Urban Fantasy discussion
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Do You Read Non-UF?
I haven't gotten around to Georgette Heyer, yet myself. One of my favorite writers, Lois McMaster Bujold, who has a science fiction series and two fantasy series, I've read them all, often says she's referencing Heyer.I tend not read Romance with a capital r, but I also love Diana Gabaldon.
I tend to not read mysteries, except for the ones I read...
I read non-fiction, fiction, plays, novels written in poetry, urban fantasy, magic realism, YA.
But no self-help!
Mod
People keep recommending those books to me, but I'm so intimidated by the length! Although, those aren't just romance; they're kind of UF, aren't they - given the time travel aspect I mean.
Michelle L. wrote: "Julia wrote: "I tend not read Romance with a capital r, but I also love Diana Gabaldon."People keep recommending those books to me, but I'm so intimidated by the length! Although, those aren't j..."
The time travel bit is key to the actual story but other than that one point it is pretty much straight historical adventure romance.
If you don't enjoy long books I wouldn't try it. While there is a small core of main characters, as they travel they meet many more.
But, if you think you might want to try it, the characterizations of everyone from the lowliest stable hand to the mains is extremely well done. Her descriptions make you feel like you could close your eyes and be there. Lots of fun, warring, loving, politiking, laughing and travelling.
Mod
People keep recommending those books to me, but I'm so intimidated by the length! Alth..."
The nice thing about using a Kindle is that I'm apt to read longer books because I can't see how big the books are, lol. I've read more wrist-breakers this year than in years past.
Michelle L. wrote: "Julia wrote: "I tend not read Romance with a capital r, but I also love Diana Gabaldon."People keep recommending those books to me, but I'm so intimidated by the length! Although, those aren't j..."
Uh-oh, someone mentioned Gabaldon around April!!! :>)
Hush you. I thought I was pretty restrained there. No gushing effusiveness like a teenaged Twilighthead.
Julia wrote: "I tend not read Romance with a capital r, but I also love Diana Gabaldon."I am not a romance reader either, though as I said, there are Georgette Heyer books on my bookshelf that are re-read often.
However, I did pick up a Diana Gabaldon book after you mentioned it, as I did find, after getting so hooked by the "In Death" series by J. D. Robb that I enjoyed some of the Nora Roberts romance books. Some weren't my cup of tea, but the ones that had a strong mystery or paranormal thread appealed to me, so thought I'd try Gabaldon.
Sean wrote: "In addition, if I may, when I get the feeling I'm prejudiced against a genre or author I immediately try to get my hands on a book in that genre or written by that author because I simply can't sta..."Twilight was my gateway so to speak to Urban Fantasy. Before I read it I’d read Dracula but Anne Rice was too dark and morbid for me, so I’d written off vampire literature. I enjoyed the Twilight series and think Stephanie Meyers is a good story teller. It is not the greatest literature and I have since read many other books that are a lot better, but I also find it annoying when people put the series down without having ever read it. I agree it has a lot to do with all the teenage hysteria and the fact that such a fuss is made over the films. I read the series before all that when only the first movie had come out.
Jalilah wrote: "Sean wrote: "In addition, if I may, when I get the feeling I'm prejudiced against a genre or author I immediately try to get my hands on a book in that genre or written by that author because I sim..."Anne Rice is too dark for me as well.
Sharon wrote: "The reading gene and the horse gene. I'm more like him, I think, than anyone else in my family. He passed away when I was in my early 20s so most of what I remember is from my childhood, growing up..."Sharon, I heard Louis L'Amour wrote some Fantasy type westerns. Is this true and if so what are the titles?
I recently saw the Cowboys and Aliens film and liked the combination!
Jalilah wrote: "Sharon, I heard Louis L'Amour wrote some Fantasy type westerns. Is this true and if so what are the titles?"I believe
is the only one with a very strong paranormal twist to the plot. It is definitely "door into the past" kind of thing and very well done, though you certainly don't think of him as a fantasy writer at all.
Emma Bull did a western/historical kind of Fantasy thing in Territory. It was pretty decent. Kind of weird.
Maria wrote: "Emma Bull did a western/historical kind of Fantasy thing in Territory. It was pretty decent. Kind of weird."I don't remember ever reading that, although her
War for the Oaks is one of my all time favorite UF books. Might be interesting to try to find it.
