Collection Development "Urban Fantasy": The City Fantastic
By Nanette Wargo Donohue -- Library Journal, 6/1/2008
Since ancient times, the supernatural has captivated storytellers and their audiences. Some of the earliest surviving literary forms—myths and folktales—feature such preternatural beings as gods, ghosts, fairies, witches, or vampires living among humans. Today, this fascination exists in the current boom in urban fantasy, a genre defined by John Clute and John Grant in their Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1997) as “texts where fantasy and the mundane world interact, intersect, and interweave throughout a tale which is significantly about a real city.”
Urban fantasy's roots date back to the late 1980s and early 1990s, when Charles de Lint published his first short story collection about the fictional city of Newford, Dreams Underfoot, and the first volumes of the groundbreaking Borderlands shared-world anthologies, based on a world created by well-known fantasy author Terri Windling, were released. These works introduced readers to the possibility of supernatural, fantastic beings in modern settings, and other authors who contributed to the development of what is now identified as “traditional urban fantasy” included Emma Bull, Neil Gaiman, and Mercedes Lackey.
A folkloric tradition
Traditional urban fantasy is highly influenced by folklore and fairy tales and often has the feel of a modern folk or fairy tale. The prose style tends toward the lyrical, the locales are modern urban environments, and the distinctions between good and evil are often subtle. Sadly, many novels from this subgenre's early years are long out of print, and used copies can be cost prohibitive.
Closely related to (and, in many cases, overlapping with) traditional urban fantasy is the broader category of mythic fiction, a term believed to have been coined by de Lint and Windling and often used to categorize historical fantasy and literary fiction where the supernatural coexists with the mundane. Like traditional urban fantasies, these novels, which include such recent popular titles as Keith Donoghue's The Stolen Child and Susannah Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell, are affected by mythology, folklore, fairy tales, medieval ballads, and other traditional storytelling forms. The web site for Windling and Midori Snyder's Endicott Studio (www.endicott-studio.com) features a lengthy and useful mythic fiction reading list.
Vampires, werewolves, & fairies, oh my!
The branch of urban fantasy currently skyrocketing in popularity is “contemporary urban fantasy,” which plays on themes drawn from popular culture, including horror movies, TV shows like cult classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and lore about such paranormal creatures as vampires and werewolves. This is what your patrons are looking for when they request “urban fantasy.” Common characteristics include tough female protagonists (often with supernatural powers or superhuman strength), stronger distinctions between good and evil, grittier urban landscapes, first-person narration, and sexual tension, often between the female protagonist and a male character who toes the line between good and evil. A pioneer in this subgenre is Laurell K. Hamilton, whose “Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter” novels were among the first to play on these themes.
Genre confusion
Contemporary urban fantasy started as an offshoot of horror fiction rather than sf/fantasy but has blended with other genres, most notably romance and mystery. Many authors of paranormal romances are now setting their novels in contemporary worlds where vampires, werewolves, and fey coexist with humans. However, these titles tend to focus predominantly on the love story between a single male character and a single female character, often conclude with the traditional “happily ever after,” and each volume in a series tends to focus on a different man and a different woman. Sherrilyn Kenyon's “Dark-Hunter” series is a prime example of paranormal romances with strong urban fantasy elements.
Mystery merges with urban fantasy in two of the genre's most popular series. Jim Butcher's “Dresden Files,” which star wizard/detective Harry Dresden, are hard-boiled detective stories set in a gritty, paranormal Chicago. Charlaine Harris's “Southern Vampire” novels, which feature Sookie Stackhouse, a mind-reading barmaid with a vampire boyfriend and a shape-shifter boss, lack the tough urban setting, but these books do present supernatural beings sharing the same small community—in this case, a town in Louisiana—with humans.
Shape-shifting formats
Most urban fantasies are released as mass-market or trade paperbacks, with new titles by the most popular authors receiving an initial outing in hardcover. This makes the genre inexpensive to collect, although paperbacks are far less durable than hardcovers. A few series originally published as mass-market editions have been rereleased in hardcover (Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series for one), but this is still rare.
Because most contemporary urban fantasies are published as part of a series, building your backlist is as important as acquiring newly issued titles. When weeding, it may be necessary to replace backlist titles that are worn out or otherwise in need of discarding with new copies. Luckily, the backlist of most popular contemporary urban fantasy authors remain in print.
