My pleasure! The truth is, I do love well done modern fantasy, I think there's a lot to be said for it - the state of urban fantasy OCs in RP frustrates me more because of what's not there than because what's there. I mean, I imagine lots of people do care for these settings because of all the OCs that are from things like that, but if you want to stand out from that crowd, then yes. And I think you should always strive to stand out!
I don't know what I'd recommend for journalism - it's usually history and mythology that I end up reading - but see if you can find any sources on the "real" underworlds of cities so to speak. There are quite a few books on the actual "London below" for once (look for Stephen Smith's "Underground London"). If you're willing to go the distance, academic bookshops and libraries are worth browsing for books about organized crime, about marginalized communities and their stories and mythologies, slums and homeless populations, about urban exploration, urban wildlife - just read about cities. If there's anything that urban fantasy could really use more of, it's actual cities.
Drop a note if you do end up creating a character and journal with any of this stuff, OP. I'd like to see it!
AYRT
I don't know what I'd recommend for journalism - it's usually history and mythology that I end up reading - but see if you can find any sources on the "real" underworlds of cities so to speak. There are quite a few books on the actual "London below" for once (look for Stephen Smith's "Underground London"). If you're willing to go the distance, academic bookshops and libraries are worth browsing for books about organized crime, about marginalized communities and their stories and mythologies, slums and homeless populations, about urban exploration, urban wildlife - just read about cities. If there's anything that urban fantasy could really use more of, it's actual cities.
Drop a note if you do end up creating a character and journal with any of this stuff, OP. I'd like to see it!