What would you like to see in an Urban Fantasy story?

As most of you have probably noticed, there's a heck of a lot of Urban Fantasy stories out there at the moment. You've probably also noticed that most of them are pretty much the same as one another (blah blah blah vampires blah blah blah werewolves blah blah blah You Sexy Beast blah blah). Therefore while to story I'm currently working on fits into the genre in question I've resolved to stay as far away from the beaten path as humanly possible. I've already got my own little list of ways to accomplish this, including no romance, there being no such thing as werewolves, vampires a) being much the same as they were in the original folklore, b) being really, really rare, and c)unlikely to make an actually appearence, and including as many overlooked creatures from folklore, especially Celtic and Norse folklore as I can fit in. However it's always good to get a second (and third and forth and fifth..) opinion on these things, hence this post. So, potential future readers of mine, is there anything in particular you'd like to see?

edited 24th Jan '11 3:45:16 PM by Weaver

You had me at 'no romance'.

And then you clinched it with the words 'Celtic and Norse mythology'. I'm already interested.

Bucca-boos are one of my favourites from the old Cornish lore, despite their sickeningly adorable name. I never hear of them at all in stories anymore, which is kind of a shame.

An australian god. Some aztec gods that are not huitzipoctli or quetzacoatl.

Actual voodoo.

Wait.

No. Those are my ideas. You can't have them.

But, if they weren't my ideas, I'd advise to reinterpret the gods, but keep them loyal. For instance, we all know that Zeus was the bisexual slut and Hera was the wife on revenge. But what if Zeus was actually gay, Hera was his beard, and he just made up the stories about the girls to impress people?

Now, that's a rather boring one, but don't be afraid to take broad strokes.

@ Thread Title: Fantasy actually worked into the urban setting rather than being treated as a lost artform only a few people know. I want things like Dragons transporting people from the 50th floor of a skyscraper to the local diner run by a dwarven couple. I'd like to see magic treated as a part of the Scientific community rather being tossed aside as "Hocus Pocus" or "Archaic". There should be high speed pursuits between a police dragon and several winged humanoids who just robbed a bank during rush hour. I'd also like to see magical cars that are treated like the family pet. And that's just the Daytime Life.

For the Night Life I'd like to see magical narcotics sold by sneaky spiders, underground fightclubs held in secret by elven gangsters, casinos lighting up their facades with magical lights that can be seen for miles, jazz clubs hosted by lizards for the elite of the city, and quite possibly even a street mage performing for the locals.

And that's just a few of the things I'd like to see in an urban fantasy. I don't know how much it would help you OP.

Oh, I also want an orc mayor named Mayor Hogswine.

edited 24th Jan '11 4:45:00 PM by SandJosieph

Nooo!! i had an idea like this too, dammit!! Now my originalitys all gone and stuff....

That shouldn't matter as it's always about who publishes first. So that should be some motivation to get started.

Even then, if you can take an already-done concept and rework it, you're in the game.

1 internet has been added to your account.

Personally, with this kind of Urban Fantasy integrated mythology, I don't like to see it too, well, integrated. I find something strangely irritating in a book about how Zeus and Hera are running a crappy Greek restaurant, or something like that. They're gods, they're not human; I would try and keep that kind of...difference, some separation from the mortals.

I like the idea of some lesser-known mythologies. Especially if the whole gods-and-mythical-creatures-need-belief thing isn't coming into play (obviously, I don't know if that's what you're planning) so all of them are kind of equally badass.

edited 25th Jan '11 2:01:46 PM by cityofmist

Native American folk lore is a big one, Also a main character who is a human and not a wizard, demi-god, ect. Less Fantastical Racism and allusions to real life issues Urban Fantasy is has had one to many anvils dropped on it's head.

I'd like to see one that's urban but still not set in the present. How about an urban fantasy set in the Prohibition-era US, for instance? Also, seconding actual voodoo.

^ Something like Baccano perhaps?

edited 26th Jan '11 10:53:53 AM by QQQQQ

The Fair Folk would be interesting, as would forest fae and djinni.

