based on some set of stylistic criteria. Sharing literary conventions, they typically consist of similarities in theme/topic,

style Style is a manner of doing or presenting things and may refer to: * Architectural style, the features that make a building or structure historically identifiable * Design, the process of creating something * Fashion, a prevailing mode of clothing ...

, tropes, and

storytelling device A narrative technique (known for literary fictional narratives as a literary technique, literary device, or fictional device) is any of several specific methods the creator of a narrative uses to convey what they want —in other words, a stra ...

s; common settings and character types; and/or formulaic patterns of character interactions and events, and an overall predictable form. A literary genre may fall under either one of two categories: (a) a work of

fiction Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying individuals, events, or places that are imaginary, or in ways that are imaginary. Fictional portrayals are thus inconsistent with history, fact, or plausibility. In a traditi ...

, involving non-factual descriptions and events invented by the

author An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states: "''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...

; or (b) a work of

nonfiction Nonfiction, or non-fiction, is any document or media content that attempts, in good faith, to provide information (and sometimes opinions) grounded only in facts and real life, rather than in imagination. Nonfiction is often associated with be ...

, in which descriptions and events are understood to be factual. In literature, a work of fiction can refer to a

short story A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest ...

novella A novella is a narrative prose fiction whose length is shorter than most novels, but longer than most short stories. The English word ''novella'' derives from the Italian ''novella'' meaning a short story related to true (or apparently so) facts ...

, and

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

, the latter being the longest form of literary prose. Every work of fiction falls into a literary subgenre, each with its own style, tone, and storytelling devices. Moreover, these genres are formed by shared literary conventions that change over time as new genres emerge while others fade. Accordingly, they are often defined by the cultural expectations and needs of a particular historical and, cultural moment or place. According to

Alastair Fowler Alastair David Shaw Fowler CBE FBA (1930 – 9 October 2022) was a Scottish literary critic, editor, and an authority on Edmund Spenser, Renaissance literature, genre theory, and numerology. Life and career Alastair Fowler was born in Glasgow, ...

, the following elements can be used to define genres: organizational features (

chapters Chapter or Chapters may refer to: Books * Chapter (books), a main division of a piece of writing or document * Chapter book, a story book intended for intermediate readers, generally age 7–10 * Chapters (bookstore), Canadian big box bookstore ...

acts The Acts of the Apostles ( grc-koi, Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων, ''Práxeis Apostólōn''; la, Actūs Apostolōrum) is the fifth book of the New Testament; it tells of the founding of the Christian Church and the spread of its message ...

, scenes,

stanza In poetry, a stanza (; from Italian language, Italian ''stanza'' , "room") is a group of lines within a poem, usually set off from others by a blank line or Indentation (typesetting), indentation. Stanzas can have regular rhyme scheme, rhyme and ...

s); length; mood;

; the reader's role (e.g., in mystery works, readers are expected to interpret evidence); and the author's reason for writing (an

epithalamion An epithalamium (; Latin form of Greek ἐπιθαλάμιον ''epithalamion'' from ἐπί ''epi'' "upon," and θάλαμος ''thalamos'' nuptial chamber) is a poem written specifically for the bride on the way to her marital chamber. This form ...

is a poem composed for marriage).

History

Genres are formed shared literary conventions that change over time as new genres emerge while others fade. As such, genres are not wholly fixed categories of writing; rather, their content evolves according to social and cultural contexts and contemporary questions of morals and norms. The most enduring genres are those literary forms that were defined and performed by the Ancient Greeks; definitions sharpened by the proscriptions of modern civilization's earliest

literary critics Literary criticism (or literary studies) is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often influenced by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of literature's goals and methods. Th ...

and

rhetoric Rhetoric () is the art of persuasion, which along with grammar and logic (or dialectic), is one of the three ancient arts of discourse. Rhetoric aims to study the techniques writers or speakers utilize to inform, persuade, or motivate parti ...

al scholars, such as

Plato Plato ( ; grc-gre, Πλάτων ; 428/427 or 424/423 – 348/347 BC) was a Greek philosopher born in Athens during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. He founded the Platonist school of thought and the Academy, the first institution ...

Aristotle Aristotle (; grc-gre, Ἀριστοτέλης ''Aristotélēs'', ; 384–322 BC) was a Greek philosopher and polymath during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. Taught by Plato, he was the founder of the Peripatetic school of phil ...

Socrates Socrates (; ; –399 BC) was a Greek philosopher from Athens who is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and among the first moral philosophers of the ethical tradition of thought. An enigmatic figure, Socrates authored no te ...

Aeschylus Aeschylus (, ; grc-gre, Αἰσχύλος ; c. 525/524 – c. 456/455 BC) was an ancient Greek tragedian, and is often described as the father of tragedy. Academic knowledge of the genre begins with his work, and understanding of earlier Greek ...

Aspasia Aspasia (; grc-gre, Ἀσπασία ; after 428 BC) was a ''metic'' woman in Classical Athens. Born in Miletus, she moved to Athens and began a relationship with the statesman Pericles, with whom she had a son, Pericles the Younger. Accordin ...

Euripides Euripides (; grc, Εὐριπίδης, Eurīpídēs, ; ) was a tragedian Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful e ...

, and others. The prevailing genres of literary composition in Ancient Greece were all written and constructed to explore cultural, moral, or ethical questions; they were ultimately defined as the genres of

epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film with heroic elements Epic or EPIC may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and medi ...

tragedy Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy ...

