Genre in Depth: Urban Fantasy
Genre in Depth is a new series on Fictionally Sam where we delve into different genre and see how they began, their characteristics, and books within that genre, etc. New genre every first and last Wednesday of the month!
I cannot believe we have almost completed a full month of 2019. I am astounded and excited to see what this year has in store for us story tellers, especially when it comes to learning about new bookish things!
In this installment of Genre in-depth, we get to take a look at one of my dearest genres around: Urban Fantasy.
Compared to other genres underneath the speculative fiction umbrella, Urban Fantasy is a new baby but with a concept that is as old as time itself. Considered to be born in 1984 with the award-winning novel, Moonheart: A Romance by the Urban Fantasy Pioneer: Charles de Lint. However, it isn’t until 1997 when Urban Fantasy would be officially be given its name by both John Clute and John Grant in their Enclyclopedia of Fantasy and would be defined as: “texts where fantasy and the mundane world interact, intersect, and interweave throughout a tale which is significantly about a real city.”
Before, though, the term Urban fantasy was used as a way to express nostalgia of some object or place. An example of this can be seen in my New York Times advertisements in 1928-1930s for the St. Regis Hotel, where advertisers used phrases such as “Never was an urban fantasy so enchanting…” It wasn’t until the late 1980s that the term began to morph towards the genre instead.
“For me urban fantasy has the best of two worlds. It’s a feast of magic, adventure, and monsters that represents pure entertainment. At the same time, the stories and characters are robust enough to tackle complex story questions about our contemporary society. This isn’t unique to UF, but the fantastic setting enables intriguing exploration. At their best, these are books that linger in the mind long after the last chapter is read.” – Emma Jane Holloway
One of the pushers towards this new title was when Terri Windling published his series, Borderland in the late 1980s. The story is set in a dystopian metropolis tht lies along the border between “the Elflands” and “the World”. These stories took off like wild-fire in the fantasy community, with even Neil Gaiman complimenting it as “one of the most important places where Urban Fantasy Began” and the Fantasy and Science Fiction publishing company, Tor.com claiming that “some say, Urban Fantasy was born in Bordertown…”
“Whereas Science Fiction may use allegory to address the world we live in, good Urban Fantasy is a bit more bare-knuckle. It drops your ass into a part of the real world that you may not have a clue even exists alongside your day-to-day life. These excursions can be just as eye-opening and exhilarating as exploring some alien world.” – R.S. Belcher
Urban Fantasy is a sub-genre for Fantasy where it is defined as having fantastical elements within an urban setting. Where magic meets a real world setting, Urban fantasy is a blending of all the greatest aspects of Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Suspense, Mystery, Action and Adventure, and even Romance.
Because Urban Fantasy is a blend of greatness, it has been proven how difficult it is to decipher when in the company of its predecessors (Horror) and it’s cousin (Paranormal Romance).
The Differences Between Horror and Urban Fantasy:
Due to Horror being the forerunner of Urban Fantasy, they both hold a lot of commonalities such as their use of Vampires and bringing mythological and fantastical creatures to a modern setting. However the one difference between these two genres that aids readers in telling the two apart is the mood and tone that they bring to their stories. Horror inherently focuses on the terrifying and the things that haunt, however, Urban Fantasy is different. With Urban Fantasy, readers are given a lighter mood and tone, and emphasis on world building is of higher importance than spooks.
The Great Fight–The Difference Between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance:
This is something that confounds readers to no-end and is the inspiration to this series, Genre in-depth–What is the difference between these two sub-genres? To be fair, both of these genres are under the speculative fiction and fantasy umbrellas, each revolving around some form of fantastical elements and creatures and most often than not both in real world modern settings. But that is where there similarities end and where their differences begin.
Setting:
Urban fantasy demands that their stories be taken place within an urban setting; however the time does not matter, the stories can be historical, present, or future–It just must be placed within a city. For Paranormal Romance (PR), however, there are no restrictions. The story can happen anywhere the author sees fit. The options are limitless.
Plot:
With plot, Urban Fantasy tends to follow the same guidelines as Fantasy–saving the universe, good v. evil, etc. Typically Urban Fantasy has a protagonist from a city who is able to work magic or fantastical creature and/or is from a supernatural background. With that said, Urban fantasy may or may not have romance within it, as the plot isn’t hinged on it. That being said, PR’s sole goal throughout the novel is for the main characters to fall in love. The entirety of the novel is about the relationship, which can be light and/or steamy depending on the story and the author’s writing style. There is ALWAYS a HEA (Happily Ever After) ending.
