Vaginal Fantasy Book Club discussion

I'm having trouble deciding whether to classify Cthulhurotica as "science fiction" or "fantasy" on my bookshelf, so I wanted to get some other people's opinions. I thought the question might also possibly strike up an interesting discussion, so I figured I would post here.

Initially, I classified the book as "fantasy," but as I read more of it, I'm leaning more toward "science fiction." Or maybe it's a little of both?

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

I have a shelf labeled scifi-fantasy that's specifically for books that kind of straddle the fence between the two. A lot of books seem to incorporate elements of both to the extent it's difficult to impossible to peg it as either one or the other. I haven't read this one, and am unfamiliar with the Lovecraft universe it's based on, so can't speak to this book specifically, but perhaps a similar shelf would solve your dilemma?

I think some of the stories were more fantasy, others were more sci-fi.

I agree with Kirsten, I think there was a definiate mixture. I would say that I did prefer the more fantasy stories to the sci-fi ones - although I did really enjoy the books as a whole. I thought the essays were really interesting too and delved into genre a little bit.

Yes, I will probably end up just marking it as both (or creating a shelf for both as Michelle suggested).

But I guess I see it as more sci-fi than fantasy as of now. In my head (which is by no means a solid source on the matter, haha), "mythical creatures" = fantasy, but "aliens" = sci-fi.

Although Cthulhu and co. *are* mythical creatures in a sense, they're really actually aliens (right?).

I'd go for sci-fi or horror, rather than fantasy. The creatures are inter-dimensional rather than paranormal, which sort of also lends to it being sci-fi rather than fantasy.

That being said I do see C'thulhu mythos integrated into a number of pop culture things, including Hellboy (the inter-dimensional monsters summoned at the end of the first movie screams of Lovecraftian influence) and World of Warcraft.

Having not read this book, but knowing the Lovecraftian mythos, I'd say it's Period Fantasy/Sci-fi/Horror. Yup. All of those things. I believe it leans more towards Sci-Fi than Fantasy, but with strong Fantasy and Horror leanings. It's certainly Period.

Candace said: "Although Cthulhu and co. *are* mythical creatures in a sense, they're really actually aliens (right?)."

Nnyes... They're BOTH, really. They're alien GODS as far as I understand it.