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Genre-Hybridization – a Key to Hyper-Bestsellers? The use and function of different fiction genres in The Da Vinci Code and The Millennium Trilogy

Kerstin Bergman Ph.D., Affiliate Associate Professor of Comparative Literature at Lund University, Sweden. Her main field of research is contemporary crime fiction (literature, film, television). Among her publications are the key reference works on crime fiction Kriminallitteratur: Utveckling, genrer, perspektiv (2011, with S. Kärrholm) and Swedish Crime Fiction: The Making of Nordic Noir (forthcom- ing January 2014), as well as numerous articles on Swedish and international crime fiction.

Abstract The majority of the novels that during the first decade of the 2000s became hyper-bestsellers share one thing in common: They tend to be genre-hybrids, mixing several different, often popular, fiction genres. This is true for Harry Potter, The Da Vinci Code, Twilight, and a number of other hyper-bestseller phenomena of recent years. The thesis of this article is that genre-hybridity is a fundamental feature that contributes to a novel’s success by causing it to attract a larger and more diverse audience, and in so doing makes it stand out from most “regular” bestsellers. In this article, the concept of the hyper-bestseller is introduced and outlined, followed by a comparative analysis of the use of dif- ferent fiction genres and sub-genres in two of the most successful hyper-bestsellers of recent times, both of which exhibit strong links with the crime fiction tradition: Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The two novels are found to share many genre-related features, in particular, their dy- namic detective duos, feminist agendas, anti-authoritarian attitudes, political criticism, exoticism, and religious elements. A majority of

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Twilight , Kerstin Bergman Kerstin hyper-bestseller Volume 07 New York Times New York Fifty Shades of Gray , The Da Vinci Code Vinci Da The , Harry Potter Harry Genre-Hybridization – A Key to Hyper-Bestsellers? A Key to – Genre-Hybridization The Hunger Games , The list below defines its main features: The list below defines its main 1 hyper-bestseller, genre, genre-hybridity, crime fiction, genre, genre-hybridity, hyper-bestseller,

Attracts enormous international popularity and fan culture Attracts enormous international the original novel/ not read Known also to people who have its remediations the text through novels or approached Attracts extensive attention by media Attracts extensive attention by scholars A popular cultural phenomenon A which turn/s into some Originates in a novel/a series of novels, 1 average No. the than much bigger thing seller number of languages into a large Translated Sells in many millions of copies into blockbuster films Turned formats Adapted for several other media number of other hyper-bestseller phenomena of recent years. There of recent phenomena number of other hyper-bestseller a to turning a novel into many other factors that contribute are distribution. and promotion of factors least not hyper-bestseller, is a fun that genre-hybridity The thesis of this article is, however, tocontributes that feature – under-explored so far – and damental and more a novel’s success by causing it to attract a larger such most diverse audience, and in so doing makes it stand out from bestsellers. “regular” 7. 8. 9. 10. The majority of novels that during the first decade of the 2000s one thing in common: They tend to share became hyper-bestsellers be genre-hybrids, mixing several fiction often different, popular, for This is true genres. Millennium Trilogy tus of bestseller or blockbuster – the concept of – the concept tus of bestseller or blockbuster here. introduced 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. the shared genre conventions are also found to enable a strong sense to enable a strong also found conventions are genre the shared with the detective characters. identification of reader Keywords Stieg Larsson. Dan Brown, The concept of hyper-bestseller describe and classify the most successful works of fiction from To – those that decades even the have succeeded beyond sta recent quarter

