Looking for non-violent Fantasy and urban fantasy

danskmacabre · 06-27-2013, 02:48 AM

My wife is interested in reading Fantasy and Urban fantasy books.
Mainly as she sees me reading stuff like "The Dresden files, Iron Druid" etc.

The thing is she doesn't like violent stuff, meaning stories that are largely focused on violence.
Now generally Dresden files and so on have a strong graphic violence theme, which is fine for me and many other people.

However seeing as this is not my wife's thing, I'm wondering if there's books in these genres that don't focus on that.

I'd be looking for something that is perhaps more political, intrigue, interaction between people , suspense, thriller, development of relationships etc.

Obviously there would pretty much always be some element of violence in it, but not to be the focus and not graphic violence.

Could be a tall order, but any suggestions?

danskmacabre · 06-27-2013, 03:07 AM

An example of something Fantasy based that isn't violence focused maybe might be The "Earthsea" books.

WillAdams · 06-27-2013, 08:30 AM

Terri Windling's ``Fairy Tales'' series should be suitable --- even the most violent (Jane Yolen's _Briar Rose_ has most of the violence slightly off-camera [political]).

Charles de Lint handles things well and most of his books are very enjoyable. His _Svaha_ [political] is one of my favourites.

Megan Lindholm's _Cloven Hooves_ [interaction between people/development of relationships] is only emotionally violent, but extremely moving and an amazing story.

R. A. MacAvoy's books have only the minimal level of violence needed to create conflict --- _Tea with the Black Dragon_ [thriller] is fabulous (but I even enjoyed the sequel, _Twisting the Rope_ [suspense]), _The Book of Kells_ [intrigue] is mostly time travel, but still a lot of fun.

William

Rbneader · 06-27-2013, 09:41 AM

Thank you all for the recs! I'm interested in this as well, and now I have some books to look for.

danskmacabre · 06-27-2013, 10:24 PM

Thanks for the suggestions, checking them out

Geralt · 06-28-2013, 12:11 AM

I recommend War for the Oaks by Emma Bull. It is not necessarily a non-violent book, because it is about the faerie war and there is one huge battle that takes place.
But it is considered a precursor of urban fantasy before it was even known as that. (book is from '87)
It also features a strong main female character, something your wife might enjoy?
Here's the synopsis:

Quote:

Eddi McCandry has just left her boyfriend and their band when she finds herself running through the Minneapolis night, pursued by a sinister man and a huge, terrifying dog. The two creatures are one and the same: a phouka, a faerie being who has chosen Eddi to be a mortal pawn in the age-old war between the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Eddi isn't interested--but she doesn't have a choice. Now she struggles to build a new life and new band when she might not even survive till the first rehearsal.

WillAdams · 06-28-2013, 12:51 PM

There were a _lot_ of books which are earlier than 1987 so as to be ``precursors of urban fantasy''

- 1965 -- The Dark is Rising (Over Sea, Under Stone)
- 1978 -- Last Born of Elvinwood
- 1983 -- Tea with the Black Dragon
- 1985 -- Wizard of the Pigeons
- 1986 -- Borderland

treadlightly · 06-28-2013, 01:08 PM

The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger is light, fun and quirky. The first one is "Soulless".

Penforhire · 06-28-2013, 01:42 PM

I found China Mieville's fantasy works focus much more on amazing me than on violence, but they do contain violent scenes.

Perhaps Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Anansi Boys?

AnemicOak · 07-03-2013, 11:34 AM

She might like the Truth Series by Dawn Cook (Kim Harrison).

owly · 07-04-2013, 02:27 AM

The Mythago wood books by Robert Holdstock doesn't have that much violence that I can remember. The first one is called "Mythago Wood". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Holdstock

danskmacabre · 07-04-2013, 04:07 AM

wow lots to choose from thanx!

ebusinesstutor · 07-07-2013, 02:36 PM

Mercedes Lackey's 500 Kingdom Novels would fit this. They are lighthearted fantasies based on fairy tales. My favourite is "One Good Night."

Then there are Piers Anthony's Xanth novels. Quests with very little violence and a lot of humour based on puns.

HarryT · 07-07-2013, 02:45 PM

An obvious suggestion is "The Lord of the Rings", but if she's a fantasy fan I'm sure she's read that.

owly · 07-08-2013, 03:18 AM

Terry Pratchett!!! Discworld!!!

