What is Urban Fantasy?

Oh.

You're still reading? I'm amazed with your determination. Let me guess;  you have no clue as to what urban fantasy actually is. Which is why your still here.( Curiosity killed the cat you know ...but hey it's your funeral )

So...

Let me give you some basic definitions:

1. Wikipedia (Which is probably the first thing everybody gets when they look up anything online.)

Says that it "Describes a work that is set primarily in a city and contains aspect of fantasy. It is a sub-genre of fantasy defined by place; the fantastic narrative has an urban setting. Many urban fantasies are set in contemporary times and contain supernatural elements. However, the stories can take place in historical, modern, or futuristic periods. The prerequisite is that they must be primarily set in a city."

2.  Paula Guran editor of Juno Books 

Says that "Depending on the context or the person using the term, there are various definitions of “urban fantasy”. What all of these have in common is an intersection/transgression of the numinous (that which is “wholly other”) with/upon the mundane. These worlds can be open (”magic”, the “supernatural” is known to exist) or closed (where "otherness” is concealed from common knowledge).
     
In other words: “In urban fantasy you don’t leave the chip shop and go to another world to find the unicorn. Rather, the unicorn shows up at the chip shop and orders the cod.”–Elizabeth Bear"

3.  Writer D. Lynn Frazier site Writtenwyrdd 

Says that "The nature of an urban fantasy--that it takes place in a cityscape that is, generally speaking, rather like our own barring the paranormal elements--lends itself to the sorts of plots that take place in one general location. You cannot easily have a quest like in an epic fantasy when you don't hit the road, for example."

4.  Kathy Hurley on Gender Bender

Says that "While traditional fantasy takes place in any time or place, and often in historic or fictional-but-historic settings, urban fantasy takes place in the modern day. It may take place in a city or in a rural setting, but the element that is always present is that of magic or paranormal happenings in a modern-day, real-world setting."

5. Terry Lee Wilde on Verla Kay's Message Board 

Says "So what is urban fantasy? To me, it is mythical, fantastical creatures living in our contemporary times. Have a demon romance? It’s urban fantasy. It can be urban fantasy horror, or urban fantasy romance. But it’s urban fantasy. The fantastical element in modern times.

Think of the hero, werewolf extraordinaire, working on his computer, checking the Internet, using his cell phone. It’s urban fantasy. He can be sitting in the country estate, or living in the city. But it’s still urban fantasy.

Think of the gargoyle that protects your apartment complex at night, and talks to the heroine during the day. Urban Fantasy."

Now that you have all that information running rapid through your brain I doubt you need my own definition ...but...well...it is my blog so here it is:

6. Jennifer Lackovic annoying blogger

Says  "So what do I see as Urban Fantasy? I see it as a sub-genre of Fantasy that seems to be sprouting multiple sub-genres of its own. It can have elements of fantasy, fairy tales, horror, romance, sci-fi, mystery, and the everyday Joe. Yes, it is most often set in a city but sometimes it branches out to the suburbs or the country. It always has a magical element whether that is seen in alternate dimensions, psychic powers, supernatural beings, magical objects, or any number of odd occurrences.  

Urban Fantasy doesn't take the reader out of their own world but instead pulls them further in and then yanks them out of their comfort zones till they can view a whole new set of possibilities."