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This applies This applies 4 Kerstin Bergman Kerstin The Da Vinci Code Vinci Da The Volume 07 (Alton, 2009, p. 221) was published in 2003, he was Readers and audiences today pos 5 By comparing how these novels em 3 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo . the more controversial content of controversial the more 6 Genre-Hybridization – A Key to Hyper-Bestsellers? A Key to – Genre-Hybridization The Da Code Vinci (2000), , Anne Hiebert Alton concludes that genre today is Alton concludes that genre Anne Hiebert , was probably crucial in making it more successful than in making it more crucial was probably Millennium Trilogy Harry Potter When Brown’s Because of their conscious or unconscious awareness of the vari the of awareness unconscious or conscious their of Because as well as genres, different elements from be able to recognize To Popular fiction has always had a strong bond to concepts of gen of concepts to bond strong a had always has fiction Popular As crime fiction in particular has grownto dominate the interna genre elements – and which, furthermore, arguably constitute an arguably – and which, furthermore, elements genre in their success and status as hyper-bestsellers. important ingredient re, closely following specific genrerules, traditions, and patterns. between dif the borders however, In the wake of post-modernity, permeable. have become much more genres ferent also at the level of sub-genres. Indeed, to look at crime fiction to thrill psychological whodunit, archetypal an find to hard is it day, crime writers now use elements as most or police procedural, er, than one sub-genre. more from tional fiction market during the last decade, I will compare the use success most the of two in sub-genres and genres fiction different of exhibit strong which both of times, recent of ful hyper-bestsellers Brown’s Dan tradition: fiction crime the with links (2003) and Stieg Larsson’s his from ploy different fiction genres and sub-genres, I hope to be able to of in common in terms of use and mixture identify what they share references references to specific works of popular fiction, might even consti tute part of the attraction for the reader. novels to his name. How an established author with three already him into becoming a hy that propelled it was the above novel ever, earlier his to similar quite being Despite phenomenon. per-bestseller Angels & Demons Code Vinci genres, and can thus often also identify genre patterns and conven patterns can thus often also identify genre and genres, use genre Studying mixed. are genres several where fiction in tions in much more than a “classification tool,” it has rather becomea “communication system”: of recogni delight the gain readers books, the in fused genres ous in form: they know something that feels familiar tion as they read they begin, and before the conventions of the game, or the story, looking for the tags, or signs. thus are sess extensive knowledge concerning what characterizes different what characterizes different sess extensive knowledge concerning quarter

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Kerstin Bergman Kerstin paved the way Volume 07 . Nordic crime fiction Trilogy

is based on the political is based on the political The Da Code Vinci Millennium The Da Code Vinci The Da Code Vinci was first published, the novel was thus “car Genre-Hybridization – A Key to Hyper-Bestsellers? A Key to – Genre-Hybridization The types of codes and puzzles used by Brown com 7 – and not, for example, Henning Mankell’s Kurt Wallander Mankell’s Kurt Wallander – and not, for example, Henning the narrative. While this pause traditionally delays the solving of the narrative. While this pause traditionally delays the solving of the case, in Brown’s novel it contributes to the tempo by adding suspense. Unlike the classic whodunit, but a series of mysteries and codes that not one puzzle-like mystery, time pressure extreme under need to be solved by the protagonists and complete what turns so as to survive, solve the initial murder, for the Holy Grail. out to be a search and a whodunit turned serial killer thriller and a whodunit turned serial of The main structure qualifies it primarilythriller as(the a thematic content, however, cultural thriller) with a dominating “on the run” motif, where the the suspense is and hunted, and where both hunters are heroes this To that keep them running. the constant threats built up around basic Brown structure, adds a number of riddles and puzzles to be of their and stay ahead to keep momentum solved for his heroes pursuers. monly belong to the classic detective story or whodunit. In these in the developments of the puzzles give rise to a pause sub-genres, for opening up the international market to Nordic writers. Although writers. to Nordic for opening up the international market languages, English-language in many European popular already un were 2008–2009) English in (released novels Larsson’s of sales the That it was writer. crime for a Nordic precedented Trilogy hyper-best a became that – series Hole Harry Nesbø’s Jo or novels be attributed to the exten seller phenomenon, can in all likelihood extensive dis of Larsson’s novels (cf. the more mixture sive genre 2013, pp. 51–53). cussion in Bergman, whodunit elements, A cultural thriller packed with the former. It could also be argued that the timing was riper for this that the timing It could also be argued the former. widely – fiction crime as hyper-bestseller, a become to novel of kind defined – was just starting to eclipse all other genres in terms of couple of in A years 2005, later, when Larsson’s popularity. with the Dragon Tattoo particu in and fiction, crime of popularity growing still the by ried” lar on the back of Brown’s as a concept in its own right,was also beginning to become known and the translation of Larsson’s quarter