, and

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 ...

. Aristotle's proscriptive analysis of tragedy, for example, as expressed in his ''

Rhetoric Rhetoric () is the art of persuasion, which along with grammar and logic (or dialectic), is one of the three ancient arts of discourse. Rhetoric aims to study the techniques writers or speakers utilize to inform, persuade, or motivate parti ...

'' and ''

Poetics Poetics is the theory of structure, form, and discourse within literature, and, in particular, within poetry. History The term ''poetics'' derives from the Ancient Greek ποιητικός ''poietikos'' "pertaining to poetry"; also "creative" an ...

,'' saw it as having 6 parts (music,

diction Diction ( la, dictionem (nom. ), "a saying, expression, word"), in its original meaning, is a writer's or speaker's distinctive vocabulary choices and style of expression in a poem or story.Crannell (1997) ''Glossary'', p. 406 In its common meanin ...

plot Plot or Plotting may refer to: Art, media and entertainment * Plot (narrative), the story of a piece of fiction Music * ''The Plot'' (album), a 1976 album by jazz trumpeter Enrico Rava * The Plot (band), a band formed in 2003 Other * ''Plot' ...

, character, thought, and

spectacle In general, spectacle refers to an event that is memorable for the appearance it creates. Derived in Middle English from c. 1340 as "specially prepared or arranged display" it was borrowed from Old French ''spectacle'', itself a reflection of the ...

) working together in particular ways. Thus, Aristotle established one of the earliest delineations of the elements that define genre.

Fiction genres

Children's A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger ...

Classic A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or highest quality, class, or rank – something that exemplifies its class. The word can be an adjective (a ''c ...

(or

literary fiction Literary fiction, mainstream fiction, non-genre fiction or serious fiction is a label that, in the book trade, refers to market novels that do not fit neatly into an established genre (see genre fiction); or, otherwise, refers to novels that are ch ...

): works with artistic/literary merit that are typically character-driven rather than plot-driven, following a character's inner story. They often include

political criticism Political criticism (also referred to as political commentary or political discussion) is criticism that is specific of or relevant to politics, including policies, politicians, political parties, and types of government. See also * Bad Subject ...

social commentary Social commentary is the act of using rhetorical means to provide commentary on social, cultural, political, or economic issues in a society. This is often done with the idea of implementing or promoting change by informing the general populace ab ...

, and reflections on humanity. These works are part of an accepted

literary canon The term canon derives from the Greek (), meaning "rule", and thence via Latin (language), Latin and Old French into English. The concept in English usage is very broad: in a general sense it refers to being one (adjectival) or a group (noun) of ...

and widely taught in schools. *

Coming-of-age Coming of age is a young person's transition from being a child to being an adult. The specific age at which this transition takes place varies between societies, as does the nature of the change. It can be a simple legal convention or can ...

Bildungsroman In literary criticism, a ''Bildungsroman'' (, plural ''Bildungsromane'', ) is a literary genre that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from childhood to adulthood ( coming of age), in which character change is impo ...

: works that focus on the psychological and moral growth of a character from youth into adulthood. *

Epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film with heroic elements Epic or EPIC may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and medi ...

: a

narrative A narrative, story, or tale is any account of a series of related events or experiences, whether nonfictional (memoir, biography, news report, documentary, travel literature, travelogue, etc.) or fictional (fairy tale, fable, legend, thriller (ge ...

defined by heroic or legendary adventures presented in a long format. **

Epic poetry An epic poem, or simply an epic, is a lengthy narrative poem typically about the extraordinary deeds of extraordinary characters who, in dealings with gods or other superhuman forces, gave shape to the mortal universe for their descendants. ...

narrative poetry Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often using the voices of both a narrator and characters; the entire story is usually written in metered verse. Narrative poems do not need rhyme. The poems that make up this genre may be s ...

about extraordinary feats occurring in a time before history, involving religious underpinnings and themes. *

Fabulation In literary criticism, the term fabulation was popularized by Robert Scholes, in his work ''The Fabulators'', to describe the large and growing class of mostly 20th century novels that are in a style similar to magical realism, and do not fit into ...

: A class composed mostly of 20th-century novels that are in a style similar to magical realism, and do not fit into the traditional categories of realism. *

Folklore Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging ...

(folktale) **

Animal tale An animal tale or beast fable generally consists of a short story or poem in which animals talk. They may exhibit other anthropomorphic qualities as well, such as living in a human-like society. It is a traditional form of allegorical writing. An ...

Fable Fable is a literary genre: a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals, legendary creatures, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are anthropomorphized, and that illustrates or leads to a particular mo ...

: short story that anthropomorphizes non-humans in order to illustrate a moral lesson **

Fairy tale A fairy tale (alternative names include fairytale, fairy story, magic tale, or wonder tale) is a short story that belongs to the folklore genre. Such stories typically feature magic (paranormal), magic, incantation, enchantments, and mythical ...

Ghost story A ghost story is any piece of fiction, or drama, that includes a ghost, or simply takes as a premise the possibility of ghosts or characters' belief in them."Ghost Stories" in Margaret Drabble (ed.), ''Oxford Companion to English Literature'' ...

Legend A legend is a Folklore genre, genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived, both by teller and listeners, to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human valu ...

