the alert collector Neal Wyatt, Editor Building genre collections is a central concern of public li- brary collection development efforts. Even for college and Core Collections university libraries, where it is not a major focus, a solid core collection makes a welcome addition for students needing a break from their course load and supports a range of aca- in Genre Studies demic interests. Given the widespread popularity of genre books, understanding the basics of a given genre is a great skill for all types of librarians to have. Romance Fiction 101 It was, therefore, an important and groundbreaking event when the RUSA Collection Development and Evaluation Section (CODES) voted to create a new juried list highlight- ing the best in genre literature. The Reading List, as the new list will be called, honors the single best title in eight genre categories: romance, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, horror, historical fiction, women’s fiction, and the adrenaline genre group consisting of thriller, suspense, and adventure. To celebrate this new list and explore the wealth of genre literature, The Alert Collector will launch an ongoing, occa- Neal Wyatt and Georgine sional series of genre-themed articles. This column explores olson, kristin Ramsdell, Joyce the romance genre in all its many incarnations. Saricks, and Lynne Welch, Five librarians gathered together to write this column Guest Columnists and share their knowledge and love of the genre. Each was asked to write an introduction to a subgenre and to select five books that highlight the features of that subgenre. The result Correspondence concerning the is an enlightening, entertaining guide to building a core col- column should be addressed to Neal lection in the genre area that accounts for almost half of all Wyatt, Collection Management paperbacks sold each year.1 Manager, Chesterfield County Public Georgine Olson, who wrote the historical romance sec- Library, 9501 Lori Rd., Chesterfield, VA tion, has been reading historical romance even longer than 23832; [email protected]. the thirty years or so she has been recommending good reads to fellow readers, and is a regular contributor to NoveList, Georgine Olson is Outreach Services editor of Fiction Acquisition/Fiction Management: Education and Manager, Fairbanks (Alaska) North Training (Haworth, 1998), and chair of the Alaska Library Star Borough Public Library and Association Adult Readers Roundtable. Kristin Ramsdell, Regional Center. Kristin Ramsdell is who wrote the Regency romance section, works at California Librarian, California State University, State University, East Bay, and won the 1996 Romance Writ- East Bay. Joyce Saricks is retired. ers of America (RWA) Librarian of the Year award. She also Lynne Welch is Reference Librarian, is the romance review columnist for Library Journal. Joyce Herrick Memorial Library, Wellington, Saricks won the RWA Librarian of the Year award in 2000 Ohio. and is the author of two groundbreaking readers’ advisory titles, Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library and The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction. Lynne Welch, who wrote the paranormal romance section, reviews for Booklist, contributes to NoveList, and was the 2004 RWA Librarian of the year. Neal Wyatt, the Alert Collector editor, contributed the contemporary romance section. Note: Romance titles are frequently republished. Publi- cation information is given for the newest in-print version 120 | Reference & User Services Quarterly Core Collections in Genre Studies of each title listed. Out-of-print titles are indicated with not mystery or contemporary) works of Georgette Heyer, the o.p.—Editor standard-setting author of the modern Regency, as well as the following more recent authors and titles, as a starting place. While all of these core titles are out of print, they are listed he romance genre can be divided into five to illustrate the foundations and standards of the subgenre. main subgenres: contemporary, historical, Libraries should be careful when weeding these collections Regency, suspense, and paranormal. Each offers and keep an eye out for the inevitable reprints. readers an emotional connection with characters, an Texpected story arc that, while providing plenty of room for Hern, Candice. A Garden Folly. New York: Signet, 1997 twists, turns, and innovation, also offers the comfort of famil- (ISBN: 978-0-451-18627-0). o.p. iarity and the assurance of a happy ending. Romance novels Catherine Forsythe and her sister Susannah, realizing that are built around the relationship between hero and heroine attending the house party on the Duke of Carlisle’s estate is and the conflicts within that relationship. They are ultimately their one chance to attract wealthy husbands and avoid pov- positive and optimistic novels that involve the reader on an erty, are attracted to totally unsuitable men, or so they think. emotional level. Fans of