On a collection quest
Many mainstream sf/fantasy houses such as Penguin Group (USA)'s Ace and Roc imprints and HarperCollins's Eos line publish contemporary urban fantasies. For urban fantasy with a strong romantic element, Harlequin's Luna imprint is a good resource. Orbit Books, a well-known British sf publisher that has recently expanded into the U.S. market, puts out urban fantasy as well as traditional sf/fantasy. Independent Subterranean Press publishes traditional urban fantasies, including new works by de Lint.
A good tool for readers' advisory and ongoing selection is sf/fantasy magazine Locus (www.locusmag.com), which reviews urban fantasy. The most recent editions of Diana Tixier Herald's Genreflecting (6th ed., 2005) and Fluent in Fantasy (2008) contain citations and annotations for selected urban fantasy novels. The RA database NoveList includes readalikes for such popular urban fantasy authors as de Lint, Butcher, Harrison, and Hamilton, as well as book lists and reading guides to urban fantasy.
Owing to space limitations, this overview is far from comprehensive but aims to include a core collection of the most popular titles. Since much contemporary urban fantasy is part of a series, this annotated bibliography lists each series' debut and mentions the most recent book. The best place to find information about other series titles is the author's or publisher's web site. Starred titles (*) are recommended for all libraries.
Traditional Urban Fantasy
Black, Holly. Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale. Simon Pulse. 2002. 331p. ISBN 978-0-689-86704-0. pap. $7.99.
Though written for teens, this debut novel about a 16-year-old New Jersey girl caught in the power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms is similar to Emma Bull's War for the Oaks (below) in theme and setting and will appeal to adults. Black is also the author of urban fantasies Ironside and Valiant.
*Bull, Emma. War for the Oaks. Orb: Tor. 1987. 336p. ISBN 978-0-7653-0034-8. pap. $14.95.
On her way home from a gig, rock singer Eddi McCandry is accosted by a phouka—a man who can transform into a dog—and gets drawn into the world of the fey and a vicious and bloody war between the Seelie and Unseelie courts. First published in 1987, this winner of the Locus Award for Best First Novel remains one of the finest examples of urban fantasy ever written.
*de Lint, Charles. Dreams Underfoot. Orb: Tor. 2003. 414p. ISBN 978-0-7653-0679-1. pap. $16.95.
De Lint's first short story collection introduces readers to Newford, a North American city where magic is real and the fey live among the humans—if the humans are willing and able to see them. Several characters recur in future Newford collections and novels, and de Lint recommends newcomers begin with this volume. The prolific author's web site (www.sfsite.com/charlesdelint) is the best place to find up-to-date info about his new releases, as well as rereleases of older works. (LJ 3/15/93)
The Essential Bordertown. Tor. 1998. 383p. ed. by Terri Windling & Delia Sherman. ISBN 978-0-312-86593-1. $24.95.
This collection of stories set in Bordertown, the city on the border between Faerie and the human world, is the most recent in the Borderlands shared-world anthology series and the only one still in print. Nevertheless, new readers won't have a problem navigating this complex and intriguing world, as a travel guide to Bordertown is interspersed with the folktale-like stories. (LJ 9/15/98)
*Gaiman, Neil. Neverwhere. Perennial: HarperCollins. 2003. 400p. ISBN 978-0-06-055781-2. pap. $13.95.
Richard Mayhew's mundane life is changed when he rescues an injured girl on the street and she pulls him into her dark, mysterious, alternate underground world, known as London Below. Gaiman has reached iconic status among fantasy fans, both for his novels and his acclaimed comic series The Sandman. His works are essential for all fantasy collections. (LJ 6/15/97)
Lackey, Mercedes. Burning Water: A Diana Tregarde Investigation. Tor. 2005. 332p. ISBN 978-0-7653-1317-1. pap. $14.95.
Psychic police detective Mark Valdez teams up with romance writer and witch Diana Tregarde to investigate cattle mutilations and violent murders plaguing the city of Dallas. Lackey's 1980s Diana Tregarde trilogy, recently reprinted by Tor, remains fresh in its accurate depictions of Wiccan practices and a rich fantastical world. Two other Lackey series—the “SERRAted Edge” and “Bedlam's Bard”—are also considered urban fantasy.
Millar, Martin. The Good Fairies of New York. Soft Skull. 2006. 242p. ISBN 978-1-933368-36-8. pap. $13.95.
Exiled to New York City, where the only humans who can see them are social outcasts and misfits, Scottish thistle fairies Morag and Heather vomit on the carpet of the city's worst violinist, setting the stage for further adventures. A cult favorite in Britain, Millar's clever fairy tale has won him fans, including Neil Gaiman. (LJ 12/06)
Paper Cities: An Anthology of Urban Fantasy. Senses Five, dist. by Independent Pubs. Group. 2008. 270p. ed. by Ekaterina Sedia. ISBN 978-0-9796246-0-5. pap. $14.95.
Edited by rising star Sedia (The Secret History of Moscow ), this innovative and boundary-challenging anthology of 20 tales about cities redefines the traditional genre.
Contemporary Urban Fantasy
Andrews, Ilona. Magic Bites. Ace: Berkley, dist. by Penguin Group (USA). 2007. 260p. ISBN 978-0-441-01489-7. pap. $6.99.
Set in an alternate Atlanta controlled by three magical factions, Andrews's edgy series stands apart from similar fantasies starring tough crime-solving females owing to its complex world-building and skilled characterizations. When mercenary Kate Daniels's mentor is murdered, she gets caught between the Masters of the Dead (vampire-controlling necromancers) and the shape-shifting Pack. The next entry is Magic Burns.
Armstrong, Kelley. Bitten. Plume: Penguin Group (USA). (Women of the Otherworld, Bk. 1). 2004. 436p. ISBN 978-0-452-28603-0. pap. $7.99.
Toronto journalist Elena is also a werewolf, the only female werewolf in the world. When a gang of “mutts”—werewolves without pack ties—begin transforming criminals into vicious, marauding werewolves, Elena joins the hunt. Armstrong's world is expansive, and her fresh take on the werewolf theme may have inspired the current lycanthropic trend in contemporary urban fantasy. Her novels can be read alone or out of order; the eighth and most recent is Personal Demon (LJ Xpress review, 3/4/08). (LJ 9/15/01)
*Briggs, Patricia. Moon Called. Ace: Berkley, dist. by Penguin Group (USA). 2006. 288p. ISBN 978-0-441-01381-4. pap. $7.99.
Mercy Thompson is a shape-shifting mechanic with a sexy alpha werewolf as a neighbor. In her first adventure, Mercy gets pulled into the complex world of werewolf politics when a lone lycanthrope shows up at her shop with a story of rogues using newly transformed werewolves for medical experiments. Briggs's southeastern Washington setting features other paranormal entities like vampires, but werewolves and shifters take center stage. The most recent series title, Iron Kissed, was a New York Times mass-market paperback best seller.
*Butcher, Jim. Storm Front. ROC: NAL. (Dresden Files, Bk. 1). 2000. 336p. ISBN 978-0-451-45781-3. pap. $7.99.
Harry Dresden, Chicago's only wizard/PI, doesn't get much business until the police enlist his assistance with solving a brutal double murder. Butcher's unique take on the hard-boiled detective story has cross-genre appeal, making the “Dresden Files” one of the most popular series in contemporary urban fantasy. Just published is Small Favor (LJ 4/15/08).
Caine, Rachel. Ill Wind. ROC: NAL. (Weather Warden, Bk. 1). 2003. 337p. ISBN 978-0-451-45952-7. pap. $6.99.
When Joanne Baldwin—one of the Weather Wardens, with the power to control nature—is accused of murder, she runs—setting off events that could have catastrophic global effects. The seventh entry, Gale Force, will be published this August.
Green, Simon R. Something from the Nightside. Ace: Berkley, dist. by Penguin Group (USA). 2003. 230p. ISBN 978-0-441-01065-3. pap. $6.99.
Often described as the “Dresden Files” (above) crossed with Neil Gaiman, Green's noirish series will appeal to readers who enjoy some hard-boiled mystery mixed in with their urban fantasy. This volume introduces PI John Taylor, whose specialty is finding lost things. Hired to retrieve a wealthy client's runaway teenage daughter, John reluctantly returns to Nightside, a “square mile of Hell” in the center of London. The latest title is The Unnatural Inquirer.
*Hamilton, Laurell K. Guilty Pleasures. Berkley: Penguin Group (USA). (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter). 2004. 354p. ISBN 978-0-425-19754-7. pap. $14.
