“What is genre?” you ask. “Is that French?” Yes, it is. It’s French for “type.” Actually, it means much more than that. The French are known for their ability to compress complex and multi-layered meanings into single words. For instance, “oui” means “yes,” but can also express such elaborate meanings as “Yes, I’d like some toast,” or, “Yes, I’d love to babysit your children while you and your wife are vacationing in Venice.” Similarly, “genre” refers to a story’s setting, tone, and conventions–standard character types, plots, and the like.