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JuliePgh
05-31-2005, 06:27 PM
What exactly is mainstream fiction? Does SF&F fall under that heading?
Aconite
05-31-2005, 06:38 PM
What exactly is mainstream fiction? Does SF&F fall under that heading?

"Mainstream" is most often used to mean "not genre." "Genre" is SF, mystery, romance, etc. Crossover is common, and heated debate rages over which category certain works fall into and what the defining elements are.
maestrowork
05-31-2005, 06:45 PM
Mainstream is often plot-driven stories about ordinary people in ordinary situations doing extraordinary things. There is "Mainstream/contemporary" which is set in modern times and societies. "Mainstream/historical" is set in the past. Some mainstreams have crossover elements such as the supernatural, mystery, romance, etc. but these elements are not central to the stories.

SF&F is considered genres.