this genre love the snappy dialogue, This charming, insightful, well-written story highlights one of well-crafted scenes, connection between the characters, and the primary concerns of Regency heroines—marrying well. details of the character’s lifestyles. Kelly, Carla. Mrs. Drew Plays Her Hand. New York: New Amer- Traditional Regency Romances ican Library, 2003 (ISBN: 978-0-451-20924-5). o.p. Still grieving, a young vicar’s widow struggles to make a Tracing its origins from the witty, perceptive social commen- home for herself and her two children in the rundown dower taries of the critically observant Jane Austen, the traditional house on a nearby estate. There she finds unexpected love Regency romance often is considered to be the most elite with the owner of the estate, who is in need of healing him- of the romance subgenres. Graced with sparkling dialogue; self. Poignant, emotionally compelling, laced with humor, intelligent, well-turned phrases; a glittering, though highly and graced with characters you’d like to meet, this expertly restrictive, social backdrop; and a preoccupation with the im- written, award-winning romance is typical of Kelly’s work. portance of social consequence and behavior, these chaste, re- fined comedies of manners have captured the imaginations of Lane, Allison. The Rake’s Rainbow. New York: New American writers and readers alike; while few now are being published, Library, 1996 (ISBN: 978-0-451-18666-9). o.p. they still have a small but militantly devoted fan base. Forced to wed when a carriage accident compromises Despite its current decline, the traditional Regency is one their honor, a vicar’s daughter and an infamous rake find of the earliest of the classic romance subgenres, and, as such, love in spite of the hero’s infatuation with another woman helps provide a foundational introduction to the romance in this complex Regency that not only presents a rewarding genre as a whole. Also, with the rise in popularity of the Re- romance, but beautifully delineates some of the social con- gency-set historical, it is increasingly important that readers’ cerns of the times. advisers know the differences between the two. In the strictest sense, Regencies are set during the “reign” Metzger, Barbara. A Debt to Delia. New American Library, of the Prince Regent (later George IV), and span only a brief 2002 (ISBN: 978-0-451-20586-5). o.p. period, 1811–1820; however, in the hands of current writers, An admirable major is determined to pay a debt of honor particularly of Regency-set historicals, the boundaries have by marrying the compromised sister of the man who saved his expanded by at least a decade on each side of that date line. life but meets with unexpected resistance from the heroine, As the popularity of the traditional Regency waned, the who is determined to marry for love in this lively, often funny Regency-set historical stepped up to take its place. Bolder, Regency by one of the genre’s best-known writers. A dog and sexier, more adventurous, and less restricted, these lively tales a horse add interest to this award-winning tale that is typical kept the trappings of the period but often forfeited much of of Metzger’s beloved stories. the traditional subgenre’s core appeal in order to fit the broader historical mold. Some writers wrote traditional Regencies Richardson, Evelyn. Lady Alex’s Gamble. New American Li- almost exclusively (for example, Evelyn Richardson, Allison brary, 1995 (ISBN: 978-0-451-18340-8). o.p. Lane, Anne Barbour); however, many authors wrote both or When her profligate twin brother’s wayward behavior switched to historicals as the direction of the market became forces her to choose between a disgusting marriage or los- clear. Loretta Chase, Mary Jo Putney, Sophia Nash, Carla Kelly, ing the family estate, the intrepid Lady Alex “becomes” her Candice Hern, Mary Balogh, and Jo Beverley are a few of the brother and heads for London to gamble her way to solvency. better-known authors who have had a foot in each camp. A perceptive hero who is wonderfully ahead of his time pairs It is impossible to define the traditional Regency with only perfectly with the strong heroine in this intelligent, well- five books; however, readers looking to familiarize themselves researched Regency that makes use of a classic historical plot with this elegant subgenre should consider the historical (but device—cross-dressing. volume 47, issue 2 | 121 the alert collector Historical Romance ers, one the future earl, the other, the spare, can resolve their differences long enough to honor their obligation to court her Historical romance is a blending of historical fiction and and thereby save her from being confined to an asylum. romance. The romantic relationship between two people is the main focus of the book, but the course of the romance is Wiggs, Susan. The Lightkeeper. New York: Mira, 2002 (ISBN: framed and sometimes limited by the events and customs of 978-1-55166-880-2).