{"id":161,"date":"2017-02-23T03:31:13","date_gmt":"2017-02-23T03:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lucysnyder.com\/?p=161"},"modified":"2017-02-23T03:36:35","modified_gmt":"2017-02-23T03:36:35","slug":"on-urban-fantasy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lucysnyder.com\/index.php\/on-urban-fantasy\/","title":{"rendered":"On Urban Fantasy"},"content":{"rendered":"

On several occasions, I\u2019ve heard readers bemoaning the comparatively small number of horror novels being released by major publishers. But the horror is out there; it just sometimes isn\u2019t being marketed as such. In the case of supernatural horror in particular, it\u2019s often being marketed as urban fantasy. Take Tim Waggoner\u2019s Matt Richter series, for instance. The first novel, Nekropolis<\/em>, was originally published as horror, but years later Angry Robot re-released it and the next books in the series as a dark urban fantasies. (You can read more about Nekropolis<\/em> on Tim\u2019s website<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

And of course there\u2019s my own Jessie Shimmer series; the first novel, Spellbent<\/a><\/em>, was dark enough to earn a nomination for a Bram Stoker Award, and the books get even darker from there.<\/p>\n

But, if you\u2019ve been head-down in horror novels, you might not be familiar with urban fantasy as a genre. So, in this column I\u2019m going to give you a bit of an introduction to it.<\/p>\n

First, what is fantasy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wikipedia provides a decent definition: \u201cFantasy is a genre that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, and\/or setting. Many works within the genre take place on fictional planes or planets where magic is common. Fantasy is generally distinguished from science fiction and horror by the expectation that it steers clear of scientific and macabre themes, respectively, though there is a great deal of overlap between the three. In popular culture, the genre of fantasy is dominated by its medievalist form, especially since the worldwide success of The Lord of the Rings<\/em> books.\u201d<\/p>\n

So what\u2019s urban fantasy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The most basic (and inclusive) definition: an urban fantasy is a contemporary fantasy set in a city. (What does contemporary mean? Anything from the mid-1800s to the near future; however, most urban fantasies are set in the present day. Think of the old Twilight Zone<\/em> series, for instance.)<\/p>\n

\u201cIn urban fantasy you don\u2019t leave the chip shop and go to another world to find the unicorn. Rather, the unicorn shows up at the chip shop and orders the cod.\u201d \u2013 Elizabeth Bear<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the most cynical<\/em> definition? Hot chicks in strappy black dresses running around major cities slaying monsters when they\u2019re not making out with vampires. In other words, Buffy<\/em>, only different.<\/p>\n

While a lot of popular urban fantasy series do focus on vampires \u2014 for instance, Gail Carriger\u2019s Soulless<\/em>, Jennifer Rardin\u2019s Jaz Parks<\/em> series, Laurell K. Hamilton\u2019s Anita Blake<\/em> series, Kim Harrison\u2019s Rachel Morgan<\/em> series \u2014 it\u2019s a mistake to think that urban fantasies and vampire fiction are synonymous. Some urban fantasies don\u2019t feature vampires at all and focus on other types of supernatural\/mythological entities, frequently fairies or demons, and some mainly focus on human magic practitioners.<\/p>\n

However, some readers and even book editors will most immediately consider any vampire story with romantic elements set in the present day as being an urban fantasy if it\u2019s too gritty to pass as a paranormal romance, the city being entirely optional in their eyes. To a lesser extent, this is true of werewolf\/shape-changer fiction as well.<\/p>\n

Sexual content is acceptable to a point, but if the plot fundamentally focuses on sex, it will likely be marketed as an erotic paranormal romance just to prevent angry letters from parents who still think anything labeled as fantasy will be appropriate for minors.<\/p>\n

An urban fantasy will often (but not always):<\/strong><\/p>\n