Urban Fantasy Cliches

baileycakes14 · Apr 24, 2012

Compared to sci-fi and epic fantasy, urban fantasy is a relatively new genre, and despite the fact that it seems to be pretty popular right now, there's not nearly as much discussion about it.

So I was wanting to have a little discussion about cliches specific to urban fantasy that particularly irk us. I'll go first!

In a large percent of UF novels, the main character is either a cop or some kind of detective. Now, I have nothing against characters being cops and detectives, I just feel like it's overdone. It has to be done really well to not completely annoy me. I just feel like authors can come up with a more creative way of getting their characters involved in the supernatural.

There's more, but I want to see what all of you have to say.

(Also, if there's already a thread like this, I apologize. I couldn't find it, so please point me in the right direction.)

Silver-Midnight · Apr 24, 2012

Well, for starters, I think every genre has it's set of cliche's or tropes. It's the way those tropes are changed that make it good. Now, I know that's slightly off topic, but just wanted to put that out there.

These are just cliche's I've seen in PNR/UF; they do not necessarily annoy me:

1) The centuries/decades old vampire falling in love with a woman he just met or is centuries/decades younger than him.

2) Thee centuries/decades old werewolf falling in love with a woman he just met or is centuries/decades younger than him.

3) There being some time of "mating bond"; I see this more in werewolf stories than vampire stories but it does exist. (No offense to anyone writing werewolf/shape-shifter stories by the way).

4) The female main character having some special power that she didn't know about until she (enter number here) age, and it has the miraculous side-effect of making her attractive to nearly or entirely everyone. (Again, no offense to anyone who has/will do this.)

5) The way a man who is shifter/werewolf is excused because he is a shifter/werewolf. (This one, for me, at least, it kind of depends what happens if what he did is excusable. Just saying. Again, no offense meant.)

Those are the only ones off of the top of my head right now.

And again, wasn't trying to offend anyone with my statements.

Yāoguài · Apr 24, 2012

Well, I was just thinking that the wish-fulfillment day-job bothers me. You know, X by day, fearless demon hunter by night... where X is a fantasy position in the first place. I haven't read this series, so I'm not actually commenting on it other than my gut reaction, but there's a female-centric series where the protagonist is a Grammy-winning country music star by day. There's a male-centric series where the protagonist's day job is owner of a strip club.

For me, I like the person to have a normal side, a life I can identify with, and the all-wish-fulfillment, all-the-time lives give me nausea, like having my food chopped into tiny pieces before it's served to me.

I don't tend to enjoy stories -- UF or otherwise -- where a character is badass without having to work at it. If your character knows martial arts, I want to feel that character put in hours of work at the dojo, for years, not downloaded it a la The Matrix.

I realized recently that I've read over three hundred urban fantasy novels on my kindle, not even counting the ones I read on paper, so I'm sure I'll be back to gripe some more.

That said, sometimes the cliche is there for a good reason. I know of a writer who has steadfastly avoided a certain cliche, on purpose; and I think his work would be so much better if he didn't have that aversion.

GenevieveGoth · Apr 25, 2012

I'm with Silver-Midnight on the whole romance thing, though mine is more specific.

I don't like when any character falls in love with someone they just met a few days ago. These emotions take time to develop and they do NOT happen over night. UF isn't the only genre to do this, though. So this gripe is not restricted to UF.

My other beef is when a centuries/decades old creature falls in love with someone twenty years old or younger. At that point, they're still kids to my mind. When they're older, I find it more forgivable as they're both adults. This is, of course, assuming it all makes sense and the flow is logical.

This is not meant to be offensive to anyone who writes these sorts of things. Its just not for me, so I don't read it.

I also agree that the whole detective/police officer thing is a bit over done.

Yāoguài · Apr 25, 2012

Everybody has to challenge the main character.

I get that your character has to face conflict, and I get that showing conflict early in the book gives your character an opportunity to prove she has backbone. But come on.

Your character goes to see someone, but first she has to get past the doorman. The doorman bars her path in a completely over-the-top manner. This scene shows up in more UF novels than I can count, and it isn't tense or exciting in any way. When the Vampire Lord invites the main character to come see him at 2, but when she shows up at 2 his receptionist proclaims "You're going in there over my dead body," it's not interesting, it's just stupid.

