Urban Fantasy Anyone?
Maybe it's just me, but I have a really hard time categorizing my own writing. I've been thinking lately about what constitutes the subset of fantasy known loosely as Urban Fantasy. I looked up the term and found a somewhat weak Wiki entry as well as an amusing entry that lays it out like this:
"The Inaccurate yet Simple Definition: A fantasy story set on "modern" Earth."
I can buy that - to a point. For some reason, I've always associated a "dark" feeling with Urban Fantasy as well. I'm not sure if it's entirely accurate with the way other folks perceive the genre, and I'm not entirely sure if a story has to be dark to qualify as Urban Fantasy, but it's a feeling I have. Am I far off the mark?
Nevertheless, I'm working on a few stories that just might qualify as Urban Fantasy. That's what started this whole analysis. See, in order to pitch a book to an editor or agent, you really have to know how to describe it. I am THE WORST at figuring out what genres/styles my writing fits into because I'm just too close to it to be objective.
So here's a question - would you consider a story with werecreatures and magic, set in the contemporary world to be Urban Fantasy or paranormal, and how in the world does one distinguish the two? I'm really curious to hear other people's thoughts on this as I try to reason it out myself.
Labels:
Bianca D'Arc,
fantasy
16 comments:
*sigh* I've had this conversation with others...the 'rule' we applied was: "If it requires an inherent belief in magic, it's fantasy, whereas if there's a scientific explanation, it's paranormal."
I was then questioned on why vampires were paranormal, then. (I personally think it's because the scientific fact of real people who require blood to survive has made vampires less 'magical' and more 'what if they bonded together.' But that's me.)
I also think Traditional Fantasy Characters in any setting make it a fantasy. I have elves and fairies and goblins (though they look and act different than the stories I grew up with.)
So Urban Fantasy for me is anything that drops a creature who by its nature requires you to believe in magic into a modern (city) setting. (dropping them in an unpopulated area sort of defeats the purpose ;)
(Charles De Lint writes this, and his work is not particularly dark)
Dark Urban Fantasy then puts the spin on of the story itself having dark elements, or the mood of the story is dark. I think a lot of vampire/shifter stories are given this title, and it's misleading, because the elements of 'magic' in many of these stories are never really explored.
One of my favorite authors tends to not point up the magical elements of his books, but he still creates that fantasy mood...by use of rich language and setting, and epic battles between good and evil, etc.
Which is something I think a lot of books are moving away from, honestly, the idea of Ultimate Good or Ultimate Evil...
ok. so. Did you want an essay answer to this one? :D
LOL, Dayna! Actually, your "essay" helps a lot. I like your take on this. And I agree about needing the magic element to make something fantasy rather than a contemporary with paranormal elements. Very good point!
The trouble, of course, is that then people will want to argue what's 'magic' versus 'possible scientific explanation'.
I think telepathy is more accepted as possible than, say...unicorns ;) And believing in empathic people doesn't shake up world-views the same way it would to have prophets who can commune with gods :)
Maybe it's an extreme thing? The more believable it is in regular-day scenarios, the more likely it is to be paranormal. When you have to invent an entirely new world to accommodate the story...it's fantasy?
Urban Fantasy = an entire "underworld" that modern society has no idea exists. Uhm, examples would be Pan's Labyrinth, and NightWatch (excellent movie, but BETTER book).
Now, some would argue about Pan's Labyrinth, because it's set during WWII, and it's not in an "urban" city setting. However, the "flavor" is still there.
I think Dayna hit it on the head, though. If you HAVE to believe in magic in order for the events to take place, then its urban fantasy. HOWEVER, I think the draw to urban fantasy is the "secret" of the fantasy. I do not believe you could have a modern society in our world where people freely acknowledge dragons and wizards and the like. It's the "secret" that modern society has NO IDEA these things are going on.
More examples of urban fantasy would be Buffy, Angel, and The Dresden Files.
Even though Buffy and Angel delt a lot with vamps, there was a TON of magical goings on, incantations, spirits, demons, etc.
Just because it says "fantasy" doesn't necessarily mean it must have dragons, fairies and unicorns. :)
~~Becka
I think it would be paranormal. "Urban" to me implies a setting that is not only urban but in a not distant future, even perhaps post disaster. The label brings to mind a J.D. Robb,which would be urban suspense or urban suspense romance. To my mind telepathy would fit, but not wizards,unicorns,dragons.
Jackie
Just because it says "fantasy" doesn't necessarily mean it must have dragons, fairies and unicorns. :)
Definitely!
And I think once the wizards, dragons and the like are 'freely accepted', Becka...it goes from being an Urban Fantasy to an 'alternate universe' type story, where, in essence, you're creating your own world...
Ooh I love these brainy discussion things :P
I have to agree with Dayna on this one. Charles de Lint epitomizes urban fantasy in my opinion.
When I think of Urban Fantasy I think of Lilith Saintcrow's Valentine series. Contemporary world but set in an alternate universe where the bizarre is normal. There's world-building and a mythos that's familiar but not exactly like ours.