Coverage:
Where as Urban Fantasy tends to stick to the fantasy lane, PR has the ability to wonder and travel through many different roads of genres and spectrums (such as futuristic, contemporary, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, erotica, etc.) all the while staying within their paranormal lane.
POV:
Urban Fantasy is often (but not always) done in first person with only one point of view. PR, however, stays on brand with its extra and is typically told in third person with multiple points of views that has been known to be usually between the hero, the heroine, and any important sub characters.
Style:
Urban fantasy can be described to have a more harsh and severe style of writing to match its face paced action. The genre also contains more graphic and grittier violence as an homage to its Horror roots and its supernatural elements are more ominous in nature. PR, on the other hand, is a much lower level of violence, as it could care less about Horror Fiction. PR’s supernatural elements are more intriguing and alluring than that of its cousin Urban Fantasy.
Themes within Urban Fantasy:
- The One / The Chosen
- MC as the Halfling
- Strong Female Protagonists
- Escapism
- Duality
- Comedy
- Supernatural Mystery
- City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
- Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
- American Gods by Neil Gaiman
- Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
What do you love about Urban Fantasy? Any Recommendations?
Beth Tabler
January 30, 2019 at 10:30 amI adore urban fantasy and have read pretty extensively in it. Dresden Files, Mercy Thompson, Kate Daniels, Night Huntress, The Hollows, Iron Druid and October Daye. If you want some urban horror, News Flesh is top notch. That was a great summing up of one of one of my favorite genres and gave me a bunch of food for thought. I look forward to the next “genre in depth.”
Ibukun
January 30, 2019 at 10:31 amInteresting series! I always confuse myself whenever I try to categorise Fantasy books. High Fantasy, Low Fantasy, Urban Fantasy… they’re all so strange.
sammers65
February 1, 2019 at 9:45 amIt can get super confusing but they all have their unique Identifiers! Thank you for stopping by!
TheCaffeinatedReader
January 30, 2019 at 10:39 amI definitely rank City of Bones as one of my fave Urban Fantasies and also Holly Black’s Modern Faerie Tales series/trilogy.
Also, I completely and utterly adored this post and it was so awesome to find out some neat background information. *slams down mug on table and breaks it* ANOTHER
sammers65
February 1, 2019 at 9:46 amHolly Black has seriously been sitting on my TBR since the end of time lol. And thank you! The next one comes out on Wednesday!
Rosie Amber
January 30, 2019 at 11:30 amI’ve read a few books in this genre. I can recommend Barb Taub and her series which starts with One Way Fare. Also Rennies St. James and her Rahki Chronicles series.
Great post.
sammers65
February 1, 2019 at 9:47 amoooooo thank you for the recommendations! Will definitely be checking these out during the weekend! <3
the reading chemist
January 30, 2019 at 12:06 pmI think I’ve read more books that fit into the Urban Fantasy regime that I had previously realized. I definitely fell into the trap and lumping paranormal/urban fantasy together. Great post!
sammers65
February 1, 2019 at 9:48 amHaha same! I always thought they were the same until I was doing my research and realized just how different they were! Needless to say I have a goodreads shelf needing to be cleaned up a bit 😛
the reading chemist
February 2, 2019 at 5:59 pmI definitely need to go back and redo mine 🙈
Antavia
January 30, 2019 at 1:59 pmI read American Gods by Neil Gaiman in high school, and I tell you it is one of the best books I’ve ever read! It was unlike anything I’d ever read before. It’s nice to have a genre to match it with. <3
sammers65
February 1, 2019 at 9:48 am<3 <3
bluestockingbookworm
January 30, 2019 at 3:26 pmThis is a great series! I really love urban fantasy books. One of my favourites is the Others series by Anne Bishop, though it also treads into alternate history and historical fantasy.
I also find that UF and PR are often painted with the same brush. I tend to gravitate more to the UF, as I find that some authors of PR stick romantic elements in just for the sake of having them, and not for the sake of the story.
sammers65
February 1, 2019 at 9:50 amThat’s usually the case for PR as it’s sole focus is romance and the relationship of the MC’s rather than the integrity and flow of the story line. And thank you for the rec! I haven’t heard of that one before but will check it out over the weekend! <3
La Femme Livresque | A Reader To Whatever End
January 30, 2019 at 10:21 pmThis is a great series.. 😍 So much I didn’t know, pretty much all of it. 🙈 I haven’t read much Urban Fantasy but I love Harry Potter and I am slowly making my way through Cassandra Clare’s books and I have Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy on my TBR. 🙂 I do think I prefer Epic/High fantasy though, it’s just easier for me to believe in the fantasy when it’s set in a completely different world. ☺️
sammers65
February 1, 2019 at 9:52 amI think I am right along side you with that thought, I find myself able to suspend my disbelief with a whole new world rather than the latter. It’s just something about experience a completely new thing that sucks me in even more!