: story, sometimes of a national or

folk hero A folk hero or national hero is a type of hero – real, fictional or mythological – with their name, personality and deeds embedded in the popular consciousness of a people, mentioned frequently in folk songs, folk tales and other folklore; an ...

, that has a basis in fact but also includes imaginative material **

Myth Myth is a folklore genre consisting of Narrative, narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or Origin myth, origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not Objectivity (philosophy), ...

: traditional narrative, often based in part on historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism; often pertaining to the actions of the gods. **

Parable A parable is a succinct, didactic story, in prose or verse, that illustrates one or more instructive lessons or principles. It differs from a fable in that fables employ animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature as characters, w ...

Personal narrative Personal narrative (PN) is a prose narrative relating personal experience usually told in first person; its content is nontraditional. "Personal" refers to a story from one's life or experiences. "Nontraditional" refers to literature that does not ...

Urban legend An urban legend (sometimes contemporary legend, modern legend, urban myth, or urban tale) is a genre of folklore comprising stories or fallacious claims circulated as true, especially as having happened to a "friend of a friend" or a family m ...

Historical History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

: works that take place in the past—which can be real, imagined, or a combination of both. Many such works involve actual historical figures or historical events within historical settings. **

Alternate history Alternate history (also alternative history, althist, AH) is a genre of speculative fiction of stories in which one or more historical events occur and are resolved differently than in real life. As conjecture based upon historical fact, altern ...

: fiction in which one or more historical events occur differently than how they transpired in reality. Example: ''

The Man in the High Castle ''The Man in the High Castle'' (1962), by Philip K. Dick, is an alternative history novel wherein the Axis Powers won World War II. The story occurs in 1962, fifteen years after the end of the war in 1947, and depicts the political intrigues be ...

'' (1962). **

Historical fantasy Historical fantasy is a category of fantasy and genre of historical fiction that incorporates fantastic elements (such as magic) into a more "realistic" narrative. There is much crossover with other subgenres of fantasy; those classed as Arthur ...

Historical mystery The historical mystery or historical whodunit is a subgenre of two literary genres, historical fiction and mystery fiction. These works are set in a time period considered historical from the author's perspective, and the central plot involves t ...

Historical romance Historical romance is a broad category of mass-market fiction focusing on romantic relationships in historical periods, which Walter Scott helped popularize in the early 19th century. Varieties Viking These books feature Vikings during the Da ...

***

Regency romance Regency romances are a subgenre of romance novels set during the period of the British Regency (1811–1820) or early 19th century. Rather than simply being versions of contemporary romance stories transported to a historical setting, Regency rom ...

Nautical fiction Nautical fiction, frequently also naval fiction, sea fiction, naval adventure fiction or maritime fiction, is a genre of literature with a setting on or near the sea, that focuses on the human relationship to the sea and sea voyages and highligh ...

*** Pirate novel *

Meta Meta (from the Greek μετά, '' meta'', meaning "after" or "beyond") is a prefix meaning "more comprehensive" or "transcending". In modern nomenclature, ''meta''- can also serve as a prefix meaning self-referential, as a field of study or ende ...

(aka romantic irony in the context of

Romantic literature Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century, and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate ...

): uses

self-reference Self-reference occurs in natural or formal languages when a sentence, idea or formula refers to itself. The reference may be expressed either directly—through some intermediate sentence or formula—or by means of some encoding. In philoso ...

to draw attention to itself as a work of art while exposing the "truth" of a story. **

Metaparody Metaparody is a form of humor or literary technique consisting "parodying the parody of the original", sometimes to the degree that the viewer is unclear as to which subtext Subtext is any content of a creative work, which is not announced expl ...

Nonsense Nonsense is a communication, via speech, writing, or any other symbolic system, that lacks any coherent meaning. Sometimes in ordinary usage, nonsense is synonymous with absurdity or the ridiculous To be ridiculous is to be something which is ...

Nonsense verse Nonsense verse is a form of nonsense literature usually employing strong prosodic elements like rhythm and rhyme. It is often whimsical and humorous in tone and employs some of the techniques of nonsense literature. Limericks are probably the b ...

Paranoid Paranoia is an instinct or thought process that is believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of delusion and irrationality. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs, or beliefs of conspiracy concer ...

Philosophical Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...

Pop culture Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * Pop (Gas al ...

: fiction written with the intention of being filled with references from other works and media. Stories in this genre focused solely on using

pop culture Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * Pop (Gas al ...

references. * Realist: works that are set in a time and place that are true to life (i.e. that could actually happen in the real world), abiding by real-world laws of nature. They depict real people, places, and stories in order to be as truthful as possible. *

Religious Religion is usually defined as a social system, social-cultural system of designated religious behaviour, behaviors and practices, morality, morals, beliefs, worldviews, religious text, texts, sacred site, sanctified places, prophecy, prophecie ...

or inspirational **

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

Islamic Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the mai ...

Theological Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...

: fiction that explores the theological ideas that shape attitudes towards religious expression. **

Visionary A visionary, defined broadly, is one who can envision the future. For some groups, this can involve the supernatural. The visionary state is achieved via meditation, lucid dreams, daydreams, or art. One example is Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th-c ...

Satire Satire is a genre of the visual, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, often with the intent of shaming ...

