Genre Classification?

[John]

So I've been thinking about the Dresden Files and wondering about it's genre. Would it be more of an Epic-Urban Fantasy, or an Urban-Epic Fantasy?

But on a more serious note, as I was thinking about this I got to wondering whether you can have an epic fantasy told in the first person, or does that necessarily limit the scale to the point where the epic label wouldn't apply? Looking at the overall story being told in Dresden, I want to say yes you can, but what do you guys think?

[David]

As it is set primarily in a real city (Chicago), I've always viewed it as Urban fantasy. :)

[Nyssa]

I too view Dresden as Urban Fantasy.

Epic-Fantasy = Tolkienesque, to me.

[Martin]

David wrote: "As it is set primarily in a real city (Chicago), I've always viewed it as Urban fantasy. :)"

Really? I always connected having real life places with urban fantasy. Distopic would have destroyed real life places, and Epic would have invented world.

Then, there are all the subgenres like paranormal, sword and sorcery, or young adult (everything above for younger)

Maybe i was wrong!

[John]

urban fantasy or perhaps contemporary fantasy. Epic to me, means massive in scope in terms of geography, time scale (erikson) and detail (e.g. tolkien in terms of language and theology)

what gets me, is when i look up "urban fantasy" i almost always end up with paranormal romance. each to their own but PNR drives me nutty

[Martin]

what get me, is when i look up "urban fantasy" i almost always end up with paranormal romance. each to their own but PNR drives me nutty"


Well, i also hate that! while it's subgenre of the urban fantasy genre, lately is the most written and read, and that's why it dominates most of the book lists. Until goodreads improve the recommendations(i search for epic and always get paranormal romance), you just have to dig dipper for great Urban fantasy ..

[Howard]

I would say not "Epic" for each case file book, but for the series as a whole epic might be applicable . . . especially after the BAT (Big Apocalyptic Trilogy) that will wrap the series up.

[Heather]

When I'm called on to describe it I waver between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Detective... but I don't think either's a perfect fit.

[Beverly]

I think the Dresden Files books should accurately be categorized as urban fantasy with sub-categories of urban fantasy action/mystery/thriller/. I REALLY HATE doing a search for "urban fantasy" and coming up with a bunch or paranormal romances (which I can't stand) masquerading as action/mystery/thriller fantasies.

[Karen]

I like to describe it - especially the early books - as urban fantasy meets the detective noir.

[Josh]

It's Urban Fantasy, but the last two books have really flirted with "Epic" ...

[Brandon]

I think it's category is Urban Fantasy/Thriller. Or maybe Urban Fantasy/Noir. Regardless, Dresden Files is definitely Urban Fantasy.