Squirrely little thing...genre question

jenelcc · May 6, 2011

It seems like there must be an obvious answer to this, but it's taxing my brain so I thought I'd ask y'all for help.

My current WIP is about a group of teens with enhanced mental and emotional abilities, a low key "super hero" type story. Technically, since these abilities initially came through a science experiment I guess this is science fiction. However, other than some cool gadgets, it's the only science fiction element, making me uncomfortable with the science fiction genre label.

I've also wondered if the urban fantasy label could apply since these are kids running around in modern day Washington, D.C.

In tone the book reads (I think) like a straight up adventure story with a twist.

Don't get me wrong I know genre isn't the be all end all of a book, but it does seem like something I should have straight as I start to think about pitches and query letters.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

cameron_chapman · May 6, 2011

To me, superhero almost always = sci-fi, not fantasy. I'm sure I could find exceptions to that rule, but I just don't think of traditional superheroes as fantasy. Virtually every major superhero in existence is the result of something much more sci-fi than fantasy (Superman = alien, Spiderman = spider bite, Batman = gadgets, etc.).

feather · May 6, 2011

Sci-fi or adventure. If the only thing seperating it from normal adventure stories is the superhero twist, I would say adventure, even with some sci-fi elements (just look at James Bond).

Liosse de Velishaf · May 6, 2011

Probably YA adventure or YA science fiction. I would not call it fantasy.

Your premise reminds me a bit of Maximum Ride by James Patterson(not recommending it, just pointing out the similarity), which is generally labeled YA science fiction.

lbender · May 6, 2011

It's what used to be called soft science fiction...involving psychic mental and/or emotional abilities.

Satchan · May 6, 2011

Reminds me a bit of Scott Westerfeld's Midnighters series, which is usually referred to as YA science fiction. I don't think I'd call it fantasy, though...that implies there's magic involved.

HobbitTon · May 6, 2011

I would not call it fantasy. Just be sure to keep in mind that one genre might not be advantageous over another.

ChaosTitan · May 6, 2011

Keep in mind: just because the protagonists are teenagers, the book is not necessarily YA. There's more to YA than just the age of the characters.

That said, superheroes is a bit of an iffy, cross-genre animal. The eventual classification will depend a lot on the execution of the story. If their powers are important and you've got a modern setting, you could probably get away with calling it contemporary fantasy.

I have a superhero series debuting in the fall (see avatar), and it's being marketed to urban fantasy fans because I have similar tropes (female first person POV, a little bit of romance), but it is very much a superhero story in the vein of X-Men and "Heroes." I don't personally call it UF; I kind of like contemporary fantasy for it.

You also mentioned that this is your WIP. So you have time to figure out the specific genre. Query letters and pitches will come after you've written and edited the finished manuscript to a lovely shine.

jenelcc · May 6, 2011

ChaosTitan said:
Keep in mind: just because the protagonists are teenagers, the book is not necessarily YA. There's more to YA than just the age of the characters.

That said, superheroes is a bit of an iffy, cross-genre animal. The eventual classification will depend a lot on the execution of the story. If their powers are important and you've got a modern setting, you could probably get away with calling it contemporary fantasy.

I have a superhero series debuting in the fall (see avatar), and it's being marketed to urban fantasy fans because I have similar tropes (female first person POV, a little bit of romance), but it is very much a superhero story in the vein of X-Men and "Heroes." I don't personally call it UF; I kind of like contemporary fantasy for it.

You also mentioned that this is your WIP. So you have time to figure out the specific genre. Query letters and pitches will come after you've written and edited the finished manuscript to a lovely shine.

This is a book I'll definitely have to check out.

Everyone's comments are great, but this really hits the nail on the head. I have a split POV between the male and female character MC's, a very contemporary setting, and there is a bit of a romantic plot line though it is secondary to the adventure storyline. It sounds like the best answer is just to call it a YA Adventure novel and then give a short description. [btw, I should have mentioned that it is a novel specifically for the YA market. I do have that part figured out at least.]

While it is my WIP, it's getting close and I may have a bit of a marketing opportunity coming up, so I just wanted to be prepared to talk about the thing in some semi-intelligent way if needed.

Thanks again to everyone.

froley · May 6, 2011

Maybe speculative fiction is good label for it.

Science fiction is more about the philosophy of the work. If science isn't a major element of the plot, or if the focus is more on adventure than science and its ethical repercussions, then it probably isn't science fiction.

Carradee · May 7, 2011

lbender said:
It's what used to be called soft science fiction...involving psychic mental and/or emotional abilities.

I've never heard that definition for "soft" science-fiction.

I've heard "soft" sci-fi defined as sci-fi focused as sci-fi based in the "soft" sciences (sociology, biology, etc—pretty much, not physics, cosmology, geology, or chemistry). I've also heard it defined as sci-fi that isn't focused on the science, while pulling the science out of a "hard" sci-fi story is the death of the story.

On-topic, consider what it most resembles that's on the shelf. Look how that's classified.

jenelcc · May 7, 2011

froley said:
If science isn't a major element of the plot, or if the focus is more on adventure than science and its ethical repercussions, then it probably isn't science fiction.

Yeah, that's how I've understood it as well, which is why I've been reluctant to call it science fiction. Thanks for the feedback.

I have to admit, if nothing else, all of the different opinions and advice on here make me feel better about not being sure of it myself.

Squirrely little thing...genre question

jenelcc

A good kind of crazy

cameron_chapman

Makes Things Up

feather

Liosse de Velishaf

lbender

Satchan

Cake or death?

HobbitTon

ChaosTitan

Around

jenelcc

A good kind of crazy

froley

Carradee

practical experience, FTW

jenelcc

A good kind of crazy