Sharon wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Sharon, I heard Louis L'Amour wrote some Fantasy type westerns. Is this true and if so what are the titles?"I believe
is the only one with a ver..."for those of you who want to read something different: this book The Grass Dancer by Susan Power also has paranormal elements. It follows the lives a various members of the Sioux Nation starting in the 80s and going back into the 18 hundreds. One of the leading characters is a very evil Sioux witch!
I really, really liked
by Emma Bull. Another western that is also more is
. Also, there's the sf/ western tv show/ movie "Firefly"/ "Serenity"/ this one I haven't gotten around to yet
,
and
and of course
.
I'm a Firefly fan, but I didn't know about My Own Kind of Freedom: A Firefly Novelby Steven Brust. Thank you for letting us know, Julia.
Sharon wrote: I started out reading mostly westerns when I was still in grade school and not many of those have 'survived' the years, although I have a couple by Zane Grey and Max Brand I still read, more for the memories than the books themselves. Many of the Louis L'Amour books have stood the test of time for me however and I continue to re-read...."My favorite novel of all time is Lonesome Dove, which I consider post-western. It's 800+ pages, but not a single page is dull....
Mod
Lol. That is my good friend's favorite book, too. She's constantly trying to get people to read it.
Michelle L. wrote: "Sharon wrote: "And oddly enough, although he only went through the 3rd grade in school, he was the reader in our family. My grandmother had finished high school, something few girls did in those da..."Love this story!
In regards to the discussion topic, I don't think that anyone should stick to just one genre. Branch out and try things, even if you don't' like it, at least now you know that for sure. Personally I prefer sci-fi, fantasy, urban fiction, and occasionally a science oriented book (recommend Zimmer or Sagen). Occasionally i pick up something random to try. I really liked Racing in the Rain, a truly heartwarming tale and very different from my usual reads. So try something new!
I have a question for all of you.I really have a problem with Epic Fantasy. I have tried and tried, but I just can't get into it. It is not that everything I read has to take place in modern times, for I love Historical fiction.
I read the first few chapters of Geist and really had to force myself. Finally I could not resist taking a peak into A Fistful of Sky which arrived at the same time ,and the opposite happened! Since starting it, I have been having hard time putting it down!
I am just curious if anyone else here is also that way?
Jalilah wrote: "I have a question for all of you.I really have a problem with Epic Fantasy. I have tried and tried, but I just can't get into it. It is not that everything I read has to take place in modern times..."
I know a lot of people who like fantasy but only like it to take place in a version of our world. I came late to urban fantasy because I was the opposite. Any fantasy that took place in our world immediately turned me off. For years, I just couldn't get into any of them no matter how hard I tried. I think it was more difficult for me to suspend disbelief if the places were real or obviously based on real places. It wasn't until three years ago or so that I started to enjoy them.
Mod
I really have a problem with Epic Fantasy. I have tried and tried, but I just can't get into it. It is not that everything I read has to take place..."
That's the opposite of me. I have a hard time getting into fantasy because there always seems to be so much back story involved that I get weighed down. At least with UF, the setting is familiar enough for me to concentrate on the story.
I think there's epic and high fantasy that works for me and urban fantasy that works for me. And may work for you.Here's some of my favorite epic or high fantasy:
Furies of Calderon
]The Curse of Chalion[[bookcover:Luck in the Shadows|74270]Luck in the Shadows
]The Mists of Avalon
Swordspoint
Julia wrote: "I think there's epic and high fantasy that works for me and urban fantasy that works for me.Here's some of my favorite epic or high fantasy:
[bookcover:The C..."
I loved the Codex Alera books!
Honestly, I accept only two genres in general: fiction (fantasy) and non-fiction (not fantasy). Since people on Goodreads like to place books on 100+ different shelves/genres, I stick to fantasy (labeled) alone. Sometimes it´s labeled as urban fantasy, sometimes it´s not. In any case, I´m part of this group because I hoped I´d get more book's recommendations as Fever by Karen Marie Moning and Graveyard Queen by Amanda Stevens - the only series labeled as UF that I liked.
I just recently started reading UF. I read a lot of it right now since it is my latest obsession but I read mysteries, thrillers, love women detective type series, sci fi, fantasy, a little YA, not much on erotica but I did love 50 shades lol. Haven't ever read any magical realist novels, I might have to check that out.