Although the focus of this popular paranormal series has changed significantly over the years (critics complain that the later books starting with Narcissus in Chains feature weaker, less action-oriented plots and place a greater emphasis on sex), the earliest titles demonstrate Hamilton's impact on the development and popularity of contemporary urban fantasy. Anita Blake's main line of work is raising the dead as an animator, but hunting vampires is a lucrative side business in supernatural-heavy St. Louis. When she is strong-armed into investigating a rash of unexplained vampire murders, Anita finds herself in trouble with the 1000-year-old master vampire. Just released is the 16th title, Blood Noir.
*Harris, Charlaine. Dead Until Dark. Ace: Berkley, dist. by Penguin Group (USA). (Southern Vampire Mysteries). 2008. 320p. ISBN 978-0-441-01597-9. $23.95.
There's plenty of suspense, a lot of humor, steamy sex, and a charming protagonist in this 2001 series debut, now reissued in hardcover. Sookie Stackhouse lives in tiny Bon Temps, LA, and waitresses at Merlotte's, a local dive bar—and she has the ability to read people's minds. It's little more than a nuisance, until “fang-bangers”—women who enjoy sex with vampires—start turning up dead, and Sookie's new boyfriend, vampire Bill Compton, is the number one suspect. Just issued is the eighth mystery, From Dead to Worse (LJ 4/15/08).
*Harrison, Kim. Dead Witch Walking. Eos: HarperCollins. (Rachel Morgan, Bk. 1). 2008. 368p. ISBN 978-0-06-156719-3. $21.95; pap. 2004. ISBN 978-0-06-057296-9. $7.99.
A blend of fantasy, horror, mystery, and romance, Harrison's series starring witch/bounty hunter Rachel Morgan and set in an alternate Cincinnati has developed a devoted fan base. When a virus kills off most of the human population, supernatural beings—witches, vampires, pixies, and elves—are outed, thanks to their immunity. Rachel quits her job with Inderland Security (a sort of paranormal FBI) to strike out on her own. With help from her vampire roommate Ivy and her pixy partner Jenks, she just might succeed—if she can get past her former boss, who doesn't take her departure well. The latest series entry, The Outlaw Demon Wails (LJ 1/08), is a New York Times best seller.
Kittredge, Caitlin. Night Life. St. Martin's. 2008. 358p. ISBN 978-0-312-94829-0. pap. $6.99.
Kittredge's dark romantic urban fantasy debut introduces Nocturne City police officer/werewolf Luna Wilder, whose investigation of a series of ritualistic murders leads her to the very attractive and werewolf pack leader Dimitri Sandovsky. The second volume, Pure Blood, is coming in August.
Murphy, C.E. Urban Shaman. Luna: Harlequin. (Walker Papers, Bk. 1). 2005. 344p. ISBN 978-0-373-80223-4. pap. $13.95.
Mechanic Joanne Walker doesn't believe in the supernatural—until she has a near-death experience and discovers she's a powerful shaman with the ability to heal the world. Joanne's first task is to stop Cernunnos, an ancient Celtic god, and his vengeful son Herne from unleashing havoc on Seattle. Joanne's adventures continue in Thunderbird Falls and Coyote Dreams.
Pettersson, Vicki. The Scent of Shadows: The First Sign of the Zodiac. Eos: HarperCollins. 2007. 455p. ISBN 978-0-06-089891-5. pap. $6.99.
This graphically violent, emotionally intense series isn't for the faint of heart, but readers who can stomach the brutality will be rewarded. As a teenager, Joanna Archer was the victim of a violent attack that should have killed her—but her future may be even darker. She lives in a Las Vegas torn between the battling forces of Light and Shadow. When Joanna discovers that she's equal parts shadow and light, everything changes. Other titles in the series: The Taste of Night and The Touch of Twilight.
Pratt, T.A. Blood Engines. Spectra: Bantam. 2007. 338p. ISBN 978-0-553-58998-6. pap. $6.99.
Marla Mason, the sorcerer-guardian of the city of Felport, heads to San Francisco to search for a magical artifact in order to protect her city from a rival sorcerer's spell. But something strange is happening: sorcerers are being murdered. Solving the mystery is the only way to save her own life and her city. The next series entry is Poison Sleep.
Rardin, Jennifer. Once Bitten, Twice Shy. Orbit: Hachette. 2007. 308p. ISBN 978-0-316-02046-6. pap. $12.99.
