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General Fiction /Fantasy /Mystery /Romance /Science Fiction.
General Fiction Books
Fiction CatalogListing almost 6,000 titles of classic and contemporary works of adult fiction, this is the one truly essential Fiction Readers' Advisory tool. A main entry section arranged alphabetically is first by author followed by title. Each entry includes a descriptive summary of the work in addition to brief critical advice usually from reviews.The Title and Subject Index provides subject and genre analysis of the main entries. This source is issued about every five years with four yearly paper supplements and each edition does not list titles cumulatively reflecting the current status of fiction in public libraries.
The wealth of subject access makes this source invaluable for any genre.
Genreflecting: A Guide to Reading Interests in Genre FictionChapters of this comprehensive aid identify seven main genres and their subgenres as well as define and analyze each of them. Popularity of authors is the main criterion for inclusion in the representative lists of authors and their respective titles found in each of the following main genres: Westerns, Crime, Adventure, Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror.Indexes include Author, Title, Subject, and Series Character. Bibliographies of history, criticism, films and awards can also be found in each section. Electronic version available: http:www.genrefluent.com/
Against Borders: Promoting Books for a Multicultural WorldDivided into two parts, this resource's primary audience is the junior and senior high school ages; although, the materials are all adult titles. The first part addresses various themes and the titles that exemplify those themes, and the second part is an annotated bibliography addressing culture, place, or an historical event.Indexes: Theme Index to Part One, Author/Title.
American Best Sellers: A Reader's Guide to Popular FictionThis annotated guide lists bestsellers from 1965 to 1985. Appendixes list awards, pseudonyms, movies based on books, and books by year of publication.Indexes: Author, Title, Subject.
Best Books for Public Libraries: The 10,000 Top Fiction and Non-Fiction TitlesThis guide covers books published from 1965 through 1991 that received at least two positive reviews from book review sources or received book awards.The entries are alphabetical by author and placed in broad genres.Indexes: Author, Title, Subject.
The Bloomsbury Guide to Women's LiteratureThis guide covers women writers and their literary creations from cultural groups all over the world and throughout the ages. The first part of this work contains short signed essays on the literary history of women arranged by continent, country, and historical periods. The second part is a dictionary of more than 6,500 entries, cross-referenced by names, titles, and topics.There is no index.
Characters in 20th-Century LiteratureArranged alphabetically by author with works listed chronologically, this tool covers over 4,000 characters in 780 works of 20th-Century literature and includes over 400 major novelists, dramatists, and short-story writers. Each entry contains a brief plot summary, as well as character and thematic analysis.There is an emphasis on post-1960 works, minority writers, and authors from emerging nations, but authors who have died since 1899 are included.
There are also Title and Character Indexes.
Contemporary Gay American Novelists: A Bio-Bibliographical Critical SourcebookAlphabetically by author, this work discusses fifty-seven contemporary gay novelists. Each entry includes a brief biography, and discussions of major works and themes.Indexes: Author, Title, Subject.
Dictionary of American Literary CharactersCovering American novels from 1789 until 1979, this dictionary provides information about more than 12,000 characters from over 1,200 popular and classic fiction titles. Entries include the author and the title in which the character appears.
Dictionary of Fictional CharactersDescribing more than 20,000 characters from over 2,000 plays, short stories, and novels from American, British, and Commonwealth authors. There are some foreign titles in translation. Entries include the character name, concise description, title, author, and state of publication for each work.There is a Glossary of Authors and Titles.
Historical Fiction: A Guide to the GenreThis excellent Genreflecting Advisory guide covers historical fiction including an essay on the appeal of the past. Chapeters include Traditional Historical Novels, Multi-Period Epics, Romancing the Past, Sagas, Western Historical Novels, Historical Mysteries, Adventures in History, Historical Thrillers, Literary Historical Novels, Christian Historical Fiction, Time-Slip Novels, Alternate History and Historical Fantasy.Appendixes include Award Winning Historical Novels and Reading Lists by Plot Pattern or Theme.Indexes.
