Yes, I'm a Genre Author. Your Point Being......?

This is a subject that is near and dear to my heart as an author of fantasy and horror, and it is this; genre definition.  The common practice when most folks ask me what sort of material I write is to say, 'Well, I write fantasy and horror'.  Far too often the response is either 'Awesome, I love that kind of stuff!' or a completely blank look of, 'Oh, he's THAT kind of writer, the sort of stuff that I wouldn't deign to read'.  This is somewhat problematic if, like me, you don't respond well to extremes.

I like the enthusiastic genre fans well enough and their reaction, but the vast majority of folks I come across who take an initial interest in the fact that I'm an author give me that second reaction, the one that makes me see in a crimson mist of murderous, purile, 'fantasy and horror are perfectly valid categories of storytelling classifications to work within' rage.  It kind of discourages me from sharing all that much.  That's actually half the reason I've slowed down so dramatically on the self-promotion front; I just get the feeling that not much of anybody cares. 

I realize I shouldn't be so put off by people's reactions.  After all, I've also received some pretty high praise from people regarding my written works, in real life and on e-book review sites.  But I'm getting away from the point, which is poor form for somebody who's trying to work on his short story writing style and technique (I work far better in novella and novel-length fiction, somehow).

Can anyone reading this tell me that J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" series was not an influential and brilliant bit of narrative?  Can anyone reading this tell me that Stephen R. Donaldson's tales of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever were not compelling and complex, with undertones and key messages/meanings tucked away in various facets of the tale woven for the audience?  If you aren't paying attention, or don't care for fiction in general, or (and this is a distinct possibility for the ADHD crowd that seems to be getting larger and larger in population density as time goes by) haven't got the patience to actually sit down and enjoy an epic of the length of these sorts of tales, then you might be able to say 'yeah, I can tell you that'.

If you think you honestly can tell me that, please stop reading this blog entry now.  Seriously, walk away.  Otherwise, your eyes might just start to bleed in the next few paragraphs.

Genre fiction is just as artful, mindful, and capable of transporting the audience to a deeper understanding and/or appreciation of philosophical musings as literary fiction.  I grow weary of pseudo-sophisticates and academics espousing the idea that the sort of work I produce in the fields of fantasy and horror is somehow inferior to 'the classics'. 

To anybody who is unwilling to give a particular novel a chance because of its perceived genre, do yourself and everybody involved in the world of storytelling a favor, and just give it a chance.  It may not be your cup of tea, sure, but are you approaching the story with that prejudice already in mind?  If so, I would suggest trying to remove it before reading.

Otherwise, you might have to remove my foot from your ass.

Perhaps that was a bit harsh, but ignorant people need to be dealt with in blunt fashion.