: usually fiction and less frequently in non-fiction, in which

vice A vice is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, degrading, deviant or perverted in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character tra ...

follies ''Follies'' is a Musical theater, musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. The plot takes place in a crumbling Broadway theater, now scheduled for demolition, previously home to a musical revue (based on t ...

, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, with the intent of shaming individuals, corporations, government, or society itself into improvement. **

Horatian Quintus Horatius Flaccus (; 8 December 65 – 27 November 8 BC), known in the English-speaking world as Horace (), was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus (also known as Octavian). The rhetorician Quintilian regarded his ' ...

Juvenalian Decimus Junius Juvenalis (), known in English as Juvenal ( ), was a Roman poet active in the late first and early second century CE. He is the author of the collection of satirical poems known as the '' Satires''. The details of Juvenal's life ...

** Menippean *

Social Social organisms, including human(s), live collectively in interacting populations. This interaction is considered social whether they are aware of it or not, and whether the exchange is voluntary or not. Etymology The word "social" derives from ...

and

political fiction Political fiction employs narrative to Political commentary, comment on political events, systems and theories. Works of political fiction, such as political novels, often "directly criticize an existing society or present an alt ...

** Libertarian sci-fi ** Social sci-fi **

Political thriller A political thriller is a thriller that is set against the backdrop of a political power struggle, high stakes and suspense is the core of the story. The genre often forces the audiences to consider and understand the importance of politics. The ...

* Thriller (or

suspense Suspense is a state of mental uncertainty, anxiety, being undecided, or being doubtful. In a dramatic work, suspense is the anticipation of the outcome of a plot or of the solution to an uncertainty, puzzle, or mystery, particularly as it aff ...

): typically dark and suspenseful plot-driven fiction involving a person or group facing imminent harm, and the attempts made to evade that harm. Thrillers regularly use

plot twist A plot twist is a literary technique that introduces a radical change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot in a work of fiction. When it happens near the end of a story, it is known as a twist or surprise ending. It may change the aud ...

red herring A red herring is a figurative expression referring to a logical fallacy in which a clue or piece of information is or is intended to be misleading, or distracting from the actual question. Red herring may also refer to: Animals * Red herring (fis ...

s, and

cliffhanger A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode or a film of serialized fiction. A cliffhang ...

s, and seldom include comedic elements. **

Conspiracy A conspiracy, also known as a plot, is a secret plan or agreement between persons (called conspirers or conspirators) for an unlawful or harmful purpose, such as murder or treason, especially with political motivation, while keeping their agree ...

Erotic Eroticism () is a quality that causes sexual feelings, as well as a philosophical contemplation concerning the aesthetics of sexual desire, sensuality, and romantic love. That quality may be found in any form of artwork, including painting, scul ...

Legal Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...

Financial Finance is the study and discipline of money, currency and capital assets. It is related to, but not synonymous with economics, the study of production, distribution, and consumption of money, assets, goods and services (the discipline of fina ...

Political Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studies ...

Psychological Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries between t ...

Romantic suspense A romance novel or romantic novel generally refers to a type of genre fiction novel which places its primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and usually has an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Pr ...

Techno-thriller A techno-thriller or technothriller is a hybrid genre drawing from science fiction, Thriller (genre), thrillers, spy fiction, action (fiction), action, and War novel, war novels. They include a disproportionate amount (relative to other genres) o ...

Urban Urban means "related to a city". In that sense, the term may refer to: * Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas * Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities Urban may also refer to: General * Urban (name), a list of people ...

: fiction set in an urban environment. *

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

: works that follow cowboys, settlers, and outlaws exploring the

American frontier The American frontier, also known as the Old West or the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of United States territorial acquisitions, American expansion in mainland North Amer ...

and

Old West The American frontier, also known as the Old West or the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that began with European colonial ...

, typically in the late-19th to early-20th century. **

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

Northern Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a ra ...

Space Space is the boundless three-dimensional extent in which objects and events have relative position and direction. In classical physics, physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider ...

Western romance Western Romance languages are one of the two subdivisions of a proposed subdivision of the Romance languages based on the La Spezia–Rimini Line. They include the Gallo-Romance and Iberian Romance branches. Gallo-Italic may also be included. ...

Weird West Weird West (aka Weird Western) is a term used for the hybrid genres of fantasy Western, horror Western and science fiction Western. The term originated with DC's ''Weird Western Tales'' in 1972, but the idea is older as the genres have been b ...

Young adult A young adult is generally a person in the years following adolescence. Definitions and opinions on what qualifies as a young adult vary, with works such as Erik Erikson's stages of human development significantly influencing the definition of ...

Action and adventure

Action fiction 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, adventure stories, tales of terror and intrigue ("cloak a ...

and

adventure fiction Adventure fiction is a type of fiction that usually presents danger, or gives the reader a sense of excitement. Some adventure fiction also satisfies the literary definition of Romance (prose fiction)#Definition, romance fiction. History In t ...

. The

hero's journey In narratology and comparative mythology, the hero's journey, or the monomyth, is the common template of stories that involve a hero who goes on an adventure, is victorious in a decisive crisis, and comes home changed or transformed. Earlie ...

is the most popular narrative structure of an adventure novel. * Adventure fantasy **

Heroic fantasy Heroic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy in which events occur in a world where magic is prevalent and modern technology is nonexistent. The setting may be entirely fictitious in nature or based upon Earth with some additions. Unlike dark fiction, ...

