Action fiction

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Action novels and short stories were popular subjects for American pulp magazines. ActionStoriesVol16No1a.png
Action novels and short stories were popular subjects for American pulp magazines.

Action fiction is a genre in literature that focuses on stories involving high-stakes, high-energy, and fast-paced events. This genre includes a wide range of subgenres, such as spy novels, adventure stories, tales of terror, intrigue ("cloak and dagger"), and mysteries. These kinds of stories utilize suspense, the tension that is built up when the reader wishes to know how the conflict between the protagonist and antagonist is going to be resolved or the solution to a mystery of a thriller. [1] The intricacies of human relationships or the nuances of philosophy and psychology are rarely explored in action fiction, typically being fast-paced mysteries that merely seek to provide the reader with an exhilarating experience. [2] Action fiction can also be a plot element of non-literary works.

Contents

Genre fiction

Action genre is a form of fiction whose subject matter is characterized by emphasis on exciting action sequences. This does not always mean they exclude character development or story-telling. The action genre is also related to comic books and graphic novel formats such as manga, and non-literary media including anime, action film, action television series, and action games. It includes martial arts action, extreme sports action, car chases and vehicles, hand-to-hand combat, suspense action, and action comedy, with each focusing in more detail on its own type and flavor of action. It is usually possible to identify the creative style of an action sequence, the emphasis of an entire work, so that, for example, the style of a combat sequence will indicate whether the entire work can be classified as action-adventure. Action is mainly defined by a central focus on any kind of exciting movement. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Notable examples

Novels

Films

Television series

Comics

Animation

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adventure fiction</span> Fiction in which an adventure forms the main storyline

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In literature, pace or pacing is the speed at which a story is told—not necessarily the speed at which the story takes place. It is an essential element of storytelling that plays a significant role in maintaining reader interest, building tension, and conveying the desired emotional impact. The number of words needed to write about a certain event does not depend upon how much time the event takes to happen; it depends upon how important that moment is to the story. The pace is determined by the length of the scenes, how fast the action moves, and how quickly the reader is provided with information. A well-paced story effectively balances moments of high intensity and slower-paced sections to create a dynamic reading experience. It is also sometimes dictated by the genre of the story: comedies move faster than dramas; action adventures move faster than suspense. A dragging pace is characteristic of many novels turned down by publishers, and of some that find their way into print but not into the hearts and recommendations of readers. Manuscripts that move too slowly usually discourage readers from reading on. Through various editing techniques, such as cutting unnecessary details, rearranging scenes, or suggesting additions, editors assist in maintaining an engaging pace that keeps readers captivated. Yanna Popova and Elena Cuffari elaborate that as editors they, "explore the participatory structure of a narrative through its temporal unfolding and the specific, non-linear nature of the temporal dynamics of interacting with a storytelling agency". Popova and Cuffari make clear that the way an author unfolds a story through structuring that narrative's tale is essential to the way the audience will interpret it.

References

  1. Turco (1999 , pp. 58, 116)
  2. "Leisure Reads: Fiction and Popular Non-Fiction". Robert W. Van Houten Library. New Jersey Institute of Technology. September 13, 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  3. "Action". Literary Terms. October 21, 2016.
  4. "A guide to comic book styles". BBC Maestro. BBC. 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024.
  5. Dow, Isabella (April 26, 2017). "The Appeal of the Action Genre". The Heights .
  6. Hellerman, Jason (December 6, 2023). "The Action Genre in Film and TV". No Film School. Retrieved 1 May 2024.

Parenthetical sources

Further reading