My thought is that the world and culture surrounding the characters will determine the subgenre, no matter if the characters are shapeshifters, bloodsuckers, magic-users or the average Joe. I'm writing about a pseudo-Medieval world with mages, liches, etc. I'd strictly classify it as fantasy romance. Another I'm writing involves a museum curator and a fallen angel. It's set in a contemporary time period. But because the events and people in this story are considered odd, unexplained and bizarre in the world they occupy, I'll classify it as paranormal instead of urban fantasy.
Just my .02.
Grace Draven
(here by way of Dayna Hart)
http://grace-draven.livejournal.com
To me, fantasy is set in an alternate world, usually of medieval-esque origin. There is magic and may or may not contain elves, fairies and the like. Urban Fantasy, is that same world brought into this dimension and set against a city backdrop - think the Crimson City series. Paranormal is taking fantasic creatures such as shapeshifters, gargoyles or the Mothman and using them in a contemporary setting. I also believe paranormal can expand to not only creatures of urban legend and other cryptids, but also to psychics, remote viewing, reincarnation, NDE's, or anything else you'd find in an episode of the X-files, sans alien abduction - which would fall under the heading of sci-fi.
At least that's how I categorize it in my mind. Feeble as it may be. : )
-Kat
Please let me know when you figure it out, would ya? :o) I wrote a book called Love's Alchemy, which takes place in Manhattan, has immortals, and a historical counter-story woven throughout. An agent called it urban fantasy. I got that I think. It was NOT futuristic. It wasn't very dark, either. To me, it really needs to be in a made-up world to be fantasy/fantasy. If that world is futuristic with alternative technology or future technology (not magic), it's scifi. If that world is our world, but has magic or not real entities (vampires, etc.), it's paranormal. I really think Urban fantasy is more of a style than a genre.
Oh boy. I think I'm a little more confused than I was when I started this! Ack!
So, to sum up - and bear with me while I think this through verbally...
- Dayna states a need for "magic" in a modern (city) setting
- Becka points to a need for an "underworld" with the rest of society unaware of what's going on under their noses
- Jackie seems to add the post-apocalyptic thing into the mix. I'm not sure it's a requirement of an urban fantasy to be post-apocalyptic - though many are - which is where I guess I got the "dark" feeling for urban fantasy. Hmmm... something to ponder.
- Grace throws out the idea that the setting and culture determine whether it's urban fantasy or not. Interesting.
- Kat votes for fantasy in a contemporary city as urban fantasy, while pure fantasy is in an alternate world and paranormal is determined by the kinds of creatures/situations.
- Ciar says something similar and makes some very good points.
So I take away the following elements (correct me if I'm wrong)... Urban Fantasy requires:
1. "Magic" in a real world, city setting (defining magic loosely as magical creatures or abilities)
2. "Magic" is not accepted or known by everyone in the world, but is a somewhat secret sub-culture
3. The time period has to be current or only slightly into a post-apocalyptic future (generally for the darker stories), where people are pretty much like us, with the same level of tech we have now. (I threw that in there. What do you think?)
I'm probably missing something, but that seems a reasonable place to start with this definition. Comments? Oh, and THANKS for your help with this!!!
I think you've hit the nail on the head. :)
~~Becka
Here's how I have defined it to myself:
Fantasy: The characters know and or practice magic or have magical elements and beings which are normal in their world.( Lord of the Rings). CAN be cozy reads.
Paranormal: Magic(and magical beings) are hidden from ordinary life human and exist as a subculture. Some characters know about magic and some don't. More adventourous than cozy, but can be humorous. Sherrilyn Kenyon
Urban Fantasy: Urban setting in a contemporary or near future earth. May have characters who live hidden in a magical subculture(Harry Dresden) Or live in an urban fantasy world( Crimson City) where magic and magical elements are not hidden. Action, adventure, grit, high stakes, violence, maybe some dark humor elements.
When someone says "Urban Fantasy" I tend to think dark, gritty, futuristic, urban setting. There is an underworld of magick/paranormal creatures that the general populace may/or may not know about.
If it's setting is "today" then I tend to think paranormal/fantasy. But that's just me.
Another example of Urban Fantasy is Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. If you haven't read that book, do so. It fricken' rules. :)
~~Becka
I was researching world-building ideas for my Elfpunk - apparently - story and found this page.
I'd say that Urban Fantasy is contemporary fantasy with the emphasis on an urban/city setting, like the Dresden Files or Tithe. There is futurist fantasy and post-apocalyptic fantasy sub-genres so I don't think Urban is either of these mainly because they are different categorizations.
Also, as someone has already mentioned, secrecy is important. In the contemporary world, magic and monsters are not widely accepted but if you want them to be in your story you're looking at a 'Alternative History' category where at some point, the events in your story deviated from Earth history.
There are lots of sub-genre's of fantasy and although there may be wiggle room, when selling to an editor it's maybe best to know what each are to best sum up your work in a punchy tagline:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_subgenres
This wiki has brief descriptions of each category and should help you best decide which one your story comes under.
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