Lost world The lost world is a subgenre of the fantasy or science fiction genres that involves the discovery of an unknown Earth civilization. It began as a subgenre of the late- Victorian adventure romance and remains popular into the 21st century. The g ...

** Sword-and-sandal **

Sword-and-sorcery Sword and sorcery (S&S) is a subgenre of fantasy characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent adventures. Elements of romance, magic, and the supernatural are also often present. Unlike works of high fantasy, the tal ...

** Sword-and-soul **

Wuxia ( ), which literally means "martial heroes", is a genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists in ancient China. Although is traditionally a form of historical fiction, its popularity has caused it to be adapted f ...

Nautical Seamanship is the art, knowledge and competence of operating a ship, boat or other craft on water. The'' Oxford Dictionary'' states that seamanship is "The skill, techniques, or practice of handling a ship or boat at sea." It involves topics a ...

Pirate Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, v ...

Robinsonade Robinsonade () is a literary genre that takes its name from the 1719 novel ''Robinson Crusoe'' by Daniel Defoe. The success of this novel spawned so many imitations that its name was used to define a genre, which is sometimes described simply a ...

Spy Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information (intelligence) from non-disclosed sources or divulging of the same without the permission of the holder of the information for a tangib ...

: fiction involving espionage and establishment of modern

intelligence agencies An intelligence agency is a government agency responsible for the collection, analysis, and exploitation of information in support of law enforcement, national security, military, public safety, and foreign policy objectives. Means of informatio ...

. ** Spy-Fi: spy fiction that includes elements of science fiction. *

Subterranean Subterranean(s) or The Subterranean(s) may refer to: * Subterranea (geography), underground structures, both natural and man-made Literature * ''Subterranean'' (novel), a 1998 novel by James Rollins * ''Subterranean Magazine'', an American fa ...

Superhero A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...

Survival Survival, or the act of surviving, is the propensity of something to continue existing, particularly when this is done despite conditions that might kill or destroy it. The concept can be applied to humans and other living things (or, hypotheti ...

Picaresque The picaresque novel (Spanish: ''picaresca'', from ''pícaro'', for " rogue" or "rascal") is a genre of prose fiction. It depicts the adventures of a roguish, but "appealing hero", usually of low social class, who lives by his wits in a corrup ...

Swashbuckler A swashbuckler is a genre of European adventure literature that focuses on a heroic protagonist stock character who is skilled in swordsmanship, acrobatics, guile and possesses chivalrous ideals. A "swashbuckler" protagonist is heroic, daring, ...

: fiction based on a time of

swordsmen Swordsmanship or sword fighting refers to the skills and techniques used in combat and training with any type of sword. The term is modern, and as such was mainly used to refer to smallsword fencing, but by extension it can also be applied to a ...

pirates Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, v ...

and ships, and other related ideas, usually full of action.

Comedy

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 ...

(including

comic novel A comic novel is a novel-length work of humorous fiction. Many well-known authors have written comic novels, including P. G. Wodehouse, Henry Fielding, Mark Twain, and John Kennedy Toole. Comic novels are often defined by the author's literary ...

light poetry Light poetry or light verse is poetry that attempts to be humorous. Light poems are usually brief, can be on a frivolous or serious subject, and often feature word play including puns, adventurous rhyme, and heavy alliteration. Typically, light ...

, and

comedic journalism Comedic journalism is a new form of journalism, popularized in the twenty-first century, that incorporates a comedic tone to transmit the news to mass audiences, using humour and/or satire to relay a point in news reports. Comedic journalism has ...

): usually a fiction full of fun, fancy, and excitement, meant to entertain and sometimes cause intended laughter; but can be contained in all genres. *

Burlesque A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects.

Fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...

Comedy horror Comedy horror, also known as horror comedy, is a literary genre, literary, television genre, television, and film genre that combines elements of comedy and horror fiction. Comedy horror has been described as able to be categorized under three ty ...

Parody A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its subj ...

Sci-fi Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universe ...

* Surreal comedy * Tall tale: humorous story with blatant exaggerations, such as swaggering heroes who do the impossible with nonchalance. * Tragicomedy: a work containing elements of both comedy and tragedy.

Crime and mystery

Crime fiction (including crime comics) centers on a crime(s), how the criminal gets caught and serves time, and the repercussions of the crime * Caper story, Caper: fiction told from the point of view of the criminals rather than the investigator. Well-known writers in this genre include W. R. Burnett, John Boland (author), John Boland, Peter O'Donnell, Peter O’Donnell, and Michael Crichton bibliography, Michael Crichton. * Giallo * Legal thriller * Mystery fiction, Mystery: fiction that follows a crime (e.g., a murder, a disappearance) as it is committed, investigated, and solved, as well as providing clues and revealing information/secrets as the story unfolds. ** Cozy mystery: mystery fiction that contain no sex, violence, or profanity. Well-known writers in this genre include A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery, Dorothy L. Sayers and Elizabeth Daly. ** City mysteries ** Detective fiction, Detective: fiction that follows a detective or other investigator (professional, amateur, or retired) as they investigate or solve a mystery/crime. Detective novels generally begin with a mysterious incident (e.g., death). One of the most popular examples is the Sherlock Holmes stories; well-known detective novelists include Agatha Christie bibliography, Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler bibliography, Raymond Chandler. *** Gong'an fiction, Gong'an *** Girl detective (genre), Girl detective *** Inverted detective story (aka howcatchem) *** Occult detective fiction, Occult detective ** Hardboiled **

