Weird Fiction: Stories of the Uncanny and the Indescribable

Weird fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction that re-explores the traditional tropes, characteristics, and descriptions of beings and landscapes in a fictional world.

Elements of horror, fantasy, the supernatural, and science fiction are blended together to create a genre that defies the “normality” of other genres.

What Is Weird Fiction?

It is hard to arrive at a clear definition of weird fiction, as the term has been frequently used to describe other genres, such as supernatural fiction. Other writers consider it a “mode” rather than a genre—a method or aesthetic that characterizes stories but isn’t tied to only one genre.

Perhaps the most encapsulating definition of this genre is told by H.P. Lovecraft in an essay:

The true weird tale has something more than secret murder, bloody bones, or a sheeted form clanking chains according to rule. A certain atmosphere of breathless and unexplainable dread of outer, unknown forces must be present; and there must be a hint, expressed with a seriousness and portentousness becoming its subject, of that most terrible conception of the human brain—a malign and particular suspension or defeat of those fixed laws of Nature which are our only safeguard against the assaults of chaos and the daemons of unplumbed space.

Going by this description, we can say weird fiction is the use of a more intangible type of fear, rather than the usual physical harm or outright disgust. This use of conceptual fear is called by some as the Weird. You get the sense of something dark lurking beneath the narrative; a feeling of dread that something terrible exists, or is about to happen.

It reinforces your subconscious realization that human knowledge is finite, jarring you from the comfortable position you’ve established in the cosmos. In this regard, it is very similar to cosmic horror.

And though it is closest to horror, it is separated from the genre by its frequent engagement with the numinous. Religious or spiritual elements are in play, with the possibility of something divine moving behind the scenes. Weird fiction can also contain realistic themes, science fiction concepts, humorous tones, and other elements independent of horror.

Weird fiction is better understood as a liquid genre. Unlike other genres, it has no parameters and isn’t easily identified by common tropes and practices. Rather, it frequently pushes against genre boundaries, borrowing, subverting, or dropping genre conventions. This is why most weird fiction enthusiasts identify it not with a hard description, but on an “I know it when I see it” basis.

What Makes a Story Weird?

To create an atmosphere of abstract dread and strangeness, what is normal is twisted or completely changed. Zombies, vampires, ghosts, and other monsters are rejected in favor of more nebulous creatures that lack the usual characteristics seen in folkloric and fantastical creatures.

The tentacle, a limb that doesn’t appear in gothic horror or European folklore, is often part of beings that are featured in weird fiction. A great example is Lovecraft’s own Cthulhu, a malevolent being described as vaguely humanoid with an octopus-like head made up of wriggling feelers.

Characters often enter places and situations that are unfamiliar to the human experience. Structures made from strange materials, skies that display different stars, and entire worlds that work differently from ours are just some of the ways this can be expressed.

When these characters come in contact with strange things, it becomes an obsession that must be fulfilled. They may decide to control these strange things, attempt to understand them, or force themselves to forget. This often drives them to eccentric behavior or complete insanity. Whether these strange things are real or a figment of the imagination is sometimes left to interpretation.

Weird Fiction Examples

If you want to start reading some weird fiction stories, here are a few of my recommendations that I think are great examples of this genre:

1. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Salesman Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning and finds himself transformed into an insect. As he slowly regresses into a true insect, he ponders the consequences of his transformation.

2. The House on the Borderland by William Hope Hodgson

Two fishermen discover the ruins of an old house perched precariously on a cliff. In it, they find a dusty journal detailing the experiences of a recluse as he investigates the evils of the house he lived in.

3. Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

Closed off and reclaimed by nature, Area X contains a mystery that has confounded humanity for three decades. Expedition after expedition has failed to discover its secrets, with members dying of different causes. Now, the twelfth expedition is preparing for its perilous mission.

If you want more suggestions for great weird fiction reads, check out my list of the best weird fiction books.

Why Is Weird Fiction Popular?

Weird fiction’s popularity is highly influenced by a reader’s personal taste. Other genre enthusiasts could easily find themselves enjoying weird fiction as much they do their favorite genres. Here are a few insights on why it is so popular:

Unpredictability: Since weird fiction is a melting pot of different genres, you can confidently expect stories that are different from the usual ones you read. Because these stories don’t follow what’s normal, you have no idea how they’ll progress and end, which makes reading them more exciting.
Sense of Something More: Weird fiction stories often focus on our fear of cosmic insignificance; of there being something greater that dwarfs humanity to the point that we’re inconsequential in the larger picture. But in reverse, the concept of there being something more can also mean the existence of a benevolent god, a world that has achieved utopia, and every other happy thought you’ve entertained.
Subversion: Similar to how cyberpunk was created as a rebellious movement against an era of a stagnating science fiction genre, weird fiction is a rebellion against most genres. As such, it loves to twist and rebuild genre conventions to suit its narratives.This way, it is always a fresh escape from the tired tropes and stereotypes that other genres are plagued by.

Of course, these are personal observations I arrived at from my experiences in reading weird fiction. Feel free to add or disagree with these insights!

Have you read any weird fiction? Share your experience in the comments below!

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