The balance of humor and action, combined with the heat of an ongoing flirtation between the two main characters, makes this new series one to watch. In this clever blend of urban fantasy and chick lit, CIA operative Jaz Parks is paired with Vayl, a centuries-old vampire-turned-assassin. Jaz masks her dark secrets with sarcasm and her vulnerability with toughness, and Vayl has learned to hide his emotions behind a cool vampire exterior. Other titles so far: Another One Bites the Dust and Bite the Bullet. (LJ 9/15/07)
Richardson, Kat. Greywalker. ROC: NAL. 2006. 341p. ISBN 978-0-451-46107-0. pap. $14.
Contemporary fantasy meets urban noir in Richardson's debut. After a brutal assault left Seattle PI investigator Harper Blaine dead for two minutes, she discovers the ability to pass between the normal world and the Grey, home to ghosts, vampires, and other supernaturals. Harper's adventures in the Grey continue in Poltergeist and the forthcoming Underworld (summer 2008). (LJ 8/06)
Smith-Ready, Jeri. Wicked Game. Pocket. 2008. 361p. ISBN 978-1-4165-5176-8. pap. $14.
Smith-Ready, known for her “Aspects of Crow” series, takes on vampires in this entertaining series debut. Ciara Griffin accepts a marketing internship at a radio station, unaware that the late-night DJs are undead. When a major radio conglomerate plans to buy the station and change its format, Ciara has to act quickly to save her friends' livelihood. Smith-Ready's entertaining twist on vampires will likely earn her new fans. (LJ 2/15/08)
Strout, Anton. Dead to Me. Ace: Berkley, dist. by Penguin Group (USA). 2008. 354p. ISBN 978-0-441-01578-8. pap. $7.99.
Former petty criminal Simon Canderous has been recruited to the Department of Extraordinary Affairs, a semisecret agency charged with investigating paranormal phenomena in New York. When a close encounter with a gorgeous ghost pulls Simon into his first case, he uses his magical talents and relies on his instincts. Strout pokes fun at many of the conventions of the genre, adding a good dose of humor to what could have been another typical urban fantasy. A sequel, Deader Still, is planned.
Thurman, Rob. Nightlife. ROC: NAL. 2006. 339p. ISBN 978-0-451-46075-2. pap. $6.99.
Cal Leandros's New York City is populated by a variety of monsters, mythical creatures, and other things that go bump in the night—but most humans are oblivious to their existence. But Cal is half-Auphe (think really nasty elves), and now his Auphe father is after Cal and his half-brother, Niko. The New York setting isn't unique, but Thurman's paranormal creatures are unusual, and his plot is fast-paced. Thurman has written two sequels, Moonshine and Madhouse.
*Vaughn, Carrie. Kitty and the Midnight Hour. Grand Central. 2005. 288p. ISBN 978-0-446-61641-6. pap. $6.99.
Kitty Norville hosts a late-night call-in radio show that focuses on the supernatural. What her listeners don't know is that Kitty is a werewolf and that the local vampires and werewolves are concerned that she is revealing too many of their secrets. Kitty is intelligent, tough, and sarcastic, and the dark humor distinguishes this series from the rest of the werewolf pack. Other series titles include Kitty Goes to Washington and Kitty and the Silver Bullet. (LJ 9/15/05)
Vincent, Rachel. Stray. Mira: Harlequin. 2007. 618p. ISBN 978-0-7783-2421-8. pap. $6.99.
Werecat Faythe escapes from her Pride hoping to live a normal life as a typical grad student, but when fellow tabbies—fertile, unmarried female werecats—begin mysteriously disappearing, she is drawn back into the Pride politics she so desperately wants to avoid. This first title in a projected six-book series is followed by Rogue (LJ 4/15/08).
Web Sites
Fangs, Fur, & Fey
community.livejournal.com/fangs_fur_fey
This LiveJournal community for published urban fantasy and paranormal romance authors features musings on the craft of writing urban fantasy, as well as info about forthcoming releases, contests and promotions, and book tours. Readers will especially enjoy the occasional excerpts from new works that some authors post (or link to).
Urban Fantasy Land
urbanfantasyland.wordpress.com
Created by urban fantasy reader Lindsay York Levack in early 2008, UFLand has grown into an essential resource for fans to find out about new releases, read interviews with authors, and keep up with reviews and relevant news. Though this is a fan site, the “gushing fan” moments are few, and the news and new release items are especially helpful for collection development librarians in light of the immense growth of the genre.
| Author Information |
| Nanette Wargo Donohue is Technical Services Manager, Champaign Public Library, IL. She has reviewed urban fantasy for LJ since 2005 |