** Locked-room mystery ** Police procedural: mystery fiction that feature a protagonist who is a member of the police force. Well-known novelists in this genre include Ed McBain, P. D. James, and Bartholomew Gill. ** Whodunit: mystery fiction that focuses on the puzzle regarding who committed the crime. * Noir fiction, Noir ** Nordic noir ** Tart Noir

Speculative fiction

Fantasy

Fantasy literature, Fantasy (including Fantasy comics, comics and Fantasy fiction magazine, magazines) is a speculative fiction that use imaginary characters set in fictional universes inspired by mythology and folklore, often including magical elements, magical creatures, or the supernatural. Examples: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, ''Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland'' (1885) and the Harry Potter, ''Harry Potter'' books. * Action-adventure ** Heroic fantasy, Heroic **

** Sword-and-sandal **

* Fantasy comedy ** Bangsian fantasy, Bangsian * Contemporary fantasy, Contemporary ** Occult detective fiction ** Paranormal romance ** Urban fantasy, Urban * Dark fantasy, Dark or Gothic fantasy, Gothic * Cozy fantasy * Fairytale fantasy, Fairytale * Fantastique * Fantasy of manners * Gaslamp fantasy, Gaslamp * Grimdark * Gritty fantasy, Gritty * Hard fantasy, Hard * High fantasy, High * Historical fantasy, Historical * Isekai * Juvenile fantasy, Juvenile * Low fantasy, Low * Magic realism: normal in the world in which the story takes place. * Mythic fiction, Mythic: fiction that is rooted in, inspired by, or that in some way draws from the tropes, themes, and symbolism of myth, legend, folklore, and fairy tales. ** Mythopoeia: fiction in which characters from religious mythology, traditional myths, folklore, and/or history are recast into a re-imagined realm created by the author. ** Mythpunk * Romantic fantasy, Romantic * Science fantasy, Science: science fiction based in elements of fantasy. ** Dying Earth genre, Dying Earth ** Planetary romance ** Sword and planet * Superhero fantasy, Superhero * Supernatural fiction, Supernatural * Shenmo fantasy, Shenmo * Weird fiction ** New weird *

Horror

Horror novel, Horror (including Horror comics, comics and Horror fiction magazine, magazines) involves fiction in which plot and characters are tools used to elicit a feeling of dread and terror, as well as events that often evoke fear in both the characters and the reader. Horrors generally focus on themes of death, demons, evil spirits, and the afterlife. * Body horror, Body (aka biological): intentionally showcases grotesque or psychologically disturbing violations of the human body (including Organ transplantation in fiction, organ transplantation). Example: ''Frankenstein'' (1818). * Comedy horror, Comedy ** Zombie comedy * Erotic horror, Erotic (sometimes monster erotica) ** Ero guro * Ghost story, Ghost stories and ghostlore * Gothic fiction, Gothic (aka gothic romanticism; and dark romanticism): fiction mixing themes of horror, romance, and death ** American Gothic Fiction, American ** Southern Gothic, Southern ** Southern Ontario Gothic, Southern Ontario ** Gothic science fiction, Space ** Suburban Gothic, Suburban ** Tasmanian Gothic, Tasmanian ** Urban Gothic, Urban * Japanese horror, Japanese * Korean horror, Korean * Lovecraftian horror, Lovecraftian (or Cosmic horror, Cosmic) * Monster literature ** Jiangshi fiction ** Werewolf fiction ** Vampire literature * Psychological horror, Psychological * Splatterpunk * Techno-horror, Techno * Weird fiction * Weird menace *

* Zombie apocalypse

Science fiction

Science fiction (including Science fiction comics, comics, Science fiction magazine, magazines, List of science fiction novels, novels, and List of science fiction short stories, short stories) is speculative fiction with imagined elements that are inspired by natural sciences (physics, chemistry, astronomy, etc.) or social sciences (psychology, anthropology, sociology, etc.). Common elements of this genre include Time travel in fiction, time travel, space exploration, and futuristic societies. (Sci-fi was originally regarded as scientific romance.) * Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic * Christian science fiction, Christian * Science fiction comedy, Comedy * Utopian and dystopian fiction, Utopian and dystopian ** List of dystopian literature, Dystopian: fiction set in a society that the author views as being worse than the one in which they live in at the time of writing. Example: ''Brave New World'' (1932) and ''Fahrenheit 451'' (1953). *** Cyberpunk: juxtaposes advanced technology with less-advanced, broken down society. Cyberpunk derivatives, Derivatives of cyberpunk include: **** Biopunk **** Dieselpunk **** Japanese cyberpunk **** Nanopunk **** Solarpunk **** Steampunk: blends technology with Steam powered, steam-powered machinery. ** List of utopian literature, Utopian: (often satirical) fiction set in a utopia; a community or society that possesses highly desirable or perfect qualities. * Feminist science fiction, Feminist * Gothic science fiction, Gothic * Isekai * Hard science fiction, Hard ** Climate fiction ** Parallel universes in fiction#Science fiction, Parallel world * Libertarian science fiction, Libertarian * Mecha ** Mecha anime and manga * Military science fiction, Military * Soft science fiction, Soft ** Anthropological science fiction, Anthropological ** Social science fiction, Social * Science fantasy: sci-fi inspired by mythology and folklore, often including elements of magic. ** Dying Earth genre, Dying Earth ** Planetary romance ** Sword and planet * Space opera: fiction that take place in outer space and center around conflict, romance, and adventure. * Space Western: fiction that blends elements of sci-fi with those of the western genre. * Spy-Fi: spy fiction that includes elements of science fiction *