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Kerstin Bergman Kerstin Volume 07 The Girl with the Drag the with Girl The In Brown’s case, it could be be could it case, Brown’s In might attract more women women might attract more , genre associations progressive , genre – Sophie Neveu as a cryptologista as Neveu Sophie – Genre-Hybridization – A Key to Hyper-Bestsellers? A Key to – Genre-Hybridization man-woman combo . Crime fiction is in many senses a traditionally male genre, genre, male traditionally a senses many in is fiction Crime . The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo In vestigator for a private security firm. security private a for vestigator that the argued women toattract might it Larsson’s, in thriller genre; the to readers the kind of crime novel that conveys social and political criticism, in incorporated another important sub-genre Tattoo on male reader still have a predominantly and many of its sub-genres con be greater to women for despite the general tendency ship, use of the melodrama (another genre common in hyper-bestsellers) hyper-bestsellers) in common genre (another melodrama the of use 2010, passim). for his success (Agger, as crucial feminist agendas Dynamic detective duos and Both Brown and Larsson chose a man-woman combo of amateur Blom Mikael and Langdon Robert protagonists. their as detectives a symbologist/art investigating academics, respectively kvist are historian and journalist, while the women have ties to professional work of line their in investigation the police during from employed by the police (although running the events of the novel), and Lisbeth Salander freelancing as an in ing girl’s diary. These are believed to be (encrypted) phone numbers, phone (encrypted) be to believed are These diary. girl’s ing thepassages in to as references deciphered are they but eventually (Larsson, women murdered of series a to refer turn, in which, Bible, pp. 171, 252–253). In Larsson’s case, the riddle thus illustrates 2011, whodunit from the other, to sub-genre one from transformation the for the rather than constituting a driving force to serial killer thriller, affiliations and structures genre main the are these Although action. additional numberboth contain an novels, two the characterizing sub- fiction crime different from – elements and references genre of genres and other (mainly) popular fiction genres. Agger Gunhild extensive Larsson’s demonstrated example, convincingly for has, ly change. The initial mystery of the disappearance of a girl from an of a girl from mystery of the disappearance ly change. The initial sub-gen the novel primarily in the whodunit isolated island places eventually turn it into what is elements Later events and genre re. is a between genres The transition killer thriller. essentially a serial gradual process, but the final crossing of the line is clearly marked by several markers genre-related (Bergman, 2013, pp. 49–50). Lars riddle/puzzle in his novel, the fore the occasional son also uses and numbers found in the miss most example being a list of names quarter

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Kerstin Bergman Kerstin Volume 07 feminist ideas, and this has enabled read Genre-Hybridization – A Key to Hyper-Bestsellers? A Key to – Genre-Hybridization radical Larsson’s novel has a clear feminist agenda, aiming to criticizeLarsson’s novel has a clear feminist While Brown’s and Larsson’s women protagonists can hardly be ern ideas about gender equality while criticizing of suppression Both novels have extensive received criticism women in society. for their feminist ambitions – Brown primarily from religious cir cles accusing him of distorting historical facts, Larsson mainly that the novel cannot be feminist feminist fractions arguing from isdue to the explicit portrayal of violence against women, which None of the novels do, to be anti-feminist by default. considered present however, and raise awareness of structural and physical violence toward and physical violence toward of structural and raise awareness though it is the trilogy, women. The theme persists throughout perhaps most explicit in the story about Salander and in the first novel’s case of the serial Brown’s killer. novel, too, can be said to about the over the truth the battle have a feminist theme at its core: Christ, with it being feminine and the descendants of Jesus sacred up by the patriarchal has been covered that an ancient truth argued nov Larsson’s and Brown’s women. suppress to Church Christian els thus, at least to some extent, challenge the male paradigm tra ditionally dominating the crime fiction genreand advocate mod traditional gender stereotypes. Langdon is the action hero and also is the action hero Langdon traditional gender stereotypes. deciphering the rid in position stronger progressively takes on a dles, until he finally solves the mystery on his own, withrath Larsson Neveu 96). p. 2011, Bergman, (cf. role passive more a in placed er inverts traditional gender dynamics, conferring on Blomkvist actionthe as acting Salander with traits, female traditionally more hero, who rescues the captured Blomkvist from the serial killer (cf. Kärrholm, 2012, p. 151). In spite of this, their working relationship tends to be gender equal, something an international audience might to interna and novel; a Swedish from and accept, expect, also this is likely part of the novel’s attraction. tional women readers, sumers of novels. Furthermore, the dual gender combo enables enables combo gender dual the Furthermore, novels. of sumers take something that both authors motif, a traditional romantic advantage of. In classic detective fiction,romance tended to be de recent In murder. for the motif of part it was unless avoided to be have grown heroes between liaisons romantic however, cades, a staple in most crime fiction sub-genres. This has contributed to the appeal of crime fiction to new audiences. broadening on more relies Brown that clear is it weak, or submissive considered quarter

