Best Books About Genre Fiction (59 books)

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This list features books that analyze speculative fiction, Science Fiction, Horror, and Fantasy and other genre fiction from a critical, historical, or cultural perspective.

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1	Monster, She Wrote: The Women Who Pioneered Horror and Speculative Fiction by Lisa Kröger (Goodreads Author) 4.05 avg rating — 4,555 ratings score: 694, and 7 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction by Grady Hendrix (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 12,503 ratings score: 392, and 4 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	Maps and Legends: Reading and Writing Along the Borderlands by Michael Chabon 3.69 avg rating — 4,298 ratings score: 298, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	The Road to Middle-Earth: How J.R.R. Tolkien Created a New Mythology by Tom Shippey 3.95 avg rating — 6,172 ratings score: 295, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Danse Macabre by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.67 avg rating — 32,311 ratings score: 286, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How it Changed America by David Hajdu 3.87 avg rating — 3,732 ratings score: 283, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Dreadful Pleasures: An Anatomy of Modern Horror by James B. Twitchell 3.43 avg rating — 58 ratings score: 197, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Supergods: What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human by Grant Morrison 3.85 avg rating — 8,629 ratings score: 197, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	Wasteland: The Great War and the Origins of Modern Horror by W. Scott Poole 3.91 avg rating — 1,057 ratings score: 197, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fiction by Gabrielle Moss (Goodreads Author) 3.69 avg rating — 5,042 ratings score: 196, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	New Maps of Hell: A Survey of Science Fiction by Kingsley Amis 3.56 avg rating — 269 ratings score: 195, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	Tolkien On Fairy-stories by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.32 avg rating — 5,088 ratings score: 194, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century by Tom Shippey 3.89 avg rating — 5,744 ratings score: 191, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Language Of The Night: Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction by Ursula K. Le Guin 4.29 avg rating — 2,568 ratings score: 191, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Horror: The 100 Best Books by Stephen Jones (Editor) 4.18 avg rating — 376 ratings score: 191, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Monster Show: A Cultural History of Horror by David J. Skal 4.11 avg rating — 1,529 ratings score: 187, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Modern Weird Tale: A Critique of Horror Fiction by S.T. Joshi 3.84 avg rating — 116 ratings score: 184, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Tales from the Crypt: The Official Archives by Digby Diehl 4.31 avg rating — 121 ratings score: 184, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book by Gerard Jones 4.07 avg rating — 1,685 ratings score: 182, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Supernatural Horror in Literature by H.P. Lovecraft really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2,434 ratings score: 182, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction by John Clute 4.35 avg rating — 608 ratings score: 177, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Space Sucks! by Christina Engela (Goodreads Author) 3.61 avg rating — 23 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Eagle Scout Picture: A WWII Spy Thriller of Courage, Deception, and the cost of Survival by Gary Kidney (Goodreads Author) 4.86 avg rating — 184 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Marvel Comics: The Untold Story by Sean Howe 4.05 avg rating — 7,615 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	Writing Down the Dragon: and Other Essays on the Tolkien Method and the Craft of Fantasy by Tom Simon 4.46 avg rating — 37 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Horror Literature through History: An Encyclopedia of the Stories that Speak to Our Deepest Fears [2 volumes] by Matt Cardin (Goodreads Author) (Editor) 4.33 avg rating — 12 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	The Dreams Our Stuff is Made Of: How Science Fiction Conquered the World by Thomas M. Disch 3.76 avg rating — 522 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	The Law of Superheroes by James Daily 3.86 avg rating — 422 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Pistols and Petticoats: 175 Years of Lady Detectives in Fact and Fiction by Erika Janik (Goodreads Author) 3.50 avg rating — 96 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Reel Terror: The Scary, Bloody, Gory, Hundred-Year History of Classic Horror Films by David Konow 3.74 avg rating — 224 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Beauty and the Beast: Visions and Revisions of an Old Tale by Betsy Hearne 3.88 avg rating — 58 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	The World Beyond the Hill by Alexei Panshin 4.21 avg rating — 42 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Comic Book Rebels: Conversations with the Creators of the New Comics by Stanley Wiater really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 22 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The Owl, The Raven, and the Dove: The Religious Meaning of the Grimms' Magic Fairy Tales by G. Ronald Murphy 4.32 avg rating — 91 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	The Supergirls: Feminism, Fantasy, and the History of Comic Book Heroines by Mike Madrid 3.79 avg rating — 1,264 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Encyclopedia of Superheroes by Jeff Rovin (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 52 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Morphology of the Folktale by Vladimir Propp 4.01 avg rating — 2,255 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Vixens, Vamps & Vipers: Lost Villanesses of Golden Age Comics by Mike Madrid 4.03 avg rating — 62 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Encyclopedia of Super Villains by Jeff Rovin (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 34 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Appendix N by Jeffro Johnson 3.64 avg rating — 182 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	The Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 940 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Superheroes and Philosophy: Truth, Justice, and the Socratic Way by Tom Morris (Editor) 3.84 avg rating — 975 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	The Comic Book Heroes: The First History of Modern Comic Books - From the Silver Age to the Present by Gerard Jones 4.01 avg rating — 74 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Style is the Rocket: and Other Essays on Writing by Tom Simon 4.33 avg rating — 15 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	Divas, Dames & Daredevils: Lost Heroines of Golden Age Comics by Mike Madrid 3.78 avg rating — 129 ratings score: 88, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Encyclopedia of Fantasy by John Clute (Editor) 4.39 avg rating — 349 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	The Classic Era of American Comics by Nicky Wright 3.53 avg rating — 36 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	Death Carries a Camcorder: Essays on fantasy writing by Tom Simon 4.32 avg rating — 19 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes by Les Daniels 3.80 avg rating — 124 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	On Fairy-Stories by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.12 avg rating — 850 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	Manga: The Complete Guide by Jason Thompson 3.98 avg rating — 180 ratings score: 84, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	Fear: History of Horror in the Mass Media by Les Daniels 4.03 avg rating — 36 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	The Last Straw: A Critical Autopsy of a Galaxy Far, Far Away by John C. Wright 4.27 avg rating — 51 ratings score: 83, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	From Barsoom to Malacandra: Musings on Things Past and Things to Come by John C. Wright 4.06 avg rating — 34 ratings score: 82, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	Danger Is My Business: An Illustrated History of the Fabulous Pulp Magazines: 1896-1953 by Lee Server 4.17 avg rating — 48 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	The Lament of Prometheus: An Examination of David Lindsay's A Voyage to Arcturus by John C. Wright 3.83 avg rating — 18 ratings score: 81, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics by Les Daniels really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 270 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	Transhuman and Subhuman: Essays on Science Fiction and Awful Truth by John C. Wright 3.80 avg rating — 166 ratings score: 80, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	The Worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien: The Places That Inspired Middle-earth by John Garth (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 586 ratings score: 79, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars