A type of fiction written with the purpose of scaring or disgusting the reader or viewer. It can appear in conjunction with any of the major genres: literary, fantasy, historical, romance, science fiction, or mystery. It is generally listed, however, as part of the speculative genre (science fiction, fantasy and horror). Horror is one of the oldest genres, going back thousands of years in folklore. Common elements include monsters, ghosts, haunted houses, serial killers, and universal epidemics.