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Kerstin Bergman Kerstin Volume 07 . Blomkvist wants to his prove innocence Genre-Hybridization – A Key to Hyper-Bestsellers? A Key to – Genre-Hybridization While Larsson’s protagonists, despite being amateur detectives,amateur being despite protagonists, Larsson’s While The protagonists of both novels also share in common that they novels also share of both The protagonists roes is that they are driven by strong, personal codes of ethics, par driven by strong, is that they are roes American of the PIs hard-boiled the among common ticularly more are thriller heroes for example, political tradition, whereas, often characterized by loyalty to their employers. Both authors are also very detailed in the description of how the detectives conduct which is remi their investigations and of how the cases progress, details. This of process accounting niscent of the police procedural’s as if in the story, feel involved is a way to further make the reader hero, hero, they are rather reminiscent of the quest tales common in ad venture stories, which is particularly pertinent to Brown’s novel, Holy Grail is for the journey combined with the search the where evocative of both classical quest tales and modern adventure sto the reader’sries. The vendetta motif increases attach emotional to contributes thus and character, fictional the for support and ment the page-turning qualities of the novels. detectives, private hard-boiled of manner the work primarily in those of Brown are more clearly inspired by the heroes of the ac tion/political thriller tradition. A specificity shared by all four he her legal guardian and eventually takes revenge on him and re and eventually takes revenge her legal guardian the trilogy, throughout Additionally, their power relations. verses she investigates her own past, finding out more about what hap her father and, eventually confronts and child, a as to her pened police that had within the secret during a trial, exposes the fraction protected him. In the end, she finally acquires the legal status she has been denied. In the case of Brown, it is primarily Neveu who missionher her in assisting Langdon with personal vendetta, has a mis personal and Vendettas grandfather. her killed who out find to sions like these are commonly used in crime fiction as motifs be the with associated when However, committed. crimes the hind ers to find without them feeling “refreshing” too Still, provoked. par added to the novels’ appeal, have probably these perspectives readers. ticularly for women in obvious most is which vendettas, personal with dealing are Girl with the Dragon Tattoo some affair, the Wennerström libel over for after being convicted also helps who the aid of Salander, thing which he is able to do with Salander herself is raped by crimes. him publicize Wennerström’s quarter

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Kerstin Bergman Kerstin , the police fail to Volume 07 Genre-Hybridization – A Key to Hyper-Bestsellers? A Key to – Genre-Hybridization The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo , the French police hunt Langdon for a murder he did police hunt Langdon for a murder , the French are revealed as a fraction within the Swedish secret po fraction within the Swedish secret as a revealed are In general, both novels show skepticism toward authorities. In toward In general, both novels show skepticism nium Trilogy lice. Both authors are also critical of other institutions. Brown pri marily the targets Catholic and Church Opus Dei; Larsson critiques (pri media the and market, financial corrupt the capitalism, modern marily the tabloids and financial journalists). The distrust of estab it is easy where a sense of us-against-them, lished authorities creates ab to identify with the individual against the more for a reader stract/distant powers. In a time of economic crisis, globalization, deed, more generally, from governments with double agendas in governments with double from generally, deed, more police among the highest ranks of the political thrillers to corruption in police procedurals and hard-boiled crime fiction, a mistrust of authority is very common in the genre of crime fiction. Brown and of the police. In especially critical of their portrayal Larsson are Code Da Vinci not commit, with the leading police officer connected with some of the villains, while in is a serial killer there solve the girl’s disappearance and never realize throughout the primary villains at work. Furthermore, Both Brown’s and Larsson’s novels blend fiction withreality by initially he as Brown “facts”: to references with stories their framing informs the reader about The Priory of Sion and Opus Dei, estab documents, and architecture, lishing that “descriptions of artwork, secret rituals in this novel are accurate” (Brown, 2004, p. [1]); and each of the four main parts of his novel by Larsson by introducing statistics about violent crimes against women. Swedish relating – to the world of the reader This serves to bring the novels closer that is, making it easier to believe and engage in the fiction and to of society and established au accept the often critical perspectives in the novels. thorities presented partaking in the investigation, and it is an important part of the at investigation, and it is an important partaking in the Additionally, series. police and other procedural traction behind navigate and gut hunches, instincts, feelings help the four heroes to the novels. While common dangers throughout among clues and characteris particularly perhaps is it detectives, fiction crime many genre. male detectives of the police tic of the middle-aged Revolutionary – and a touch of political spirits and religion exoticism, criticism, quarter