* Tech noir *

Romance

Romantic Fiction, Romantic fiction is those which give primary focus around a love story between two people, usually having an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Also Romance (literary fiction) – works that frequently, but not exclusively, takes the form of the historical romance. * Amish romance, Amish * Chivalric romance, Chivalric ** Romantic fantasy, Fantasy: One example is The Princess Bride (novel), ''The Princess Bride''. * Contemporary romance, Contemporary ** Gay romance, Gay ** Contemporary romance#Lesbian romance, Lesbian ** Contemporary romance#Medical romance, Medical * Erotic romance novels, Erotic ** Erotic thriller, Thriller * Romantic fantasy * Historical romance, Historical ** Regency romance, Regency * Romance novel#Inspirational romance, Inspirational: combines explicitly Christian fiction, Christian themes with the development of a romantic relationship. * Paranormal romance, Paranormal ** Time-travel romance, Time-travel *

* Western Romance literature, Western * Young adult romance literature, Young Adult

Nonfiction genres

* Academic writing, Academic ** Literature review: a summary and careful comparison of previous academic work published on a specific topic ** Research article or research paper ** Scientific literature, Scientific: scholarly publication reporting original Empirical evidence, empirical and theoretical work in the Natural science, natural or social sciences. ** Technical report ** Textbook: authoritative and detailed factual description of a thing ** Thesis (or dissertation): a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings. * Bibliography: an organized listing of books or writings ** Annotated bibliography: a bibliography that provides a summary for each of its entries. * Biography: a written narrative of a person's life; an autobiography is a self-written biography. ** Memoir: a biographical account of a particular event or period in a person's life (rather than their whole life) drawn from personal knowledge or special sources (such as the spouse of the subject). ** Misery literature ** Slave narrative *** Slave narrative#Contemporary slave narratives, Contemporary ***Slave narrative#Neo-slave narratives, Neo * Cookbook: a kitchen reference containing recipes. * Creative nonfiction: factual narrative presented in the form of a story so as to entertain the reader. **

: a prose relating personal experience and opinion to a factual narrative. * Essay: a short literary composition, often reflecting the author's outlook or point of view. ** Position paper * Journalistic, Journalistic writing: reporting on news and current events ** Arts journalism, Arts ** Business journalism, Business ** Data-driven journalism, Data-driven ** Entertainment journalism, Entertainment ** Environmental journalism, Environmental ** Fashion journalism, Fashion ** Global journalism, Global ** Medical journalism, Medical ** Political journalism, Political ** Science journalism, Science ** Sports journalism, Sports ** Technology journalism, Technical ** Trade journalism, Trade ** Video game journalism, Video games ** World news, World * Reference work: publication that one can refer to for confirmed facts, such as a dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, almanac, or atlas. * Self-help book, Self-help: a work written with information intended to instruct or guide readers on solving personal problems. * Obituary * Travel literature, Travel: literature containing elements of the outdoors, nature, adventure, and traveling. ** Guide book: book of information about a place, designed for the use of visitors or tourists ** Travel blog * True crime

Literary fiction vs. genre fiction

Literary fiction is a term used to distinguish certain fictional works that possess commonly held qualities to readers outside genre fiction. Literary fiction has been defined as any fiction that attempts to engage with one or more truths or questions, hence relevant to a broad scope of humanity as a form of expression. Genre fiction is a term used to distinguish 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. There are many sources that help readers find and define literary fiction and genre fiction. *Academic novel (aka campus novel) **School story **Varsity novel * Adventure fiction * Echtra - pre-Christian Old Irish literature about a hero's adventures in the Otherworld or with otherworldly beings. **

**Picaresque novel – depicts the adventures of a roguish, but "appealing hero", of low social class, who lives by his wits in a corrupt society. **

– a "castaway narrative". **Subterranean fiction *Apocalyptic literature - details the authors' visions of the Eschatology, end times as revealed by an angel or other heavenly messenger. *

- "coming of age" story. The German word "Bildung" can mean both "education" and "self-development." * Crime fiction ** Campus murder mystery * Historical fiction **Biographical novel **

**Slave narrative#Neo-slave narratives, Neo-slave narrative **Plantation tradition **Regency novel * Literary nonsense **

*Mathematical fiction *Nonfiction novel * Novel of manners **

*Occupational fiction ** Legal thriller **Musical fiction **Sports fiction * Romance novel **Medical romance *Political fiction * Speculative fiction ** Science fiction ***Quantum fiction **Prehistoric fiction * Travel literature **Imaginary voyage ** Immram – Old Irish tales concerning a hero's sea journey to the Otherworld **Milesian tale – a travelogue told from memory by a narrator who every now and then would relate how he encountered other characters who told him stories which he would then incorporate into the main tale. *Religious fiction **Christian fiction ***Christian science fiction ***Contemporary Christian fiction **Islamic fiction **Jewish fiction *Saga **Family saga *Speculative fiction **Fantasy ***By setting ****High fantasy, Epic / high fantasy ****Hard fantasy ****

