Whether a single book or a series, what is the best urban fantasy?
(Urban fantasy is a subset of contemporary fantasy, consisting of magical novels and stories set in contemporary, real-world, urban settings)
Other Lists of Note:
Best Urban Fantasy
Best Alternate H*story
Best Dystopian and Post Apocalyptic Fiction
Best Epic Fantasy
Best Fantasy of the 21st Century
Best Science Fiction
Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century
Best Forgotten Science Fiction of the 20th Century
Best Science Fiction Fantasy Books
Best Space Opera
Pre-Tolkien Fantasy (Fantasy up through 1937)
Classic Fantasy (Fantasy written before 1980)
Fantasy by Decade:
1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s
1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s
Locus Recommended Fantasy:
2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011
Fantasy By Ratings:
More than 100000, 50000 to 99999, 25000 to 49999, 10000 to 24999
1000 to 9999, 100 to 999, Less than 100
(Urban fantasy is a subset of contemporary fantasy, consisting of magical novels and stories set in contemporary, real-world, urban settings)
Other Lists of Note:
Best Urban Fantasy
Best Alternate H*story
Best Dystopian and Post Apocalyptic Fiction
Best Epic Fantasy
Best Fantasy of the 21st Century
Best Science Fiction
Best Science Fiction of the 21st Century
Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century
Best Forgotten Science Fiction of the 20th Century
Best Science Fiction Fantasy Books
Best Space Opera
Pre-Tolkien Fantasy (Fantasy up through 1937)
Classic Fantasy (Fantasy written before 1980)
Fantasy by Decade:
1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s
1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s
Locus Recommended Fantasy:
2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011
Fantasy By Ratings:
More than 100000, 50000 to 99999, 25000 to 49999, 10000 to 24999
1000 to 9999, 100 to 999, Less than 100
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Comments Showing 1-50 of 176 (176 new)
message 1:
by
Brigid ✩
(new)
Jun 29, 2008 08:30AM
eew!! TITHE? THAT IS THE WORST BOOK OMG... why isn't there any scott westerfeld on here? XD
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i resent that!!! i LOVE tithe!
i agree about the scott westerfeld thing though.
neverwhere is horrible!!!
i agree about the scott westerfeld thing though.
neverwhere is horrible!!!
I didn't think neverwhere was horrible...but it certainly shouldn't have the #1 spot, and no Simon R. Green?
scott westerfeld is more science-fiction than urban fantasy... well from the book i read of his anyway.
Travis wrote: "The lack of Charles de Lint from this list is truly depressing."i have to agree to "the blue girl" was one of the best books I had ever read!!!!
WHAT?!?! THE LIGHTNING THIEF?!?!?! THAT IS NOT URBAN FANTASY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND NOR IS CITY OF BONES!!!!!!!!!!! THOSE ARE ACTION BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS LIST IS CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Urban fantasy is a subset of contemporary fantasy, consisting of magical novels and stories set in contemporary, real-world, urban settings"The Lightning Thief and City of Bones take place in urban settings (for large parts of the books at least) therefore they are urban fantasy.
Also remember that books can have more than one genre so I think this list is pretty accurate.
Robyn wrote: "scott westerfeld is more science-fiction than urban fantasy... well from the book i read of his anyway."It really depends on which series you read. He kinda mixes them together. BTW - Westerfeld is on here - on of the books from the Midnighters series is on the list. Can't say it's my favorite series he wrote (Probably Uglies although Peeps by iteself may have been the best book), but it's a good one.
Travis wrote: "The lack of Charles de Lint from this list is truly depressing."absolutely. How can one of the progenitors of this genre not dominate it? Not to mention that he writes beautifully.
Oh, and why the heck is Stephenson on this list? There's no magic in those books, no fantasy. They're just urban scifi if anything.
Lindsey wrote: "Robyn wrote: "scott westerfeld is more science-fiction than urban fantasy... well from the book i read of his anyway."It really depends on which series you read. He kinda mixes them together. B..."
yeah, i added peeps and the last days to the list, peeps has to be his best work, with the uglies series a close second
hey, whats stephenie meyer doing up there??? shes not urban fantasy!! especially the host, which is the one up there! thats sci-fi!!1
The Host sucked, and it is soo not a urban fantasy. And, sorry fans of Peeps, but I HATED that book. Though I did love the Uglies books, though Extras wasn't all that great.
we really do get passionate about our books sometimes, don't we?? everyone has the right to like their book for whatever reason, without having to justify it. its good to hear why a book was liked or disliked, but in the end its personal preference. I'm new to urban fantasy, i really liked Magic Bites.
