geeky14. Urban fantasy has its roots in fairy tales and folk stories. Remember that when "Little Red Riding Hood" or "The Boy Who Had No Fear" were first being told, they were about contemporary people, in contemporary settings. Despite its relatively recent resurgence in popularity, urban fantasy is a very old genre.
13. You can usually tell the difference between urban fantasy and paranormal romance based on the covers (but not always). If the woman has a head and all her clothes, it's probably urban fantasy. If she's naked or headless, it's probably paranormal romance. If it's a fully-clothed man, it's definitely urban fantasy. If it's a shirtless man, it's definitely paranormal romance. Both genres like brooding gazes and leather trousers.
12. Not all urban fantasy is set in cities; you get urban fantasy set in small towns, rural areas, and even the suburbs. "Urban fantasy" is just a convenient label.
11. Much modern urban fantasy draws aspects from westerns, film noir, horror movies, fairy tales, and yes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's a good genre for magpies and people who enjoy writing snarky dialogue.
10. One of the big advantages of urban fantasy is the way it lends itself to writing series. If you want to do twelve books about the adventures of your Ikeamancer, you're a lot more likely to succeed in urban fantasy than in any other genre.
9. One of the big disadvantages of urban fantasy is the way it lends itself to writing series. Stories set in these worlds tend to splinter, and because the readers are there, it's harder to resist the urge to just roll with it. (I am a natural serial thinker, so this is perfect for me. Other people, it ends in tears.)
8. No, not all urban fantasy involves sex you don't want your mother reading.
7. The label "urban fantasy" is just an umbrella for something that can include comedy, horror, romance, adventure, mystery, wackiness, and good old-fashioned caper stories. It provides a frame. Individual authors will provide the details.
6. A lot of the issues people have with urban fantasy covers are there to give a visual clue as to the contents of the book. Tattoos, leather pants, and impractical shoes have become hallmarks of the genre, and they're likely to be on the cover whether or not they appear between it.
5. I created Verity Price partially to justify having a heroine wearing impractical shoes. I'm probably not the only one.
4. Good urban fantasy is enthralling because it's so immediate. The present-day world is there; all you need to do is buy into the changes.
3. Bad urban fantasy is bad because it's so immediate. The present-day world is there, and changes that aren't supported by the text are going to be jarring in the extreme.
2. Most urban fantasy writers are writing what they do because they love it. That's why it's such a rich, varied genre right now, with so many things to offer. Urban fantasy really does have something for everyone.
1. I love it, and read it, too.
February 16 2011, 02:34:48 UTC 6 years ago
February 16 2011, 03:33:39 UTC 6 years ago
February 16 2011, 15:24:41 UTC 6 years ago