The Future of Urban Fantasy

[Tony Richards]

I'm not recommending a writer as such, rather an article penned by one that I thought Wonderlands members might be interested in. There's been a lot of griping recently about the urban fantasy sub-genre, far too many vamps and werewolves in it for some people's tastes (although not everybody's by the way that those books sell). And on her personal blog

which can be accessed through a site called Urban Fantasy Land, author Stacia Kane has written a long article analysing the whole situation brilliantly. Might be worth a look?

[Kari Sperring]

Interesting link: thank you!

[RobertB]

http://stacia-kane.livejournal.com/107806.html

[Tony Richards]

Thanks, Robert!

[Milton Davis]

Just starting to pay attention to the genre actually. I'm not a big fan of werewolves and vampires. I have a few story ideas but they deal with other aspects of fantasy. She has a point about Amazon sending you books similar to what you've ordered recently. I'm not really terribly excited about the genre, so I don't really care what happens to it.

[Tony Richards]

The real point of her blog was precisely that urban fantasy is not just about werewolves/vampires, that the boundaries of the subgenre are expanding. So some time soon, you might find something in it that does interest you. Best of luck with the African mythos stories, by the way. That's a realm of mythology that's not been explored in fiction nearly enough.

[Milton Davis]

Thanks! I'm constantly looking for something new in the sci/fi-fantasy realm. I guess I shouldn't be so harsh. I have seen a few wizard-detective titles that seem interesting. I don't blame the writers because I know their are plenty that have new visions their itching to share. It's the industry that stifles creativity for profit.

[Tony Richards]

Part of the problem is that these kinds of novels are scoring big commercial successes at the moment, so publishers are keen to print more, and some guys are jumping on the bandwagon. There is some good stuff out there, but you really do have to pick and choose carefully. A blog on the subject coming soon, methinks!

[Liz]

I am a big urban fantasy fan - I am not particularly fond of vampires but I do like werewolves. Where I draw the line is the bizarre combos people have been coming up with to be different - half vampire, half werewolf. I mean, really!!?? Can you imagine how bad things must be in that character's household - most of the month you crave blood then when the moon's full not only do you crave blood but you turn into a bigass hairy monster too, which won't do anything for your skin or outfits. *rolls eyes*

Stacia is an amazing writer and wonderful person to talk with - also, incredibly tiny in person - and I admire her greatly.

At Sci Fi London some of the people on here attended various talks and there was one talk which I found particularly fascinating. The one about Urban Fantasy and trying to define what it is. For me, as a reader and aspiring writer, and for someone who has done so much research I can name publishers and authors in this field in my sleep, urban fantasy is a novel set in modern day, maybe a bit in the future, with a touch of the paranormal / supernatural - be that supernatural werewolves, vamps, ghosts, succubi or whatever. Then within Urban Fantasy there is the sub-genre of paranormal fantasy and sadly this is what everyone thinks urban fantasy is. Another author turned down the talk on Urban Fantasy because he didn't want to speak to a bunch of people who were there to talk about "fang-banging". And he couldn't be more wrong. People like Neil Gaiman and Mike Carey write urban fantasy - as does Alex Bell, David Devereux, Charles de Lint, Midori Snyder, Terri Windling, Ellen Datlow and hundreds others. I don't see fang or furbanging happening in any of their novels. And if it is there, it is not gratuitous like in some of the paranormal romance books (I won't name names).

There is an amazing book that is currently out by a UK writer, Kate Griffin, called A Madness of Angels and if you want urban fantasy, or if you've been burned in the past by books that are more porn than urban fantasy, or if you are keen to dip your toe into this genre, THIS is your chance to read something amazing. Sublimely written, meticulously plotted and engaging to the extent where you forget to get off the train.

Urban fantasy will continue to grow - it is massive in the States and it is starting to become a force here in the UK, because it is driven by readers who want something different. Shows like Buffy and Supernatural have got a hand in this too. We like being challenged and reading books with a twist is always fun. This genre, apart from children's books, is one of the fastest growing sectors within publishing and it is still expanding. Authors like Jim Butcher are New York best sellers - his books have been made into a tv show and been turned into graphic novels - that is the appeal of urban fantasy: the ability to do gross-over genres. Don't just assume that it is about weres and vamps - because it isn't. It is the same as me saying that all fantasy is about pointless quests and being The One or rescuing The One with your sidekicks by your side and that all heroic fantasy is a parody of what David Gemmell's done in the past. Because you know, it isn't.

As a reviewer I've learned never to be dismissive of a genre, no matter what your personal opinion may be because you come across authors whose work are genre defying and if you've closed yourself off to that, you've lost out.

[Tony Richards]

I like the last paragraph especially ... a reviewer should never dismiss a book because of the label it carries, it's pure intellectual laziness. But some people in the sf/fantasy world are doing precisely that to UF, and since it's been done to their genres numerous times in the past, they really ought to know better.

I'm not saying there aren't problems with UF -- see my response to Milton. But, on a personal basis, writing this kind of stuff has added new scope and fresh layers to my work, freeing me from some of the conventions imposed by horror. I can talk about every aspect of my characters, not just the side of them that's under threat. And that is hugely valuable.

You talk about paranormal romance, and you're mostly right. I think a big stain on the rep of UF is that a lot of people mix it up with vampire chick-lit ... they look similar, but are not really the same thing. VCL is formulaic. UF can be taken as far as the author's imagination can reach. I'll look out for Stacia's work, by the way (never met her). If she's as good at fiction as she is at opinion, she'll be worth a read.

[Liz]

Phew! Thought I went off on one here and no one was going to talk to me - grin.

Am loving how UF changed things - also how heroic fantasy has changed to become grittier and funnier. I cannot wait to read Best Serviced Cold. My ARC is on its way from the States. *waits*

[Tony Richards]

Good luck with the reviewing. I'll take a look at your blog when I have time.