Genres of Doubt shows how these two shifts—one literary, one cultural—were deeply intertwined. The novel as a literary form developed as a vehicle for realism, and the infusion of unreal content, be it fantasy or science fiction, created a new kind of space to ponder questions about the supernatural, humanity’s place in the world, and the differences between belief and knowledge. This book investigates that space in a new way, and shows how questions of meaning, identity, and faith are in the DNA of the speculative genres that, whether in novels, film and television, or comic books, are so loved today.