Blog Archives
Urban Fantasy? – Part Two: 28 TV Shows & Movies
Urban fantasy is not just a literary genre; it is also a Television and Movie genre, even if it isn’t necessarily referred to as such by many people in TV Land or Hollywood. Urban fantasy shows have been around for quite a while, starting with the likes of the Twilight Zone and Outer Limits, both of which were more sci-fi than anything else but still had some urban fantasy elements to them. The urban fantasy genre didn’t really take off though until about ten years ago, when a slew of new shows came along that featured supernatural characters and goings on in a largely urban setting. There’s a good chance you’ve seen some of them.
Television –
- Once Upon a Time – A woman with a troubled past is drawn to a town in Maine where fairy tales are to be believed.
- Gargoyles – A clan of heroic night creatures pledge to protect modern New York City as they did in Scotland long ago.
- Grimm – A homicide detective discovers he is a descendant of hunters who fight supernatural forces.
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer – A young girl, destined to slay vampires, demons and other infernal creatures, deals with her life fighting evil, with the help of her friends.
- The Vampire Diaries – A teenage girl is torn between two vampire brothers.
- Sleepy Hollow – Ichabod Crane is resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time to unravel a mystery that dates all the way back to the founding fathers.
- True Blood – This show features every Urban Fantasy trope you can think of, from vampires to werewolves to fairies and everything in between.
- Supernatural – Two brothers follow their father’s footsteps as “hunters” fighting evil supernatural beings of many kinds, including monsters, demons, and gods that roam the earth.
- Hemlock Grove – A teenage girl is brutally murdered, sparking a hunt for her killer. But in a town where everyone hides a secret, will they find the monster among them?
- Penny Dreadful – Explorer Sir Malcolm Murray, American gunslinger Ethan Chandler, and medium Vanessa Ives unite to combat supernatural threats in Victorian London.
- Angel – The vampire, Angel, cursed with a soul, moves to Los Angeles and aids people with supernatural-related problems while questing for his own redemption.
- Lost Girl – Lost Girl focuses on the gorgeous and charismatic Bo, a supernatural being called a succubus who feeds on the energy of humans, sometimes with fatal results. Refusing to embrace her supernatural clan system and its rigid hierarchy, Bo is a renegade who takes up the fight for the underdog while searching for the truth about her own mysterious origins.
- Dead Like Me – A college dropout, Georgia “George” Lass is killed by a toilet seat that falls from the MIR space station on her first day at a temp agency. Upon death, she is recruited for a team of grim reapers – undead who mix among the living and take people’s souls just before they die. Along with fellow team members Mason, Roxy, Betty, and leader Rube, George discovers life after life.
- Being Human – A werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost try to live together and get along.
Movies –
- The Harry Potter Movies – Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle, a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
- Ghostbusters – Three unemployed parapsychology professors set up shop as a unique ghost removal service.
- Hellboy – A demon, raised from infancy after being conjured by and rescued from the Nazis, grows up to become a defender against the forces of darkness.
- Hellboy II – The mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth, so Hellboy and his team must save the world from the rebellious creatures.
- Big Trouble in Little China – An All-American trucker gets dragged into a centuries-old mystical battle in Chinatown.
- Underworld – Selene is a beautiful vampire warrior entrenched in a war between the vampire and werewolf races. Although she is aligned with the vampires, she falls in love with Michael, a human who is sought by werewolves for unknown reasons.
- Underworld Evolution – Picking up directly from the previous film, vampire warrior Selene and the half werewolf Michael, hunt for clues to reveal the history of their races and the war between them.
- The Covenant – Four young men who belong to a supernatural legacy are forced to battle a fifth power long thought to have died out. Another great force they must contend with is the jealousy and suspicion that threatens to tear them apart.
- Groundhog Day – A weatherman finds himself living the same day over and over again.
- Blood & Chocolate – A young teenage werewolf is torn between honoring her family’s secret and her love for a man.
- Blade – A half-vampire, half-mortal man becomes a protector of the mortal race, while slaying evil vampires.
- Interview with the Vampire – A vampire tells his epic life story: love, betrayal, loneliness, and hunger.
