Good urban fantasies (novel, cover, best, fantasy)
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I have recently become interested in the genre of urban fantasy. I have a coworker who has told me about some, however, most seem to be either vampire books or seem to be written more for a female audience or young adult (and still mostly female) audience. Are there are any that anyone can recommend that are not written with that audience in mind? The idea of these books sound interesting, I'm just not interested in love stories or vampires.
I think Jim Butcher is one of the best known writers of urban fantasy. I read a couple of his books and don't recall a vampire, or a romance in them. And Tad Williams has a book out, The Dirty Streets of Heaven which is also urban fantasy, meant to be book one of a trilogy. Again, no vampires or romance.
Perhaps something by Charles DeLint? One of his main characters is female, but there is more action than romance happening.
Not sure how urban you seek, the setting is often varied through out the stories and its hard to tell what 'time' things take place but Piers Anthony series, Incarnations of Immortality is a great set of books.
Charles Stross's The Laundry Files series, 6 books, starting with The Atrocity Archives.
Tim Pratt's Marla Mason books, 7 books in the series, starting with Blood Engines
Mike Carey's Felix Caster books, 5 in the series, starting with The Devil You Know.
Kevin Hearn's Iron Druid series, 6 books starting with Hounded.
Harry Connolly"s Twenty Palaces books, 4 in the series, starting with Child of Fire.
The Marla Mason, Felix Caster and Twenty Palaces books are pretty dark. The Laundry Files are an amusing combination of magic, IT, science, spies, HP Lovecraft and quasi-secret British agencies.
It is true that the genre has been flooded by quasi-romance books (where the romance is as important as the main plot), something I don't appreciate, either. The YA thing doesn't bother me as much - I am currently reading Mister Monday by Garth Nix (a series with a book for every day of the week), and enjoying it.
Last edited by PNW-type-gal; 02-25-2013 at 10:01 AM..
I think Jim Butcher is one of the best known writers of urban fantasy. I read a couple of his books and don't recall a vampire, or a romance in them.
Lots of Vampires in the Harry Dresden books. The Red Court, the White Court. Still, Dresden is definitely not a 'chick lit' type of urban fantasy, my husband likes them more than I do. (which is saying something, cause I've read all of the Dresden books).
There's also the Repairman Jack series from F. Paul Wilson. Most definitely NOT female-centric. They are action stories with urban fantasy thrown in, rather than urban fantasies with some action. Once you read them, you'll know what I mean.
You might also like the Felix Gomez books from Mario Acevedo. A bit heavy on the humor and the smut, but not the drippy romance laden books that are more common in this area.
Thanks for the information and please keep it coming if anyone knows of others. I don't mind if the main character is a heroine, I just don't want to read one that is a romance novel in disguise or a focus on vampires (too trendy right now).
Lots of Vampires in the Harry Dresden books. The Red Court, the White Court. Still, Dresden is definitely not a 'chick lit' type of urban fantasy, my husband likes them more than I do. (which is saying something, cause I've read all of the Dresden books).
There's also the Repairman Jack series from F. Paul Wilson. Most definitely NOT female-centric. They are action stories with urban fantasy thrown in, rather than urban fantasies with some action. Once you read them, you'll know what I mean.
You might also like the Felix Gomez books from Mario Acevedo. A bit heavy on the humor and the smut, but not the drippy romance laden books that are more common in this area.
Then it's maybe my faulty memory or I read the books that don't have vampires in them. (I've only read two. Keep meaning to read more but haven't gotten around to it.)
I agree with you about the Repairman Jack books by Wilson.
Anyone discovered a new urban fantasy series? I'm working my way through the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch and having a very nice time. I've read the Dresden File, Iron Druid and Nightside books and am always on the lookout.
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