Urban fantasy is a subset of contemporary fantasy, consisting of magical novels and stories set in contemporary, real-world, urban settings--as opposed to 'traditional' fantasy set in wholly imaginary landscapes, even ones containing imaginary cities, or having most of their action take place in them. Urban fantasy may also refer to more modern versions of 'traditional' fantasy worlds. The modern urban fantasy protagonist faces extraordinary circumstances as plots unfold in either open (where magic or paranormal events are commonly accepted to exist) or closed (where magical powers or creatures are concealed) worlds. Although history of modern urban fantasy can be traced as far back as the 1920s (particularly in the field of children's fiction), it was in the 1980s that the term became widely used among adult fantasy writers and readers--and that the form grew in popularity to become a sub-genre of its own. Pioneers of this genre were Charles de Lint (author of Moonheart and the Newford series), Emma Bull (War for the Oaks), John Crowley (Little, Big), Megan Lindholm a.k.a. Robin Hobb (Wizard of the Pigeons), Jonathan Carroll (The Land of Laughs), Matt Ruff (Fool on the Hill), and Terri Windling (in her role as editor of the Ace Books fantasy line and as creator of the Borderlands series). Subsequent authors to enter the field and expand its territory include Ilona Andrews, Jennifer Armintrout, Kelley Armstrong, Leslie Esdaile Banks (writing as L.A. Banks), Clive Barker, Elizabeth Bear, Holly Black, Francesca Lia Block, Richard Bowes, Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, Elaine Cunningham, Shirley Damsgaard, Neil Gaiman, Laura Anne Gilman, Simon Green, Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison, Barb Hendee, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Tanya Huff, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Mercedes Lackey, Amy Lane, China Miéville, C.E. Murphy, Vicki Pettersson, Kat Richardson, Lilith Saintcrow, Wm Mark Simmons, Jeanne C. Stein, Rob Thurman, Mike Tobiczyk, Carrie Vaughn, Rachel Vincent, Phaedra Weldon, and Kit Whitfield.
Film
Though the term itself is only beginning to become established within film theory, many films can be said to follow the conventions of urban fantasy. Films and television programs that have been called works of urban fantasy include The Crow, Urchin (film), Big Trouble in Little China, Beauty and the Beast (TV series), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Supernatural, Smallville, Neverwhere, and Dresden Files.