Now Read This: A Guide to Mainstream Fiction, 1978-1998
Now Read This II: A Guide to Mainstream Fiction, 1999-2001This readers' advisory resource provides an annotated list of over 1,000 novels, the vast majority published between 1980 and 2001. Mainstream fiction is defined as "novels set in the twentieth century that realistically explore aspects of human experience." The selections are arranged alphabetically by author within one of four categories: "Setting," "Story," "Characters," and "Language." Each individual entry lists a book's author, title, publisher and publication date, and pagination, followed by a brief descriptive annotation, and a list of subject headings.Indexes: Author, Subject & Title.
Oxford Companion to Women's Writing in the United StatesAlphabetical entry coverage includes periods of time, ethnic literature, geographic regions, genres, historical events, and various aspects of reading and publishing. Separate entries appear for more than 400 women including literary figures and others who have made significant contributions. There are few entries for individual titles, but there is a Timeline and an extensive bibliography.There are Author and Subject Indexes.
Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre FictionThis guide describes the specific appeal of 15 different popular fiction genres, what the benchmark titles are for each, and how to talk to people about the books they love. Genres overlooked by other reader's advisory tools are listed here in good detail, such as literary fiction, women's lives and relationships, and three types of suspense separate from mysteries, horror, and thrillers. In each chapter, Saricks breaks a genre down into subgenres and identifies authors and titles that typify each. Annotated suggestions for print and nonprint resources are appended for further investigation, as well as another appendix challenging readers to explore five books in each genre every year.Author, Title and Subject Indexes.
Sequels: An Annotated Guide to Novels in SeriesEntries are arranged alphabetically by author, containing a short background summary of the series being covered. Chronological lists of each title in the series follow with publishing data and a brief plot summary.There are Title and Subject Indexes.
Sports Pages: A Critical Bibliography of Twentieth-Century American Novels and Stories Featuring Baseball, Basketball, Football and other Athletic PursuitsSpanning the centures beginning in the early 1900s through the mid 1980s, this includes more short stories than novels. Each chapter is arranged by sport and then author.Indexes: Author, Title, Thematic.
To Be Continued: An Annotated Guide to SequelsThis comprehensive bibliography covers novels with stories continued in succeeding volumes. Arranged alphabetically by author, the entries contain pseudonym, series title, a list of titles in the series and pertain to 19th- and 20th-Century sequels for both genre and mainstream fiction.Mysteries and series where the character continues but the plots are not connected are both excluded from this resource. Indexes include Title, Genre, Subject and Literary Forms, Time and Place.
The Traveler's Reading Guide: Ready-Made Reading Lists for the Armchair TravelerOrganized by regions, countries, states and cities of the world, each section includes series guidebooks, background reading, histories, and novels. Fiction entries contain title, author, publishing information, and a brief annotation.There is an Author Index.
What Do I Read Next? A Reader's Guide to Current Genre FictionCompiled by experts in each genre, this annual publication contains listings of titles published the previous year in 6 main genres: Mystery, Romance, Western, Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction. Introductions to each genre discuss current trends and are followed by lists of recommended titles and annotations for each entry.Indexes: Series, Time Period, Location, Genre (and subgenre), Character Name, Character Description, Author, Title.
What Historical Novel Do I Read Next?All manner of historical fiction is included in this handy resource, from fantasy and time travel to more factual novels. Burt focuses on authors who write in English but one can also find the likes of Alexandre Dumas and Giuseppe de Lampedusa. Each alphabetically arranged author entry contains birth and death dates and a brief sentence or two about the writer. Title listings provide the following details: publication date, subject(s), fictional and historical characters that appear in the story, time period, locale, a plot summary, and a brief comment on the historical accuracy of the work. The first book in a series is usually noted, but similar publication dates and no indication of what titles come next might trouble readers who like to read things in order.The second volume contains indexes by time period, geographical location, historical figure, fictional character, character description (e.g., abolitionist, captive, librarian, sailor, or teenager), author, and title, as well as a particularly useful subject index.
