1. The Top 5 Things to Know in 5 Top Genres
Rebecca Vnuk, ShelfRenewal.com
With special thanks to:
Neil Hollands on Fantasy/Science Fiction
Barry Trott on Crime/Mystery

2. Why do you need to know?
Sometimes, we just need quick answers for patrons who want “a good book”.
Having a brain full of books in different genres makes the RA experience a lot less indimidating!
See Public Libraries Article, “Jack of All Trades Reader’s Advisory”, Jan/Feb 2010 issue.

3. Today’s Categories Are…
Of course, there are any number of genres we could have decided on as “top 5” genres. For this presentation, it’s:
Science Fiction
Fantasy
Women’s Fic
Mystery/Crime
Suspense

4. Today we’ll find out, the top 5:
Must-Know Authors
Must-Know Books
Up-and-comers
Top trends
In each of our genres!

5. Fantasy and Science Fiction: Courtesy of Neil Hollands

6. 5 Classic/Must- Know Fantasy Authors
Lois McMaster Bujold
Neil Gaiman
Terry Pratchett
Robert Jordan
George R. R. Martin

7. Five Must- Know Fantasy Series
Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files, starting with Storm Front
Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series, starting with Dead until Dark
George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, starting with Game of Thrones
J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, starting with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, starting with The Fellowship of the Ring

8. Five Up-and-Coming Fantasy Authors

9. Five Classic/Must-Know Sci-Fi Authors
Philip K. Dick
Isaac Asimov
Arthur C. Clarke
Robert Heinlein
Ray Bradbury

10. Five Must-Know Sci-Fi Books
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Foundation by Isaac Asimov
War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
Dune by Frank Herbert

11. Five Up and Coming Sci-Fi Authors

12. Trends in Fantasy /Science Fiction
Urban fantasy/paranormal fantasy
“Feminism” in Science Fic
Darker, epic stories
Young adult novels leaning more towards SF & Fantasy (dystopia)
Cross-genre work - Classic Mashups; Genre blending

13. Women’s Fiction

14. 5 Must-Know Women's Fiction Authors
Danielle Steel
Barbara Taylor Bradford
Maeve Binchy
Jodi Picoult
Jennifer Weiner

15. 5 Must Know Books in Women’s Fic
5 books that will get you up to speed on what Women’s Fiction is all about:
Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner
Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky
Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews
Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston
Always and Forever by Cathy Kelley

16. Up-and-comers in Women’s Fiction

17. 5 Trends in Women’s Fiction
Crafty Women
Humor
Chick Lit grows up - Bridget gets married, has a baby, is widowed…
Issue-Driven Women’s Fiction
Ensemble Fiction

18. Crime/MYSTERY: Courtesy of Barry Trott

19. 5 Classic Crime/mystery writers:
Dorothy Sayers
Robert B. Parker
P. D. James
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Agatha Christie

20. 5 Must-Know Crime/Mystery Books
Gaudy Night -- Dorothy Sayers
The Mysterious Affair at Styles – Agatha Christie
The Big Sleep – Raymond Chandler
Indemnity Only – Sarah Paretsky
A Morbid Taste for Bones – Ellis Peters

21. Up-and-coming crime/mystery writers:

22. 5 Trends in Crime/Mystery
Paranormal Crime Fiction
Historical Mysteries
Contemporary Cozies
Hobby Mysteries
International settings

23. ARRT Genre Fiction List
Suspense
Suspense Vs Thriller (as opposed to Mystery, or Crime? Even the authoratative sources can’t seem to settle on a definition)
Subgenres abound
ARRT Genre Fiction List

24. Five Must-Know Suspense Authors
Karin Slaughter
Ruth Rendell
Patricia Cornwell
Mary Higgins Clark
Joseph Finder

25. Five Suspense Titles to Read
Tell No One - Harlan Coben
A Simple Plan – Scott Smith
Land of the Living – Nicci French
The Silence of the Lambs - Thomas Harris
Total Control - David Baldacci

26. Five Suspense Up & Comers

27. Five Trends in Suspense
Literary Suspense
Forensics
Graphic Violence
Blockbuster debuts
Do I dare say once more… Paranormal

28. These slides will be available at