Mod
I read from all kinds of genres. Right now, I'm reading a historical fiction novel that I *love* called The Light Between Oceans. I can't read too much of the same kind of book for too long. I get bored and need a change.
That's coincidental or something, Michelle. I finished reading The Light Between Oceans just Monday. We're discussing it tonight with my RL book group. I found it similar up to a point with a more magical book along similar lines called The Snow Child.
Mod
I've never heard of the Snow Child, but I'm adding it to my TBR pile. I'm up next to host my 'real life' book club and that might be just the ticket. I'd be curious to hear what your group thought about LBO.
I read traditional fantasy as well, currently Theft of Swords and Beyond Shadows..I like my fantasy seasoned with the bite of criminal intrigue sometimes. Whenever reading totally out of fantasy/urban f/horror, I usually pick up David Baldacci, who writes a good military and political thriller.
Scott wrote: "I read traditional fantasy as well, currently Theft of Swords and Beyond Shadows..I like my fantasy seasoned with the bite of criminal intrigue sometimes. Whenever reading totally out of fantasy/u..."You know I have never read a book by David Baldacci before which one would you recommend to start with?
I tend to read a little sci-fi, traditional or epic fantasy, non-fiction policy or sociology type books and historical romance
When I'm not reading UF, I'm reading crime fiction, mysteries (which includes cozies when I'm in the mood for no-brainer fluff), historical fiction, sci fi, steampunk, some PNR but it's not really my cup of tea. I tend to steer clear of most YA because there is usually a love triangle involved and that's become a sure way for a book/series to get booted off my TBR list.
Veronica G. wrote: " ...I tend to steer clear of most YA because there is usually a love triangle involved and that's become a sure way for a book/series to get booted off my TBR list. "So true!!
Mod
So true!!"
Lol. That's a lot of the reason why I read YA. I like romance, but so much of the adult romance is too descriptive if you know what I mean. The YA romances tend to be softer.
As for Baldacci, start with either Last Man Standing or Absolute Power (Book is much better than movie)
I mostly read non fiction. I like books about niche subjects, like the history of ambergris or the olive oil trade.
I love reading all sub-categories of Fantasy. I pretty much read an equal amount of each, but I also read a lot of sci-fi and thrillers.
I read a lot of history, high fantasy, other fantasy, science fiction, and assorted other things in odd corners.
Like J.B.I used to read a lot of "sword and sorcery" such as Robert Jordon and that ilk. I read a lot of thrillers, mystery, some horror (if it is well written). Not a lot of non fiction unless we are talking about Michio Kaku or Richard Feynman. I will research topics, of course - physics, biology, geology, astrophysics, but I rarely sit down and read a full book on the subject unless it is Michio or Richard, or maybe Greene. I tend to laser down to a particular point in my non fiction reading. So many books and topics, so little time!
Mod
. I love the TV show, and the book has been very helpful in answering questions that I had. But it is so long!!
No matter how slowly you're reading Game Of Thrones, Michelle, you can bet it's a lot faster than George R. R. Martin is writing book six! ;)2015 at the earliest...
I read loads of different genres as well as Paranormal/ Urban Fantasy, I love thrillers, some sci fi, horror, crime - love Robert B Parker's Spenser books, tho mainly for Hawk and was very disappointed in Sixkill as Hawk wasn't blinkin in it! I've always read a host of different kind of books but always have PN/UF on my device ready to read if I get bored of what I'm reading.
I read UF/paranormal/steampunk, some PNR, and a smidge of contemporary (preferably with elements of magical realism), and the occasional YA middle grade book. My books are all typically under the large banner usually: escapist *-^
So, I Read This Book Today wrote: "Yes - I share your banner!!" Ha Ha. :) *salutes*
For a non UF with a really supernatural thread, and a lot of thriller/suspense/military evil: http://soireadthisbooktoday.com/2014/...
Urban Fantasy
Books mentioned in this topic
Sister Mine (other topics)Flight (other topics)
Like Water for Chocolate (other topics)
Kindred (other topics)
Like Water for Chocolate (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Diana Gabaldon (other topics)Lois McMaster Bujold (other topics)
When I discovered the Louis L'Amour books and started reading them, with every one of them I saw my grandfather as a young man when I visualized the main character.