Can't decide. I've shed away from fantasy even though I'm an avid player of P&P RPGs and love all things fantasy-ish. As for Sci-Fi, I find myself writing it more and more even though I never read much of it beyond the usual. I like to read stuff that is rather non-literary, but of course I thrive no classics. I've never read horror and I've forayed into writing it only once, an excursion which was itself a horror. I guess general fiction. I like to read about life, which can take place just about anywhere you want it to, really.
My favorite genre to read is usually middle grade to young adult. The same genre I write for. I believe in reading to learn what sort of books the genre I want to write for. I love writing for tweens and teens. plain and simple
Horror and fantasy definitely. But I also enjoy reading the classics. Thrillers are note really my thing unless they are original and quite dark.
Sci-Fi or Fantasy or a combination of the two. Fantasy would be my #1 choice as long as the story's not cliche. Although if a story has a very interesting premise, I would probably read it regardless of the genre.
Non-fiction all the way, there are plenty of stories in the world. I'd rather fictionalise them myself. You can't beat facts.
toughy. I usually read two kinds of books; Fantasy epic's, usually a series if I can, like LOTR or Harry Potter where you can sink into the world thoroughly, or I read a lot of standalone techno-thrillers, like Michael Crichton's books or Dan Brown's; those kind of sciency, thriller stories that are very modern, for excitement and interest in a more event-driven style. I'ed probably go with Fantasy in the end. I like viewing the world from a different perspective. Usually I prefer spiritual or modern fantasy though as appose to medieval-style fantasy.
Actually I'm surprised how popular fantasy is on this poll. For some reason nobody where I live admits to being fantasy fans, like it's somehow inferior or childish. literary snobs
I usually will either read some sort of sci-fi (like Heinlein or Herbert), or an older/classic novel (Dostoevsky or O'Henry's short stories). To be honest with you, I walk into Barnes and Noble and rarely find something on the "best sellers" or "recommended" that looks interesting to me. A lot of that probably has to do with the fact that I usually read non-fiction or philosophy, so a fictional work I'm looking more for something wonderful than as an entertaining pass time.
I selected Sci-Fi but am open to most genres except horror. Specifically, I won't read any horror where the villains are people and the victims are needlessly (in my opinion) slaughtered in a particularly graphic manner. I prefer military sci-fi, world building with some fantasy elements, straight military/espionage thrillers, alternative universe/timeline stuff, some detective/crime novels and the occasional caper. Very hard to pick just one. Cheers,
Most varieties of Science-Fiction. I'm on a bit of a phase of Russian Science-Fiction; just the tone and writing style is like nothing I've ever read. And the culture produces some very interesting material. Military Science-Fiction makes for a some intense, but light reading. Cyberpunk if I want something intense and heavy. I'm fond of Science Fiction short stories because they open up a beautifully detailed world with a vague history; A Sound of Thunder and I have no Mouth, but I must Scream are superb examples of that most of all, though.
Fantasy, I like to imagine myself as the main character and be immersed into a world that we can only dream of. Vanquishing evil and defending the weak. Good times
That is the impossible question! You should have allowed multiple choices because as it is, I am unable to answer. I like a mix of different genres. I would have chosen: - Sci-fi - Western - Fantasy
I like several genres, currently I am working through the Clive Cussler adventure series and before that the Rama series by Arthur C. Clark. I'm a truck driver so I get plenty of reading time. Most of the live loads or unloads are good for at least two hours. I deal with enough stress with the job, so I like light and fun reading when I'm sitting in a dock.
Classic crime novels, the more hardboiled, the better. Have read science-fiction in the past, but now find much of it outmoded...like carrying a computer in cart...pulled by a horse...the medium should suit the message...
I like general fiction stories that are off the beaten path. If you're familiar with A.M. Holmes then you know exactly what I mean.
I mostly read fantasy. But lately I've been reading more nonfiction, mostly books that related to health or martial arts.
I voted fantasy, but I read lots of genres. General fiction, humor, and mystery/thriller are my other favorites. I love soft sci fi. Haven't read much Horror or any Western (unless the Little House books I read as a kid count :/), so I can't say there. I can't help but think the main reason Western got so few votes is because it's "out of style"...
Had to vote for the horror genre. I used to be big into fantasy, but then all of them started to blend together. Heroes and dragons and wizards. Yawn? After I stopped reading that kind of fantasy, I went into the urban fantasy. There's a lot of good reading in that genre still. Maybe because people aren't trying so hard to have their own universe. Now days I just read horror and thriller novels though. I love the fast-paced tension in them. Makes me get through them in just a day's read.
There's a lot more Fantasy out there besides that stuff, and I don't mean in urban fantasy. If all you were reading was about heroes and dragons and wizards, then you were severely limiting your own reading to those particular stereotypical stories.
You're right, there's more to the fantasy genre than just them. I have read some of the Harry Potter books (wizards...), but by far I prefer to watch the movies than read them. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (sigh, not a wizard, but a witch...) is another one that I preferred watching the movie to. We're talking about favorite genres to read, and out of all the fantasy books I've tried to read...none of them worked. Movies are better for fantasy, IMO. I've read Dragonlance Chronicles, R.A. Salvatore books, The Innocent Mage, The Black Magician Trilogy, Eragon, Twilight series, Harry Potter series, etc... With these books, either it took me days to finish them, or I didn't finish them at all. On the other hand, with books I've read by Jack Kilborn, Richard Laymon, Joe Hill, Bentley Little, Jack Ketchum, etc., I could get through them in a single day. Therefore horror/thrillers would be my niche.
