Fiction, especially in the speculative fiction (fantasy, horror, science fiction) genres, have one person (mostly) who the story revolves around. In most cases, this person is the hero or protagonist. In most cases the hero is familiar at least to the readers or the world around them, but in a lot of Urban Fantasy (UF) books that isn’t always the case.
Monsters are common place in the worlds of UF. Vampires roam the streets openly and sometimes work at the 24 hour coffee shop. Werewolves run for Congress and win. Magicians and witches make their living just like everyone else with a little help from their magic. These people are normal, well, as normal as can be in those worlds.
But what happens when something happens beyond what is normal? Who steps up when a Vamp or a were’ goes rogue or a REAL monster arises? Who fights these battles that the normal monsters of these worlds cant?
Someone who doesn’t fit neatly into the world of humans or monsters.
UF has many examples of these heroes. Mercedes Thompson, a character in the books by Patricia Briggs, walks between the human world as a mechanic and the magical world as a shape-shifter. Learning to be a shaman has been tough for Jo Walker, especially when monsters and old gods creep out of the wood work in the books by C. E. Murphy. Stacia Kane’s books revolve around a world where magic and ghosts are more than just light tricks and Chess Putman has to banish them.
These heroes live and work just on the outside of society. Just far enough for individual freedom but close enough to keep tabs on what is going on. They don’t fit in, and they know it.
But living like that takes it’s toll. It’s tough. There isn’t a support system on the outside. You always have to watch your back. Friends can quickly become enemies because of a little misunderstanding. These heroes quickly develop a thick skin and become secretive with certain aspects. It’s hard for them to trust or even to love.
But when the proverbial shit hits the fan, they are the ones to jump in and save the day.
I think that’s part of the draw to these books. It is the modern day equivalent of the lone gunshooter hero in Westerns.