There is. The Secret Hour, no.65.♥ Brigid ♥ wrote: "eew!! TITHE? THAT IS THE WORST BOOK OMG... why isn't there any scott westerfeld on here? XD"
Half of the books on this list are utter para-romo crap that any chimpanzee with a word processor could've written ten times better. Stephenie Meyer should be strung-up by her toes for perpetuating such nonsense. We'll be drowning in horrid vampire books and movies for the next fifteen years. Way to go, world. Lets continue to not only reward mediocrity, but bury it in so much money that most third-world countries would be envious of.
Marcus wrote: "Half of the books on this list are utter para-romo crap that any chimpanzee with a word processor could've written ten times better. Stephenie Meyer should be strung-up by her toes for perpetuating..."So...any thoughts on what good books are, or just complaining?
Lindsey wrote: "Marcus wrote: "Half of the books on this list are utter para-romo crap that any chimpanzee with a word processor could've written ten times better. Stephenie Meyer should be strung-up by her toes f..."Just complaining, Lindsey, just complaining. After glancing over your books page I don't think the kind of stuff I read would be remotely interesting to you.
Marcus wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "Marcus wrote: "Half of the books on this list are utter para-romo crap that any chimpanzee with a word processor could've written ten times better. Stephenie Meyer should be strung-..."Probably not, but I'm actually trying to find books to recommend to my husband who seems to have similar thoughts to you on lots of urban fantasy...so looking for ideas.
American Gods is a great book, one of the finest fantasies ever written, but I'm not sure it fits my mental picture of urban fantasy. If I were convinced that it should be considered one, it would be my number one choice.Those looking to read one of the root works of the sub-genre should find the novella "Magic, Inc." by Robert A. Heinlein. It can be found in the book Waldo and Magic, Inc.
Lindsey wrote: I'm actually trying to find books to recommend to my husband who seems to have similar thoughts to you on lots of urban fantasy...so looking for ideas.Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series are largely free of romance. The first couple volumes are good but not great, and then the series becomes remarkably excellent.
War for the Oaks by Emma Bull is one of the core books that started the urban fantasy revival. There is some romance in the plot, but it isn't primary. I'm a guy, and the romance wasn't enough to bother me.
The later Mercy Thompson books by Patricia Briggs have a romance element, but the first couple are romance free.
Xenophon wrote: "Lindsey wrote: I'm actually trying to find books to recommend to my husband who seems to have similar thoughts to you on lots of urban fantasy...so looking for ideas.Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden s..."
Thanks for the tips! I've seen a lot about the Jim Butcher series, but I've never read them, so I'll see if he's interested in those.
War for the Oaks sounds good too, although I'm always a little more hesitant to read fae books, since they wind up being more political than action oriented. From the description I can't really tell if it's like that or not, but I'll give it a try.
I actually did try Pat Briggs since I like her newer series (Alpha & Omega and Mercy Thompson). He read the first Mercy Thompson book, but he really didn't like her writing style, so he didn't read the others.
I definitely have more to go on now, so thanks for your help!
Briggs is a great author, i loved the Mercy Thompson series. and Xenophon is right, the earlier ones are for the most part romance free, the third is about 1/4 romance, the last one is about 1/3 romance, but still great
ANNOUNCING!!! My First GIVEAWAY!!!! YAY! Free Books!I just received the most wonderful package from DelRey Publications - FIVE - yep 5 copies of the debut urban paranormal book by Harry Connolly!!!! The contest came as a result of my review so you know that the review isn't because someone handed me a bunch of free books ;-p
Child of Fire: A Twenty Palaces Novel by Harry Connolly
*** Let me give a quick caution to my loyal YA followers - there is some graphic violence in this book and I wouldn't recommend it to readers under 18.
That being said this is probably the best book I have read in this genre - I love Connolly's style! You view this eerie incredulous world (the world of the Twenty Palaces Society) through the eyes of Ray Lilly - but Ray is as much in the dark about the mission as you are!
