[fantasyfan]

There is also the term “Science Fantasy” described in the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction thus:


“In the Terminology of sf readers, and more especially publishers, this term has never been clearly defined, although it was the title of a well known UK magazine 1950-1966 (see Science Fantasy), which was also the period when the term was most in general use. More recently it has been partially superseded by the terms Sword and Sorcery and Heroic Fantasy, but it differs from these two categories in that Science Fantasy does not necessarily contain Magic, Gods and Demons, Heroes, Mythology or Supernatural Creatures, though these may be present, often in a quasirationalized form. Science Fantasy is normally considered a . . . genre blending elements of sf and fantasy; it is usually colourful and often bizarre, sometimes with elements of Horror although never centrally in the horror genre. Certain sf themes are especially common in Science Fantasy – Parallel Worlds, other Dimensions, ESP, Monsters, Psi Powers and Supermen – but no single one of these ingredients is essential. Many Science Fantasies are also Planetary Romances (many of the books so described in this volume can be regarded as Science Fantasy). . . .”

Personally, I regard City as science fiction. Certainly it does not have the fantasy atmosphere of something written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert Howard or A. Merrit. But it does use some of the themes linked to science fantasy as mentioned above.