Urban Fantasy vs. Paranormal Romance

Elise-K-Ra'sha · Oct 12, 2011

I just read this article written by a facebook friend of mine. Hope this helps people in trying to determine the basics of urban fantasy or the differences between urban fantasy and paranormal romance. I read it and I found it quite useful.

http://fantasy-faction.com/2011/urban-fantasy-vs-paranormal-romance

Cathy C · Oct 12, 2011

It's adequate as a description, but I disagree with several of her points. It's not the be-all/end-all of the genres.

Elise-K-Ra'sha · Oct 12, 2011

Probably not, but I'm thinking it could help some people who ask themselves what defines urban fantasy. I'd like to know, and I already see several posts asking the same question. I'd have to go over the posts again and reread the replies, but I've not seen anything relatively concrete in the replies as to what actually defines "urban fantasy". If this article can help at least one person with that, then, hey, no harm, no foul.

clbaughman · Dec 18, 2011

Thanks for this article. I have been debating this myself, as my recent novel really falls somewhere in between these two genres. My two main characters fall in love over the course of a series of books...but there's still the gritty, action-packed fantasy element within all of them.

Interesting that this article dictates that paranormal romances must have a happily ever after...that makes me think my novel would be better characterized as fantasy. Geesh. Not an easy call to make.

Do you think there is a benefit/downfall to categorizing a novel as one or the other?

ChaosTitan · Dec 19, 2011

clbaughman said:
Do you think there is a benefit/downfall to categorizing a novel as one or the other?

Absolutely there is a benefit.

The word romance implies certain things in a novel. I write urban fantasy; I don't write paranormal romance. Folks coming to my novels looking for a nice romance plot, along with an HEA, may end up disappointed. Do I have small romantic subplots? Sure. But the romance doesn't drive the narrative, and that's one of the big differences between any type of romance and its non-romance counterpart. Thriller vs romantic thriller, for example.

It isn't a matter of just picking a category either. While some books do straddle the line between UF and PNR, many can be pretty clearly labeled as one or the other.

Silver-Midnight · Dec 19, 2011

So, what is the main difference between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance? They both contain creatures, but PR has an equally important romance plot?

Jess Haines · Dec 20, 2011

Urban fantasy may not have any romance in it at all. It also may or may not have a HEA ending.

Paranormal romance can have elements of UF, but the emphasis is on the relationship.

Silver-Midnight · Dec 20, 2011

Thanks.

Kweei · Dec 20, 2011

Jess Haines said:
Urban fantasy may not have any romance in it at all. It also may or may not have a HEA ending.

Paranormal romance can have elements of UF, but the emphasis is on the relationship.

This is a great, simple but succinct way of saying it.

Jess Haines · Dec 21, 2011

LOL, thanks. I originally had a much longer/wordier post, but then realized the firewall at the office was about to defeat me and cut it down.

Silver-Midnight · Jan 1, 2012

Since we're on the subject what makes Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series Urban Fantasy, not Paranormal/Supernatural? I'm not trying to offend anyone with this question; I just heard that this series was UF, and I think it deals with vampires, right? I know that vampires are not only in paranormal stories, but still. I was curious.

yttar · Jan 1, 2012

Silver-Midnight said:
Since we're on the subject what makes Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series Urban Fantasy, not Paranormal/Supernatural? I'm not trying to offend anyone with this question; I just heard that this series was UF, and I think it deals with vampires, right? I know that vampires are not only in paranormal stories, but still. I was curious.

From what I understand, paranormal is usually shorthand for paranormal romance. The primary difference between paranormal romance and urban fantasy is the romance aspect. In paranormal romance, the romance part of the story is more important. Like romance novels, it's about a man and a woman falling in love and there's always a happy ever after or happy for now (i.e. they confess their love, get married, have kids ... depending on the couple).

Even though LKH's books often contain lots of sex, the primary focus isn't on Anita Blake or Merry Gentry finding their true love(s).

Now urban fantasy can have a romantic sub-plot, but it usually isn't the main focus of the story.

Yttar

Silver-Midnight · Jan 1, 2012

yttar said:
From what I understand, paranormal is usually shorthand for paranormal romance. The primary difference between paranormal romance and urban fantasy is the romance aspect. In paranormal romance, the romance part of the story is more important. Like romance novels, it's about a man and a woman falling in love and there's always a happy ever after or happy for now (i.e. they confess their love, get married, have kids ... depending on the couple).

Even though LKH's books often contain lots of sex, the primary focus isn't on Anita Blake or Merry Gentry finding their true love(s).

Now urban fantasy can have a romantic sub-plot, but it usually isn't the main focus of the story.

Yttar

Oh, so there isn't just like a "Paranormal" genre? I'm sorry. I basically asked the same question twice then. I wasn't trying to do that. I could've sworn I've seen "Paranormal" by itself though, but I can't remember where. Thank you for your help though.

Cathy C · Jan 2, 2012

As I understand it, "paranormal" only exists as a shelving category in one or two chains. I believe Books-a-Million does but I've never been in one, so have no way to know for sure.

Realistically, it comes down to shelving. "Urban Fantasy" sits on the ScienceFiction/Fantasy shelf. "Paranormal Romance" sits on the Romance shelf. LKH's series are neither. They have always sat on the Horror shelf (or Dark Fantasy, if the store is big enough to split them out.) Now, there are some stores that ignore the spine classification (there actually is a notation or code on most spines telling the bookstore where to shelve the book) if they've determined their particular clientele considers the book to be something else and continually goes there to find it.

Our first two series, for example, the Tales of the Sazi and Thrall series, were spine classified as romance, and ARE romances. But readers kept looking for them in the SF/F shelves because of the strong fantasy aspect, so many chains would move them, or double shelve them in two spots.

