MAINSTREAM vs GENRE

[cowboy]

Hello, everyone! I'd like a detailed explanation as to what "mainstream" really means, in regards to a novel. How is it different from genre? /And, can you have genre elements in a mainstream novel? Thanks.

Cowboy.

[Carmy]

It's always puzzled me, too.

Take a look at the following link, which explains it reasonably well.
http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5338