Exploring Expository Writing: Genre--Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Dystopia
There are several sub categories, or more specific categories, used to further classify fiction books, which are known as a sub genre of fiction. If a story contains magical animals like unicorns or flying dragons, mythical creatures, or witches, that story is a fantasy. The fantasy genre contains “fantastic” elements that could not happen in the natural world. It is pleasant to read fantasies because it allows one to imagine living in a world where these things or events occur.
Perhaps your story is based on events that could possibly happen at some time in the future, like flying cars or computers that finish homework (come on--we’re not that far off from either of these!). In this case, this story would be a science fiction story. For example, in the future, computers could replace people’s jobs, cars could fly, and you could live in a colony on the moon!
What about fictional worlds that aren’t perfect or that do not highlight a happy life for the characters? The term dystopia describes a sub genre of science fiction where the futuristic world is far from perfect:
Dys--prefix meaning “bad”
Functional--the way something works or operates
As we read The Hunger Games, you will quickly see what kind of society Suzanne Collins has created - utopian or dystopian. Look for evidence to support your belief.
