The Ultimate One-Liner
No, I’m not asking for help with chat-up lines. My problem is that nobody I associate with in my RT life knows what the hell Urban Fantasy is. Nobody. Not even my mom (Hi, Mom!) has really nailed down the concept, although she’s enjoyed the examples I’ve given her.
Indeed, much confusion has arisen out of this situation. Por ejemplo, my colleagues were being very good academics, and decided that they should research what I did. So they went up to a helpful salesperson at our local big chain bookstore, and said, “Hi! Can you point us towards the urban fantasy section!” The man replied, “I don’t really know what that is. We have an urban fiction section, if you’d like to see that.” So they followed him to a table, upon which sat a plethora of books, all of which had covers featuring African-American people. And they said, “Huh. Nicole does enjoy Lil Wayne quite a bit. Maybe?”
So they came back, wanting to know if I wrote books about strong black women, and I said that while I do enjoy urban fiction (I’ve had quite a few students write me book reviews from this new genre, and I’ve taken them up on some of their recommendations), it’s not what I do. I write about the experience of being half seal in a world full of killer Alfar rather than what it’s like to be young and black in America today.
Once again, therefore, they were left asking, “So, what is Urban Fantasy?”
And I responded how I always respond. “Well, it’s fantasy, but set in our world.” And they respond, “Ah! Um . . . what is fantasy?” And I say, “Fantasy is like Tolkien, or Narnia. So urban fantasy is fantasy set in our world, rather than a purely fantastical world.” And they inevitably say, “So it’s set in cities! But yours is set in Maine. That’s not very Urban.” And then I go beat my head against a wall.
When I sit down, I can think of a hundred great ways to describe UF. But then I realize that where I get stuck is that I assume so much experience that people don’t have. So when I say that UF is like fantasy, I assume people know what that is. When I say, “supernatural,” oftentimes I’m met with, “so, it’s like horror?” Or, “It’s like Buffy?” Which is a start, but it doesn’t encompass the genre and people usually want to end the discussion there. “Ah, it’s like Buffy. We get it.” Do they really?
So how do you tell people what UF is in a sentence or two? I can write a treatise . . . but I can never say it succinctly. Which is partly because I can never say anything succinctly (you be nice, Jaye), but also because it’s HARD, dude. And I’m officially stuck.
Comments
"No! It's not a thing like Twilight! Arg!"
Hmmm... Fantastic or supernatural elements in a modern-day setting?
... which makes my best friends roll their eyes and giggle nervously.
Or I'll say, "It's like if Narnia came out of the wardrobe instead of the other way around."
But mostly I just describe my latest book and then say, "So, it fits under the YA Urban Fantasy genre."
But there are even agents out there who don't know what it is. And there are people who think it's not really "urban" fantasy if your characters aren't in an inner city. I've heard the term "suburban fantasy" thrown around and think it's hysterical.
So maybe part of the problem is that the genre is still being defined?
Except there's no problem for Jaye, who is showing off her ability to wield succinctness. I am no good.
Kelly: Yeah, and no one ever thinks "Harry Potter with sex!" is funny.
Actually, I think "Harry Potter with sex" does a pretty good job of describing that.
How's that? ;-)
Stacia! I get excited at your face.
Hehe. I tried using, "It's like Twilight, only with vampires," and got some very strange looks.
*sigh*
"What if there really were vampires, fairies and werewolves, and they're your next-door neighbors?"
It's like Twilight, but with vampires is my favorite one line explanation.
Did anyone see the stuff on TwiCon, btw?
Those are great examples, Kat. And nice to "meet" you, btw. I LOVE your series. Have you read Scarlett Thomas's The End of Mr. Y? If you haven't, I think you'd enjoy it. Like your series, it has a really developed, intriguing otherworld concept.
I haven't read The End of Mr. Y. It's been recommended before, but I haven't gotten to it. (Too much work, not enough fucking off.)
You could also perhaps sum it up as a fantastical romp in the modern world.
However for a lot of people you have to go with the more common reference like "Urban Fantasy is the lovechild of Tolkien and ___________ (insert appropriate TV Programme title here)."
So it could be :
"Urban Fantasy is the lovechild of Tolkien and Dynasty."
"Urban Fantasy is the lovechild of Tolkien and Sex in the City."
Theres loads of fun you can have depending on what your aiming at but depending who you're trying to describe is going to cause a headache as you then have to go into subgenres of UF.
As a reader I do like witty one liners, so perhaps ask your character what s/he thinks it is, you might be surprised at the answer.
But what you and others said is interesting, Pike, because one of the things it does is point to really popular examples, and I do the same thing, with True Blood. Most people have, at least, seen the trailers for that, so I've found that works. Only it doesn't, because UF has grown so much. So I say, "it's like True Blood! Only my book isn't like that AT ALL." Helpful, I know. ;-)
Here's my take: Edgy, contemporary, genre blending stories with strong paranormal elements, set in an urban (or suburban or rural) setting, generally written in first person with a kick-ass heroine (or hero) who does not depend on anyone else for protection or to save him/her when the going gets rough.
Whew--
J.
Urban Fantasy: Modern, everyday life with a fantasy twist. So if your next door neighbors were elves, that would be Urban Fantasy. If your cat turned into a sexy cat-man one day while you were vacuuming, that would be Urban Fantasy. If you found out you had invisible fairy wings, that would be a miracle (and it would also be Urban Fantasy).
Talshanon: I like the idea of saying "a fantasy twist." It integrates the idea it can go anyway, and that it's got both fantastical and mundane elements. And that doesn't define it through another work, which, in my case at least, usually isn't accurate.
I shy away from saying 'paranormal' or 'supernatural' because to me that not only means ghosts but all things X-Files, including aliens, which I think belong to the sci-fi realm so I'll say:
Urban Fantasy is a contemporary genre-soup of an often-edgy story where the main ingredient is an element of the fantastic, be it fanged, furred, fey or other mythical type (kick-ass protags welcome but not truly necessary).
How'd I do?
You did so well I want to plagiarize you. Trademark it before I can get away with it. ;-)
No stealing! But you can use it :) - I'll opt for the share and share alike creative commons thingo and if a source is required you can blame, er, point to me!
:o)
Late, but, I GET IT!!! (And I don't often do.) :-)
J.
Jeanne: I'm sorry. It was bad. I get punny when I'm anxious. ;-)