06-27-2013, 02:48 AM	#1
danskmacabre Guru Posts: 733 Karma: 3593438 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Glo. Galaxy Tab S 8.4	Looking for non-violent Fantasy and urban fantasy My wife is interested in reading Fantasy and Urban fantasy books. Mainly as she sees me reading stuff like "The Dresden files, Iron Druid" etc. The thing is she doesn't like violent stuff, meaning stories that are largely focused on violence. Now generally Dresden files and so on have a strong graphic violence theme, which is fine for me and many other people. However seeing as this is not my wife's thing, I'm wondering if there's books in these genres that don't focus on that. I'd be looking for something that is perhaps more political, intrigue, interaction between people , suspense, thriller, development of relationships etc. Obviously there would pretty much always be some element of violence in it, but not to be the focus and not graphic violence. Could be a tall order, but any suggestions?

06-28-2013, 12:51 PM	#7
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,234 Karma: 3350652 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	There were a _lot_ of books which are earlier than 1987 so as to be ``precursors of urban fantasy'' - 1965 -- The Dark is Rising (Over Sea, Under Stone) - 1978 -- Last Born of Elvinwood - 1983 -- Tea with the Black Dragon - 1985 -- Wizard of the Pigeons - 1986 -- Borderland Last edited by WillAdams; 06-28-2013 at 02:13 PM.

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06-27-2013, 03:07 AM	#2
danskmacabre Guru Posts: 733 Karma: 3593438 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Glo. Galaxy Tab S 8.4	An example of something Fantasy based that isn't violence focused maybe might be The "Earthsea" books.

06-27-2013, 08:30 AM	#3
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,234 Karma: 3350652 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	Terri Windling's ``Fairy Tales'' series should be suitable --- even the most violent (Jane Yolen's _Briar Rose_ has most of the violence slightly off-camera [political]). Charles de Lint handles things well and most of his books are very enjoyable. His _Svaha_ [political] is one of my favourites. Megan Lindholm's _Cloven Hooves_ [interaction between people/development of relationships] is only emotionally violent, but extremely moving and an amazing story. R. A. MacAvoy's books have only the minimal level of violence needed to create conflict --- _Tea with the Black Dragon_ [thriller] is fabulous (but I even enjoyed the sequel, _Twisting the Rope_ [suspense]), _The Book of Kells_ [intrigue] is mostly time travel, but still a lot of fun. William

06-27-2013, 09:41 AM	#4
Rbneader Fanatic Posts: 500 Karma: 2661351 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: None	Thank you all for the recs! I'm interested in this as well, and now I have some books to look for.

06-27-2013, 10:24 PM	#5
danskmacabre Guru Posts: 733 Karma: 3593438 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Glo. Galaxy Tab S 8.4	Thanks for the suggestions, checking them out

06-28-2013, 01:08 PM	#8
treadlightly Wizard Posts: 1,370 Karma: 6957792 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ottawa, ON Device: Kobo H2O	The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger is light, fun and quirky. The first one is "Soulless".

06-28-2013, 01:42 PM	#9
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I found China Mieville's fantasy works focus much more on amazing me than on violence, but they do contain violent scenes. Perhaps Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Anansi Boys?

07-03-2013, 11:34 AM	#10
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	She might like the Truth Series by Dawn Cook (Kim Harrison).

07-04-2013, 02:27 AM	#11
owly Guru Posts: 729 Karma: 3822612 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Paperwhite 2, Kobo Aura H2O	The Mythago wood books by Robert Holdstock doesn't have that much violence that I can remember. The first one is called "Mythago Wood". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Holdstock

07-04-2013, 04:07 AM	#12
danskmacabre Guru Posts: 733 Karma: 3593438 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Glo. Galaxy Tab S 8.4	wow lots to choose from thanx!

07-07-2013, 02:36 PM	#13
ebusinesstutor Star Gawker Posts: 526 Karma: 6944314 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Spruce Grove, AB Canada Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Mercedes Lackey's 500 Kingdom Novels would fit this. They are lighthearted fantasies based on fairy tales. My favourite is "One Good Night." Then there are Piers Anthony's Xanth novels. Quests with very little violence and a lot of humour based on puns.

07-07-2013, 02:45 PM	#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	An obvious suggestion is "The Lord of the Rings", but if she's a fantasy fan I'm sure she's read that.

07-08-2013, 03:18 AM	#15
owly Guru Posts: 729 Karma: 3822612 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Paperwhite 2, Kobo Aura H2O	Terry Pratchett!!! Discworld!!!