Category Dilemma

[Victoria Martin]

Hello,

I've written a book, and I honestly don't know if I should classify it as science-fiction, horror, or something else altogether. It would go into the same ategory as Stephen King's "Tommyknockers" (and pretend you don't know who Stephen King is!!) His story was about a woman who dug up an alien spacecraft in her backyard. It begins to change her, mentally and physically, into an alien herself. It affects the entire town, ultimately using the humans as batteries for the ship to leave earth. It is clearly not "hard" science-fiction, but with aliens and alien technology involved, it isn't pure horror either. What's the best way to describe it to an editor who asks, "what type of fiction is it?"
Are there any clear category definitions anywhere?
Thanks!

[Cathy C]

Okay, so what's YOUR story about? King's books are generally considered either Horror or Mainstream Fiction (since he took off as a writer, he gets to jump to general fiction.) The elements of your story are what are going to determine the shelving.

[Mya Bell]

If you don't know the genre, maybe you should just mention that readers of A and B would probably enjoy the story, then the agent can decide.

Many books are cross-over books that don't slot neatly into common categories. And I wouldn't be surprised if agents hedge the genre in whatever direction the editor and the current market are leaning in order to make the sale.

--- Mya Bell

[Robert Brown]

I would classify it as horror but seeing that's not politically correct anymore, I'd try paranormal thriller because that seems to be the new, "acceptable" horror classification. Classifications can be tricky. Call it what you think it is and let editors or agent classify it where they will. Mainstream is a tough category, so I'd not call it mainstream. From the description here your book sounds like very King-like, so go for it.

[Victoria Martin]

My story, like King's, is about an alien encounter in a small town. (I was using his story as an example because I thought it might be fairly well known.)
I as ked that you pretend not to know who Stephen King was because he is generally recognized as a master of horror, and this particular book (Tommyknockers)doesn't necessarily fit that category were it to stand apart from his other work. I don't think stories of alien encounters qualify as mainstream either, do they? My story leans more heavily on the human participants, not the technology or the big what-if questions, and is set here on earth in the present day. I am simply trying to write and introductory letter for my manuscript, and I feel a little silly not being able to state exactly what kind of story it tells--not a very auspicious beginning!! Thank you for taking the time to reply.

[Victoria Martin]

That is probably the best way, although I feel it is a little presumptuous to compare myself to the likes of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. It IS their kind of story, but they are infinitely more gifted as writers. Many people have suggested sending a first novel directly to a publisher and trying for an agent if you get a bite (presuming that you can stand to wait the year that is lays in the slush pile.) But whether I approach an agent or a publisher, I thought I would still need to at least open with a letter telling them what sort of book I'd written. (If I could get an agent to actually read the material, I would certainly trust their perceptions of category). You're very right to suggest leaving that in the hands of the experts, provided an expert will give it a look.
Thank you for answering.

[Victoria Martin]

Thank you for answering, Mr. Brown. I wasn't aware that "horror" was no longer a good label. Does "paranormal thriller" encompass elements of science fiction? It certainly sounds closer than anything else. Thanks for the encouragement.

[Joe Zeff]

Tell me, Robert, how would you, personally, categorize The Cask of Amontillado?

[Robert Brown]

Back in Poe's day, publishing was not as it is today. For example, some of his writings were published as series in newspapers, as were many an author's works in those times, although I am not sure about this particular story being published that way. It falls into the short story category first and foremost, and from there you will get a debate going among academics, writers, and fans. I look at this way, if he had constructed it as a full-length novel, what would his focus have been? The murder of Fortunato? The madness of Montresor? Would Montresor have committed more murders eventually? What if the body were found long after Montresor lives a full life free of punishment and then dies--how would the discovery of his heinous crime affect his heirs, the community, and his neighbors? Depending on what Poe would have felt like doing, in today's markets he could have made it into a thriller, possibly a mystery, or maybe even a mainstream.