Genreflecting: A Guide to Reading Interests in Genre Fiction

by Diana Tixier Herald

A textbook for library students and reference for public librarians and booksellers to books people read voraciously just for entertainment, including westerns, crime novels, adventure, romance, science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Defines each genre, describes its characteristics and subgenres, groups authors according to type or subject, and provides a selective annotated bibliography of the history and criticism of each genre. First published in 1991 and here updated with new authors, series characters, titles, the new legal thriller genre, and the increasing ethnic and sexual diversity of sleuths. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing

367 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1995

About the author

I've had a lifelong passion for fiction and for putting people together with books. I never learned how to read, I just knew how from a very young age. I was thrilled to start kindergarten since I was sure I would find some books I hadn't read yet. I usually read between 300 and 500 books a year, mostly science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thrillers, romance, historical,and YA.

I write books about books. I get so much pleasure out of reading I want to share great reads with others. I started a web page in 1996 to serve as an update to my books or a preview to future editions. Many of my GoodReads reviews are drafts of the annotations I will be using in future editions of Genreflecting, Teen Genreflecting, Fluent in Fantasy, Strictly Science Fiction, or the yet unnamed guide to paranormal fiction.

My husband and I live in a sustainable earthship home we built on the edge of a remote Rocky Mountain canyon. We have 2 adult bio-kids and several who joined our family through fostering. We have grandchildren who love to read, too. Yay!

Reviews

[Cheryl]

Honestly, with Goodreads' Groups, Listopia, and recommendation features (both by algorithm and by request from the community), a book like this isn't necessary. Maybe slightly more so for librarians than for readers like me, but, yeah, a skim of my favorite sections gave me no titles of interest.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I'd been able to find a more current edition, but this gave great background on different genres, and titles/authors to recommend.