General Fiction Periodicals
BooklistAdvance reviews assess Fiction by genre. There are often genre or subject focus articles included. Indexed in EBSCO.
Kirkus ReviewsIn depth advance reviews assess Adult Fiction by genre. There are often genre or subject focus articles included. Indexed in EBSCO.
Library JournalBook reviews are by subject with appropriate genre breakdowns for Fiction. There is a three-to-four month publication alert to pinpoint that next Grisham or Steel novel's name and publication date. Indexed in EBSCO.
The New York Times Book ReviewRegistration required, but free. In depth reviews assess Adult Fiction by genre. There are often genre or subject focus articles included. Indexed in EBSCO.
Publisher's WeeklyFeatures mini-reviews printed months before Fiction publishing dates and spotlight articles on authors, themes, and genres. Contains weekly Bestseller lists for hardcover and paperbacks. Trade paperbacks, reprints, and mass market paperbacks receive some evaluation. Indexed in EBSCO.
The Washington Post Book WorldSign-up required for article retrieval. In depth reviews assess Adult Fiction by genre. There are often genre or subject focus articles included. Indexed in EBSCO.
Fantasy Books
Fantasy Literature: A Reader's GuideThis somewhat outdated resource does provide an historical overview of the Fantasy genre from its beginnings to late 1988. Chapters are arranged chronologically with a lengthy, critical bibliography arranged alphabetically by author.Indexes: Author, Title, Theme.
Horror Literature: A Reader's GuideA companion volume to Anatomy of Wonder (See Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature), this outdated resource still provides an historical overview of the Horror genre from its beginnings to late 1988. Chapters are arranged chronologically with a lengthly, critical bibliography arranged alphabetically by author.There is both a Theme Index and an Author/Title Index.
St. James Guide to Fantasy WritersEstablished Fantasy writers, including foreign-language writers are well represented in the alphabetical listing of authors with short biographies, publications by form, and some critical secondary works.The two indexes are for Title and Nationality.
Fantasy Periodicals
We are currently updating this file.
Mystery Books
Mystery & Suspense Writers: The Literature of Crime, Detection, and Espionage.Over 40 entries are arranged alphabetically by author and include an extensive signed critical essay that gives a complete overview of the author's style and appeal, short plot descriptions of the author's titles, a detailed biography, a complete bibliography of the author's works, and a comprehensive critical bibliography.The Introduction by editor Robin W. Winks is sublime. Not all your favorite authors will be here, but the major hitters are well-covered. The essays found in the Themes and Subgenres section in Volume#2 are well worth the price of this set.
There is an alphabetical keyword Index and three Appendices (Pseudonyms and Series Characters; Some Mystery and Suspense Subgenres; Major Prizewinners).
Twentieth-Century Crime and Mystery WritersOver 700 entries are arranged alphabetically by author and include a biography, a complete bibliography of works, a signed critical essay that gives an overview of author's style and appeal, and short plot descriptions of the author's best known titles. While the overall focus is on English-language twentieth-century writers, some outstanding nineteenth-century, and some foreign authors are included in separate sections.There is only a Title Index.
Future editions of this reference work will be titled St. James Guide to Mystery Writers
Action Series and Sequels: A Bibliography of Espionage, Vigilante and Soldier-of-Fortune NovelsA useful resource for identifying characters and the order of series, this bibliography highlights the war and adventure genre. Arranged by series title or the last name of the main character, each annotation includes the author, a brief description of the series, movie and television versions, and paperback issue information. A separate listing has principal authors, house names, and pseudonyms. Two appendixes list series by genre type.There is only a Title Index.
Blood, Bedlam, Bullets and Badguys: A Reader's Guide to Adventure/Suspense FictionPart of the Genreflecting Advisory series, this guide covers different aspects of the adventure and suspense by topic. Fifteen chapters cover subgenres such as espionage, legal and medical thrillers, sea adventures, and novels with elements of the paranormal. Each chapter begins with a definition of the subgenre and brief discussions of its history and appeal. This introductory material is followed by a selected listing of authors and titles that are briefly annotated. Icons indicate whether a book is a page-turner, is also a movie, or has a multicultural main character. Following the examination of subgenres are a chapter on original paperback male adventure series and another on secondary resources. Appendixes detail film versions and core adventure/suspense authors. There is also a glossary.Indexes: Author, Subject & Title.