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Kerstin Bergman Kerstin Volume 07 , Salander’s, rapistand guardian legal Genre-Hybridization – A Key to Hyper-Bestsellers? A Key to – Genre-Hybridization century, law-breaking detectives were primarily found infound primarily were detectives law-breaking century, th Swedish crime fiction in particular has areputation for contain An additional aspect is that the heroes of both novels have a ten a have novels both of heroes the that is aspect additional An “villain,” which Larsson to a certain extent does in his trilogy – in Tattoo Dragon the with Girl The Bjurman is the most noticeable representative of the state – is con depiction of Sweden This critical trary to the idealized stereotype. has probably increased the fascination for Swedish crime fiction that a get the impression who might among non-Swedish readers, some of these about Sweden is being conveyed; perhaps truth secret something illegal is added to the long list of things that might gosomething illegal is added to the also to perhaps to worry about – and the reader causing wrong, even more. cheer on – the protagonist ing social and political criticism, a tendency traced back to the po lice novels by Maj Sjöwall and (1965–75). Per The Wahlöö primary object of criticism in the national tradition has been the disintegra of the image readers, foreign state. To tion of the Swedish welfare with clashed thus has fiction crime of type this in presented Sweden functioning welfare notion of Sweden as a perfectly the widespread a socialist utopia of sorts. Portraying the Swedish state as a society, in most other sub-genres. However, a declining respect for the law a declining respect However, in most other sub-genres. rationale The fiction. crime recent more of types most in seen be can for crime fiction heroes breaking the law stems from their actions benefiting the greater good, such as catching staying a murderer, serious crime. When the heroes more another, alive, or preventing or – as when Salander uses her skills as a hacker go against the rules – it en the Louvre to escape from when Langdon tricks the police Even though the by the readers. hances the suspense experienced crimes as com these generally “positioned” to perceive is reader not condemning the actions of themitted for a good cause, and thus risk that they could be caught by the police for doing the hero, and a generally changing world, this might be attractive to manychanging world, this might generally and a to likely contributed and has, furthermore, society, people in today’s the popularity of crime fiction. general rise in the present even the police, but they also hide things from dency not only to in their investigations to make headway the law in order break and early the from fiction crime In captured. being avoid to and/or mid-20 law-abiding tradition, while they tended to be more the hard-boiled quarter

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Kerstin Bergman Kerstin Volume 07 rime fiction that motifs for murder motifs for murder rime fiction that banned” from crime fiction, seen as “ Genre-Hybridization – A Key to Hyper-Bestsellers? A Key to – Genre-Hybridization -century Sweden – with past mysteries reemerging into the reemerging -century Sweden – with past mysteries th While Brown’s novel is permeated by the theme of religion, the Today it is almost the rule in c in rule the almost is it Today is clear that they share in common certain features that might have in common certain features is clear that they share contributed and to Brown their enormous success. In particular, conventions that enable a strong genre Larsson use many different sense of reader identification with the detective characters. Can these observations be used as a guide on how to write a forthcom it is nevertheless likely Of course not, but ing hyper-bestseller? above identified features genre-related common, the of many that past the recent from can also be found in other hyper-bestsellers the loose. From almost being the loose. From promi has become increasingly contradicting factual logic, religion nent in the genre in recent decades (Hansen, 2012, passim). Elabo motifs and patterns have been important in serial rate religious killer thrillers. Nonetheless, Brown and Larsson both maintain a avoid religion, somewhat critical, or at least skeptical, distance from ing association with any branch of faith or pedalling specificreli readers. off gious beliefs that could potentially scare remarks Concluding aside, in examining the texts of the two novels it Marketing efforts be defined as a historical crime: the unsolved disappearance of a girl in the 1960s. in However, the investigation, Salander observes but now as a historical mystery,” that “This may have started out “we can be on we’re sure p. somebody’s 331).trail” (Larsson, 2011, connec the upon reflect repeatedly protagonists Brown’s Similarly, Catho the whether questioning present, and past the between tions so as to countenance murder be prepared would really lic Church being made public. the Grail documents from to prevent element to it, as has a religious main mystery in Larsson’s novel also Bible verses to prove be the key in that revealing a serial killer is on readers even take a malicious pleasure in learning that “perfect” in learning that “perfect” pleasure even take a malicious readers be so perfect after all. Sweden might not oftenbut characters, the of childhood the to only not back traced are even further back, to historical times and events. Brown and Lars basing his story in the this pattern – the former both follow son in mod of industrialism history the latter in the of religion, history ern 20 posing new dangers. Larsson begins with what could and present quarter

