Genre fiction power!

I'm into genre fiction. You know the place -- that quirky section of the book store lumped along back walls labeled science fiction, fantasy and horror. Nearby, usually, are those kissing cousins-- mystery & thrillers, graphic novels, and even a faint trace of young adult.

Right now I'm reading Purity of Blood, the second in Arturo Perez-Reverte's Captain Alatriste books. It's a book of pure entertainment, which probably means it hits all my buttons more so than it actually is a universally entertaining novel. It's the kind of book my father would love. He's old school, a real paperback cowboy who loves direct, well plotted books. Adventure books. Westerns. Thrillers. Naval fiction. He's big into mysteries, especially detective stories. He doesn't read much speculative fiction, but has a crazy knowledge of authors and lots of hours beating feet in the used book store.

And, something just struck me about all those books -- the books my father loves, and the ones I enjoy as refreshing breather among more complicated or literary works. So much of those old tropes are guy stuff. I'm talking about the private detectives, the heroic naval scoundrels, the spies, the pirates, the superheroes, the vikings, barbarians, thieves, space farers, and on and on. We're attracted to them because they're powerful. Westerns aren't popular because they happen to be part of American history. The Shakers are part of American history, but they're not getting their own genre shelf at the book store. Westerns are popular because the edge the line of violence and power in America (and beyond, sometimes).

We read these kinds of tough guy things because their romantic, powerful figures. They pull more interest because they're easily plotted, active and victorious ideals. We go in knowing this is exciting stuff. These tropes become assumptions, short hand for escape and suspension of disbelief. We just know Vikings are rough around the edges and mock those silly, girly Christian men. We just know spies just get into sexual tension. It's not just part of the job, it's part of the genre. And, to a genre, these things are populated foremost by narratively compelling, powerful guys.

Then sometimes a funny thing happens. Someone comes along and subverts those assumptions. It's a sexually powerful spy, but she's a woman. The gunsligner is a wronged woman.

And, still other times something comes along and tempts that allure and power in a new way. I can't really unpack the subgenre of Steampunk, but it's a fascinating case where things once silly and genteel and colonial get a grunged out glint, a hint of sex, and a lot of power and excitement. By jove, a new bookshelf category arrives.

All of which isn't me saying much insightful. I'm certainly not critiquing those genre twists and turns. It helps me recognize why I'm drawn to the spectacular Captain Alatriste and not at all to, oh, Miss Marple.