I go through phases with different genres and eras, but I always come back to speculative fiction, mostly science fiction and fantasy (and a dash of horror). Lately I’ve been reading a lot of science fiction shorts and really loving them. It inspires me to get more of that intense speculative imagination into my fantasy writing.
I have to pick one, huh? Just one?
That’s…hmmm.
I read all over the place so I’m struggling to pick a favorite. I have a soft spot of sci-fi, especially speculative fiction/dystopian stories that include sci-fi elements. I love the mashup of contemporary and fantasy stories that urban fantasy provides. I find myself reading Grisham-type suspense novels or King-variety horror on vacations.
But a favorite?
I guess the common element for all of those is action/adventure, though that’s not the primary genre for the stories themselves. Does that count?
Urban Fantasy. I honestly just discovered it was my favorite genre last year. I hadn’t realized that the books I had enjoyed the most were Urban Fantasy. Now I try to devour as many books in the genre as I can. lol
Dan, you’re too cruel. I can’t pick just one. I love fantasy and all it’s sub-genres and spec fic too much to pick just one. That’s like asking me to choose my favorite child!
Romance, but that is such an enormous category, so let me specify better: love stories with meaning. Not the typical fluff for escapism but something with a political, moral or dramatic element of some kind to it. And that’s what I write as well. 🙂
I love horror and have done since a kid but I also love fantasy, urban or otherwise, not keen on high fantasy. It`s all those “thee” and “thou”. Also, sci-fi, Oh God, should have told you what I don`t like. Romance. Normal girl meets normal boy meets obstacles to their love, the end.
Pretty much anything that’s the equivalent of mental Cheetos. Reading is as close to a vacation as I get…so I don’t want to waste it by thinking too hard.
If I had to pick one it would be historical (and that often leads into Classic lit. I’m usually most happy reading thing that balance a lot of elements, especial humor, romance, mystery, action, and suspense). See. Simple. 🙂
I write fiction, but I love reading history. Historical figures can’t be as controlled as fictional characters so they often surprise and delight me more. Plus, as a workaholic I can rationalize reading history as research for the next novel.
Great question, Dan. As for reading enjoyment, I read mostly in the speculative fiction realms, from horror to science fiction to fantasy (and, of course, there are all kinds of subgenres within). But I also really enjoy biography, certain nonfiction topics [e.g., writing, humor/satire, social issues, medicine/virology, science], poetry, plays, and so-called literary fiction. My humble opinion is that, to be a better writer, I have to read in other genres outside the one I write in (predominately). I find things I enjoy in every genre, honestly, from romance to mystery to historical fiction and way beyond. The only genres I can’t remember ever having read a novel in is Westerns, and I haven’t read some of the world’s ‘other cultures’ great literature either, such as Tolstoy.
I agree that you need to/ought to read outside “your genre,” if only because so many elements of other genres are present in any great story. Reading them allows you to see a bucket of paint and dip your brush in to color your own work.
DAN ALATORRE
35 replies on “What genre do you enjoy reading the most?”
Fiction;
Fantasy- as audio books (there are some amazing readers out there)
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There sure are!
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I go through phases with different genres and eras, but I always come back to speculative fiction, mostly science fiction and fantasy (and a dash of horror). Lately I’ve been reading a lot of science fiction shorts and really loving them. It inspires me to get more of that intense speculative imagination into my fantasy writing.
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Awesome.
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I have to pick one, huh? Just one?
That’s…hmmm.
I read all over the place so I’m struggling to pick a favorite. I have a soft spot of sci-fi, especially speculative fiction/dystopian stories that include sci-fi elements. I love the mashup of contemporary and fantasy stories that urban fantasy provides. I find myself reading Grisham-type suspense novels or King-variety horror on vacations.
But a favorite?
I guess the common element for all of those is action/adventure, though that’s not the primary genre for the stories themselves. Does that count?
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Sure!
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Non fiction.
Followed by Action/Adventure type stories. Usually suspenseful but not suspense as the purpose, if that makes sense.
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I read a lot of nonfiction.
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Urban Fantasy. I honestly just discovered it was my favorite genre last year. I hadn’t realized that the books I had enjoyed the most were Urban Fantasy. Now I try to devour as many books in the genre as I can. lol
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Oh, do we have some authors for you!
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Please share!
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Stay tuned. They’ll be appearing in our video show.
Some have done guest posts, though.
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Dan, you’re too cruel. I can’t pick just one. I love fantasy and all it’s sub-genres and spec fic too much to pick just one. That’s like asking me to choose my favorite child!
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Cruel is my thing today I guess.
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I enjoy reading romance. However, I spend ten times more time reading non-fiction… but that’s my job so you can’t hold it against me!
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That’s fair.
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Romance, but that is such an enormous category, so let me specify better: love stories with meaning. Not the typical fluff for escapism but something with a political, moral or dramatic element of some kind to it. And that’s what I write as well. 🙂
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I like it when a broad Chandra brings in elements of other genres. I think it makes it much more interesting
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Genre mostly…
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So much to choose from, it would probably be best to say what I don’t like reading….Mills & Boon springs to mind..ooops showing my age 😉
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Ha! Maybe say you’re retro.
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I love horror and have done since a kid but I also love fantasy, urban or otherwise, not keen on high fantasy. It`s all those “thee” and “thou”. Also, sci-fi, Oh God, should have told you what I don`t like. Romance. Normal girl meets normal boy meets obstacles to their love, the end.
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When they are done well, any genre is interesting, that’s for sure. One of these days I’m going to write a horror story. One of these days…
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Detective/Mystery/anything by Stephen King.
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Good selections. Mr. King has done well for a lot of happy readers!
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Pretty much anything that’s the equivalent of mental Cheetos. Reading is as close to a vacation as I get…so I don’t want to waste it by thinking too hard.
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If I had to pick one it would be historical (and that often leads into Classic lit. I’m usually most happy reading thing that balance a lot of elements, especial humor, romance, mystery, action, and suspense). See. Simple. 🙂
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I like historical fiction sometimes. In fact, I like just about anything when it’s well done.
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Good point!
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I write fiction, but I love reading history. Historical figures can’t be as controlled as fictional characters so they often surprise and delight me more. Plus, as a workaholic I can rationalize reading history as research for the next novel.
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Where would we be without rationalizations?
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I’m rationalizing being on WordPress right now as “my coffee break” of which I’ve already had three . . .
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WordPress is research. Totally worthy of his many coffee breaks as you can give it. Especially my blog.
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Great question, Dan. As for reading enjoyment, I read mostly in the speculative fiction realms, from horror to science fiction to fantasy (and, of course, there are all kinds of subgenres within). But I also really enjoy biography, certain nonfiction topics [e.g., writing, humor/satire, social issues, medicine/virology, science], poetry, plays, and so-called literary fiction. My humble opinion is that, to be a better writer, I have to read in other genres outside the one I write in (predominately). I find things I enjoy in every genre, honestly, from romance to mystery to historical fiction and way beyond. The only genres I can’t remember ever having read a novel in is Westerns, and I haven’t read some of the world’s ‘other cultures’ great literature either, such as Tolstoy.
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The classics never go out of style.
I agree that you need to/ought to read outside “your genre,” if only because so many elements of other genres are present in any great story. Reading them allows you to see a bucket of paint and dip your brush in to color your own work.
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