What is the diference between Paranormal and Urban Fantasy?
- Thread starter lisalulu09
- Start date
- Status
Paranormal usually involves something more closely akin to horror - spooky goings on, ghosts etc. UF is lighter and usually tends to borrow the concepts of horror/paranormal but not the atmosphere....
You might want to check this out:
http://literaticat.blogspot.com/2010/10/big-ol-genre-glossary.html
From what i understand in general, urban fantasy is specifically set in an urban (city) setting whereas paranormal can occur anywhere.
And sorry areteus, but I will disagree that UF is "lighter." Some is and some is VERY dark, and gritty and can be close to horror.
hth
http://literaticat.blogspot.com/2010/10/big-ol-genre-glossary.html
From what i understand in general, urban fantasy is specifically set in an urban (city) setting whereas paranormal can occur anywhere.
And sorry areteus, but I will disagree that UF is "lighter." Some is and some is VERY dark, and gritty and can be close to horror.
hth
Last edited:
Paranormal involves strange creatures, ghosts, or other weird happenings. It's also not limited to a certain type of setting.
Urban fantasy takes place in a large city or town and features typical fantasy creatures (fairies, pixies, etc.) in what is normally an area that you wouldn't think to find them.
I think a good example of urban fantasy is Holly Black's "Valiant", and paranormal fantasy would be something like "Twilight" (unfortunately can't think of a better example of paranormal at the moment!).
Urban fantasy takes place in a large city or town and features typical fantasy creatures (fairies, pixies, etc.) in what is normally an area that you wouldn't think to find them.
I think a good example of urban fantasy is Holly Black's "Valiant", and paranormal fantasy would be something like "Twilight" (unfortunately can't think of a better example of paranormal at the moment!).
Never said it was lighter nor that the difference is based on light vs dark. Rather, Paranormal tends to revolve around a mystery and have a certain eerie tone - what are the strange lights? Why have the villagers all turned up dead with the blood drained from their bodies? It is also often set in a realistic setting - supernatural things are not common or necessarily well known. In UF everyone (at least the MCs) all know all about the supernatural and consider it everyday.
You could also say that paranormal MCs are generally normal humans thrown into wierd situations with maybe the odd psychic. whereas, quite often, UF MCs are themselves supernatural - vampires, wizards, etc.
You could also say that paranormal MCs are generally normal humans thrown into wierd situations with maybe the odd psychic. whereas, quite often, UF MCs are themselves supernatural - vampires, wizards, etc.
Then what do we call contemporary fantasy with paranormal creatures as MC's that aren't in urban settings? Because I'm having that issue. Seeing as just about all my YA fits into that category and I'm unwilling to put it under "horror" even if the bookstores seem to shove them all in there.
Heck, they only recently stopped putting the Dresden files in Horror at my local bookstore.
Heck, they only recently stopped putting the Dresden files in Horror at my local bookstore.
Liosse de Velishaf
Banned
Just to say, hey, I'm really not crazy, it was said
Okay, i like and totally agree with what you've said here. Sorry, if my comment irked you. Wasn't my intention at. all. SWEARS!
Paranormal: Anyville is being haunted by a vampire who steals virgins from their beds at night. Now, we're going to go slay him.
Urban Fantasy: vampires, werewolves, witches, fairies, demons, mermaids, shape-shifters, unicorns, & santa clause all live in Anyville and Normal Person with or without Special Power is caught up in their politics/falls in love with one or two or ten.
That's pretty much the most basic difference, ignoring all of the gray shades in-between.
Urban Fantasy: vampires, werewolves, witches, fairies, demons, mermaids, shape-shifters, unicorns, & santa clause all live in Anyville and Normal Person with or without Special Power is caught up in their politics/falls in love with one or two or ten.
That's pretty much the most basic difference, ignoring all of the gray shades in-between.
Just to say, hey, I'm really not crazy, it was said
Yeah... I realised that after and it was not intentional to use that in that context... I meant lighter in tone rather than context. UF characters often have an upbeat, urban, quippy response when things get dark (think Buffy)... Paranormal characters often go insane
It's actually quite difficult to explain what I mean here without using the word 'lighter' and without therefore confusing it with the other meaning you imply...
I suppose it is dark as in 'dark and moody' as opposed to dark in 'everyone dies horribly'. Of course, there are always crossovers...
Okay, i like and totally agree with what you've said here. Sorry, if my comment irked you. Wasn't my intention at. all. SWEARS!
No problem
I think, technically, yes contemporary fantasy is the term which should apply to all examples of this... its a term I often apply to writers like Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker* etc who write what often used to be called Horror but is not not really considered that any more...
*And yes, some of Clive Barker's works are definitively horror - Hellbound Heart, The Books of Blood, most of the ones he wrote that were filmed... However, to my mind, his better work by far is his modern day fantasy (which still gets classified as horror) such as Weaveworld and Imajica. Weaveworld has more in common with the Narnia books than anything written under a horror title...
To add to what melly mel said, some UF takes place in smaller towns. I think it has to do with it's "base" in reality. There's always an element of someone not knowing about the "weirdness" going on. When I think Paranormal, I think about witches, goblins, and the like living side by side with humans and having it be no big deal. kwim?
- Status