this made me smile

Jay Lake's Handy Guide to Genre Distinctions:

Genre Distinguishing Characteristics


General fiction - Nothing to explain

Literary fiction - If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand it anyway

Mystery - Explain what happened

Thriller/Technothriller - Explain how it happened

Romance - Explain who it happened to

Western - Explain what lily-livered varmint gone and done it

Horror - Explain what's about to happen

Science Fiction - Explain everything in technical detail

Fantasy - Explain everything in nonsensical detail

Magical Realism - Explain nothing

Surrealism - Go fishing for ice cream


Though my own take on Magical Realism would be "Explain nothing but beautifully". Thanks to The Mumpsimus.