- Highlander – An immortal Scottish swordsman must confront the last of his immortal opponent, a murderously brutal barbarian who lusts for the fabled “Prize”.
- Constantine – A man struggling with his faith is haunted by the sins of his past, but is suddenly thrust into the role of defending humanity from the gathering forces of darkness.
What are some of your favorites?
I’m in the process of writing my third urban fantasy book, called “Egg of the Amphitere.” It’s from my Dragomeir Series which includes “The Emerald Dragon” and “Flight of the Aguiva.” If you like dragon books, or creatures like vampires, hellhounds and sabers, come check them out at my website
Solitaire
What is Urban Fantasy? – Part 1
Urban fantasy describes a work that is set primarily in the real world and contains aspects of fantasy. These matters may involve the arrivals of alien races, the discovery of earthbound mythological creatures, coexistence between humans and paranormal beings, conflicts between humans and malicious paranormals, and subsequent changes to city management. Many urban fantasy novels geared toward adults are told via a first-person narrative, and often feature mythological beings.
The term “urban fantasy” has been in use in print from as far back as the early 20th century. However, when used then, the term described a characteristic of some object or place. It was not until the 1980s that the term began to describe a style of fiction, written, performed in theatre, or filmed for Hollywood and television. The following sites each have a description of Urban Fantasy –
- http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2013/04/03/urban-fantasy/
- http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/UrbanFantasy
- http://tracycooperposey.com/articles/articles-for-readers/what-is-urban-fantasy-anyway-urban-fantasy-in-the-romance-field-defined/
- http://bestfantasybooks.com/urban-fantasy.html
- http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2013/06/26/genre-guide-urban-fanstasy-for-teens/
- http://book-genres.com/urban-fantasy-definition/
Know of some other interesting sites? Please Share!
Solitaire
7 Quotes That Will Make You Smile :)
In the dragon books of the Dragomeir Series, the main character, Tanis, is a man of multiple talents. He is a Thaumaturgist and a skilled warrior, a mentor to others like him, and an amazing dragon rider with not one, but two dragons to manage on a day to day basis. Then there is his relationship to the Queen Mother, The Ariella, which has its ups and downs, making life very exciting, to say the least. So it’s a good thing he was blessed with a sense of humor. How could anyone survive without being able to laugh in the face of chaos and danger? So here are a few thoughts from the absurd but astute mind of Tanis Nickolai Theatra of “The Emerald Dragon” and “Flight of the Aguiva” –
- “With my luck it’s probably radioactive and will cause my future children to be born bald, with an intense urge to play the banjo.”
- “That would’ve been a herculean level of work for nothing. Although if it had, then I would be going back to bed to get a decent amount of sleep. And we all know that’s not going to happen. Jeans, Tanis shoes, and a T-shirt that states, “Tanis is Da Man” was as far as I wanted to go at the moment. Today’s forecast calls for “widely scattered labor, followed tonight by dried perspiration. Stay tuned for Sports.”
- “If you say something with enough fervor and enough times . . . you begin to believe.”
- “I must admit, I’ve never seen anything like that before. I told you I’d talk to the engineers, but after seeing that, do you really think I need to warn them about anything concerning the river, its speed or inhabitants? I think what you need to do is put a sign at the beginning of the corridor that states, CAUTION! Excessively dangerous river that runs so fast it probably kills the fish. Proceed at your own risk!”
- ” you know what they say . . . opinions are like navels, everyone has one.”
- “So, tell me . . . what’s the last thing to go through an insect’s mind when it hits the windscreen of a speeding car? Its butt – and I didn’t want to be an insect.”
Smile, it takes less muscles!
Solitaire
The Dragomeir Series Continues. . .
Dragomeir comes alive in a world of Urban Fantasy. A world where Tanis Nickolai Theatra and Demios Reptillus Stag – dragon rider and his emerald dragon, along with a whole host of other dragon riders and their dragons, battle against the Demons and Dark Lords of the Provinces to keep control of Mt. Drago. The Ariella – Mt. Drago’s Queen of the Dragons, is amassing an army including Hellhounds and The Chosen – creatures given asylum at Mt. Drago – to protect her extended family. But Tanis is disturbed by secrets from The Ariella’s past. How will this affect their future and is she really who she claims to be? Find out in Book One of the Dragomeir Series – “The Emerald Dragon.” It is available at the following link –
https://solitaireparke.wordpress.com/the-emerald-dragon/.
The saga continues with Tanis and the dragon riders as they uncover secrets that could either save or annihilate them. In the process, they come upon new worlds and The Ariella establishes another mountain home to house the newly acquired dragons. The Second Book in the Dragomeir Series, “Flight of the Aguiva”, has just been released and is available in multiple formats here –
https://solitaireparke.wordpress.com/flight-of-the-aguiva/.
Coming soon is the Third Book in the Dragomeir Series – “Egg of the Amphitere”, which will be out later this year. Will the inhabitants of Mt. Drago be able to survive the terrible times ahead and emerge victorious? I will be giving you updates and interesting facts about the books, so if you are a dragon lover like me, I’d love for you to follow the story of Tanis and Demios. Have a great day!
http://www.solitaireparke.com/
Solitaire
Happy Father’s Day!
“Father!–to God himself we cannot give a holier name.” – William Wordsworth
To all the Dads out there – have a terrific Father’s Day. Mine are grown now and have children of their own – I have some beautiful grandchildren. Yes, they make you crazy sometimes and can be quite a handful, but they also make you very proud and bring a special joy into your life that compares to nothing else. Your children are the best gift you will ever receive. Love and cherish them as long as you can.
Solitaire
Where Do Writers Write?
I came across a very interesting site, The Next Best Book Blog, that not only gives you an idea of where writers come up with their creations, but shows pictures of these locations. (If you’re like me, you will love being able to visualize where the creativity originates.) It is a weekly series that features a different author every week. I have always loved books, and as an author I find it interesting to see where other writers are generating their masterpieces. So here’s the link – Enjoy!
http://thenextbestbookblog.blogspot.com/p/where-writers-write.html
Solitaire
P.S. Where do you write? I’d love to hear from you!
Woohoo, it’s Memorial Day Weekend!!!
Hi, Solitaire here. It’s that occasion again – Memorial Day Weekend. Time to take a break, even if it’s a short one, to spend some quality moments with family, or just relax and do something other than work. You deserve it! As an author, that’s hard for me to do. Not the spending time with family part, but the not using the time to write part. I almost feel guilty not using every spare moment to sit down at my computer and continue to write my latest novel. I think that’s probably a universal feeling with most authors. But like any profession, authors need to get away from their chosen profession once in a while. So take this weekend to unwind a little, and maybe it will spur those creative minds on to bigger and better ideas for your up and coming writing endeavors!
Have a great mini-vacation and enjoy some much needed relaxation! Happy Writing!
Solitaire
You can check out my just released Dragomeir Series Book Two, “Flight of the Aguiva” here –
“Flight of the Aguiva” is Now Available!!!
“Flight of the Aguiva”
Book Two of the Dragomeir Series
is finished and
Available NOW !!!
Click on the above link to find out more!
Who is The Ariella?
In the Dragomeir Series Book One, “The Emerald Dragon,” you will find a character called Queen Mother, The Ariella, which means Queen of the Dragons. She stands about five feet five inches tall, but carries herself like she is much taller, and weighs about a hundred and ten pounds. With dark brown hair and green eyes, she can appear pretty hard core, and can be a formidable opponent in a fight. She is, however, a real “softy” when it comes to her dragons. She is a very powerful woman and a Dragon Rider to two of the kings of their species, the black and white Wyvern Dragons, Basiliskos and Invectum, respectively. As the Queen Mother presides over the many Riders and their Dragons at Mt. Drago, Mt. Femmes, and Mt. Arcadia, you can imagine that her position is one that is very demanding and quite hectic on a daily basis.
In spite of her title, there are some who wonder if The Ariella is more than what she appears to be. There are many mysterious meetings, and she appears to know people that are in direct conflict with her entire Empire within the mountains. Even the Dragon Rider, Tanis, who has been very close to her for many years, is beginning to suspect that something is being kept secret from him. What is the real purpose behind the acquisition of other Creatures who are being brought into their world? Why does she appear to be acquiring an army, and why do some of the strangers that are arriving at Mt. Drago seem to know her? There are many unanswered questions about The Ariella.
Join Tanis and his Dragon, Demios, as they maneuver through the day to day struggles and adventures in the wonderful world of Dragons, incredible Creatures, and unusual planets, and find out if The Queen of the Dragons, The Ariella, is actually who she claims to be!
You can find “The Emerald Dragon” and coming very soon, BookTwo of the Dragomeir Series, “Flight of the Aguiva,” along with much more at –
Location – Location – Location – THE SOUTHWEST DESERTS
The primary location of my book, “The Emerald Dragon”, is in the deserts of the Southwestern United States. So the following is a short description of those deserts for anyone that might find it interesting. My lead character, Tanis, finds it to be one of the most beautiful places on earth.
The Sonoran Desert covers large parts of the Southwestern United States in Arizona and California, and of Northwestern Mexico in Sonora, Baja California and Baja California Sur. It is the hottest desert in North America, with an area of 280,000 square kilometers (110,000 sq mi). The western portion of the United States–Mexico border passes through the Sonoran Desert. It is home to the cultures of over seventeen contemporary Native American tribes, with settlements at American Indian reservations in California and Arizona, as well as populations in Mexico.
The desert includes 60 mammal species, 350 bird species, 20 amphibian species, over 100 reptile species, 30 native fish species, over 1000 native bee species, and more than 2,000 native plant species. The area southwest of Tucson and near the Mexican border is a vital habitat for the only population of Jaguars living within the United States.
The Sonoran is the only place in the world where the famous saguaro cactus grows in the wild. Cholla , beavertail, hedgehog, fishhook, prickly pear, nightblooming cereus, and organ pipe are other types of cacti found here. Shrubs include the creosote bush, bur sage, indigo bush, and Mormon tea. It also has wildflowers such as desert sunflowers, sand verbena, and evening primroses. There are also desert willows, palo verde trees, ocotillo, and desert ironwood.
The Mojave Desert includes both the infamous Death Valley and slightly less infamous Las Vegas Valley. An existence in the Mojave means coping with a range of extreme conditions. It is considered a hot-cold desert, meaning it’s hot in the summer — but also extremely cold in the winter, dipping below freezing at night. These extremes have led to plant and animal species that are uniquely adapted to the Mojave. The desert averages about five inches of precipitation a year. Death Valley, which is about 282 feet below sea level, is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, and is in the Mojave Desert. It is also the hottest and the driest point in North America. In fact, it is the second hottest place on the Earth; 134 degrees Fahrenheit is the highest temperature ever recorded here. This region also consists of several high-rising mountain peaks, like the Telescopic peak, which is about 11,000 feet high.
The desert is home to numerous unique and interesting plant and animal species that have adapted to this arid landscape. Although the Mojave isn’t home to a large amount of plant life, it is home to numerous unique and interesting plant and animal species that have adapted to this arid landscape. It is home to mistletoe, a well-known Christmas decoration, and also to the slow-growing Joshua trees, which are actually not trees, but water-storing succulents. These plants grow to between 20 and 70 feet in height and live around 150 years.
The Mojave is home to the camel spider, the short-horned lizard, rattlesnakes, king snakes, a wide variety of lizards and the desert tortoise. Small desert mammals include the antelope squirrel, the kangaroo rat, jack rabbit, desert cottontail, the coyote, kit fox, and the bobcat. Large herbivores include big horn sheep, mule deer and wild burros. Predatory birds include the red-tailed hawk, barn owl, golden eagle and roadrunner. Scavengers include vultures and ravens. Herbivores include Gambel’s quail and the mourning dove.
You’ll discover a whole new world in the desert at Mt. Drago, the home of Tanis, and his dragon, Demios, in Book One of the Dragomeir Series, “The Emerald Dragon.”
Book Two, “Flight of the Aguiva” will be out very soon! The adventure continues . . .
Solitaire Parke - Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books 