The Greatest Literature by Genre
A genre is really just a kind of something. When that something is literature, a genre is a kind of literature, indicating any of the categories a written works can be placed into. This may include a literary category for refined works, but usually readers and booksellers reserve the term "genre" for popular fiction more narrowly focused on specific elements of literature.
So a story in the mystery genre is expected to focus on the solving of a mystery. A narrative in the science fiction genre usually focuses on speculation involving science and technology. A work in the horror genre presents material intended to horrify the reader. And so on.
Genres can be further divided into subgenres that tighten the focus even more. So a science fiction novel speculating on a dismal future is classed in the dystopian subgenre. One that speculates on what the world might be like if past events had happened differently is in the alternative history subgenre.
Note also that these genres and subgenres can overlap, so you may find the same title on two or more of these Greatest lists.
So far, eighteen such lists have been created under the following categories:
Adventure
• Adventure Fiction—the greatest major works of fictional adventure literature.
Alternative History
• Alternative History Literature—the greatest major works of alternate or alternative history literature.
Crime and Mystery
• Crime and Mystery Literature—the greatest major works of crime, detective or mystery fiction.
• Crime and Mystery Series—the greatest crime, detective or mystery series.
• Crime and Mystery Stories—the greatest short stories of crime, detection or mystery.
Fantasy
• Fantasy Literature—the greatest major works of fantasy literature.
• Fantasy Series—the greatest fantasy series.
• Fantasy Stories—the greatest fantasy short stories.
Historical Fiction
• Historical Fiction—the greatest major works of historical fiction.
• Historical Fiction Series—the greatest series of historical novels and novellas.
Horror
• Horror Literature—the greatest major works of horror literature.
• Horror Stories—the greatest short stories of horror.
Philosophical Fiction
• Philosophical Fiction—the greatest works of philosophical novels, plays and novellas.
Romance
• Romance Literature—the greatest major works of romance literature.
Science Fiction
• Science Fiction—the greatest major works of speculative or science fiction.
• Science Fiction Series—the greatest series of speculative or science fiction novels.
• Science Fiction Stories—the greatest speculative or science short stories.
Thrillers
• Thrillers—the greatest works of thrilling fiction.
Still more genres and subgenres to come.