Maxx · Apr 25, 2012

Yāoguài;7220891 said:
....but there's a female-centric series where the protagonist is a Grammy-winning country music star by day. There's a male-centric series where the protagonist's day job is owner of a strip club.

For me, I like the person to have a normal side, a life I can identify with, and the all-wish-fulfillment, all-the-time lives give me nausea, like having my food chopped into tiny pieces before it's served to me.

I don't tend to enjoy stories -- UF or otherwise -- where a character is badass without having to work at it.

Yeah, I completely agree.

I got tired of the moral equivalent of badass strip-club owners when I once spent 30 minutes reading some military-techno SF. The correctly militarized jargon will kill you long before the pointlessness of it does just as (presumably) the properly stripped jargon of a strip club will make you want to take your clothes off and find another book to read... I don't mind fantasies of massive violence and or/endless stripping, but I do find it annoying that being good at massive violence makes you an interesting character -- but only sorta. Well really since it is the essence of the story -- either it does or it doesn't. There's no being half-way interesting in an action-packed adventure. Just get interesting or be a minor character and don't get a strip club to fill in the other half of trying to be the MC. It's like the writer doesn't quite believe enough in their own story so the MC has to not only be a badass (which is annoying enough) but also own a strip club (and how does that help ? Except by a) convincing us that the writer isn't convinced but has to contrive some more xxx-assiness b) being twice as annoying and kinda not that interesting anyway.)

Silver-Midnight · Apr 25, 2012

Keep in mind, I've only read a few Urban Fantasy books. So, I don't know how entirely accurate I am. However, I have seen a few things that were in Paranormal Romance in Urban Fantasy as well.

Question · Apr 25, 2012

Yāoguài;7222152 said:
Everybody has to challenge the main character.

I get that your character has to face conflict, and I get that showing conflict early in the book gives your character an opportunity to prove she has backbone. But come on.

Your character goes to see someone, but first she has to get past the doorman. The doorman bars her path in a completely over-the-top manner. This scene shows up in more UF novels than I can count, and it isn't tense or exciting in any way. When the Vampire Lord invites the main character to come see him at 2, but when she shows up at 2 his receptionist proclaims "You're going in there over my dead body," it's not interesting, it's just stupid.

Hahaha, I know exactly what you mean! I agree with the enforcer/private investigator thing, there are WAY more routes into the supernatural scene that aren't being used.

Another cliche is how -- in certain books -- everyone of any importance is sexy. Okay, so there'll be lots of ugly creatures too, but those are just cannon fodder. The recurring characters -- the important characters -- will, in these books, be smoking hot. It's understandable if it's part of their species mythology, but a lot of the time 3/4 of the cast is just coincidentally hot.

baileycakes14 · Apr 25, 2012

Question said:
The recurring characters -- the important characters -- will, in these books, be smoking hot. It's understandable if it's part of their species mythology, but a lot of the time 3/4 of the cast is just coincidentally hot.

That's a good one, but can we add to it the ever popular "herione for some reason thinks she's ugly despite every male character constantly telling her she's beautiful" thingy? That one REALLY annoys me.

The fantasy job one is pretty good too. I never really noticed until you guys pointed it out.

Another one I've noticed (and this may be blurring the lines between UF and paranormal romance, but it's a fine line to begin with) is that in... certain circles of UF you have a kick-ass heroine who, well... kicks ass, but absolutely LOVES to be completely dominated in bed because it's "the one time she can really let go" or some such nonsense. I'm not railing against the idea, just the prevalence, I guess.

GenevieveGoth · Apr 26, 2012

baileycakes14 said:
That's a good one, but can we add to it the ever popular "herione for some reason thinks she's ugly despite every male character constantly telling her she's beautiful" thingy? That one REALLY annoys me.

That one annoys me too. I'd rather see a girl that's hot and knows she's hot and flaunts it all over the place than a girl who's hot but has major self-esteem issues.

Kestifer · Apr 27, 2012

1. The hard-boiled investigator/cop. Done well, it works brilliantly (Dresden Files), but there are other ways to discover the shadowy world beyond the grasp of ordinary mortals.

2. Vampires and Werewolves in general, simply because there are other monster out there just itching to be used. Faeries/the fey are dangerously close to that kind of saturation, it seems.