Does that help?

Silver-Midnight · Jan 2, 2012

Cathy C said:
As I understand it, "paranormal" only exists as a shelving category in one or two chains. I believe Books-a-Million does but I've never been in one, so have no way to know for sure.

Realistically, it comes down to shelving. "Urban Fantasy" sits on the ScienceFiction/Fantasy shelf. "Paranormal Romance" sits on the Romance shelf. LKH's series are neither. They have always sat on the Horror shelf (or Dark Fantasy, if the store is big enough to split them out.) Now, there are some stores that ignore the spine classification (there actually is a notation or code on most spines telling the bookstore where to shelve the book) if they've determined their particular clientele considers the book to be something else and continually goes there to find it.

Our first two series, for example, the Tales of the Sazi and Thrall series, were spine classified as romance, and ARE romances. But readers kept looking for them in the SF/F shelves because of the strong fantasy aspect, so many chains would move them, or double shelve them in two spots.

Does that help?

Yes and no. However, I think I'll just save deeper understanding if/when I try to publish.

I could've sworn I saw LKH(Maybe her Merry Gentry series) mentioned as UF, DF. I could've been wrong though.

But the point is, in Paranormal romance, the key word is romance. There has to be a romance and there has to be a HEA.

Urban Fantasy doesn't guarantee that. The boy and girl don't have to fall in love, but if they do, it's only a sub-plot/secondary thing. However, it still contains the mysticism of Paranormal romances: vampires, werewolves, fairies(or fey), etc.

Cathy C · Jan 2, 2012

Yes, and no. Laurell's books actually PRE-DATE the concept of Urban Fantasy. It didn't exist as a term when they were written. Same with Simon Green's Nightside series and Mercedes Lackey's DianaTregarde series. Yes, they're all UF, of a sort. But they started as Horror. It's possible some stores have moved them, and as they move from publisher to publisher (LKH's series have been pubbed by multiple publishers) they might change them.

The Anita Blake books are very much Urban Fantasy in concept, as are the Merry Gentry books. But I think they're still shelved in Horror. I'll check with her to be sure, though.

Silver-Midnight · Jan 2, 2012

Oh, okay. Now that makes a lot more sense. You don't have to check with her if it's a lot of trouble. Again, I just wanted clarification. Some genre definitions seem very set and precise, and with others, the line is very, very blurry.

Tasmin21 · Jan 3, 2012

As as FYI - All of LKH's stuff is shelved in fantasy at my local bookstores.

Cathy C · Jan 4, 2012

Laurell was out but I got hold of her DH. Laurell's books are spine classified as " NYT bestseller" which trumps shelving classifications & leaves it open for the store/chain to decide. He said Borders used to shelve them in horror. B&N shelves in SF/F. My local Hastings has them in Horror. So apparently , it depends. But that goes back to the point that there's room for interpretation with UF. The thing they don't share is the requirement of a "happily ever after/happy for now" conclusion.

Silver-Midnight · Jan 4, 2012

Thank you.

Silver-Midnight · Mar 1, 2012

Truthfully, I am kind of curious as to why so much of Urban Fantasy novels are written in 1st POV and so many Paranormal Romances are written in 3rd POV. Is it just because the writer felt they could tell the story best that way, or does it have anything to do with most romances change perspectives, i.e. it's told from the hero's and heroine's POV? I mean because you can do a switch of POV while still using first POV.

Cathy C · Mar 2, 2012

I think it's more that there's an immediacy to 1st person that's hard to capture in 3rd. Danger is one of the big elements in UF, and fear/pain can be written stronger in an "I" capacity than a "s/he".

But there are certainly UF books written in 3rd and they do quite well, so it might just be more that the writer feels more comfortable in 1st. I know I do, but some stories just refuse to be told in 1st :ROFL:

ChaosTitan · Mar 2, 2012

Piggybacking on what Cathy said, paranormal romances do tend to be written in 3rd person because (as in other types of romance) it's common to have both the hero and the heroine's point of view. Romance is much less central (although not entirely absent) in UF, so both POV's aren't as necessary.

Silver-Midnight · Mar 2, 2012

ChaosTitan said:
Piggybacking on what Cathy said, paranormal romances do tend to be written in 3rd person because (as in other types of romance) it's common to have both the hero and the heroine's point of view. Romance is much less central (although not entirely absent) in UF, so both POV's aren't as necessary.

That's what I was thinking too, but I wasn't sure.

Cathy C said:
I think it's more that there's an immediacy to 1st person that's hard to capture in 3rd. Danger is one of the big elements in UF, and fear/pain can be written stronger in an "I" capacity than a "s/he".

But there are certainly UF books written in 3rd and they do quite well, so it might just be more that the writer feels more comfortable in 1st. I know I do, but some stories just refuse to be told in 1st

Wow. Never really thought of it like that. And :ROFL:

at your last comment.

Stormhawk · Mar 2, 2012

ChaosTitan said:
Piggybacking on what Cathy said, paranormal romances do tend to be written in 3rd person because (as in other types of romance) it's common to have both the hero and the heroine's point of view. Romance is much less central (although not entirely absent) in UF, so both POV's aren't as necessary.

Other POVs can be important for reasons other than romance though...

I do my UF in third-person-limited, because characters other than the MC need a chance to share thoughts/show perspective etc.

It's really fun when you have the MC having a perspective on a...co-worker, I guess, and she sees him as the monstrous thing to be terrified of, and run away from at every opportunity, which is completely valid. But then we get said co-worker's girlfriend's opinion on him, and then into his head, and you get a far more complete picture. And all three perspective on the one man are valid.

It just gives you information you couldn't have by staying in the MC's head.

Urban Fantasy vs. Paranormal Romance

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