Comments on: What is Urban Fantasy?

By: E. Sedia

E. Sedia — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:34:26 +0000

Actually, the term Urban Fantasy has been in use since 1980, with writers such as Emma Bull and Charles De Lint pioneering the genre. Later it expanded to include any urban settings (as long as they are industrial), and even imaginary worlds (China Mieville, for example, is often lumped with urban fantasy school, since he does write excellent although imaginary urban settings.) That is to say, urban fantasy has a long history on the SF/F side of things before it met paranormal branch and became more about creatures (and often, romance) than about just magic and other traditional fantasy trappings. I find it somewhat puzzling that the current definition seems to include primary werewolves/vampires, and leave behind a much more varied tradition.

By: terryspear

terryspear — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:19:38 +0000

Interesting point, Shira. Can you elaborate?

By: Shira Lipkin

Shira Lipkin — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:09:10 +0000

It really doesn’t have to be mythical creatures – it’s any sort of magic in our everyday world. You can have decidedly weird stuff happening to humans, too…

By: terryspear

terryspear — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:03:14 +0000

Hi Savanna! I so agree. Another comment that was made was about the lightness/darkness of urban fantasies. I can’t remember which way it went, but again, that’s at the discretion of the writer. Some are lighter, some are darker.

By: Savanna Kougar

Savanna Kougar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:08:17 +0000

Hi Terry, I agree with your definition. For one thing, it makes perfect sense to me. Like you said, what does it matter if its written in first or third person. Or if there’s romance and happily ever after, or not.
I didn’t think of it as an urban fantasy when I wrote it, but the story is current day and the heroine is a black cat shifter, and the hero has his own ‘powers’. Yet they live and move among us so-called normal people.

By: Matt’s Bookosphere 7/28/08 « Enter the Octopus

Matt’s Bookosphere 7/28/08 « Enter the Octopus — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:04:06 +0000

[...] What is Urban Fantasy, and how is it different from “paranormal” and “romance?R… [...]

By: terryspear

terryspear — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:37:00 +0000

Thanks, Werewolf!!! From the computer of one who should truly know.

By: A Werewolf and his computer… | Literary Escapism

A Werewolf and his computer… | Literary Escapism — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:33:05 +0000

[...] I don’t think anyone has actually come up with a universal recognized definition, but I think Terry Spear has a definition that I can totally see. To me, it is mythical, fantastical creatures living in our contemporary [...]

By: terryspear

terryspear — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:47:16 +0000

Thanks, Jackie! I so agree!! A fan wrote to me that she got a kick out of my werewolves because they were checking Internet messages. I just finished writing an urban fantasy that had a couple of mythological creatures in the tale and asked my mother what she thought. I love her. She loves Dracula and fantasy stories, when most women her age would shake their heads.

But she was worried–”I guess they’re looking for fantasy, right?”

“Yes, urban fantasy,” I assured her. “You know, werewolves, shapeshifters, vampires, the good stuff.”

“But,” she continued, “do they go for two kinds of mythical creatures in the SAME story?”

“Oh, yes,” I assured her. “Some big time authors have everything including the kitchen sink in theirs. This one only has two different kinds of creatures.”

I don’t think I reassured her much. If it sells, then that will work.

So I’m off to write another. Have no idea where I’m going with it, or what kind of urban fantasy it will be, who the hero is or even who the heroine is, but right now…she’s about to get into trouble, and that’s the name of the game!

Thanks again, Jackie. Urban Fantasy is just fun.

By: Jackie (Literary Escapism)

Jackie (Literary Escapism) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:30:29 +0000

Great Definition! I love it. It’s so true too. How often are we looking for something out of the ordinary that we can insert into our everyday lives.