3. Wish-fulfilment protagonists that happen to be irresistible and engender ferocious loyalty among their friends without having to earn it. (Granted, that's a peeve for all genres)

unruley700 · May 1, 2012

MCs with terrible decision making skills.

"Hey. Look at that murderous looking vampire gentleman over there. I think I'll go see what he's up to. And I'll just leave every weapon I have in the car. Probably won't need it."

baileycakes14 · May 1, 2012

I just found this. I guess it's a kind of litmus test, but instead of being made for Mary-Sues it's for UF/PR. It makes points a lot better than I could. I even laughed out loud (literally) two or three times.

http://pbackwriter.blogspot.de/2012/04/pop-quiz.html

Silver-Midnight · May 2, 2012

baileycakes14 said:
I just found this. I guess it's a kind of litmus test, but instead of being made for Mary-Sues it's for UF/PR. It makes points a lot better than I could. I even laughed out loud (literally) two or three times.

http://pbackwriter.blogspot.de/2012/04/pop-quiz.html

Cool. That can be interesting.

Friendly Frog · May 2, 2012

baileycakes14 said:
In a large percent of UF novels, the main character is either a cop or some kind of detective. Now, I have nothing against characters being cops and detectives, I just feel like it's overdone.

I hadn't really thought about that until you mentioned it. Possibly because one of my only UF stories features... some kind of detective. But now that you mention it, it does seem a common trope. I suspect this is partly because it offers more serial chances. Ordinary people may come across something supernatural once, but more than that would look contrived, I suppose. It won't be so noticeable with people who have made it their job to deal with supernatural threats.

Silver-Midnight said:
2) Thee centuries/decades old werewolf falling in love with a woman he just met or is centuries/decades younger than him.

I tend to avoid that sort of stories, but I have been wondering, how many are there with century-old women falling for young men? I think I might actually be interested in reading that sort of story, just to see how they compare.

Jess Haines · May 2, 2012

I don't have anything new to add, but this thread has been giving me a hefty fit of the giggles.

GenevieveGoth · May 2, 2012

Friendly Frog said:
I tend to avoid that sort of stories, but I have been wondering, how many are there with century-old women falling for young men? I think I might actually be interested in reading that sort of story, just to see how they compare.

I would read that story if I ever found one. Only because it isn't what you normally find.

Sarashay · May 2, 2012

baileycakes14 said:
I just found this. I guess it's a kind of litmus test, but instead of being made for Mary-Sues it's for UF/PR. It makes points a lot better than I could. I even laughed out loud (literally) two or three times.

http://pbackwriter.blogspot.de/2012/04/pop-quiz.html

Brilliant! (And oddly consoling, considering my WIP pretty much flunks it. Then again, it helps that it has neither vampires nor werewolves in it.)

Silver-Midnight · May 2, 2012

One I'm seeing a lot, and I haven't really gotten tired of it yet, but it is popular, but the "very pretty, irresistible, nearly perfect, ad infinitum" Fae man can't resist, mostly on an initial sexual level, the supposedly "normal(but not entirely normal)" Fae-Human woman, who usually didn't what she was until she (enter event here). Then on top of their perfect looks they are usually perfect in bed.

Alessandra Kelley · May 2, 2012

Fun thread! I'm probably cheating ('cos I'm an artist and definitely not a writer), but a lot of the visual clichés bug me.

Like a very attractive girl in painfully contorted pose so you can see both her bottom and her breasts simultaneously.

(Big kudos, by the way, to urban fantasy author Jim C. Hines, for testing out those poses in his own person. Brave man!)

Girls with:

Tattoos,

Often all over their back.

Naked skin next to edged weaponry.

Sulky broody looking up from lowered brows (The happiest they ever look is a knowing smirk.)

Long, loose, flowing, flaring, maybe even glowing hair.

Blue jeans and tank tops, tube tops or jog bras.

I've heard people argue that book covers have to be readily identifiable as to genre, and I guess the marketers know best, but please, can't there be some more variety?

Surely
these
have
been
overdone?

baileycakes14 · May 2, 2012

I'm not sure if this counts as a cliche, but it is certainly prevalent enough to be very annoying. It's the idea of the ability to inflict violence as strength. In UF and PR both, people are kicking ass left, right, and center. Sometimes it's deserved, yes, but then there are some characters who cross the line between bad-ass hunter and bully.

