Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Hey - Who Put the UF in my PNR??


A disturbing trend indeed... When you go to the bookstore *remember to choose Borders* and pick up a book that is firmly and prominently placed in the paranormal romance section, you wouldn't expect readers that shop for urban fantasy to choose the exact same book... would you?

If you said no, well, that's what I thought too.

Darkfever (Fever Series, Book 1)So, imagine my surprise when a the Fever Series popped up in urban fantasy? I am a firm believer in folks exploring their right to choose - either urban fantasy/scifi vs. paranormal romance.  But what I don't understand is how the two can be so easily confused.

Urban Fantasy is a set of unreal, made up characters that are created and dreamt up so to speak and placed in contemporary settings.  While this may include vampires and weres, there should, in my humble opinion be some other element to contribute to the fantasy.  Say, humans that live for thousands of years, or raining upside down, or a world with low gas prices. You know, totally fictitious elements.

Paranormal Romance is a romance subgenre, mustn't forget that, between two beings, usually a human and a supernatural being set in any place, time, or planet.  There must be romance. 

UF has no romance requirements.
PNR must have a romance component.
UF without nuts.
PNR with nuts.

Please pardon the pun.

At any rate, this leads me to the very appropriate distinction between the two.

I'm on the look out for impostors ~ camouflaged UF with elements of romance... Have you seen any? I have a sneaking suspicion that Moning may have a little.

Any others that you know of? Inquiring minds want to know.

Aliza

1 comment:

  1. Well, if I may be so bold as to suggest one of my own novels, please check out GLORY. It is paranormal urban fantasy with romance. www.GloryLegend.com

    (If you read eBooks, the price was just reduced to .99 cents!)

    Please let me know what you think of it!

    ReplyDelete