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Critical Pers ). Published in Kerstin Bergman Kerstin . Göteborg: Nordi . Göteborg: Volume 07 The Hunger Games ed. New York, London: Routledge. London: York, New ed. , or nd series as a “generic game,” Altman con Altman game,” series as a “generic , 2 Twilight Genre-Hybridization – A Key to Hyper-Bestsellers? A Key to – Genre-Hybridization two examples. Brown’s and Larsson’s novels , any Harry Potter Harry , 1 November. Harry Potter these pieces operate vary and change depending on thethese pieces operate vary and change at any given time by any generic tags being interpreted p. 221) (Altman, 2009, particular reader. Rowling has created something new: a generic mosaic new: a generic mosaic something Rowling has created individual pieces combined in a made up of numerous original shape whileway that allows them to keep their which in ways The significance. their changing constantly Den skandinaviske krimi: Bestseller og blockbuster og Bestseller krimi: skandinaviske Den com. pp. 91–107. of the Harry Potter Series. In: E.E. Heilman, ed. pectives on Harry Potter pp.199–223. Dagbladet sons Millennium-trilogi. In: G. Agger, G and Waade, A.M., eds. G and Waade, Agger, sons Millennium-trilogi. In: G. This allows for a wide range of readers to appreciate and feel and feel to appreciate readers This allows for a wide range of Reading the Alton, A.H., 2009/2003. Playing the Genre Game: Generic Fusions sellers of the past decade. Additionally, they are probably probably they are Additionally, sellers of the past decade. examples principally aimed at an adult audience most successful (unlike the early 2000s, both Larsson and Brown benefited from the fact for a new type ready were that knowledgeable readers/consumers crime different use of elaborate more a involved one which novel, of fiction sub-genres. References G., Agger, 2010. melodrama Krimithriller, og bestseller: Stieg Lars­ engaged in her work. I would suggest that Brown and Larsson have Larsson and Brown that suggest would I work. her in engaged similar to Rowling’s “genre both accomplished something very conclusions it is not possible to draw decisive Although mosaic.” examination of only two examples, it should be noted that the from not just these are hyper-best international successful most the of two become have – and will probably be found in equally successful works in the near future. cludes that Berglund, K., 2012. När succén blir mer intressant än boken. än intressant mer blir succén När 2012. K., Berglund, quarter

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, trans. R. Kee Kerstin Bergman Kerstin Princeton/Oxford: Princeton/Oxford: Volume 07 K. Bernhardsson et al.,et Bernhardsson K. . Nashville: Vanderbilt Il nome della rosa r koden: ochDechiffrering The Girl with the Dragon Tat is focused on the size, explosive is focused on the size, explosive . Lund: Absalon. pp. 92–97. Absalon. . Lund: . New York: Doubleday. York: . New . Aalborg: Aalborg Aalborg . Aalborg: Universitetsforlag.

