SF Signal compiles 10 Literary Novels for the Genre

Over at SF Signal is at list of 10 literary novels for genre readers. The list has a lot of books I have never heard of but now considering picking up.


10 Literary Novels for Genre Readers

Every so often a debate breaks out across the blogosphere about the comparative merits of literary versus genre literature, usually sparked by some comment advocating one of the two with some supercilious tone. The topic brings out heated rhetoric, often times boiling down to one's personal views on the shape of fiction as a whole. One thing is for sure, the debate is unsettled.

There need not be a chasm between movements, however, as genre and literary fiction can be quite complementary to one another. Certainly no one aspect of literature can lay claim to a higher standard of quality. While literary fiction can be a window into the human condition, it can also be pretentious and overbearing. Genre fiction can be full of inspiring ideas but it can also be wooden and derivative. The opportunity for a book to be crap isn't limited by the bookstore shelf it lands on.

There are plenty of guides to gateway books for literary readers to discover SF/F, but very few to introduce primarily genre readers to literary works they would find enjoyable. And so, in the spirit of reconciliation, I've compiled this short list of books that fill the gap between speculative and so called realistic fiction. It is by no means comprehensive but should serve as a decent introduction for genre readers to see how the other half lives.

Click here for the list and the complete article