dark/urban fantasy recommendations please

basschick · 05-29-2009, 01:08 AM

i'm always looking for more dark/urban fantasies to read with LESS romance. some is okay, but i'd rather the hero be more interested in the situations than romance. i like the story world to be mixed with the real world for contrast - like anita blake before too much richard or so much sex and relationship stuff that it took over the parts about her job, the police, etc.

not a fan of vampire "pods", tons of goofy humor (i like it, but not in my dark fantasy), military/government interference.

read all the charlaine harris novels, jim butcher's work, mercedes lackey's urban fantasies, tanya huff's, the p.n. elrods (not as good as the others but okay), patricia briggs. didn't care for lilith saintcrow or kim harrison, hated the twilight series.

Gideon · 05-29-2009, 01:36 AM

Heh.. I just hawked this earlier today but.. I'd try Perdido Street Station by China Mieville.

basschick · 05-29-2009, 01:40 AM

thanks - checking it out on fictionwise.

poohbear_nc · 05-29-2009, 09:03 AM

Nightside series - Simon Green
Cal Leandros series - Rob Thurman
Simon Canderous series - Anton Strout

Some/most of them are available as ebooks.

poohbear_nc · 05-29-2009, 10:05 AM

I second Gideon - all of Mieville's books are great reads.
Wish King Rat would get into ebook soon.

tompe · 05-29-2009, 11:00 AM

Glenn Cook maybe? The Black Company series is at least gritty. And the fanatsy detective books are fun if you like hard boiled crime books.

poohbear_nc · 05-29-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tompe

Glenn Cook maybe? The Black Company series is at least gritty. And the fanatsy detective books are fun if you like hard boiled crime books.

I looked at Glen Cook's stuff - and will start with "Sweet Silver Blues" - the first of his detective series - thanks for the post - I had never encountered him before!

MelC · 05-29-2009, 03:16 PM

These come to mind: Neil Gaiman Neverwhere, American Gods and the Anansi Boys and Dean Koontz Frankenstein series (third and final book HOPEFULLY out this summer).

Mel

Penforhire · 05-29-2009, 04:06 PM

Mel, is that a firm rumor? I've been waiting for #3 for years now!

I liked the Watch series (starts with Night Watch) by Sergei Lukyanenko. Translated from Russian I believe? The first two were very strong. Not as in love with the third. I see there is a fourth I need to read.

MelC · 05-29-2009, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penforhire

Mel, is that a firm rumor? I've been waiting for #3 for years now!

At indigo.ca (the canucks version of borders) they are offering it for pre-order with a release date of July 28, 2009. So odds are it's looking good. I hear you on the waiting pain though. I actually bought the ebooks for 1&2 when they were on major fictionwise rebate deal so that I could reread them again before the release. Spoiler in next sentence for those not having read first two books...

Spoiler:

Mel

BenG · 05-29-2009, 11:54 PM

Try Clive Barker's Weaveworld or Imajica.

Elsi · 05-30-2009, 02:05 AM

I'm currently in chapter 13 of Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin and enjoying it very much. It's the May $1 book from Orbit, but was a free book at Amazon at the beginning of the month. You might hurry out and pick it up before the price goes up.

Moejoe · 05-30-2009, 02:08 AM

I find a lot of the dark/urban fantasy to be too 'samey' but I did just get a follow from Justine Musk on my Twitter, and her stuff looks quite promising.

http://www.justinemusk.com/

HarryT · 05-30-2009, 05:03 AM

What is "urban" fantasy? Fantasy set in a city? Never come across that term before.

Moejoe · 05-30-2009, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

What is "urban" fantasy? Fantasy set in a city? Never come across that term before.

It's my understanding that it's set in contemporary or near future scenarios with elements of the occult/magic/supernatural but also blending in other disciplines such as the detective genre. The field is largely dominated by female protagonists, kick-ass heroines as I've heard it described, and sometimes has elements of erotica and romance, although this is not the predominant theme within the story as a whole (When romance and erotica become central, the term Paranormal Romance is more often used).

Harry Dresden is described often as Urban Fantasy, as is Laurell K Hamilton (although I'd argue her stuff is more Paranormal Erotica), Stephanie Myers might also fit this cateogry. It has very little to do with Epic Fantasy or anything that followed in that tradition.

Years ago all of this was just called "slipstream" or "cross-genre".

05-29-2009, 01:08 AM	#1
basschick Wizard Posts: 1,096 Karma: 4695691 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	dark/urban fantasy recommendations please i'm always looking for more dark/urban fantasies to read with LESS romance. some is okay, but i'd rather the hero be more interested in the situations than romance. i like the story world to be mixed with the real world for contrast - like anita blake before too much richard or so much sex and relationship stuff that it took over the parts about her job, the police, etc. not a fan of vampire "pods", tons of goofy humor (i like it, but not in my dark fantasy), military/government interference. read all the charlaine harris novels, jim butcher's work, mercedes lackey's urban fantasies, tanya huff's, the p.n. elrods (not as good as the others but okay), patricia briggs. didn't care for lilith saintcrow or kim harrison, hated the twilight series. Last edited by basschick; 05-29-2009 at 01:37 AM.

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05-29-2009, 01:36 AM	#2
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Heh.. I just hawked this earlier today but.. I'd try Perdido Street Station by China Mieville.

05-29-2009, 01:40 AM	#3
basschick Wizard Posts: 1,096 Karma: 4695691 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	thanks - checking it out on fictionwise.

05-29-2009, 09:03 AM	#4
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 58,795 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Nightside series - Simon Green Cal Leandros series - Rob Thurman Simon Canderous series - Anton Strout Some/most of them are available as ebooks.

05-29-2009, 10:05 AM	#5
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 58,795 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	I second Gideon - all of Mieville's books are great reads. Wish King Rat would get into ebook soon.

05-29-2009, 11:00 AM	#6
tompe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,452 Karma: 7185064 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Linköpng, Sweden Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW	Glenn Cook maybe? The Black Company series is at least gritty. And the fanatsy detective books are fun if you like hard boiled crime books.

05-29-2009, 03:16 PM	#8
MelC Evangelist Posts: 410 Karma: 2081 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Device: Cybook Gen3, PRS600	These come to mind: Neil Gaiman Neverwhere, American Gods and the Anansi Boys and Dean Koontz Frankenstein series (third and final book HOPEFULLY out this summer). Mel

05-29-2009, 04:06 PM	#9
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	Mel, is that a firm rumor? I've been waiting for #3 for years now! I liked the Watch series (starts with Night Watch) by Sergei Lukyanenko. Translated from Russian I believe? The first two were very strong. Not as in love with the third. I see there is a fourth I need to read.

05-29-2009, 11:54 PM	#11
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,729 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	Try Clive Barker's Weaveworld or Imajica.

05-30-2009, 02:05 AM	#12
Elsi Wizard Posts: 2,366 Karma: 12000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas, USA Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C	I'm currently in chapter 13 of *Once Bitten, Twice Shy* by Jennifer Rardin and enjoying it very much. It's the May $1 book from Orbit, but was a free book at Amazon at the beginning of the month. You might hurry out and pick it up before the price goes up.

05-30-2009, 02:08 AM	#13
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	I find a lot of the dark/urban fantasy to be too 'samey' but I did just get a follow from Justine Musk on my Twitter, and her stuff looks quite promising. http://www.justinemusk.com/

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05-30-2009, 05:03 AM	#14
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	What is "urban" fantasy? Fantasy set in a city? Never come across that term before.