The Urban Fantasy Anthology

by Peter S. Beagle and Joe R. Lansdale, eds.

ISBN: Print: 9781616960186; Digital: 9781616960629

Published: 2011

Available Format(s): Trade Paperback and eBooks

Whether featuring tattooed demon hunters, angst-y vampires, supernatural gumshoes, or pixelated pixies, Urban Fantasy mashes up old-school tales with pop culture, creating iconic characters, diverging moralities, and complex settings. Urban fantasy is finally showcased in this star-studded collection, representing all three of its distinct styles, including the playful new mythologies of Charles de Lint, the sexy paranormal romances of Patricia Briggs, and the gritty urban noir of Neil Gaiman.

Praise for The Urban Fantasy Anthology

“As the genre is presented here, we see a rich, full, experimental and long-lasting contribution to the ecology of fantasy. It’s perfectly arranged and intentionally diverse, and there are no duds here like there are in some other anthologies. If you’re new to the genre, this is an ideal place to start, so you begin with the multitude of ideas that count here. If you’re a fan of the genre, this is like a reacquaintance, a reminder that there’s more to urban fantasy than the vast numbers of women on motorcycles who kill bad things.”
—New York Journal of Books

“An essential book not only for longtime followers of such intriguing stories but those who thought fantasy only took place in the completely imagined worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien.”
—Bookgasm

“An excellent collection of stories that showcases the best of urban fantasy (however you define it). Definitely a must-read!”
—Interzone

“Every single story in this collection has been well chosen and polished brightly. . . . I highly recommend those with even a vague interest in urban fantasy add The Urban Fantasy Anthology to their collection.”
—Green Man Review

“As thought-provoking as it was enjoyable.”
—All Things Urban Fantasy

“This is one of the best reprint anthologies of the year in terms of literary value, and you certainly get more than your money’s worth of good fiction.”
—Locus

Peter S. Beagle is the best-selling author of The Last Unicorn, which has sold a reported five million copies since its initial publication in 1968. His other novels include A Fine & Private Place, The Innkeeper’s Song, and Tamsin. His short fiction has been collected in four volumes by Tachyon Publications, including The Rhinoceros Who Quoted Nietzsche, The Line Between, We Never Talk About My Brother, and Sleight of Hand. He has won the Hugo, Nebula, Mythopoeic, and Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire awards as well as the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Joe R. Lansdale is the author of more than thirty novels, including the Edgar Award–winning Hap and Leonard mystery series (Mucho Mojo, Two Bear Mambo) and the New York Times Notable Book The Bottoms. More than two hundred of his stories have appeared in such outlets as Tales From the Crypt and Pulphouse, and his work has been adapted for The Twilight Zone and Masters of Horror. Lansdale has written several graphic novels, including Batman and Fantastic Four. He is a tenth-degree black belt and the founder of the Shen Chuan martial art.

Praise for The Secret History of Fantasy

“All 17 stories eschew all or most of the conventions of commercial fantasy. . . . Start reading and expect to enjoy.”
—Booklist

“. . . set[s] out to rewrite our concept of fantasy and, with the help of some of the world’s best writers, succeeds admirably.”
—The Agony Column

“This is a very well-done collection: The stories are all, in many different ways, pleasures to read.”
—The Civilian Reader

Praise for Crucified Dreams

“. . . prime pieces by respected genre writers. Readers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror will find something within their respective (or overlapping) tastes to enjoy.”
—Hellnotes

“Spanning more than 35 years, and pulled from a wide variety of horror, fantasy, mystery, and science-fiction publications, [the stories] reflect a uniform standard of excellence by which any writer would want to measure his own work.”
—Locus

“. . . this is one of those rare anthologies where you’ll want to read each and every contribution. . . . [P]ut yourself in the capable hands of Lansdale as he guides you through his wonderfully twisted sensibilities and tastes in reading.”
—Bookgasm

Visit the Peter S. Beagle and Joe R. Lansdale websites.

Introduction by Peter S. Beagle

Mythic Fiction
Introduction: “A Personal Journey Into Mythic Fiction” by Charles de Lint

“A Bird That Whistles” by Emma Bull
“Make a Joyful Noise” by Charles de Lint
“The Goldfish Pool and Other Stories” by Neil Gaiman
“On the Road to New Egypt” by Jeffrey Ford
“Julie’s Unicorn” by Peter S. Beagle

Paranormal Romance

Introduction: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Urban Fantasy” by Paula Guran
“Companions to the Moon” by Charles de Lint
“A Haunted House of Her Own” by Kelley Armstrong
“She’s My Witch” by Norman Partridge
“Kitty’s Zombie New Year” by Carrie Vaughn
“Seeing Eye” by Patricia Briggs
“Hit” by Bruce McAllister
“Boobs” by Suzy McKee Charnas
“Farewell, My Zombie” by Francesca Lia Block

Noir Fantasy
Introduction: “We Are Not a Club, but We Sometimes Share a Room” by Joe R. Lansdale
“The White Man” by Thomas M. Disch
“Gestella” by Susan Palwick
“The Coldest Girl in Coldtown” by Holly Black
“Talking Back to the Moon” by Steven R. Boyett
“On the Far Side of the Cadillac Desert With Dead Folks” by Joe R. Lansdale
“The Bible Repairman” by Tim Powers
“Father Dear” by Al Sarrantonio