Urban Assumptions

[Stephan]

I'm not an urban fantasy reader. It's not that I dislike it, because I really don't. In fact, I love good urban fantasy novels. I just love epic fantasy more! Thus, I have only ever read four urban novels. Of course, I've had some experience with the genre in other media as well. I've watched shows like Lost Girl and Dresden Files, as well as Charmed and Angel, long, long ago.

However, based on my slim experience with urban fantasy, I have a problem with it.

You see, in my experience, urban fantasy assumes too much! I'm reading an urban fantasy right now, and it's amazing. It's one of the better books I've ever read. But it does the same thing all urban fantasies I've encountered do: it presumes I'm well-versed in urban tropes and know what things mean.

Please, Mister Urban Author, I do not know what a Morrigan is. Nor do I know what the fey are. I don't know the significance of angels, demons, fallen angels, fallen demons, fairies, fallen fairies, and whatnot, nor am I familiar with their relationships with each other. Explain it to me! I have no clue what the word "sith" means, or what the significance is of a demon impregnating a mortal. And, I feel really bad admitting this, but I am unfamiliar with the legend of King Arthur, and thus I have any clue who Lancelot or Merlin are, or were, or whatever.

My question to you guys: do you experience the same thing? Because honestly, every time I pick up an urban fantasy, I am completely turned off by all the terms, creatures, and legends the author presumes I'm familiar with, because surely, if I read his book, I've read tons of urban, right? Also, is there like a manual for urban readers that I've missed? Or maybe a founding series of urban fantasy books that all the insiders have read, but I have somehow managed to overlook?

I know many of you are long-time fans of the genre, so I'm curious to hear your reaction to my problem. Help!

[merssong]

For me, its always been more about being familiar with various mythologies than with urban fantasy in general. Urban fantasy is a very referential sub-genre. Each author chooses what mythology they're going to play with and puts their own spin on it. At that point, I'm not sure if it matters how much of that mythology you know, because the author isn't using exactly what you know. For example, Butcher's Dresden Files references the Arthurian Myths in several places, but connects Merlin and Excalibur into his own alternative universe. Briggs uses Native American myths, generic American werewolves, generic American vampires, very very Celtic fairies, and a hint of Arthurian myth. One of the ways I choose my urban fantasies is by recognizing what tropes/motifs/myths the author is playing with. Do variations on this theme interest me? If so, I pick it up. If not, I pass it by.

I'm not familiar with a founding 'urban fantasy' series as such. Charles de Lint did a few early ones, and Laurel K. Hamilton was the first UF author to really make it big.

My only advice to you would be to figure out what mythologies the book you're reading is using and do some brief reading on it. A young child's mythology book (or website, or what have you) would likely be plenty enough. For example, the Morigan is an Irish/Celtic goddess of war who's frequently associated with crows. She is a very powerful, not at all nice person. And in all likely-hood, that's all you really need to know to figure out why everyone gets the chills when she's mentioned or sighted. (Wikipedia can be your friend here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Morr%C3%ADgan)

Of course, this is further complicated by additional references to modern geek culture. Sith comes from Star Wars. Butcher's Dresden Files makes all kinds of geek culture references. I think here you're problem may simply be language/culture, and I'm not sure how to help you with that other than further immersion in all things American. (Which I'm not sure I'd honestly recommend.)

[Devonin]

I feel like part of the problem comes from the fact that typical fantasy also takes place in a new world? In the act of describing the world, you pick up on a lot of the mythology and so forth that you'd need to actually follow what's going on.

When you set a book in our existing actual world, a lot of that need vanishes. You don't really need to tell readers what a 'New York City' is. And so feeling like a lot of the background isn't necessary, maybe they end up neglecting the rest of the background as well?

[Rebecca]

I have nothing helpful to contribute to the topic, but:

And, I feel really bad admitting this, but I am unfamiliar with the legend of King Arthur, and thus I have any clue who Lancelot or Merlin are, or were, or whatever.

I am shocked. SHOCKED, I say!

[merssong]

I have nothing helpful to contribute to the topic, but:

And, I feel really bad admitting this, but I am unfamiliar with the legend of King Arthur, and thus I have any clue who Lancelot or Merlin are, or were, or whatever.

I am shocked. SHOCKED, I say!

Perhaps we should fix this with one of our book club selections?

[Stephan]

Perhaps we should!