The DNA of fiction
How stories inherit ideas and pass them on. Browse by genre, concept, and craft, or look up any work.
Genres
The map holds 647 works, 142 traced ideas and 1,714 connections across 6 genres. Each genre grows its own tree as it’s seeded.
- Science Fiction
- Fantasy
- Mystery & Crime
- Thriller
- Horrorsoon
- Romance
- Historical Fictionsoon
- Literary Fiction
Subgenres and traditions
Post-Apocalyptic Worlds
What does it mean to be human when civilization collapses, and what endures or is rebuilt?
33 works · 1826–2023
Dystopian Societies & Totalitarian Control
What are the dangers of unchecked power, and at what cost does society sacrifice freedom for order?
97 works · 1872–2022
Galactic Empires & Interstellar War
How do vast interstellar civilizations manage power, conflict, and the diversity of species?
32 works · 1928–2024
Concepts
what’s a premise? →Exotic magical lands and diverse creatures
2 works · 800–1900
Mythology and gods in human society
2 works · 800–2001
The heroic quest and archetypal struggle
18 works · -1300–1954
Medieval political intrigue and chivalric ideals
2 works · 1485–1996
Chivalric Code and its Corruption
How do the ideals of chivalry (honor, loyalty, courtly love, courage) shape individual actions and societal structures, and how are they tested or corrupted by human nature and circumstance?
14 works · -800–2002
The Foundational Legend Cycle
How do compiled or newly created foundational legends shape cultural identity and serve as a wellspring for subsequent storytelling and reinterpretation across generations?
11 works · 1100–2018
The Tragic Fall of an Ideal Kingdom
How do narratives explore the inevitable decline and destruction of an ideal society or golden age, often due to internal flaws, moral failings, or the corruption of its leaders?
3 works · 1485–1941
Mischievous fae folk and magical interference
4 works · 1600–1902
Character-driven realism
2 works · 1605–1813
Critique of romantic ideals
2 works · 1605–1925
Character-driven narrative
2 works · 1605–1813
Epic quest narrative
2 works · 1605–1851
Marriage as social advancement
2 works · 1740–1813
Virtue and social mobility
2 works · 1740–1847
Virtue Rewarded Narrative
Does steadfast moral purity, especially female chastity, guarantee a happy and elevated outcome?
9 works · -100–1905
Independent heroine and complex hero
2 works · 1813–1847
Strong-willed heroine in societal conflict
10 works · 1813–2022
Social realism and psychological depth
4 works · 1813–2018
Social critique through character
2 works · 1813–1877
Artificial Life (Bio-Engineered)
What are the moral responsibilities of a creator towards artificial life, and what defines its humanity?
18 works · 1818–2023
Exploration of moral responsibility and guilt
2 works · 1818–1866
Exploration of the monstrous and trauma
3 works · 1818–1987
the detective archetype, intricate plot construction
2 works · 1841–1868
the brilliant, eccentric detective and his loyal chronicler
2 works · 1841–1887
Mysterious male lead and grand house
2 works · 1847–1938
Gothic romance elements
2 works · 1847–1847
Forbidden love with a mysterious, powerful man
2 works · 1847–2005
Symbolic and encyclopedic ambition
2 works · 1851–1922
Deep spiritual and mythological underpinnings
5 works · -1400–1954
Portal fantasy and allegorical themes
2 works · 1858–1950
Space Travel & Exploration
What does humanity gain or lose in its quest to explore and conquer the cosmos?
59 works · 1838–2021
Portal fantasy and whimsical, illogical worlds
4 works · 1865–1961
Surrealism and whimsical elements
2 works · 1865–1968
Existential alienation and moral ambiguity
8 works · 1866–1992
the novel-length detective narrative, use of red herrings
2 works · 1868–1887
Children's fantasy with clear good vs. evil
3 works · 1841–1950
Panoramic social and psychological realism
2 works · 1872–1877
Psychological realism
2 works · 1872–1877
Focus on inner life and stream of consciousness
2 works · 1877–1925
Multiverse & Parallel Realities
If infinite realities exist, how do our choices matter, and what defines our true self?
22 works · 1884–2022
the development of a recurring detective character and short story format
3 works · 1868–1892
the atmospheric mystery, blending detection with gothic elements
2 works · 1892–1902
the professional private investigator, as a contrast to the gentleman amateur
2 works · 1892–1930
the 'fair play' mystery, providing clues for the reader
2 works · 1892–1939
Time Travel & Paradoxes
If we can change the past or see the future, what are the consequences for free will, causality, and identity?
