Adventure, What is it ?

Hi all, please enjoy my contribution to the Adventure genre by scrolling down to see posts or clicking at individual posts on the left.  This guide has been created as part of the LIBR5013 course at UNISA. Thanks.

Adventure story settings can vary greatly ...... from jungles to cities, from historical to futuristic time periods.  Heroes and villains can be male or female, young or old, human or alien.  No matter what the setting or time period, there is always an element of danger, the sense of anticipation as the suspense mounts. 

Although there are emerging contemporary adventure stories that revolve around female heroines, the traditional adventure stories were largely written by men for men. They are what my male friends call “male adventure romance stories”.  They focus on strong, intelligent, selfless protagonists overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges and dangers, in hostile environments, to complete important (often life saving) missions or quests.

Green (1991) states that traditional adventure books are ….. aimed at men, and celebrate manliness.  I'm not sure about this though as I am one woman who certainly enjoys a great adventure tale, whether it be traditional or more contemporary.  He also states that, as most adventure tales are fictional, they have in the past been “smuggled into high culture, into serious people’s readings”.  Cohen (2010) agrees that although adventure fiction is very popular it is "denigrated by critics" (p. 661).

 Saricks (2009), lists the qualities of an adventure story

·  Stories that focus on action, and a mission,

·  Detailed settings, often in exotic locales,

·  Stories that have a myriad of obstacles and dangers,

·  Heroes who save the day through ingenuity and skill,

·  Fast paced tales moving from one dangerous escapade to the next.

Saricks (2005), expands on the characteristic of pace, stating that fast moving action, often at seemingly breakneck speeds compels the reader forward. It has them on the edge of their seats, biting their nails in anticipation and rooting for the protagonist to prevail. 

From the mouths of babes (well still my baby)…… I asked my 15 year old son what would make a good adventure story, his reply was:

             A good adventure story would be …“A treasure hunter being shot down from his plane, while on a mission, over the middle of the Amazon jungle.  He is then chased by government spies who don’t want him to complete his mission and find the treasure….oh and a tribe of cannibals are also chasing him……and maybe some vicious animals as well……”