The New Weird genre of fiction is a modern take
on the weird genre of the past; stories from Edgar Allen Poe, Mary Shelley,
H.P. Lovecraft, and other authors. It is a pretty hard to define, since it is a
blend of multiple genres, mainly horror with influences from fantasy, and
science fiction. I think the main difference between horror and new weird is
that horror seeks to frighten the audience outright, while weird fiction aims
to disturb the audience and make them feel unsettled.
China Mielville's novel "Kraken" is a
great example of New Weird fiction. It follows museum employee Billy Harrow’s
adventure that begins when he discovers that the giant squid at the museum has
disappeared out of nowhere. It takes place in some alternate version of London with
spirits, a squid-worshipping cult, and a gang lead by a talking tattoo. The
premise alone, along with the characters and the setting, is all pretty weird.
I mean that in general terms, but also in the true definition of the genre.
Already we see the author blending tropes of horror (spirits, cults), sci-fi
(giant squid), and fantasy (magic talking tattoo). I found that the plot is not
structurally sound or easy to follow, but the plot itself is not the main focus
of the story. The plot is only there to link all the tropes and clichés of the
New Weird genre together, which is the essence of what the genre is all about.
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