La Femme Livresque | A Reader To Whatever End
February 1, 2019 at 11:38 amThat’s exactly how I feel! 🙂🙂
Isabelle @ BookwyrmBites
January 30, 2019 at 11:25 pm*mind reeling at all the different genres and subgenres that exist* 🤯 but this is a great guide, and it’s awesome to finally know that the proper name for the very specific setup that I tend to enjoy! (makes it easier to seek out books I’m likely to enjoy, aka continue to overfill my TBR?) 📚
sammers65
February 1, 2019 at 9:53 amHaha yes! let the overfilling begin!!! (or continue, whichever you find best! 😛 )
LottieIsWriting
January 31, 2019 at 4:34 amThe Shadowhunter Chronicles are great examples of urban fantasy. I’m in love with all of those books. Rivers of London, too, is a great adult urban fantasy (especially because its written about places in my home city, so it has a special place in my heart anyway)
sammers65
February 1, 2019 at 9:58 amI’ve never heard of Rivers of London! Who is it by and I will waddle to check it out this weekend! Thank you for stopping by!
LottieIsWriting
February 1, 2019 at 3:57 pmBen Aaronovitch!
January’s Blogphere Highlights #2! (2019) | BiblioNyan
January 31, 2019 at 10:13 am[…] Sam gives us an in-depth look at the Urban Fantasy genre, where she talks about the history, characteristics, and some recommendations for folks interested […]
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
January 31, 2019 at 1:17 pmThis post just solidified that I need to read more Urban Fantasy, because legit what UF actually is? Honestly the kinds of stories that I love! GIVE ME MORE!
sammers65
February 1, 2019 at 9:59 amYAS UF IS THRIVING!!!!!
How I Stay on Top of New Releases // Edelweiss Guide 2.0 – Reader Voracious Blog
February 6, 2019 at 10:47 am[…] thanks to Sam @ Fictionally Sam for being my Guide Guinea Pig, test driving this post to ensure it was straightforward to someone […]
cc solomon
February 11, 2019 at 6:53 pmAnything by the Illona Andrews is a win under the urban fantasy umbrella. The couple cannot write a bad book.
Sam || Fictionally Sam
February 12, 2019 at 12:24 pmI’ve never heard of them! I’ll add them to my check out list though! Thank you for the rec!
Ruby's Books
February 17, 2019 at 2:16 amYESSSS Sammy Sam!! I love this post, especially the part about the history of the genre. As you know, I’m one of those confused cinnamon rolls that confuses UB and PR, but your post makes thing clearer. I think my favorite UB series is Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld series, which I love and adore.
Sam || Fictionally Sam
February 19, 2019 at 12:15 pmooooo I haven’t read that one! Will definitely check it out! <3 <3
thecauldronborn
March 19, 2019 at 3:56 pmThanks for writing this! I write urban fantasy and often have a hard time explaining it to people who have never heard of the genre so hopefully this will help :). Favourite urban fantasy series are Richelle Mead’s Succubus/Georgina Kincaid series and Kim Harrison’s The Hollows/Rachel Morgan series.
Sam || Fictionally Sam
March 19, 2019 at 4:05 pmYou’re welcome! Glad I could help! AND I LOVE RICHELLE MEAD SO MUCH YES!
thecauldronborn
March 19, 2019 at 4:07 pmYas fellow Richelle Mead lover! Definitely one of my fave authors. Her Thorn Queen series is one of my all time favourites <3
David J Cambridge
March 28, 2019 at 4:14 amStrangley, the perfect post at just the right moment! I was wondering about this very topic with the mind to sit down and sort out just what it was I was writing. You’ve given me some much needed clarity.
Sam || Fictionally Sam
March 28, 2019 at 8:43 amYay! Glad I could be of some help to you!
How I Stay on Top of New Releases // Edelweiss Guide 2.0 | Reader Voracious
July 1, 2019 at 11:54 am[…] thanks to Sam @ Fictionally Sam for being my Guide Guinea Pig, test driving this post to ensure it was straightforward to someone […]