Genreflecting: A Guide to Reading Interests in Genre Fiction (Genreflecting Advisory Series) - Hardcover

Herald, Diana Tixier; Rosenberg, Betty

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 156308354X ISBN 13: 9781563083549

Publisher: Libraries Unltd Inc, 1995

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author

DIANA TIXIER HERALD, a former readers' advisory librarian, is a consultant and lecturer from Grand Junction, Colorado, who specializes in genre fiction. She currently serves as Chair of the ALA Young Adult Services Association Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Committee and has been elected to the Margaret A. Edwards Committee.

Reviews

Genreflecting, in its fourth edition, is still a good book for all libraries that serve fiction readers. Most librarians depend on this title to cover such popular genres as crime, adventure, romance, science fiction, fantasy, and horror, defining each along with its many subgenres and listing good books in each category.

Much material remains unchanged from the third edition (1991), but new features include the subgenre "Legal Thriller" ; the division of "Thriller" into "Crime" and "Adventure" ; and more diversity in detectives of various cultures and persuasions, reflecting this situation in the novels themselves. Another new feature is "D's Picks," in which the author, a life-long reader of genre fiction, shares her favorite titles in each genre. A sampling of the chapter on Westerns revealed 33 authors or titles dropped in this edition (older titles not likely to be available in libraries) and 13 added. New sections are "Precontact Indians" and "Inspirational Westerns," while "Cowboy Songs" and "Horse Operas" (books about cowboy films) were dropped.

Although Genreflecting was originally designed for library school students familiarizing themselves with genre fiction, the work is perfect for librarians and patrons searching for "good reads." Besides information on authors and titles, there is background material on each genre (anthologies, bibliographies and encyclopedias, history and criticism, organizations, publishers, etc.). Highly recommended where information on genre fiction is sought.

Edition details

• Publisher: Libraries Unltd Inc
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 156308354X
• ISBN 13: 9781563083549
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 367