Learn me something, internets

[megwrites]

Okay, if you had to define the difference between urban fantasy and paranormal romance, how would you go about doing that?

I'm actually more stumped by this question that I expected to be.

Comments

[kara-gnome.livejournal.com]

Yep, Paranormal romance is romance with fantasy elements, while urban fantasy is more adventure, 'our time' with fantasy elements.

I know that I'm stretching the 'urban' a little, but so much of urban fantasy is not set in cities that it's hard to think of it as city-centered, really. Well, I should say that I think I write urban fantasy, but it's more set in the 'burbs.' I'd hate be writing Burb Fantasy, so, there you go, lol.

[fiction-theory.livejournal.com]

Well, I should say that I think I write urban fantasy, but it's more set in the 'burbs.' I'd hate be writing Burb Fantasy, so, there you go, lol.

I've always had a bit of a problem with this, too, because I've seen books that were labeled as Urban Fantasy but were not set in big cities like New York or L.A. or London or anything - but I've also seen people assert that if it isn't set in the city, if it's not city-based, then it's "contemporary fantasy" or something like that.

I suppose it's part of why I asked, because I'm not sure if Urban Fantasy is an umbrella under which all things fit or not.