Bemused

[pameladlloyd]

While searching for definitions of the term "Urban Fantasy" I came across The Christian Guide to Fantasy. The definitions are . . . slightly skewed, in my opinion.

For example:

Urban Fantasy - A subgenre of Fantasy; the action takes place in this world at this time, with no change in Earth's history, but rather in its dynamics (i.e., physics: usually magic is possible). Another area most often under the influence of secular paganism. [Emphasis mine]

In addition to the statement I highlighted, what bothers me about this "definition" is that it is so vague, it doesn't actually define.

Comments

[jmeadows.livejournal.com]

Interesting quote. I wonder how much UF the author read before making this statement. I haven't read as much as I should to really be a judge of it, but a few of the big names aren't exactly indicative of the rest of the subgenre.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I'd been so out of the loop when I first entered the LJ world that I hadn't even heard the term before. I assumed it meant what it sounded like: fantasy, but in an urban setting, and so, I decided, probably a modern-world setting.

Then I discovered it meant love stories involving vampires and werewolves...odd. I mean, technically, it's not limited to that, but that seems to be what people mean, 80 percent of the time, when they use the term.

[handworn.livejournal.com]

Isn't "secular paganism" a contradiction in terms?