Adventure Fiction

As children, we've often dreamed of swashbuckling pirates, fire-breathing dragons, outer space journeys and more. Even as adults, the child in us yearns for a visit from Gandalf or a letter from Hogwarts. This is perhaps because we all desire to go on an adventure. While that may not always be possible, we can live vicariously by reading adventure fiction!

Adventure Fiction Genre

If you go by the name, adventure fiction is quite simply a fictional narrative that includes an adventure. A scholar would tell you that adventure fiction is part of romance. They don't mean romance in the sense of a love story between two individuals, but romance as the term has been used in literary fiction and the novel genre.

In this sense, adventure fiction is a work of romance, where the adventure makes up a significant part of the story. It is, however, helpful to remember that adventure fiction is an umbrella genre that includes many sub-genres such as science fiction or epic fantasy.

Adventure fiction genre overlaps and examples

Often, adventure fiction overlaps with other genres, as already discussed above. Below are some examples of stories of adventure fiction that overlap with other genres:

Science fiction and adventure fiction

These tales are an overlap of science fiction and adventure fiction.

Epic fantasy fiction and adventure fiction

These tales include a genre overlap of epic fantasy and adventure fiction.

Crime fiction and adventure fiction

These tales include a genre overlap of crime fiction and adventure fiction.

Adventure Fiction Characteristics

While adventure fiction revolves around the 'adventure' in the narrative, these narratives typically include the following traits:

• The adventure is the central plot. While there may be other minor adventures, diversions, and distractions in the narrative, there is always a main adventure that drives the main plot of the narrative forward. In Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness (1899), the central adventure is Marlow's journey into Africa, and his encounter with Mr Kurtz.
• These stories focus on the element of danger. When there is a threat looming over the protagonists, it captivates the reader's attention.
• There is often physical action involved in adventure fiction. This may be magical or violent.
• The adventure usually concludes with the protagonist conquering something, overcoming an obstacle, or acquiring a reward. In Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island (1883), the final reward is, as the title suggests, a treasure.

Adventure Fiction Authors and Books

Some of the most famous authors and their works of adventure fiction include the following:

Arthur Conan Doyle

The adventures of the famous consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes, created by Arthur Conan Doyle, are enjoyed by readers all over the world. Arguably, while the stories featuring Sherlock Holmes fall under the detective fiction genre, some of the tales do include all the characteristics of a work of adventure fiction, especially The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902) and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892).

Jules Verne

Jules Verne was famous for writing tales of grand adventures, most of which have been adapted to the big screen. These adventure fiction narratives include the aforementioned Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1864), Around the World in 80 Days (1872) and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870).

Arthurian fiction

King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table are frequently featured in works of adventure fiction. Whether it is the quest for the Holy Grail or defeating the evil magician Nimueh, Arthurian stories are read by audiences of all ages across the world. Some of the most famous Arthurian fiction books include John Steinbeck's The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights (1976), The Sword and the Stone (1938) by T. H. White, and Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889).

Adventure Fiction Today

Adventure fiction continues to remain a much-loved genre today, especially because of its action and fast pace. Due to the genre overlaps, adventure fiction is extremely versatile and has the potential to cater to a wide readership with diverse tastes. Contemporary adventure fiction can also be written with great complexity, such as Dan Brown's books featuring symbologist Robert Langdon, or in a more straightforward yet exciting way for young readers, such as the adventures featuring child detective Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene.