Patricia McKillip is another fine fantasy writer. Andre Norton. Marion Zimmer Bradley. Terry Pratchett. Charles DeLint.


I sound like an old fogy, but I do get tired of the new "urban fantasy". When I was growing up, Gaiman and DeLint wrote what was called then "urban fantasy". These days "urban fantasy" is Laurell K. Hamilton and others who write female protagonists who use the supernatural to fight bad guys and there's usually some sex or romance involved. And the more sex, the more it's likely to be called "paranormal romance." And while I see that these two genres are enjoyed by many, I get pretty bored by a steady diet of them myself. I don't get bored by -- and am actually inspired by -- a steady diet of Pratchett, Douglas Adams, Stephen Donaldson, DeLint, McKillip. Etc. And I get pissed off by this whole new industry of fantasy romance that seems to have taken over.

Just finished something by Robin McKinley that was delightful. From 1978, but I think it's great. Called Beauty.