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urban fantasy

Announcement: Street Magic, by Raven de Hart

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Street Magic

QSFer Raven de Hart has a new paranormal/urban fantasy book out: Sometimes magic tricks are more than mere illusions. Street magician Axel Rye understands that better than most — his magic is /real/. If a mundane ever learns the truth, the Magisters will show no mercy. Getting close puts everyone at risk, which is why Axel knows he’s in it deep with his latest crush. Nick works in a tattoo shop on Axel’s favorite busking pitch. If there’s one thing Axel has learned, it’s that magicians and mundanes don’t mix, but he can’t seem to stay away. It’s only a … Read more

For Writers: Urban Fantasy vs. Magical Realism

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Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Therese Woodson: I’d love to talk more about Urban Fantasy – what classifies something as urban fantasy vs magical realism vs regular fantasy. This is a topic near and dear to my own heart – as I write a bit of both. I’d say urban fantasy presupposes a whole magical framework in our world, while magical realism is more subtle – almost a heightened reality. So my questions today – how do you define Urban Fantasy? How do you define Magical Realisim? And how do you think they are different from one another? Join … Read more

For Writers: Urban Fantasy vs. High Fantasy

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Urban Fantasy vs. High Fantasy

Today’s topic comes from QSFer Freddy MacKay: Freddy wanted to talk about the difference between High Fantasy and Urban Fantasy. I grew up on High Fantasy. The first adult book I read, which I started in second or third grade, was The Fellowship of the Rings, and I soon gravitated to the Shannara series and then to tad William’s The Dragonbone Chair, and many others like them. To my mind, High Fantasy is generally set in an alternate world, is epic in length and scope, and features a multitude of characters 9often of the elf-dwarf etc variety). Urban Fantasy, on … Read more

Writer Discussion: There’s An Elf in My Soup

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Today’s writer topic comes from QSF Admin Angel Martinez: Waiter, there’s an elf in my soup! Non-human sentients in the city – how traditional folktale and fantasy creatures change in modern, otherwise real-world settings. Angel’s kind of an expert in these things – she’s done several series that put mythical creatures in real world settings. And we’re not talking just an elf, but also yetis, demons, pink hedgehogs, centaurs, and many many more. So as a writer, how would you add a little mythology to Manhattan, a little fantasy to Firenze? Join the Chat

Discussion: I’d Like a Little Urban in My Fantasy

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Urban Fantasy

We spend a lot of time at QSF talking about sci fi – after all, it *is* in the name! But QSF is more than just sci fi – we also encompass fantasy, paranormal and horror stories, and other incarnations of speculative fiction as well. Today, QSFer Kathleen Charles wants to know if we can talk about Urban Fantasy. I love me some Urban Fantasy. In mainstream circles, A Man of His Word by Terry Brooks is one of my favorites, as is anything with King Arthur in the modern day. But while I have written sone Urban Fantasy in … Read more

Announcement: Wings of Renewal Anthology

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Wings of Renewal

QSFer Jesse Elloris has a story in a fascinating new “solarunk dragon anthology: The future is vibrant, hopeful, and filled with dragons. In WINGS OF RENEWAL, twenty-two authors explore the exciting new subgenre of solarpunk through the lens of these majestic creatures. Whether they irrigate dry terrain or serve as spaceships, are mythic beasts come to life or biomechanical creations of man, these dragons show us a world where renewable energy overcomes gas and oil, and cooperation replaces competition. If you love fantasy/sci-fi fusion, this is an anthology you do not want to miss! So hop on solar wings, and … Read more

Announcement: Silverfall, by Raven de Hart

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Silverfall

QSFer Raven de Hart has a new Urban Fantasy book out: The city hides a lot of secrets. Sometimes, those secrets break free. Unicorns can’t be real. That’s what Anthony Gates always thought. At least until he saw one murder a man. Now there’s a myth stalking him through the streets of San Francisco. And right when he’s starting in on a very passionate—and promising—relationship. Leon Phillips is a security guard with a secret. A dangerous secret. One he can’t even share with his new flame, Anthony. But when the mysterious Lionshead organization rears up, he’s left with only two … Read more

Announcement: Books, Bulls and Bacchanals, by Angel Martinez

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Books, Bulls and Bacchanals

QSFer Angel Martinez has a new urban fantasy book out: A party god and a reclusive librarian – the last people anyone would pick to solve a murder. Everyone assumes life’s one big party for Dionysus, but even the god of wine and orgies has problems. His anger management issues are out of control, and his siblings suggest a visit to the Eternal Library to find a cure. The library of the gods is a strange and confounding place, though, one that Dionysus has avoided for centuries, and his certainty that the library hates him is confirmed when a killer … Read more

Announcement: Fearful Symmetry, by Francis Gideon

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Fearful Symmetry

QSFer Francis Gideon has a new Urban Fantasy book out: When something is perfect, it sets itself up to be destroyed, and for everything gained, something is lost. Since Dryden was young, his mother taught him about balance. While she weaves jewelry to sell at the marketplace, Dryden learns how every unspoiled gem begs to be damaged, just like the universe corrects every misfortune. But with age and experience, Dryden begins to see the cracks in his mother’s innocent view of life. If she is wrong about balance, she might be wrong about the supposed beast in the woods. Dryden … Read more

Announcement: Conviction, by Lissa Kasey

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Conviction

QSFer Lissa Kasey has a new fantasy book out: Kelly Harding has become good friends with Seiran Rou, originally the only male witch to actually train in magic. Now after a couple trying months and several crazy plots to kill Seiran, Kelly suggests a ski vacation to help them all relax—even if Kelly does have to work to keep his taboo crush on Seiran’s brother, Jamie, under wraps. But their getaway becomes a fight for survival when a magic fueled blizzard strands them in the middle of nowhere…with a killer. When visions of a tower and a dying man fueling … Read more