McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Are Readers Growing Tired of New Urban Fantasy?
Ziggelly:
--- Quote from: jeno on January 31, 2012, 11:07:12 PM ---Fantasy in general seems like it's turning over a new leaf with authors like Rothfuss, Lynch, Abercrombie, etc. No trolls or elves to be found in that lot.
--- End quote ---
And dragons. Don't forget the dragons. Dragons have been done to death. But Rothfuss ended up winning my heart forever with his draccus. "It's like a big cow." ;D It was brilliant. So there's something to be said for genre expectations. You just have to know what you're doing with them. Like Jim: He's got vampires, werewolves, and faeries, but that doesn't make him like all the other UF authors out there.
The Deposed King:
--- Quote from: Shecky on April 03, 2012, 10:20:15 AM ---I wouldn't call it dreck. Paranormal romance, although not something that's to my personal taste, is a legitimate subgenre. Besides, Jim's wife writes paranormal romance, and I am NOT going to slam her work. :)
--- End quote ---
The Genere is very legitimate. And perhaps I let a little bit of my own disgust with paranormal romance writers who come on over to the fantasy scene and try to sell me, 'paranormal romance' packaged as urban fantasy.
That said. Just as there are hum-de-dum writers in the fantasy scene who are more interested in their word count than producing a believeable story with consistent characters, in my few experience the paranormal romance scene has its fair share of inconsistent characters and books that are light on consistent believability as origionally put to paper by the writer and later modified to suit whatever fancy they felt like writing that day.
I've seen good and I've seen bad. I wasn't labeling the whole genre with a wide brush. I was just pointing to the stinky underbelly.
And yes I'm a little biased.
The Deposed King
OZ:
--- Quote ---The Genere is very legitimate. And perhaps I let a little bit of my own disgust with paranormal romance writers who come on over to the fantasy scene and try to sell me, 'paranormal romance' packaged as urban fantasy.
--- End quote ---
I think this is where I have a problem as well. I have no problem at all with paranormal romance. I don't like it when it is deceitfully packaged. When I pick up a book about a tough, no nonsense monster hunter and find that the main character spends three fourths of her time thinking about one (or two, or three, or...) of the other characters looks, charm, voice, etc. it annoys me greatly. On the other hand I have absolutely problem when a good author has some overlap. The previously mentioned Kate Andrews books are a good example of this. The romance is a definite part of the stories but, for the most part, it has not threatened to become the main plot.
Shecky:
--- Quote from: The Deposed King on April 04, 2012, 01:30:34 AM ---The Genere is very legitimate. And perhaps I let a little bit of my own disgust with paranormal romance writers who come on over to the fantasy scene and try to sell me, 'paranormal romance' packaged as urban fantasy.
That said. Just as there are hum-de-dum writers in the fantasy scene who are more interested in their word count than producing a believeable story with consistent characters, in my few experience the paranormal romance scene has its fair share of inconsistent characters and books that are light on consistent believability as origionally put to paper by the writer and later modified to suit whatever fancy they felt like writing that day.
I've seen good and I've seen bad. I wasn't labeling the whole genre with a wide brush. I was just pointing to the stinky underbelly.
And yes I'm a little biased.
The Deposed King
--- End quote ---
I have sort of the same feelings, but not singling out authors in a particular genre; it's more towards authors who are... well, just not up to snuff, period. I do have my preferences and personal tastes, sure, but it's more a question of "Did the author execute exactly what he/she intended to do? And did they do so in a way that's smart, readable and not dumbed-down?" If so, then they have my respect, regardless of genre. If not... you can figure out the rest. :D But in the end, what it comes down to is this: if they're published, that's a real achievement and not one to be sneered at.
Stephenie Myers is a perfect example. Her writing is NOT to my taste. And some of the underlying concepts in Twilight's characters set my teeth on edge. I tried to read her stuff, I truly did, but I couldn't make it far at all. Be all that as it may, she had a target with her writing, and she nailed it dead center. For that, she has my sincere respect.
OZ:
I did not care for Stephanie Meyers' books either (actually I should say book since I only read the first one) but when my friends complain about her I always tell them that I imagine she was writing her books to sell to more than just me and in that she was wildly successful. Like you I respect her for that.
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