McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Are Readers Growing Tired of New Urban Fantasy?
Taskill_Mckennan:
Simon R. Green's Nightside series is coming to an end with The bride who Wore leather (I think, that or the next one) But, I think his other UF The Secret Histories is still going strong (Though that's UF with Spy thriller thrown in) I dunno, I think It might need a swift kick to get it breathing again, since as one of my players puts it "Most UF is just fetish fuel for the writer".
We know that TDF has another 10 or so books (click to show/hide)(Changes was supposed to be book 10 and mark the half-way point. we've got cold-days, plus 6ish and then the Big Apocalypse Trilogy.) But After that? If Simon Green's books have ended, I can't even predict we're UF will end up.
meg_evonne:
Although the sheer mass of UF is stupefying and a great deal of it is not up to par, there does seem to be a new small niche for the 'soft magic' UF. By that I mean it isn't the heavy witch, warlock, vampire, werewolf, angels, etc. It just a simple intriguing plot with the soft flow of natural, non-explosive magic. Yes, I'm ducking. It is really chit lit with a soft magic overflow, but it seems to be growing and attracting new non-UF readers into its folds nicely.
Like I said, it's UF Chit Lit--so is that a new UF category? A writer who seems to be flourishing in this new category is Sarah Addison Allen. The one I read was Garden Spells. I don't even know where it's classed in the book stores. I guess it's Charmed without the demons and world threatening plot lines.
synthesis:
--- Quote from: meg_evonne on April 05, 2012, 09:42:05 PM --- A writer who seems to be flourishing in this new category is Sarah Addison Allen. The one I read was Garden Spells. I don't even know where it's classed in the book stores. I guess it's Charmed without the demons and world threatening plot lines.
--- End quote ---
You are very right about Sarah Addison Allen. I sort of characterize her along the same lines as Alice Hoffman. Both of them have a a touch of magic here and there in their novels, but the novels tend to be more centered on normal life issues like family, finding one's place in the world, etc.--Garden Spells even touches on domestic abuse. I clump both authors in with magical realism because they often focus on cultural issues as well.
synobal:
I can tell you I'm utterly tired of reading variations on this on the book jacket.
"X is a PI/FBI/other law enforcement agent, blah blah blah problem, sexy male/vampire/werewolf person hates/doesn't want to be attracted to but must to solve the problem"
It's gotten to the point that I don't even try to read a UF book that mentions to 'love interest' on the book Jacket because it is just Paranormal Romance trying to make me think it is Urban Fantasy.
synthesis:
--- Quote from: synobal on April 10, 2012, 09:51:21 PM ---I can tell you I'm utterly tired of reading variations on this on the book jacket.
"X is a PI/FBI/other law enforcement agent, blah blah blah problem, sexy male/vampire/werewolf person hates/doesn't want to be attracted to but must to solve the problem"
It's gotten to the point that I don't even try to read a UF book that mentions to 'love interest' on the book Jacket because it is just Paranormal Romance trying to make me think it is Urban Fantasy.
--- End quote ---
Yeah, you know it's bad when even the book synopsis displays a complete lack of originality :P
The other thing that annoys me is when a book cover completely contradicts a character. Why would you put someone in skimpy clothes on the cover when the main character is more at home with jeans and a t-shirt?
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