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Urban
Fantasy |
Back in
the good old days (which really weren’t that long ago!),
the fiction landscape was relatively easy to navigate. There
were the classics, general fiction and genre fiction. The latter
mostly included mysteries, science fiction, romance and westerns.
Today genre fiction, particularly mystery and science fiction,
has morphed into a multitude of sub-genres, many crossing tradition
lines of demarcation. And, in my opinion, it’s all good,
creating new choices for readers.
One of the most popular sub-genres today is Urban Fantasy, which
Wikipedia defines as “a subset of contemporary fantasy,
consisting of novels and stories with supernatural content,
set in contemporary, real-world, urban settings—as opposed
to 'traditional' fantasy set in wholly imaginary landscapes.”
Vampires, witches and anything paranormal are the key ingredients
of most Urban Fantasy novels. Some combine the suspense of mysteries,
some the sexual tension of romances, but all have some element
of the fantasy realms taking place in our modern world.
Laurell K. Hamilton was one of the early pioneers of Urban Fantasy,
with her series of paranormal novels featuring vampire hunter
Anita Blake. Kim Harrison and Kelley Armstrong have also had
an impact on the genre with their Rachel Morgan and Nadia Stafford
series, respectively.
Certainly, Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series,
books and movies, is one of best and most successful examples
of Urban Fantasy, featuring Bella Swann, a young woman who falls
in love with a vampire.
And, Charlaine Harris, who originally began as a mystery author,
has hit the big time with her Sookie Stackhouse series, featuring
a telepathic protagonist in the fictional town of Bon Temps,
Louisiana. The nine-book series debuted as an HBO television
series – “True Blood” last year and has just
begun its second season.
There are many more authors of Urban Fantasy, far too many to
even list here. But if you’re looking for a fun change
of pace in your reading during these “dog days”
of summer, you should look into the creative, popular and growing
genre of Urban Fantasy. |
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