Blood, Bedlam, Bullets, and Badguys: A Reader's Guide to Adventure/Suspense Fiction (Genreflecting Advisory Series)
Certain adventure and suspense novels are close cousins to mystery fiction, and in some of the literature, authors such as John Grisham and Sue Grafton are treated as being part of the same genre. Library Unlimited's Genreflecting Advisory Series takes a different approach. This new title in the series covers intrigue, thrillers, and other action- and suspense-based fiction, whileMake Mine a Mystery, which was published in 2003, concerns itself with novels featuring puzzle-solving detectives.Gannon defines the adventure/suspense genre as one in which "the protagonists are often thrown into a dangerous situation and must rely on their physical and mental abilities to survive." There is always a villain, and "the entire read is a roller-coaster ride of chills and thrills." This definition allows for multiple variations, some of which overlap with historical fiction, horror, and romance. Fifteen chapters cover subgenres such as espionage, legal and medical thrillers, sea adventures, and novels with elements of the paranormal. Each chapter begins with a definition of the subgenre and brief discussions of its history and appeal. There is also a very useful list of things to keep in mind when advising a reader ("Does the reader want original Nazis, or will their supporters or descendents suffice?"). This introductory material is followed by a selected listing of authors and titles that are briefly annotated. Icons indicate whether a book is a page-turner, is also a movie, or has a multicultural main character. Following the examination of subgenres are a chapter on original paperback male adventure series and another on secondary resources. Appendixes detail film versions and core adventure/suspense authors. A glossary, an author and title index, and a subject index round out the book.With each volume, the Genreflecting Advisory Series becomes more valuable.Blood, Bedlam, Bullets, and Badguysis an essential tool for public libraries. REVWRCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved