The Relevance of Genre Fiction: A Look at Two Engaging Novels
Last month, David Brooks, a columnist for the New York Times, stirred the literary pot with his opinion piece titled "When Novels Mattered." In it, he lamented the perceived decline of literary fiction’s significance in American culture. He reminisced about the days when literary giants like John Updike, Norman Mailer, and Toni Morrison dominated bestseller lists, contrasting them with today’s landscape, where fantasy and genre fiction reign supreme. While Brooks raises an interesting point, it seems he might be overlooking some contemporary gems that blend entertainment with sharp social commentary.
A New Perspective on Genre
Instead of diving into the debate over literary merit, let’s explore two genre novels that not only entertain but also provoke thought. These works may not reach the heights of Portnoy’s Complaint or The Color Purple, but they certainly offer more than mere escapism.
Dan Fesperman’s Pariah
Dan Fesperman has been a notable name in espionage fiction since his debut in 1999 with Lie in the Dark. His latest offering, Pariah, continues this tradition, drawing inspiration from real-life events and figures. The protagonist, Hal Knight, is a comedian-turned-politician whose career takes a nosedive after a scandalous video goes viral.
Hal’s journey begins in isolation on a Caribbean island, where he drowns his sorrows in dirty martinis while reading Philip Roth. Unbeknownst to him, the CIA has been keeping tabs on him. When agents approach him with a peculiar request—to perform for the president of the fictional Eastern European country of Bolrovia—Hal finds himself entangled in a web of espionage.
Fesperman expertly weaves classic spy tropes into the narrative: a flawed hero seeking redemption, double agents lurking in the shadows, and a city filled with perilous twists and turns. The plot is both labyrinthine and lucid, culminating in a thrilling climax at an underground bar where former Fox News personalities make an unexpected appearance.
Mike Phillips’ The Dancing Face
On the other side of the genre spectrum is Mike Phillips, a British author with roots in Guyana, who has made a name for himself in crime fiction. His novel The Dancing Face, originally published in Britain in 1997, has recently made its way to American readers. The story centers around Augustus "Gus" Dixon, a Black university professor who becomes embroiled in a scheme to steal a valuable artifact—a gold mask from Benin—during a committee meeting discussing protests against a colonial art exhibition.
Gus’s frustration with his colleagues’ empty rhetoric leads him to devise a heist that quickly spirals out of control. His accomplices, motivated by personal gain rather than Gus’s lofty ideals, add layers of complexity and absurdity to the narrative. Phillips tackles themes of reparations and identity, all while delivering a crime story that echoes classics like The Maltese Falcon and Cotton Comes to Harlem.
The Intersection of Entertainment and Commentary
Both Pariah and The Dancing Face exemplify how genre fiction can serve as a vehicle for social commentary. They engage with contemporary issues while providing readers with thrilling plots and relatable characters.
Fesperman’s work invites readers to reflect on the nature of celebrity and accountability in a world where public figures are often scrutinized. Meanwhile, Phillips challenges notions of cultural ownership and identity, making his readers question the implications of colonialism and the complexities of reparative justice.
In a literary landscape that often prioritizes genre over literary fiction, these novels remind us that storytelling can be both entertaining and thought-provoking. They invite readers to engage with pressing societal issues while enjoying a well-crafted narrative.
As the conversation around the relevance of literary fiction continues, perhaps it’s time to broaden our definitions of what constitutes meaningful literature. These genre novels prove that depth and insight can be found in unexpected places, enriching our reading experiences and expanding our understanding of the world.
