Genre help.

[Kaiodem]

First thing you should know: My novel contains aliens, which would be considered scifi, but I don't want to call it scifi because it doesn't remind me of a scifi novel.

It's filled with lots of romance, and I wish I could call it a paranormal romance (but technically, aliens aren't paranormal). BUT I don't want to call it scifi.

Should I just say urban fantasy and say heck with it? Because scifi just doesn't fit my novel at all.

What should I do?

[Tabris]

I looked back over your query, and it sounds like SF to me.

I'm not sure what you mean by "it doesn't remind me of a scifi novel."  SF is a HUGE field and there isn't just one mold for stories that fit it. I've read hundreds of science fiction novels, and yes they fall into categories, but there's a very broad range.

I wouldn't say urban fantasy because it seems like the science fiction elements are too strong (in the query) and overpower the fantasy part.

[Falen]

Just because it's sci-fi, doesn't mean it has to be a space opera or anything. I would just call it sci-fi, you're fine with that genre. I call all my stuff Fantasy, but i don't have dragons or elves etc. They're both large umbrella's that encompass a lot.
You could also maybe consider calling it Science-fiction romance, but i would only consider that if the romance is a main structure of the plot (ie, without the romance, the book kind of falls apart)

[Tigerbunny]

Oh, brother!  Have I got the same problem.  Mine's Comedy/Horror/Offbeat/Quirky and I've got aliens too.  I want to throw up.  Am watching your post with great interest. 

[LateToTheParty]

... and a partridge in a pear tree. Think of the genre thing as a device for the marketeers and bookstore buyers. "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," is one of the funniest books ever written and just happened to take place in space.

Oh, BTW it's actually a Caracara in a pine tree. Just saying.

[AnyaHarker]

I once read somewhere that you used sci-fi when you dealt with nuts and bolts; fantasy if it was anything else. ;^)

However, I think you're going to be best calling yours Sci-Fi. Urban Fantasy isn't really the right moniker for your genre.

Urban Fantasy: a sub-genre of fantasy defined by place; the fantastic narrative has an urban setting. Many urban fantasies are set in contemporary times and contain supernatural elements. However, the stories can take place in historical, modern, or futuristic periods. The prerequisite is that they must be primarily set in a city. (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_fantasy)

Fantasy: a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common. Fantasy is generally distinguished from the genres of science fiction and horror by the expectation that it steers clear of (pseudo-)scientific and macabre themes, respectively, though there is a great deal of overlap between the three, all of which are subgenres of speculative fiction. (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy)

Science Fiction: is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible (or at least non-supernatural) content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities. Exploring the consequences of scientific innovations is one purpose of science fiction, making it a "literature of ideas". (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_fiction)

I have a feeling that saying SciFi with romantic elements is where you're going to wind up going. Just remember if you do decide to do anything along the lines of paranormal romance you're really going to have to sell it to make it different from everything else. Good luck!

[Magic_Seeker]

I read somewhere that SF is the "new" up-and-coming genre.  It may be in your best interest to label it SF! 

[Kaiodem]

Tabris: I understand what you mean and thanks. I must not understand the true genre of other novels out there. I never realized how many scifi novels are really out there.

Falen: Good way of putting it. Thanks for the help!

Tigerbunny: Why thank you! Hope you have luck too!

LateToTheParty: haha, you always come up with the quirkiest things to say.

AnyaHarker: Thanks for the definitions. Makes it much clearer to me.

Magic_Seeker: Just realized the Hunger Games is considered scifi, so you're absolutely correct.

Thanks everyone for the help. I'm definitely going with scifi on this one. I just usually think of the Twilight Zone when I think of scifi. haha.

[Tabris]

Look at it this way: the people who want to read your book are going to walk into a specific section of the book store. Which section is it going to be? What other authors will they have read? You want to be shelved in that section, near those authors.

And if in the end your agent manages to land you a three-book deal by calling it a gothic mystery, as long as it's shelved where people expect it to be and as long as it's shelved where similar authors are shelved, eh. :-)

[AnyaHarker]

Tabris is absolutely right on that one. It may not be YOUR definition but most people when they hear aliens would walk toward sci-fi.

Also? Take a walk through the bookstore. See what books exist in the different genres and see where yours best fits. It may not be your definition of sci-fi? but if it fits in with other books in said genre, then go with that. Good luck!

[Kaiodem]

Thanks for all the help you guys and karma to all!