I was wondering if the SDopers could help me pinpoint the genre of stories like those by Lemony Snicket. They are dark, and perhaps macabre. Is there a term for this? - Jinx
I’d call them Children’s/YA humor, although I can see them potentially falling into fantasy - but only slightly.
But that’s my opinion, based on the few I’ve read.
“Gothic” is probably the word you are looking for – the exaggerated nature of the characters, the remote settings, the danger and intrigue, the secret codes and mysterious organizations. Very Gothic. “Gothic Humor” would be closer to the mark. I’d say his influences are probably Roald Dahl and John Bellairs.
The Molly Moon books by Georgia Byng and the Eddie Dickens trilogy by Philip Ardagh, are similar in spirit to Snicket’s books. Just in case you love LS and want to read more.
Well, they’re labeled and marketed as Middle Grade, not YA, but I think some teens would read them and like them. As do some 35-year old men. Cough. What is everyone looking at?
So what genre is “The Pony Party”?
I love a pony party.
Hm. Is “parody” a genre? I suppose parody is sort of the wrong word, but they have that very light tone and very dark storylines. Just calling them dark or macabre is very insufficient.
That Pony Party alternate cover was hilarious.
I also love the amazon.com review that reads, “Lemony Snicket has taken all the fun out children’s literature,” etc… it took me a few seconds to realize HE had written the review.
Funny stuff.
Black Comedy.
Speaking of Unfortunate Events, when’s the next book due to come out? (These I love, I can take or leave Potter - but the Baudelaires are awesome, and Snicket’s definition of “Busheny” (or something like that) made me die laughing)
September 21, 2004
Thank you! And thank you, Tamealien!
And I would call them humor, although YA really seems to be the classification given to material of all genres written for that age.
Why should “macabre” be insufficient. You know not to expect a picnic in the park! If “horror” can have its own genre, then why not “macabre”? They are not the same thing. While I’m asking, how would classify Twilight Zone stories…sci-fi would not be sufficient, in this case, IMHO.
If it is dark but with a light tone, how about “Dark Comedy” or “Dark Satire”?
- Jinx
“Do you see anything, Sunny?”
“Scheiss!”
“Sunny says she doesn’t see anything either.”
When Snickett sneaks that type of thing in his stories, I realize the man is a freaking genius. Plus the Unauthorized Biography opens up a whole new joke in the Slippery Slope that you’d be unaware of otherwise. The first two books didn’t impress me, but it’s now amazing how in depth and subtle this series is. I don’t see how the movie will pull it off.
And I vote for dark comedy.
The cover art cracked me up.
Is condesending a genre?
I’ve never read any of the Lemony Snicket books. However, I have to ask (based on what little I’ve seen and heard of the books - and the upcoming film with Jim Carrey), how do they compare to traditional, old-fashioned “fairy tales”?
Which reminds me of another film I’m looking forward to - Terry Gilliam’s The Brothers Grimm, with Matt Damon and Heath Ledger.
Anyhoo…