As an Ultimate Book Guru (read small-town librarian), I’ve found myself explaining a lot about some of the different science fiction sub-genres lately.  Sub-genres have always existed in science fiction, but the last few years has seen an upsurge in specific genres and fans are getting very particular about what fits and what doesn’t.  So if you’re not familiar, and even if you are but want a refresher, here’s crash course in some of the sub genres that are popular and important today. 

Hard and Soft

Let’s start with the basics. If you’re an experienced geek you’ve probably heard Sci-fi referred to as either hard or soft.  In many ways these terms are pretty straight forward.  “Hard” science fiction centers on the science or technology.  The formula is pretty simple:

Plot= New Tech or Science concept + Disastrous consequences

Examples would be Ben Bova’s Grand Tour of the Universe, Issac Azimov’s writings, 2001 A Space Oddessy by Arthur C Clarke. 

In “Soft” science fiction the story focuses on the characters but takes place in a setting that it “otherworld.”  Like Hard Science Fiction, they take place in a futuristic or alternate world that has technology, magic, or science that we do not, but the story itself is about the character’s journey through that world, not about the science’s effect on the world.  Another term is “Space Opera” because the story takes place in space but the drama and plot could take place in nearly
any setting. 

Examples:  Star Wars
series, Flash Forward by Robert J Sawyer, John Carter series (Barsoom series) by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Doctor Who TV show, Firefly TV show, Dune series by Frank Herbert

Cyberpunk

First introduced in the 1980s as a response to the beginning of computers becoming a fixture in homes and businesses.  It typically revolves around in individual, or group of individuals, usually nerdy teen boys, that take on a government or corporate mogul by using their hacker skills. 
The “punk” part is in reference to the fact that the protagonist is usually some kind of hacker and doesn’t fall into the traditional “hero” archetype.  Many books also crossover with dystopian
fiction (more on that later) where technology is controlled by government or corporations and the MC must figure out how to use their tech against them.

Examples: Nuromancer (Sprawl trilogy) by William Gibson, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Phillip K Dick, Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson (as well as several of his other books), Little Brother by Cory Doctorow and Ready Player One by Earnest Cline, War Games movie

Steampunk

This genre has been getting a lot of attention lately.  It’s also often referred to as “Victorian Science Fiction” or “Victorian What If.” It typically takes place in the Victorian Era in the mid to late 1800s.  It envisions modern technology powered by steam or clockwork (see also clockpunk).  It also often employs an urban fantasy element by involving supernatural creatures such as vampires and werewolves.  And alternate setting is in the American Old West, essentially cowboys with steam power (and maybe vampires). 

Examples:  Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carringer, Infernal Devices series by Cassandra
Clare (also qualifies as Clockpunk), League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series, and The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade, Sherlock Holmes series (new moves), Wild Wild West movie, Brisco County Jr. TV show

Clockpunk

Often paired with Steampunk, it typically takes place in the same time period and focuses on clockwork tech instead of steam. 

Examples: Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare, Hellboy comics, and The Clockwork Century series by Cherie Priest

Biopunk

Often paired with Cyberpunk and Dystopian fiction.  It can take place in the past or present, but
is most often in a future where the world has been ravaged by some kind of biological disaster.  Main characters are often fighting either a disease, or a corrupt government or cooperation using
biological weapons against the common people. It’s also been popular to pair this with zombie stories where in the zombies are created by a disease that has gotten out of control. 

Examples: The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi, Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson, Feed by Mira Grant (crossover with Cyberpunk), Rot and Ruin series by Jonathan Mayberry, I am Legend by Richard Matheson

Urban Fantasy

Probably one of the most popular current genres.  As the name suggests it is normally set in a
large urban setting like New York City or LA. However, some are set in a small rural community.  Stories contain supernatural and fantasy elements (think werewolves, vampires, demons, etc). 

Examples: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer,  Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris (True Blood TV show), Accidental Demon Slayer series by Angie Fox, Shades of Fury series by Kasey Mackenzie, Sabina Kane series by Jaye Wells, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel TV shows

Epic Fantasy

After Hard and Soft Sci-Fi this is probably one of the oldest and most common genres.  It takes place in a distant past or alternate world where magic and supernatural powers reign.  Also sometimes called “Sword and Sorcery” because that’s pretty much the basic of the plot.  These are usually long, drawn out series, they take place over years and book series are at least three books long but typically can go ten or more books. 

Examples:  Song of Ice and Fire series by George RR Martin (Game of Thrones), Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan, Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind (Legend of the Seeker),  Harry Potter series by J K Rowling, Xena and Hercules TV shows, Lord of the Rings by Tolkien, Beastmaster by Andre Norton (and TV show and movies)

Dystopia/Utopia

Another genre getting a lot of attention lately due to a trend in YA literature.  Dystopias normally
take place in a post disaster world. War, bombing, or disease has destroyed everything and the characters must find ways to survive. 

Alternately, characters can live in a seemingly perfect society, one where everything appears to be a paradise (Utopia) but as the main characters will discover, the seeming perfection is far from it and they must either escape, or fight against the cruel system. 

Examples: The Giver by Lois Lowry, Logan’s Run by William F Nolan, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Matched by Ally Condie

Have more examples? Feel free to comment and add to the list.

If you want to learn more about these genres or see what else I’m reading  follow me on twitter or GoodReads @LadyDamonayde

So if you've been following me or Auntie Heather at all on twitter you know I got an ARC of her newest book #Soulbound. It's the first book in a brand new series called Legacy of Tril. 

Trill is a mythic land where most people live simple lives, but there is a secret sect of people gifted with special powers. They are called the Skilled and divided into two groups, Barrons and Healers.  The Skilled have been secretly at war with a tyrant for generations.

Enter Kaya. Raised by Barrons who defected from the war she is forced to join the ranks of the Skilled as a Healer.  Healer’s are supposed to be bound to only one Barron, and hers had died, so she is given a new Barron.  There’s only one problem:  Healers are never allowed to fight and all Kaya wants is to be able to defend herself.  When her own Barron refuses to train her she secretly arranges for another instructor, and unskilled trainer who is her own Barron’s mentor.  

Honestly, I was blown away by this book.  First of all, the cover is amazing.  I don’t know
who at Dial publishing designed it, but seriously, awesome job. 

I love Kaya, she comes alive on the first page and never falters.  Normally angsty teen drama gets a little overdone but Kaya is perfectly balanced. Trayton and Darius are awesome leading men and I honestly can’t decide which one I want to win in the end. Maddox is by far my favorite character, she’s fun and full of life and a great companion for Kaya.  And the ending…OMG!

Okay,don’t want to give away anything else, but I WILL be giving away thisbook.  It almost makes me sad to part with it, it’s that awesome, but I have to share the joy. 

This is my first contest and this blog is pretty small so I’m gonna keep it simple,
leave a comment, and some way to contact you (via email or twitter preferably)
and I’ll arrange a drawing and pick a winner. 

In honor of it being a leap year I’ll run this till the 29^th of February. Gives everyone time to get in a spread the word.  So good luck to everyone! Can’t wait to see how this turns out!