33 works · 1889–2021
Genetic Engineering & Bioethics
What are the ethical boundaries of altering existing life, and what are the consequences for society and evolution?
27 works · 1896–2021
Alien Invasion
How would humanity react to an overwhelming external threat, and what does it reveal about our own nature?
19 works · 1898–2018
Portal fantasy for children
2 works · 1900–1950
The unmasking of the powerful figure
How do narratives explore the disillusionment with seemingly powerful figures who are ultimately revealed to be ordinary or fraudulent?
1 works · 1900–1900
The journey back to the mundane home
How do narratives explore the protagonist's ultimate desire to return to their ordinary, non-magical home after experiencing a fantastical world?
5 works · -800–2013
The morally ambiguous or neutral magical world
How do stories depict magical worlds that are not primarily defined by an overarching struggle between cosmic good and evil?
1 works · 1900–1900
Alien Contact & Civilizations
How do we communicate with, understand, or coexist with truly alien intelligences and cultures?
86 works · 150–2024
Spy adventure narrative
3 works · 1871–1915
Interiority and urban setting
2 works · 1914–1925
Epiphany and modernist techniques
2 works · 1914–1922
Manhunt thriller
4 works · 1915–1993
Spy thriller tropes
2 works · 1915–1957
Robots & Androids
If a robot is indistinguishable from a human, does the distinction matter for rights or identity?
41 works · 1920–2022
Stream of consciousness
2 works · 1922–1925
Epic scope and myth-making
2 works · 1922–1967
Encyclopedic ambition and experimental form
2 works · 1922–1996
Experimental narrative structure
2 works · 1922–1930
Stream of consciousness narrative
2 works · 1925–1929
Disillusionment with American society
2 works · 1925–1951
Unreliable narration and tragic love
2 works · 1925–2001
Non-linear narrative and exploration of trauma
2 works · 1929–1987
Post-Human Evolution & Transcendence
What is the ultimate destiny of humanity, and can we evolve beyond our current physical and mental forms?
46 works · 1895–2022
Multiple perspectives and regional focus
2 works · 1930–1967
the hardboiled style, cynical urban detective, moral ambiguity
2 works · 1930–1939
Epic historical romance
5 works · 1869–1975
Direct narrative continuation and world-building expansion
2 works · 1937–1954
Psychological suspense
4 works · 1938–1966
Domestic psychological thriller
2 works · 1938–2012
psychological suspense, focus on internal turmoil and dark impulses
3 works · 1938–1996
Gritty realism
5 works · 1939–2006
Hard-boiled detective elements
2 works · 1939–2005
Relentless pursuit and survival
4 works · 1886–2005
Moral Compromise in a Corrupt World
How does an individual maintain a moral code when operating within a fundamentally corrupt and ambiguous system?
11 works · 1926–2002
The Outsider Investigator Exposing Systemic Corruption
How does an independent, often cynical, investigator uncover and confront pervasive, institutionalized corruption that extends beyond individual crimes?
6 works · 1939–2007
The Unsolvable or Morally Ambiguous Case
What happens when the truth of a crime is too complex, morally compromised, or ultimately unknowable, making a clear resolution impossible or undesirable?
4 works · -800–1942
Social commentary on the American experience
2 works · 1939–2013
the intricate plot with shocking twists and misdirection
2 works · 1939–2012
the intricate plotting and psychological manipulation within a closed group
2 works · 1939–1950
Telepathy & Psychic Powers
How would psychic abilities fundamentally alter human society, crime, and the nature of power?
23 works · 1935–2017
Artificial Intelligence
Can a machine truly think, feel, or develop consciousness beyond its programming?
51 works · 1920–2023
Cyborgs & Human Augmentation
When does technological augmentation blur the line between human and machine, challenging identity?
20 works · 1897–2020
Individual alienation against oppressive systems
2 works · 1942–1949
Dystopian satire of societal control
2 works · 1949–1996
Children entering a magical world and fighting evil
2 works · 1950–1997
the exploration of criminal psychology, intense cat-and-mouse dynamics
2 works · 1950–1988
the unreliable narrator and psychological manipulation as central plot devices
2 works · 1950–2012
Environmental Collapse
How does humanity confront the consequences of ecological destruction, and can we adapt or survive a transformed Earth?
41 works · 1950–2024
The Robot with a Soul
Can a robot develop an inherent moral compass or a 'soul' that guides its actions beyond its programming?