For some reason, gods and folklore don't have that "urban" ring to them. They seem more...old country?

You crazy kids! Get off my lawn before I summon the undead to reap your soul!

Yay, Zombies!

That's another thing. Urban Fantasy has had plenty of Zombies but they need to put more spins on it.

I've done that in one of my other stories in which no one knows why the dead are walking but the obvious thing is these zombies are Complete Monsters who can't be killed. Billions die within the first 24 hours only to reanimate moments later. The whole story is told from the viewpoint of a news station.

@P Frost: It's Celtic and Nordic folklore, not mythology. There's a difference, namely that folklore doesn't include gods. However it does include trolls, dwarfs, The Fair Folk and large amounts of general weirdness. Most of what'll be included is actually from English folklore, which does overlap with the Celtic and Nordic varieties a fair bit and likewise has a large amount of general weirdness and possible Nightmare Fuel.

@Mr AHR: Sorry, but I don't think there'll be any voodoo since it's the wrong part of the world for that sort of thing. It might get a mention though since those who deal with the weirder side of life swap stories a lot.

@Sand Josieph: Sorry but most of what you suggested won't fit with what I've got planned at all. That said I am planning on there being a higher level of general awareness of the supernatural then what seems to be the norm (it is set in England after all) and as for the supernatural being accepted by the scientific community, well to quote one of the characters 'they'll get there sooner or later'. As for folklore not being 'urban', in the UK there's just as much weirdness associated with towns and cities as there is in the country, including at least two 'HellHounds' being sighted in Manchester. That said, I have to admit that 'Urban' fantasy probably isn't the most accurate term for what I'm planning but at the moment I can't think of a better one.

@cityofmist: as I said above, there will be no gods, with the possible exception of some of the Celtic ones since when it comes to Celtic stuff the line between 'gods' and The Fair Folk is a hazy one. There will be some sort of seperation between the weird side of life and the 'normal' one, although not as much as some stories, since as I said above it is set in Britain, the nation that among other things included a magic flag that summoned elves in its WWII anti-invasion plan, blamed a run of bad luck on a cursed sculpture (in the 21st century), clips ravens wings so they can't fly away from the Tower of London because if they do Britain will fall, and has more people who believe in ghosts then god.

@SPACETRAVEL: sorry but what I know about 1930's America could be written on a Post-It, plus that's Baccano's thing and I've a feeling I'm going to be channeling Narita enough as it is

@Ronnie: There will be fae, lots of them. The British Isles is their natural home after all.

edited 26th Jan '11 1:11:33 PM by Weaver

I think it sounds pretty good. What kind of plot are you going for?

Hehe...funny thought: Elven Hippies.

@cityofmist: To tell the truth, I'm not that sure. I generally don't plan things out all that much because whenever I do I over-plan and the story collapses under it's own weight. I just establish who everyone is, the backstory, the rules of the 'verse and the key events and then I just start writing and see what happens. The matter of working out what sort of story it is usually come after I've finished it. I know it sounds like an odd way of doing things but it's what works for me. I do have some sections of the plot planned out and a good idea as to the 'feel' and tone of the story but I don't know the proper terms for everything.

Fantasy actually worked into the urban setting rather than being treated as a lost artform only a few people know. I want things like Dragons transporting people from the 50th floor of a skyscraper to the local diner run by a dwarven couple. I'd like to see magic treated as a part of the Scientific community rather being tossed aside as "Hocus Pocus" or "Archaic".

I believe that's a form of Dungeon Punk.

What do I want to see in an urban fantasy story? Fantastical creatures and sorcerers as vestigal remnants of a dying world of magic, supplanted and surpassed by industry, technology, and SCIENCE(!1!!1!), reduced to hiding on the fringes of society, forever in fear of earning the notice of mankind. Vampires on the knife-edge between preying on hobos while trying to dodge the police. Magicians desperately trying to find a niche in a world where science and technology not only equal, but surpass the feats of magic. Werewolves dreading the time of their change, because once they are an animal and lose control, there's nothing to stop some random hunter from killing them.

You didn't read the opening post did you?