Another thing that really annoys me (again, maybe not a cliche, but it occurs pretty frequently) is when you have a character who is usually some sort of paranormal being, usually long lived, and usually the designated love interest, who absolutely despises normal people. They call them sheep and scoff at the fact that they have absolutely no clue about the paranormal stuff going on around them. They call normal people pathetic and weak and the like, but despite this supposed hatred they still fight very hard, and often risk their lives, to protect them. It just makes no sense to me. Every once in a while I'll stumble upon a character to despises normal humans because he/she is jealous of them (which makes sense) but usually authors skip that step and use their disdain to further point out the hard-boiled bad-assery of the character. Really. Gets. On. My. Nerves.

baileycakes14 · May 2, 2012

Alessandra Kelley said:
Fun thread! I'm probably cheating ('cos I'm an artist and definitely not a writer), but a lot of the visual clichés bug me.

Like a very attractive girl in painfully contorted pose so you can see both her bottom and her breasts simultaneously.

(Big kudos, by the way, to urban fantasy author Jim C. Hines, for testing out those poses in his own person. Brave man!)

Girls with:

Tattoos,

Often all over their back.

Naked skin next to edged weaponry.

Sulky broody looking up from lowered brows (The happiest they ever look is a knowing smirk.)

Long, loose, flowing, flaring, maybe even glowing hair.

Blue jeans and tank tops, tube tops or jog bras.

I've heard people argue that book covers have to be readily identifiable as to genre, and I guess the marketers know best, but please, can't there be some more variety?

THIS.

Most UF covers (that aren't young adult) are barely 'work safe'. It makes me wonder, with all the half-naked, surly bombshells decorating covers, who do you think reads more UF, men or women? And who are these covers targeting? Men? Or women who like the idea of a badass heroine?

Silver-Midnight · May 2, 2012

Alessandra Kelley said:
Fun thread! I'm probably cheating ('cos I'm an artist and definitely not a writer), but a lot of the visual clichés bug me.

Like a very attractive girl in painfully contorted pose so you can see both her bottom and her breasts simultaneously.

(Big kudos, by the way, to urban fantasy author Jim C. Hines, for testing out those poses in his own person. Brave man!)

Girls with:

Tattoos,

Often all over their back.

Naked skin next to edged weaponry.

Sulky broody looking up from lowered brows (The happiest they ever look is a knowing smirk.)

Long, loose, flowing, flaring, maybe even glowing hair.

Blue jeans and tank tops, tube tops or jog bras.

I've heard people argue that book covers have to be readily identifiable as to genre, and I guess the marketers know best, but please, can't there be some more variety?

Surely
these
have
been
overdone?

Yeah. Those are some common things in UF.

ShaylaElla · May 2, 2012

GenevieveGoth said:
I would read that story if I ever found one. Only because it isn't what you normally find.

Well, that's a relief. My MC is about a 150 yrs and she falls for a guy in his mid-twenties. And she's not a cop or detective. Non-cliché-bonus.

Great thread guys!

Friendly Frog · May 3, 2012

Alessandra Kelley said:
Fun thread! I'm probably cheating ('cos I'm an artist and definitely not a writer), but a lot of the visual clichés bug me.

So true! It's the same thing with skimpy outfits in fantasy movies, don't these women never get cold? Just looking at those covers makes me shiver.

ShaylaElla said:
Well, that's a relief. My MC is about a 150 yrs and she falls for a guy in his mid-twenties. And she's not a cop or detective. Non-cliché-bonus.

Aha, nice to know there are some of that out there. Is it published?

Urban Fantasy Cliches

baileycakes14

Silver-Midnight

Yāoguài

Strange Monster

GenevieveGoth

Yāoguài

Strange Monster

Maxx

Got the hang of it, here

Silver-Midnight

Question

Soon I will be invincible

baileycakes14

GenevieveGoth

Kestifer

unruley700

save us from sleep and what we are

baileycakes14

Silver-Midnight

Friendly Frog

Snarkenfaugister

Jess Haines

Boldly going nowhere in particular.

GenevieveGoth

Sarashay

Shut Up and Write

Silver-Midnight

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

baileycakes14

baileycakes14

Silver-Midnight

ShaylaElla

Newb. Thick-skinned all the same.

Friendly Frog

Snarkenfaugister