Books: Is "Thriller" a Unque Genre?

If I want to describe a manuscript (to a publisher or agent) as a “thriller”, is this a unique genre unto itself? Although we hear the term to describe a book or movie, it seems to me that almost any mystery, horror, suspense, or adventure story could be a “thriller”. So, I need the SDoper’s feedback on this question. Is “thriller” a genre, or is it too vague?

In all honesty, if my story has a little of all these elements, is that the essence of a thriller? :confused: - Jinx

For me, a thriller is defined by what it’s not. A thriller can have mysterious bits, but it isn’t a mystery. A thriller can have horrifying bits, but it isn’t horror. A thriller can have romance, but isn’t a romance. There should be danger. Generally, I think the main characters of thrillers have to be sympathetic or else the “thrill” just isn’t there.

I think an additional term would be helpful, just to tell people which way the book leans. So, if there is a lot of mystery, or if it’s a mystery with a lot of action and danger, it’s a mystery thriller. If there’s a lot of romance, it’s a romantic thriller. (If the main character is a woman in danger, look into the genre of “romantic suspense,” since that signals a different type of book altogether.) If it deals heavily with technology or has sf bits, it’s a techno-thriller. If there’s a stalker playing with someone’s mind, it’s a psychological thriller. Be specific! It never hurts to tell people how to classify you, to avoid them having to think for themselves. :wink:

A thriller is a specific type of book that is centered around a high-action plot but need not contain a mystery. (for example “political thriller” a la Tom Clancy. “Romantic thriller” a la Sandra Brown, etc.)

Borders puts thrillers in with Mysteries, but Waldenbooks considers them to be a subset of (general) Fiction. Take from that what you will.

We have at least three people who work in publishing on this board and they can respond better than I.

But speaking as a person who used to get instructions from, editors, agents and publishers reps on how I might change or adapt a story for their needs, the word “thriller” came up quite often.

So, I think for your needs, it is quite exceptable to use the word to discribe it but don’t limit yourself to just that.

TV

The old joke in the mystery publishing world is that a “thriller writer” is a mystery writer who’s become successful.

Publishing executives often tell editors to get their mystery writers to write a thriller as a “break-out” book. A novel that will elevate them from the midlist.

See Harlan Coben, for example. A writer of mediocre midlist mysteries, now a bestselling writer of mediocre thrillers.

You’re not kidding, Ike, although Coben’s a nice guy. I figure he earned his success by relentlessly promoting himself and succeeded where writers who wrote great books didn’t.