Beginnings of a SubGenre

[affreca]

I've been devouring urban fantasy/paranormal romance books recently. That, combining with a throwaway comment in a random posting got me thinking. What is the first book of the subgenre?

The specific subgenre involves supernatural/horror creatures (such as vampire, werewolves, fairies) in a modern setting and not as bad guys. Romance is part of it, but the romance arc is not finished in one book, nor is the main plot of the book.

I'm thinking Tanya Huff's 1991 novel Blood Price is the earliest I can think of.

Comments

[floppycorpse.livejournal.com]

hmm, I was thinking of The Silver Kiss, but that was published in '92.

[affreca.livejournal.com]

Good catch. That's probably one of the earliest YA paranormal romance.

[graydown.livejournal.com]

Lackey's Children of the Night was published in 1990. And when did Shadowrun come out?

[affreca.livejournal.com]

Should have thought of Lackey.

Shadowrun came out in 1989 (according to wikipedia), though the setting is not modern times. Vamp the Masquerade is 1991, and more of the setting I'm thinking of.

[floppycorpse.livejournal.com]

oh, how about Interview with the Vampire? There is some romance in the book, but not the standard 'romance'. First published in 1972. Goes back and forth from modern to past.