1 works · 1952–1952
Science Fiction Noir
How does the fusion of science fiction elements with the tropes and atmosphere of noir or detective fiction create new ways to explore themes of crime, corruption, moral ambiguity, and individual struggle in technologically advanced societies?
6 works · 1888–2009
Epic scope and detailed world-building
2 works · 1954–1968
Epic fantasy scope and multi-perspective narrative
2 works · 1954–1996
Chosen one narrative and good vs. evil conflict
4 works · 1872–1997
Epic fantasy world-building and intricate magic systems
2 works · 1954–2006
Epic fantasy scope and immersive world-building
2 works · 1954–2007
The Corrupting Nature of Ultimate Power
How does the possession of ultimate power inevitably corrupt the wielder, regardless of their initial intentions?
3 works · 1954–2018
Secondary World Fantasy
How does the creation of a fully realized, internally consistent secondary world with its own history, cultures, and mythologies enable new forms of storytelling?
4 works · 1954–2018
Action-oriented spy narrative
4 works · 1915–1980
Serial killer psychological thriller
2 works · 1959–1988
Realistic procedural thriller
2 works · 1963–1973
Cold War espionage
2 works · 1963–1984
the detailed psychological portrait of a killer, blurring lines between good and evil
2 works · 1966–1988
Magical realism to explore historical trauma
2 works · 1967–1987
Magical realism and historical trauma
2 works · 1967–1987
School of magic and coming-of-age wizardry
2 works · 1968–1997
Coming-of-age narrative and exploration of magic's consequences
2 works · 1968–2007
Magic as Ecological Balance and Responsibility
How does magic function as an inherent, often dangerous, force within a world's natural and spiritual equilibrium, demanding profound responsibility from its wielders?
1 works · 1968–1968
Technothriller
2 works · 1969–1984
Historical conspiracy/investigation
2 works · 1972–2003
Forbidden and passionate love
4 works · 1177–1977
Explicit historical romance
2 works · 1972–1991
Procedural investigation
2 works · 1972–1973
Threat to humanity/technothriller
2 works · 1969–1974
Memory Manipulation
If memories can be altered or implanted, how do we define identity and reality?
25 works · 1936–2022
Conspiracy and pursuit
4 works · 1915–2003
Virtual Reality & Cyberspace
If we can physically inhabit digital worlds, what are the implications for human experience, society, and reality?
36 works · 1950–2024
Blending genres and mythology in a modern setting
2 works · 1982–2001
Subversion of fantasy tropes
7 works · 1941–2003
Dystopian social critique and female experience
2 works · 1985–1987
Exploration of identity, race, and historical legacy
8 works · 1987–2020
Serial killer investigation
2 works · 1988–2005
Psychological manipulation
2 works · 1988–2012
Race against time/conspiracy
2 works · 1991–2003
Historical romance with strong character focus
2 works · 1991–2000
Consciousness Transfer & Digital Immortality
If consciousness can be transferred or copied, what happens to identity, and does death lose its meaning?
24 works · 1845–2022
Political intrigue and moral ambiguity in epic fantasy
2 works · 1996–2006
Experimental short stories and social observation
2 works · 1996–2013
Popularization of magic schools and detailed magic systems
2 works · 1997–2007
Reintroduction of magic into a historical/modern world
2 works · 2001–2004
Meditation on memory and moral complexity
2 works · 2001–2004
Introspective narrative on belief and belonging
2 works · 2004–2013
Empathy and interiority
2 works · 2004–2013
Bleak, violent crime
6 works · 1955–2005
Fan fiction origin and dominant male lead
2 works · 2005–2011
Intricate magic systems and world-building
2 works · 2006–2007
Craft
full glossary →Themes
The underlying idea or question a story is really about, beneath its events. A theme is abstract, you state it as an idea, not a thing.
13 elements
Motifs
A concrete image, object, or detail that recurs through a work and gathers meaning as it returns.
12 elements
Tropes
A storytelling convention readers recognize and expect, neutral raw material, neither good nor bad on its own.
14 elements
Clichés
A trope worn smooth by overuse, so it lands as tired rather than satisfying. A status a trope can reach, not a separate device.
9 elements
Archetypes
A recurring character role that carries familiar resonance from one story to the next.
13 elements
Narrative techniques
A method of telling, how a story is constructed and delivered, as opposed to what happens in it.
14 elements
Structures
The architecture of a story, how it is shaped across its full length.
12 elements
Plot devices
A mechanism that drives the plot forward or resolves it.
13 elements