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When is fantasy not fantasy?
I've always thought urban fantasy had to occur in modern times cause otherwise its not "urban" in my head. If a book was set in the Victorian Era, I'd shelve it under just 'paranormal' or 'alternate history', something like that. Its all so terribly blurry.
Yeah, Urban is one of the ones that's hard to pin down. I usually take it to mean "fantasy fit into a modern, modernesque, or near-future setting that isn't sci-fi." But that's just me. As evidenced by this thread, we all interpret the details differently.
Roshio wrote: "I've always thought urban fantasy had to occur in modern times cause otherwise its not "urban" in my head. If a book was set in the Victorian Era, I'd shelve it under just 'paranormal' or 'alternat..."But the word "urban" does not mean "modern" it just means densely populated with buildings/cities. We may think of urban and modern together but there have been urban areas as long as there have been cities.
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.
MrsJoseph wrote: "Roshio wrote: "I've always thought urban fantasy had to occur in modern times cause otherwise its not "urban" in my head. If a book was set in the Victorian Era, I'd shelve it under just 'paranorma..."aaaah I never really though of that. That's a good point actually. My shelving system makes no sense anymore!
Urban fantasy is one of those ones that technically mean one thing and yet are generally used another. Technically it's any fantasy in an urban fantasy; however, most people use it as nigh synonymous with contemporary fantasy.I tend to go with the populace definition on that one just because I know that's what most people mean when they say UF.
Before urban fantasy was called urban fantasy, I used to refer to it as Urban Gothic. Vampires and werewolves always meant gothic horror in my mind. I remember PNR and urban fantasy books being shelved in the horror section, somtimes in the mytery section, and somtimes in the Fantasy/Science Fiction section at the bookstore. It made finding those books a challenge.
But I just roll with the flow on the genre name game and read all of the above. Fantasy (epic or otherwise), science fiction, urban fantasy, and PNR.
The idea of fantasy being only sword and sorcery for me went out the window a long time ago. I lump sci fi into fantasy because many sci fi have imagined worlds or concepts or some such that do not exists and cannot exist in the real world. I do the same with shapeshifter type books and the gorier ones I'd call a combo of fantasy and horror, but that's just me.I've come to accept all the crossover from when fantasy was only High or epic fantasy.
Btw someone asked about Star Wars. Star Wars has always been Fantasy to me. Creatures, worlds and an invisible power that allows men to do the impossible. What isn't magical about the Force?
I put it all under Imaginative Fiction and then figure there are sub-genres. Then I duck when everyone shrieks..."NO, NO, NEVER!" and start to throw things at me.
*glitterbombs Mike and Terry* for heresy.
...back to the showers....At least there weren't any lawn gnomes.
*throws a lawn gnome...after all, why not?*
ouch.... puts on plate armor.sigh.
Oh gnome you don't!
Well, so much for petting snarky... some one lobs a yard gnome and all hell breaks loose!
And look at the pun-ishment I'm taking....ba-dum-bump!
Carol wrote: "*glitterbombs Mike and Terry* for heresy."^THis!
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I put it all under Imaginative Fiction and then figure there are sub-genres. Then I duck when everyone shrieks..."NO, NO, NEVER!" and start to throw things at me."
O_o
Oh no, not the pun gnomes! Ahhhh! LMAO
I threw a lot, but none hit him...you know.. gnome pun in ten did?
Oh no . . . the thread . . . it's, it's . . morphing into a Piers Anthony Xanth novel!**Runs Screaming into the night**
Meanwhile her evil twin collects the lawn gnomes and puts then on the stove to boil. All the while humming "Gnome, Gnome on the Range . . ."
Hugh (The other Hugh) wrote: "I threw a lot, but none hit him...you know.. gnome pun in ten did?"oh man, a pun like that just begs for abuse of moderator powers ;) Gnome more, Hugh, I beg you!
At least Gnome on the Range is musical.
Okay, I'll stop, but just remember, when this place starts to burn down, "Only Hugh can prevent forest fires."
*giggling madly at her computer screen while co-workers stare*
Buns on all sides of me, I feel like a.... sandwich pun... and remember, Hugh can't be too careful, you're a pun-dit.One thing I've realized though, "to know Hugh is not necessarily to love Hugh".
Oh, sure... "With or with out HUGH!" ... one of Hugh 2's greatest hits. Bono without Cher.
Ahhhh, the Hugh and cry. This could be...Hugh-ge.
Hugh ain't nothing but a hound dog.
Hugh, are you? Hugh-Hugh... I really wanna know!
Took me a few for that one :)
Should I have gone with Pinball Wizard? (sigh) I wasn't feeling too "Tommy Boy" tonight.
"Hugh, light up my life.... hugh gives me hope... to carry on... Hugh, Hugh light up my life..."
Hugh are what Hugh eat????
"Hugh can leave the light on!" (a little Joe Cocker there)
OOOHHHH, the Hugh-manity....
Hugh Mility? No, he's (the first Hugh).
I think on that note, I need to go watch some of the "Hugh-tube."
I'm still trying to p;ace the Mility clan....
Hugh are you people? Gnome-body knows!
Note the typo...I meant to say "place the Mility clan"...sigh, thus another good line bites the dust.Hugh know it is Cheryl, gnome body knows the trouble we've seen.
*peeks in*O_O
*runs out screaming in fright*
MrsJ demonstrates her...peek-skill.....and then flees to the Peekskills.
......................................................................... O_O(eyeballs rolling so hard they're falling off the page)
Sometimes I lose my head.
Hugh (The other Hugh) wrote: "Hey, I'm only Hughman."It's not the heat, it's the Hugh-midity!
Fantasy Aficionados
Books mentioned in this topic
Magic Lost, Trouble Found (other topics)The Drawing of the Dark (other topics)
The Host (other topics)
The Host (other topics)
Necropolis (other topics)
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That was my understanding too.