Exploring the Lesser Explored with Unconventional Literary Genres – Written by Annalise Healey

Sometimes, it can feel like every idea you have or every story you write is just a new iteration of something that has already been done a million times before. Other times, it may feel like you just haven’t found the right genre for you, with nothing quite fitting perfectly. If any of this applies to you, you’re in the right place! In this blog, we’ll be uncovering a range of quirky literary genres that may be just what you’re looking for to explain your unique story. Without further ado, let’s dive right in! 

• Ergodic Literature: This unique form of writing asks readers to go beyond just reading a text, with the inclusion of puzzles and codes to be solved or an unconventional structure that has readers flipping back and forth between pages, as examples. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski is a published example of this text type.
• Gonzo Journalism: Whilst often referring to journalism, this style of writing has also been seen in fictional works. It involves the reporter directly inserting themself into the reporting, highlighting subjectivity as the reporter doesn’t just report what they see and hear, but are instead active participants in events. It has strong potential to be paired with unreliable narrators or other distinctive textual elements and techniques. A key author in this genre is Hunter S. Thompson (reader discretion advised for these texts).
• Bangsian Fantasy: This genre features the afterlife as a main setting, giving second chances to characters who have passed away. Works in this genre often use satire and humour to explore existential and real-world questions of mortality and morality. The anthology Heroes in Hell is based on this premise. 
• Weird Western: This is a combination of the Western genre with one or more other genres, such as fantasy, horror or science fiction. It can be further divided into many subgenres depending on the genres it mashes. Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series is an example of this genre, combining Western with the other above listed genres.
• Punk:
  • Mythpunk: This genre sees myths and folklore combined with modern concepts and aspects. With ‘punk’ meaning breaking or re-building, this is all about breaking myths and re-imagining them under a new light. Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente is a rich example of this genre, featuring Russian folklore.
  • Hope Punk: Often considered the opposite of grimdark (which sees fantasy and horror combined), this genre forefronts fights for positive change and optimism. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers is an award-nominee text fitting this genre.
  • Biopunk: This science fiction subgenre stems from cyberpunk, but adds a unique twist in being concerned with biotechnology (such as genetic engineering) and bioethics over information technology or mechanical cyberware. It examines the ethical implications of rapid advancements in these areas, proving relevant to today’s world. A well-known example of this is Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.
  • Solarpunk: This genre sees nature and technology co-existing, and presents an optimistic view of what the world might be like if climate change action is achieved. It promotes activism and accountability, and holds much significance to contemporary societies. Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Dispossessed is an example text of the solarpunk genre. 
• Climate Fiction (cli-fi): Similar to solarpunk, this genre concerns the impact of climate change. It may imagine better or worse worlds that address climate concerns. It unites environmental science with humanities and accountability. War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi is a powerful example of this genre. 
• Eco-fiction: This genre also focuses on environmental themes, and sometimes includes elements of fantasy or science fiction. It examines the relationship between humanity and aspects of the environment. An example is The Overstory by Richard Powers.
• Slipstream: Texts of this genre defy categorisation to other genres or narrative forms. It is said to explore the space between the known and unknown, merging speculative fiction aspects like fantasy and science fiction. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami is often regarded to fulfill this genre. 
• Fabulism: Fantastical elements are overlapped with the everyday. It is used to provide a new lens through which to view real-world questions or approach taboo subjects. It promotes seeing magic in the everyday experiences lived by humans. Eva Luna by Isabel Allende is an example novel.
• Mundane Science Fiction/Hard Science Fiction: Pushing scientific accuracy and plausibility, this genre defies typical science fiction. It incorporates pre-existing technology and discusses and/or criticises their potential, rather than featuring created technologies like time or space travel. The well-known The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is a powerful example of this genre. 
• Afrofuturism: This genre combines Black history and culture with speculative genres like fantasy, science fiction and more. It examines Black identity, agency, and reimagined histories. The Deep by Rivers Solomon is an influential text of this genre.
• Techno-thriller: This intersection of genre combines technology, suspense and speculative elements. The writing style demands deep knowledge of aspects of technology, politics, systems and history. Details are key to exploring technological realism and ethics whilst keeping readers engaged in a driving plot. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton is commonly regarded to fit this genre.
• Conglanging Fiction: A conlang is a constructed language, and implementing or featuring it in a novel can fulfil this genre. Star Trek (the movies and novels) features different conlangs. 
• Isekai: This genre sees an Earth-dwelling and born human transported to a parallel fantasy world. This genre is very popular in manga and anime. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis is perhaps the most well-known text in this genre.
• Literary Role-Playing Game (LitRPG): This fictional genre explicitly incorporates elements of role-playing games like levels, quests and character stats into the science fiction or fantasy narrative. He Who Fights With Monsters by Shirtaloon is an award-winning text in this genre.
• Prehistoric Fiction: As the name suggests, this sees a narrative set in prehistoric times. It transports readers to a time so vastly different to how life is nowadays, exploring civilisation at its earliest beginnings. Jean M. Auel’s Earth’s Children series is an example, being set in the Ice Age. 
• Wuxia: This is a segment of Chinese fiction that focuses on the lives and adventures of martial artists in ancient China. It is not just about the fighting, with moral concepts like justice and honour being critically analysed and forefronted. A Hero Born by Jin Yong (translated into English) is an example novel in this genre. 
• Archeo-fiction: Think archeology combined with fiction! Mystery (of the past) is central. Works may be set in modern times, ancient times or even flick back and forth between these as the story explores the lives of those making the discoveries and those living in the time from when these discoveries are from. The many texts of Kathy Reichs, whilst primarily focused on forensic anthropology, feature moments of archeology. 
• Found Footage: Whilst more of a technique, structurally the story is presented as a series of discovered documents or other media. The anthology Dead Letters: Episodes of Epistolary Horror is a rich example, featuring video games, podcast transcripts and much more. 

So, there you have it! This has been a quick peek into a few lesser known genres, many of which hold great significance and relevance to our contemporary societies, no matter where in the world you are. Dare to step outside of the familiar and add a unique twist and personal touch to your next work in progress by experimenting in one or more of these genres, or use this as inspiration to guide your own research into other lesser known genres. It’s time to get writing!

*Disclaimer: the author of this blog post has not read all of the suggested texts. Therefore, they cannot attest to their literary value or contents. Reader discretion is advised when approaching these texts. 

This blog post was written by Annalise Healey.