Publisher's Synopsis:
Ray Lilly is living on borrowed time. He’s the driver for Annalise Powliss, a high-ranking member of the Twenty Palace Society, a group of sorcerers devoted to hunting down and executing rogue magicians. But because Ray betrayed her once, Annalise is looking for an excuse to kill him–or let someone else do the job. Unfortunately for both of them, Annalise’s next mission goes wrong, leaving her critically injured. With the little magic he controls, Ray must complete her assignment alone. Not only does he have to stop a sorcerer who’s sacrificing dozens of innocent lives in exchange for supernatural power, he must find–and destroy–the source of that inhuman magic.
---------------------------------
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Too many female protagonists. I've read the Dresden Files [up to date on it:] and I'm currently working my way through Neil Gaiman's works... are those the only urban fantasy novels with male protagonists? I seriously don't want to read about some chick being in love with a vampire, werewolf, or whatever other fantasy creature is the current fad.
Romance can be fun, but gosh darnit, I'll read some romance novel if I want it.
Why are Golden Compass and Lord of the Rings on here? I don't care how good they are, they are not "Urban Fantasy"! There is a load of stuff here that is the wrong genre.
770312 wrote: "I've read the Dresden Files [up to date on it:] and I'm currently working my way through Neil Gaiman's works... are those the only urban fantasy novels with male protagonists"770312, try Conjure Wife and Our Lady of Darkness by Fritz Leiber and Last Call by Tim Powers. All three have male protagonists. That said, the Patricia Briggs books about Mercy Thompson really aren't that mushy, even if they have a cootie infested girl as the protagonist :-) especially the first two.
770312 wrote: "I've read the Dresden Files [up to date on it:] and I'm currently working my way through Neil Gaiman's works... are those the only urban fantasy novels with male protagonists"Look at Charles de Lint's novels. You can pretty much start with whatever you find.
The Mystery of Grace came out last year and is a good place to start. So is The Blue Girl, Someplace to be Flying, Trader, Moonlight and Vines, Waifs and Strays. There are women -- and men -- in these novels and short stories, but they are not romance-driven.
@770312 Have you read any Steven Brust? He most always has male protagonists, and writes both urban and high fantasy. You might also look at the late great Roger Zelazny.
I love Tolkien as much as anyone. I list Tolkien among my favorite writers The Lord of the Rings among my favorite books.....but I'm sorry, they are not Urban Fantasy.
770312: Rob Thurman's (oddly enough a woman as you have asked about male protagonists) novels about the Leandros brothers (Nightlife, Moonshine, Madhouse) have male leads. Also there are F. Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack books. The fist (Tomb) is pretty good, the second volume (Legacies) doesn't have so much of a fantasy flavor, but it picks up big time in the third (Conspiracies). I have a stack of them now waiting "to be read". There is also Simon R. Green's Nightside series about John Taylor, he can be called a sort of PI but that doesn't cover it or give the flavor. These have been compared to Butcher's Dresden series. I like Dresden better, but these are good. I'm sure there are others, but these are off the top of my head.
Oh, do you have the chronology of the Repairman Jack novels? I've read a couple (the Tomb and something with Rashkasas?) and quite liked them, but I can't figure out what order they occur in.
The order I've got is:The Tomb
Legacies
Conspiracies
All the Rage
Hosts
The Haunted Air
Gateways
Crisscross
Infernal
Harbingers
Bloodline
By the Sword
Ground Zero Hope it helps.
Thanks! I read the Tomb and I'm not sure what else. I think my problem is how the Repairman ones fit with the ones he appears in that aren't called that. And at least one of them has been retitled.
I know The Tomb was originally titled differently. I don't know about others that were changed. So far I've found they seem to be getting better as I go. The first book I read by Wilson was The Keep and really didn' get that into it, so it was a fairly long time before I started the Repairman Jack books.
Well as I recall the Nazis arrive at the keep so ya, but it was one of those that extends back into prehistory. Just didn't catch my interest all that much.
A few books that I just added and are very popular and good but nobody has voted for them are-Beautiful Creatures
Fallen
Shiver and Linger (yes I have read both)
Cirque Du Freak
Beastly
if anyone is looking for a new urban fantasy that isn't run of the mill or a romance you should check out DARKNESS LIGHT witness to the unholy. the back cover sounds like a lot of other books but once you get into it its like no other book you've ever read. plus it has about 20 illustrations which are kick ass.
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