Fiction refers to made-up literary works, including novels and short stories. It has been used since ancient times, with early examples including myths and legends. In the 20th century, new media like film and television borrowed from fictional narrative structures. Today, thousands of works of fiction are published in various languages, with literary and genre fiction both popular. Fiction remains the primary form of storytelling in various media, including movies, television, comics, and video games.
Fiction is the term for any made-up literary fiction, or more generally, anything made up. In literature, it refers to novels, short stories, and other works of art that make no claim to tell true stories. While they may be inspired by real events or people, fiction writers create characters, dialogue, and storylines entirely from their imaginations. Storytelling forms the basis of most other entertainment media, including movies, television, and comic books. Science fiction, mystery stories, and novels are among the popular subsets or genres of fiction.
Myths and legends of gods and heroes are among the earliest examples of human storytelling. After the advent of written language, early writers like Homer combined it with human sagas to create the first works of literature, epic poems like The Odyssey and Beowulf. Daniel Defoe pioneered the English novel with Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders, while Romance of the Three Kingdoms in China effectively invented the form in the Orient. Gustave Flaubert, Mark Twain, and Herman Melville were among the masters of the novel form in the 1800s.
In the 20th century, new media proliferated, including film, radio and television. These used fictional narrative structures borrowed from novels or stage dramas, another fictional art form. Meanwhile, literature thrived under new masters such as Ernest Hemingway, Marcel Proust and James Joyce. New genres gained popularity as story magazines catered to both high and low culture tastes. Meanwhile, daring writers like Henry Miller and DH Lawrence explored the limits of what society would allow them to represent.
In modern times, thousands of works of fiction are published in many languages every year. Literary fiction includes award-winning works by the world’s great authors and first-time stories by new writers. Genre fiction provides the bulk of the profits to many book publishers and libraries. Electronic media such as audiobooks and e-books offer readers new ways to enjoy stories of all kinds. Self-publishing and online publishing allow writers to find readers outside of traditional publishing venues.
In a broader sense, fiction remains the primary form of fiction in a variety of media. Movies, television shows, and stage dramas still rely on the fictional form to tell stories. Comics have proven capable of both short stories and extended narratives in a variety of genres. Video games also use fictional constructs to enhance the player experience. While the future of print itself is uncertain, the art of history has already established a strong presence in the realm of electronic media.
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