By a Woman's Hand: A Guide to Mystery Fiction Written by WomenAlphabetical by author, these annotations discuss style, series, characters, and other items that may be of interest to readers. The first title in a series is highlighted, as well as award winning books. Similar authors in style, topic, or content are included at the end of annotations.Indexes: Series Character, Geographic, Type of Detective.
Cloak and Dagger Fiction: An Annotated Guide to Spy FictionFor those readers who especially like the spy genre or war and adventure series, this guide contains introductions that describe the periods covered in this guide which is divided into two parts. Part One covers titles up to and including 1939, and Part Two from 1940 to the present. This guide also includes listings of pseudonyms, characters in series, and espionage and terrorist organizations.Indexes: Author, Title.
Detecting Men: A Reader's Guide and Checklist for Mystery Series Written by MenThis helpful guide contains some 600 contemporary male mystery writers, their series, and their protagonists Preceded by a useful introduction, "How To Use This Book," the text is divided into eight chapters: "Master List," "Mystery Types," Series Characters," Settings," "Title Chronology," "Alphabetical List of Titles," "Pseudonyms," and "Mystery Book Awards." By far the largest chapter, "Master List" includes biographical data, a checklist of titles, American publication dates, series characters, awards, and some movie tie-in information. Mysteries are divided into four types: police procedural, private-eye, espionage, and those amateur detectives, with 69 mystery backgrounds, e.g., ecclesiastical and religious, black detectives, applied to all but espionage. All works are cross-referenced by title, setting, chronology, and mystery type.
Detecting Women: A Reader's Guide and Checklist for Mystery Series Written by WomenThe guide now covers approximately 4,000 titles in 815 mystery series written by 690 women who were alive in 1998. Alphabetically arranged author entries are provided in the "Master List," each including a brief overview and a list of series characters and titles. All works are cross-referenced by title, setting, chronology, and mystery type.
Gothic Novels of the Twentieth-Century: An Annotated BibliographyThis out-dated source provides backgrounds on older works, and some titles are probably out of print but can be found in libraries for fans of this portion of the mystery genre. Annotations contain author, title, bibliographical and biographical information, and the author's comments on plot, as well as some criticism.There is only a Title Index.
Make Mine a Mystery: A Reader's Guide to Mystery and Detective FictionIndexes: Author, title, Character, subject and location.
Mystery Readers' Advisory: The Librarian's Clues to Murder and MayhemAuthor, title, subject and series in one Index.
A Reader's Guide to the American Novel of DetectionThis guide is alphabetically arranged by author or pseudonym and annotated entries describe 166 American mystery writers of books featuring amateur detectives. Entries include names of series characters and lists of both English and American titles. This guide also includes a core list of 100 Notable Novels of Detection and extensive indexes.Indexes: Pseudonym, Creator and Series Character, Series Character and Creator, Occupation of Series Character, Period of Story, Location, Setting, Miscellaneous Information (topics), Holiday Mysteries.
A Reader's Guide to the Classic British MysteryAnnotated entries listed alphabetically describe 121 British mystery authors who write amateur detective and police procedurals, suspense and romantic suspense. Series characters and both English and American titles are included in the entries. A list of 100 Classics in the Genre can be found, as well as an explanation for the British class system, a description of the metropolitan police and county police forces.Indexes: Creator and Character, Character and Creator, Occupation, Period of Story, Location Outside England, Setting, Miscellaneous Information.
Reader's Guide to the Private Eye NovelListed alphabetically by author, annotated entries describe over 1000 titles containing private eyes by 90 mystery writers. Both English and American titles are given. There is also a list of 100 Classic and Highly Recommended Titles.Indexes: Pseudonym, Creator and Series Character, Period of Story, Location, Setting, Miscellaneous Information.