*****Prehistoric fantasy *****Medieval fantasy *****

****Low fantasy ****Urban fantasy *****Paranormal romance ***By theme ****Comic fantasy ****Contemporary fantasy ****Dark fantasy ****Fantasy of manners ****

****Magic realism ****Mythic fiction, Mythic ****Paranormal fiction#Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal fantasy ****Shenmo, Shenmo fantasy ****Superhero fantasy ****Sword and sorcery **Horror fiction, Horror ***Body horror ****Splatterpunk ***Erotic horror, Erotic ***Gothic fiction ****Southern Gothic ***Psychological horror, Psychological ***Supernatural horror, Supernatural / paranormal ****Cosmic horror, Cosmic (Lovecraftian horror, Lovecraftian) ****

****Monster literature *****Jiangshi fiction *****Vampire fiction *****Werewolf fiction ****Occult detective fiction, Occult detective **Science fiction ***Alien invasion ***Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, Post-apocalyptic ***Cyberpunk derivatives ****Cyberpunk *****Biopunk *****Nanopunk *****Postcyberpunk ****Steampunk *****Atompunk *****Clockpunk *****Dieselpunk ***Solarpunk, aka Hopepunk ***Dystopian ***Hard science fiction ***Military science fiction ***Parallel universe (fiction), Parallel universe, aka alternative universe ****Alternate history, Alternative history ***LitRPG ***Scientific romance ***Social science fiction ***Soft science fiction ***Space opera ***portal fantasy aka Isekai and Accidental travel **Speculative cross-genre fiction ***Bizarro fiction ***Climate fiction (cli-fi) ***Dying Earth (subgenre), Dying Earth ***Science fantasy ****Planetary romance *****Sword and planet ***Slipstream (genre), Slipstream ***Weird fiction ****New Weird *Suspense fiction **Crime fiction **Detective fiction **Gong'an fiction **Mystery fiction *Thriller (genre), Thriller **Mystery fiction **Legal thriller **Medical thriller **

***Spy fiction **Psychological thriller **

*Tragedy **Melodrama *Urban fiction *Westerns *Women's fiction **Chick lit **Class S (genre), Class S **Femslash **Matron literature **Romance novel **Yaoi **Yuri (genre), Yuri *Workplace tell-all *General cross-genre **

**Juvenile fantasy **LGBT pulp fiction ***Gay male pulp fiction ***Lesbian pulp fiction ***Lesbianism in erotica, Lesbian erotica fiction **Paranormal romance **Romantic fantasy **Tragicomedy

Other nonfiction genres

These are genres belonging to the realm of

. Some genres listed may reappear throughout the list, indicating cross-genre status. *Biography **Memoir ***Autobiography ****Slave narrative ****Spiritual autobiography ***

****Slave narrative#Contemporary slave narratives, Contemporary slave narrative ****Slave narrative#Neo-slave narratives, Neo-slave narrative *Literary criticism, Commentary *Creative nonfiction *Critique **Canonical criticism **Form criticism **Higher criticism **Historical criticism **Lower criticism **Narrative criticism **Postmodern criticism **Psychological criticism **Redaction criticism **Rhetorical criticism **Social criticism **Source criticism **Textual criticism *Cult literature *Diary, Diaries and journals *Didactic **Dialectic **Rabbinic **Aporia, Aporetic **Elenctic *Erotic literature *Essay, treatise *History **Academic history **Genealogy **Narrative **People's history **Popular history **Official history **Narrative history **Whig history *Lament *Law **Ceremonial **Family **Levitical **Moral **Natural **Decree, Royal decree **Social *Letter (message), Letter *Manuscript *Philosophy **Metaphysics **Socratic dialogue *Poetry *Religious text **Apocalyptic literature, Apocalyptic **Apologetics **Chant **Confession (religion), Confession **Covenant (religion), Covenant **Creed **Daily devotional **Epistle ***Pauline epistle ***General epistles, General epistle ***Encyclical **Gospel **Homily **Koan **Lectionary **Liturgy **Mysticism **Occult literature **Prayer **Philosophy ***Philosophical theology ***Philosophy of religion ***Religious epistemology **Prophecy ***Blessing/Curse ***Messiah, Messianic prophecy ***Divination ***Oracle ****Woe oracle ***Prediction ***Vision (spirituality), Vision **Revelation ***General revelation, Natural revelation ***Special revelation **Scripture ***Buddhist texts ****Lotus Sutra ****Tripitaka ***Christian literature ****Apocrypha ****Christian devotional literature ****Christian drama, Christian tragedy ****Encyclical ****New Testament ****Old Testament ****Patristic *****Anti-Nicene *****Post-Nicene ****Psalms *****Imprecatory psalm ****Pseudepigrapha ***Hindu literature ****Bhagavad Gita ****Vedas ***Islamic literature ****Haddith ****Quran ***Jewish literature ****Hebrew poetry (disambiguation), Hebrew poetry **Song ***Dirge ***Hymn **Sutra **Theology ***Apologetics ***Biblical theology ***Cosmology ***Christology ***Ecclesiology ***Eschatology ***Hamartiology ***Pneumatology (Christianity), Pneumatology ***Mariology ***Natural theology ***Soteriology ***Theology proper **Wisdom literature *Scientific writing *Testament (disambiguation), Testament *True crime

References

{{Narrative Literary genres, * Literature lists, Genres Literature by genre, * Writing-related lists, Genres