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Categorizing of fiction books... Phelix Send a noteboard - 21/12/2009 07:42:29 AM
So, the other day, I was browsing in Barnes and Noble, and decided that since I couldn't find anything in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section, I would look in the "Fiction/Literature" section, and oddly, I found a shelf full of vampire books.

The one I picked up was 13 Bullets, by David Wellington, and it is damned enjoyable so far. The protagonist is interesting (Lesbian state patrol trooper who rescues greyhounds), the side characters are also interesting, and the villains are delicious... well, the primary villain is great, her flunkies are hit or miss.

There are vampires, mentions of werewolves, half-dead slaves, and quotes from obscure literary works that reference vampires... all in all, it's a great modern fantasy read.

Which makes where I found it all the more interesting. The book was published in 2003, and there are sequels that have been published in the intervening years. He has also published several books online in related zones (zombies, werewolves, and monsters).

He is clearly writing Fantasy books, but they are sitting on the shelf in the Literature section... so, I am wondering if they have correctly classified his books.

What do you think? Should his books be literature, or should they be reshelved? Where is the line between Fantasy and Literature?
I was Phelix on wotmania, I will always be Phelix in the "real" world, and now I am Phelix on RAFO.

You will make all kinds of mistakes; but as long as you are generous and true and also fierce you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her.- Churchill

*MySmiley*
13 bullets online in serial format
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Categorizing of fiction books... - 21/12/2009 07:42:29 AM 991 Views
There isn't one. - 21/12/2009 11:40:31 AM 682 Views
I guess you have a point... - 21/12/2009 09:51:54 PM 649 Views
This is down to the USA not having a separate horror section, I believe. - 22/12/2009 03:25:04 AM 678 Views
Um...? - 22/12/2009 04:08:50 AM 691 Views
That is not standard in all the larger bookstore chains... Barnes & Noble and Borders in particular. - 22/12/2009 02:53:13 PM 676 Views
So why does King get to be "literature"... - 22/12/2009 07:31:14 PM 679 Views
Most likely because of the money and movies associated with his name... - 22/12/2009 07:46:14 PM 616 Views
So exposure makes something literary? - 22/12/2009 08:06:27 PM 666 Views
Nope... just where it gets shelved in a book megastore. - 22/12/2009 08:41:56 PM 639 Views
Interesting. - 22/12/2009 08:46:23 PM 808 Views
I have always seen King in the horror section, never in literature. *shrugs* - 23/12/2009 04:06:47 AM 565 Views
Huh. - 23/12/2009 03:11:58 AM 675 Views
Pretty sure Barnes & Noble has horror. *NM* - 23/12/2009 03:34:57 AM 275 Views
Every Borders I have ever been in has a horror section. - 23/12/2009 04:05:25 AM 660 Views
Whoa, dude. We've been in a Borders together! *NM* - 23/12/2009 03:43:11 PM 386 Views
It's true! (you might want to get tested... the last girl I went to Borders with had warts. ) *NM* - 23/12/2009 05:20:54 PM 325 Views
LOL! I miss you, baby! *NM* - 24/12/2009 03:28:16 AM 309 Views
Miss you too sugar. - 24/12/2009 03:31:04 AM 666 Views
You never do! - 24/12/2009 11:52:05 PM 594 Views
It's true, I do. - 25/12/2009 09:09:49 AM 752 Views
You better! - 26/12/2009 11:21:35 PM 608 Views
*crosses heart and swears* - 26/12/2009 11:26:55 PM 737 Views

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