Spy Fiction: A Connoisseur's GuideThis guide contains an annotated bibliography, eight short essays on the genre, and a glossary of terms used in spy novels. The annotations are arranged alphabetically by author and include pseudonyms, biographical information, selected titles, major characters, and a brief critical analysis.Indexes: Author, Title, Subject.
The Subject is Murder: A Selective Guide to Mystery FictionThis guide has no annotations; however, it works well as a tool for those readers searching for particular atmospheres and settings in their mysteries. Each chapter is organized by specific topics. In addition, there is an appendix listing specialty bookstores and book dealers.Indexes: Title (volume 2), Author (volumes 1 & 2)
Mystery Periodicals
Mystery SceneThis magazine boasts that it is Your Guide to the Best in Mystery, Crime & Suspense, and it does a fairly good job of living up to the claim. Features run from author interviews and genre articles to coverage of the mystery scene on television and film. Retrospective articles on some of the seminal masters of mystery are usually informative, entertaining, and hard to find elsewhere. Topical lists of current award winners and mystery conventions keep the pages fresh.
Mostly Murder: Your Guide to Reading MysteriesThis periodical contains both reviews and advance advertisments for up-and-coming mystery novels, in addition to feature articles on the genre and author interviews.
Romance Books
Romance Readers' Advisory: The Librarian's Guide to Love in the StackThis guide rovides up-to-date information about the highly popular romance genre and its diverse subgenres; addresses key issues regarding the establishment of a romance collection; and, in a series of reading lists, recommends outstanding romances of all flavors for avid fans and new converts.Indexes.
Twentieth-Century Romance and Historical WritersOver 550 entries are arranged alphabetically by author and includes a biography, a complete bibliography of works, a signed critical essay that gives an overview of author's style and appeal, and short plot descriptions of the author's best known titles. Coverage is limited to authors who have appeared in hardcover. Access to pseudonyms through a list of names and pseudonyms of all authors is included.There is only a Title Index.
Future editions of this reference work will be titled St. James Guide to Romance and Historical Writers
Happily Ever After: A Guide to Reading Interests in Romance FictionThis guide describes and explains the subgenres of contemporary romance, romantic mysteries, historical romance, sagas, gay romance, inspirational romance, young adult romance, and category romances. Each category is defined, analyzed, and includes a short history, and selected bibliography of popular authors. The author also provides a guide to the literature, a list of publishers, a discussion of reference sources, romance periodicals, writers' resources, and awards.Indexes: Name/Title, Subject.
Romance Periodicals
Romantic Times MagazineNew Romance Fiction is listed by sub-genre: Science Fiction, historical, Regency, mainstream, and new reality, series, mystery, and intrigue.
Science Fiction Books
Anatomy of Wonder: A Critical Guide to Science FictionThis covers over 3,000 classic Science Fiction titles comprehensively. The first section is organized chronologically with signed annotations of titles. This section also includes an annotated list of Young Adult Science Fiction titles. The second part covers secondary literature and research aids, lists of films, core collection lists, and convention information.Indexes: Author/Subject, Title, Theme Annotations.
Encyclopedia of Science FictionArranged alphabetically, over 4,000 entries include 2,900 authors, themes, terminology, Science Fiction in 27 countries, films, television, magazines, comics, and award winners to 1992. Author entries include short biographical, bibliographical, and critical information.There are no indexes.
Twentieth-Century Science Fiction WritersThis reference tool covers over 700 twentieth-century English-language Science Fiction writers. Alphabetical entries include a biography, and a complete bibliography divided by Science Fiction publications and then other publications. There are also subdivided lists of works published under pseudonyms and titles featuring series characters.There is a Title Index.
Science Fiction Periodicals
Locus: The Newspaper of the Science Fiction FieldThis periodical contains book reviews, articles, and interviews of current Science Fiction interests.
Much of this information came from an article in RQ, "Readers' Advisory Reference Tools: A Suggested List of Fiction Sources for All Libraries," (Winter 1996): 206-229.
Lucius Beebe Memorial Library - - lme