Mar 10 2008
Urban Fantasy Appeal Increasing Steadily
Orbit Books, the SFF branch of Warner Books, posted last week that Urban Fantasy is growing in popularity and the evidence is the number of books showing up on the bestseller lists. According to Orbit, in 2004, only 1 Urban Fantasy was on the Fantasy Bestseller list and in 2007, there were 7. SB Sarah has a nice interview with Devi Pillai of Orbit Books about the surging popularity of urban fantasy. In sum, it’s all about us girls.
Also, romance readers rarely stick to one genre. They are more open about reading everything-’from historical to thrillers to women’s fiction. So they same way they’ve opened up other markets and genres, they’ve expanded from romance to read more fantasy, which I think was a harder genre for them to get into as for many years it was very boy-centric. But now, with more interest in the girls-who-kick-ass and with more female authors, it that has opened up to the female readership.
A few weeks ago, Patricia Briggs‘ Iron Kissed made it to the top of the NYTimes Paperback Bestseller List. One of my favorite urban fantasy authors is Ilona Andrews. In a sign of how far urban fantasy is leaking into the romance world, Andrews and her writing helper husband are over at RT for the “Ask the Author” feature.
Go on over and ask Ilona who her favorite romance author is. It might surprise you. It did me. Plus, you can give her recommendations because she is a new romance reader.
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Mar 10, 2008 @ 14:58:56
Thank you so much, Jane!
So far someone inquired if I was a mail order bride (and asked about the price too, tsk, tsk, price questions – that’s just not done), someone confessed to being my stalker, and Jeaniene Frost is trying to bribe me to write some porn.
I haven’t had that much fun since forever.
:P
Mar 10, 2008 @ 15:05:21
I am on an urban fantasy kick. Ilona Andrews is next on my list after I read the Rob Thurman book I picked up today. And I’m currently kicking myself for waiting so long to read Madhouse.
Mar 10, 2008 @ 15:19:48
I’m becoming a huge fan of Urban Fantasy. I can’t wait to read Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews and I just read Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry.
Mar 10, 2008 @ 18:48:10
I grew up reading fantasy and science fiction and I’ve been reading urban fantasy for quite awhile so I’m thrilled we have so many more to choose from. It has been around for awhile–I think War of the Oaks by Emma Bull (written in the 1980′s) was a very early example. I’m looking forward to Ilona Andrews new book, too!
Mar 10, 2008 @ 19:40:35
Someone beat me to it, but I highly recommend War for the Oaks. Also Jim Butcher’s Dresden files is excellent.
Mar 10, 2008 @ 21:11:27
And it’s still one of the best, IMO. :)
Mar 11, 2008 @ 10:39:49
Not least because it’s set my hometown, so I know all of the locations. :)
Urban Fantasy Everywhere « Urban Fantasy Land
Mar 15, 2008 @ 09:11:49
[...] Dear Author: Urban Fantasy Appeal Increasing Steadily [...]
Mar 17, 2008 @ 14:31:05
I agree that Ilona Andrews and Jim Butcher are fantastic writers.
In looking over my bookshelf for writers to recommend I came across Disappearing Nightly by Laura Resnick. What’s up with her I wonder? It was a good book but I haven’t heard from her since. Not that we’re close or anything but you know what I mean.
Mar 17, 2008 @ 14:33:01
Fantasy Girl – I loved (and so did my blogging partner Jayne) Disappearing Nightly. I understand that the sequel to the book was picked up by DAW but no publishing date as of yet. Maybe we need to do an internet petition or something. ..
Mar 17, 2008 @ 14:57:37
Sign me up! I want it, I want it.