Supernatural fiction: a guide to otherworldly tales

Although supernatural fiction is popular and prevalent in literature, defining the genre isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. Whether it’s a local bookstore or an online retailer like Amazon, you’ll find supernatural fiction categorized under many genres, including fantasy, horror, thrillers, and even religion or romance. The sheer variety makes it difficult to classify, but let’s try it, anyway.

Classification of supernatural fiction

The word ‘supernatural’ derives from Latin: super- (meaning above, beyond, or outside of) + natura (nature). Hence, supernatural fiction explores phenomena, entities, and themes that are beyond scientific understanding or the law of nature, both now and in the future. This includes concepts like gods, angels, demons, the soul, resurrection, or the afterlife in realms like heaven and hell. 

I also consider folklore and pop culture entities like werewolves, vampires, and faeries to be part of the supernatural, as they originate from realms beyond the natural. And when fiction attempts to explain things like viral infections or genetic mutations scientifically, it ventures into the realms of paranormal or even science fiction.

Unlike the supernatural, paranormal phenomena venture beyond current scientific understanding but might be explained someday.

The genre’s rich history

The roots of supernatural fiction extend far back to ancient folklore and mythology. Stories about shapeshifters like werewolves existed in cultures from Indo-Asia and Ancient Rome to Native America. Within oral traditions, people wove mysterious tales to explain the world around them and teach moral and cautionary lessons.

Improved literacy turned oral stories into written mythological fiction. For instance, the Greeks documented their myths through epic poems and plays. Another iconic example is the Epic of Gilgamesh, the ancient Sumerian poem about a king’s pursuit of immortality.

In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, fiction continued to interweave with religious beliefs. The stories included saints, angels, and demons, and explored sin, redemption, and the afterlife. A prime example is Dante’s Divine Comedy, in which he recounts an odyssey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven.

Gothic literature shaped modern supernatural fiction. Classic horror tropes, like haunted houses, malevolent spirits, and cosmic horrors, emerged during this period. Edgar Allan Poe and H. P. Lovecraft are two well-known authors. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the focus is more on Frankenstein’s successful creation of life and its profound consequences on him, his family, and the creature, rather than on the scientific methods.

Contemporary supernatural success

In the 20th century, authors like Stephen King (e.g. The Shining) and Dean Koontz (Odd Thomas series) merged Gothic elements with thrilling storytelling to propel the genre to new heights. In an Interview with the Vampire, Anne Rice uses Louis de Pointe du Lac’s immortal life to explore existential angst.

Since the late 20th century, supernatural romance has gained popularity, spawning many best-selling books, TV shows, and movies. In this subgenre, a human usually falls in love with a supernatural being, creating forbidden romances full of dramatic tension. Popular book series adapted into television shows include L. J. Smith’s The Vampire Diaries and Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels, the latter inspiring the hit show True Blood. Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series is an example of books adapted into movies.

Supernatural themes and motifs

Gods, demons, ghosts, zombies, and other supernatural beings are key elements of these novels. Supernatural fiction, though, is not limited to horror, which solely aims to frighten and terrify. Supernatural fiction, though, emphasizes suspense, mystery, and intrigue. It draws readers into the unknown without frightening them. These characters help us explore themes of life, death, and the afterlife. 

People without supernatural experience typically find themselves unexpectedly involved in extraordinary events. Creatures like vampires and werewolves often disrupt the protagonist’s sense of normalcy. By choice or by fate, the protagonists always end up ensnared in the uncanny new world.

Common themes include self-discovery, redemption, and forgiveness. These unfold through the perspective of human protagonists who wrestle with questions about identity, purpose, and destiny. It makes their journey as much an inner transformation as an external quest to confront the unknown.

Alternatively, the story may follow a supernatural being haunted by the consequences of past actions. Burdened by guilt, they battle their darker instincts and seek redemption, hoping to atone for mistakes that continue to shape their existence.

In many supernatural stories, good and evil clash, with the human protagonist always stuck in the middle of it. These narratives explore ethical decision-making as characters navigate the blurred lines between right and wrong. Whether confronting malevolent entities or battling their inner demons, characters face moral dilemmas that test their resolve and shape their destinies.

Setting and protagonists

No matter the subgenre, supernatural fiction almost always draws its roots from the real world. For instance, Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, and Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & The Olympians bring gods and mythological figures into modern-day America.

The environment influences what the characters go through and how they grow. Whether it’s a quaint small town hiding a dark secret or a haunted mansion, the setting often acts like a character itself.

Moreover, the genre also leans heavily on eerie elements like haunted houses and cursed objects. These objects don’t just create unease and suspense, but often carry a deeper meaning. A vampire, with its seductive charm and thirst for blood, might represent the pull of forbidden desires. A werewolf’s transformation could symbolize inner conflict or repressed rage. A zombie apocalypse might stand in for society’s breakdown, forcing characters to face the collapse of order and the fragility of civilization. And a haunted house could be a metaphor for a physical manifestation of a character’s trauma.

Why we love supernatural fiction

From shifter romances and cozy witch mysteries to thrillers and even horror, this genre offers something for every kind of reader. It speaks to our deepest fears and curiosities. Whether it's haunted houses, cursed objects, or brushes with the afterlife, this genre draws us in with its spooky atmosphere and endless sense of wonder.

The impact of supernatural fiction goes far beyond books. Vampires, werewolves, and ghosts are commonplace in film, television, and video games.

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In Eclipse of Avarice, morally complex characters meet supernatural forces and organized crime in gritty urban environments. In the supernatural suspense thriller, Luminael Morningstar and the daemona Crowley have settled in Las Vegas.

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