Critical Insights: Crime and Detective Fiction The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo phenomenon, thus stressing the importance of the importance of phenomenon, thus stressing hyper-bestseller What is World Literature? ) from Berglund (2012). The reason for suggesting Genre-Hybridization – A Key to Hyper-Bestsellers? A Key to – Genre-Hybridization , as used by Damrosch (2003) – tend to be too inclu too be to tend – (2003) Damrosch by used as , Mord og metafysik: Det absolute, det guddommelige From “The Case of the Pressed Flowers” to the Flowers” “The Case of the Pressed From Is Mikael Blomkvist the Man of the Millennium? the of Man the Blomkvist Mikael Is [1983]). In this context, I use “genre” to define, for ex The Da Vinci Code The Da Vinci phenomenon extends beyond that novel, to Brown’s hyperbästsäljare Tidskrift för Classiska Studier Tidskrift

world literature world ( The Da Vinci Code Vinci Da The . In: R. Martin, ed. . In: R. Martin, ed. land. New York: Knopf. York: land. New A Swedish Perspective on Masculinity and Feminism in Lars Swedish Perspective on Masculinity and Feminism A In: son’s D. Millennium King Trilogy. and C.L. Smith, eds. Who Who and Hate Kick Women Women Their Asses: Stieg Larsson’s Millennium in Trilogy Feminist Perspective pp. 145–154. University Press. Serial Killer’s Torture Chamber: The Use and Function of Crimeof Function and Use The Chamber: Killer’sSerial Torture Larsson’s in Stieg Fiction Subgenres pp. 38–54. Ipswich: Salem P. In: Deckare”. Browns Dan i detektivroller eds. Princeton University Press. krimien i overnaturlige det og too Some of my observations concerning Larsson’s novel have previous have novel Larsson’s concerning observations my of Some Although (2013). Bergman in extensively more presented been ly Da Vinci Code to or at least to all his Langdon novels, I will still refer whole oeuvre it as that very novel. is Unberto Eco’s An important predecessor Name of the Rose I have borrowed, translated, and further developed the term translated, and further developed I have borrowed, seller existing terms – such as for example the the new term is that previously term connotations. give the wrong sive and/or exclusive, and, additionally, Meanwhile, the term and is not of the phenomenon at hand, expansion, and popular nature limited in terms of transnational and trans-medial factors. 2 3 Notes 1 Damrosch, Damrosch, D., 2003. 2012. Hansen, K.T., 2012. S., Kärrholm, Larsson, S., 2011/2008. Bergman, Bergman, K., 2013. Bergman, K., Humanisten 2011. knäcke 2004. D., Brown, quarter

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The Millennium Trilogy or also sold numerous copies, was also sold numerous phenomenon. Harry Potter , see Bergman, 2011, pp. 95–96. 2011, , see Bergman, Da Vinci Code Da Vinci Angels & Demons Genre-Hybridization – A Key to Hyper-Bestsellers? A Key to – Genre-Hybridization , The Da Vinci Code The Da Vinci The Da Vinci The Code Da Vinci mix elements from a much larger number of genres and sub-genres. number of genres a much larger mix elements from plot construc main similar in terms of protagonists, The two novels are con and cultural focus on religious associations, the strong tion, genre settings, and so on. texts, the “Old Europe” of adapted into a popular film (2009, directed by Ron Howard), and be came part of what is the extensive discussion of codes and puzzles as the narrative For a more in force one as stresses Altman something also is fiction and fact of mixture The 214). p. 2009, (Altman, series Potter Harry the in strengths Rowling’s of I am aware that this is a simplification. Popular genres have always sub although this practice has increased extent, been mixed to some stantially useful to be in the last few decades. Still, it is very able to form, wheth in terms of their “classic” and sub-genres speak of genres familiar with crime or not, and most people er it ever existed as “pure” fiction have no problem making therelevant associations when en or whodunit, police procedural, countering terms such as for example note). spy thriller (cf. previous mix which might between those novels is a big difference Still, there and hyper- or sub-genres, genres two or maybe three elements from bestseller phenomena like ample, andcrime sciencefiction,romance, fiction, fantasy, while “sub- whodunit, psychological thriller, to categories such as the refers genre” crime hard-boiled fiction, and police When procedural. claiming that a or sub- genre of narration is common in a certain motif or an element or version of the genre “text book” to the typical “pure,” I refer genre, found in practice anymore. that is rarely – an ideal version sub-genre knowledge, knowledge to encyclopedia-type Since this belongs more references I have omitted in common textbooks on the genre, repeated and sub-genres. genres to texts on the different 6 7 8 4 5 quarter

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