Cold Days
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Series to Read While Waiting for the Next Dresden Files Book
I've read much of the other options.Anybody read Zero Sight or Zero Sum by B. Justin Shier? Only two books out but they were fun.
J. Abram Barneck
Fire Light
I've only got two more Jim Butcher books to finish and they are both from his other series. I read the Dresden files twice in the last 6 months. Jim Butcher has done a great job of developing characters you can't stop reading about. It's not so much the magic part that keeps me coming back to read his works, as it is the relationships between the characters. I'll have to make a list of all the suggestions here but I am wondering of all these suggestions, which are good for their other world content and which are due to characters?
You should probably also take a look at this list:https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
J. Abram Barneck
Fire Light
Jim butcher is the the best out there.There are a lot of dresden clones like iron druid by kevin hearne,alex versus by benedit jacka or nightside or felix castor.But Tim marquitz's Demon squad offers something different in characters as well as the world.The protagonist is a very repulsive porn addict nephew of lucifer,and is more of an underdog than dresden ever was.The world is a world forsaken by both god and lucifer.This is the only series in paranormal genre that repulsed me captivated me in equal measures after i read dresden files and it keeps its individuality.
For those following this thread, Jim Butcher tweeted yestersay morning that he only has the wrap-up chapter left. Then the manuscript for the latest nook hoes to the publisher!
I saw this post because I am also looking for a Jim Butcher like series. I found this post from a google search. So I signed up to GoodReads just to comment.Rioxx wrote: "Blood Song"
Not sure about Epic Fantasy over stuff that takes place today.
Rena wrote: Moon Called which is about a coyote shapeshifter, it has got werewolves and fairy folk in it as well. As in Dresden I love that about him,..."
I read Moon Called. Good but I like it when regular people don't know about the weird stuff.
J. wrote: "Zero Sight or Zero Sum by B. Justin Shier"
I added this to my "To-read" which I realize now I over-filled during the sign-up process. Too many books to click on.
J. I also noticed your signature and how you linked to Fire Light which is about a guy casting a magic missile. I'm interested.
And thanks for the link to the list.
It's been mentioned before, but I am thoroughly enjoying the Rivers of London books by Ben Aaronovitch. Start with Midnight Riot then Moon Over Soho. Police Constable Peter Grant is an apprentice wizard who is smart, funny, actually gets laid once in awhile and isn't walking around angry all the time like Dresden.http://www.the-folly.com/books/
WooHoo!!!Per a tweet by Butcher, the most satisfactory words an author can put down in paper is "The End", and so it seems Skin Game is done!!
Now it's off to the publisher and the excruciating wait for it's release!!
I'll need to look into a few of the books suggested on this thread!
I love the Dresden Files also. Maybe try Glenn Cooks Garrett, P.I. series. Charlaine Harris Southern Vampire series is very good. Also Simon R. Greens Nightside and Secret Histories are excellent. I have found all of those suggested to be very good substitutes for the Dresden Files.
I haven't read it yet but I found an interesting looking book called "Kindling the Moon" by Jenn Bennett which is about a magician on the run. If anyone reads it please tell me what you think. Also, another urban fantasy is A "Devil in the Details" by K.A Stewart which I read the first chapter of and it isn't quite Dresden-ey from what I read but it just might help the wait for the next book seem so painful.
Robert Aspirin's Myth series is very interesting as well as his Phule series. Myth is magic oriented and Phule is military adventure. both have a lot of humor, and action.
For something along the same lines to The Dresden Files (ish), I actually quite enjoyed Kim Harrison's 'Weather Warden' series that started with Ill WInd
Taskeen wrote: "check out kevin hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles and and Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series. both are really really similar to dresden files with the Iron Druid Chronicles being nearly as good, IMO"i got as far as "luck of the Irish" and 'Atticus O’Sullivan"in the blurb and instantly hated it, being Irish myselfi find nothing is more insulting than this yank cliche-Irish drivel
I, too, like P.N. Elrod. Try The Hollows by Kim Harrison. She started writing them around the same time as Butcher started Dresden. (She's ending them in the next two books, as well.) Her Rachel has a lot of Dresden's snark. Another series, is Jeri Ready-Smith's radio station series (I forget the exact name.) It is really funny. As is Mark Henry's zombie series. Also, Julie Kenner's Demon-hunting series is great. I mean laugh out loud great.
Ross, if this where FB I'd like your post.
Something else I thought of and didn't see mentioned is Mark Tufo's Zombie Fallout series. There are currently 7 but I am only through 4. The lead character is a riot.
Libriomancer, by Jim C. Hines
I just finished Angel's Ink which is about a tattoo artist who is an outcast warlock. The 1st book was a bit scattered on what was the main storyline, but the characters are interesting and there is good groundwork set for future books, of which there is one so far.
Jordan wrote: "Libriomancer, by Jim C. Hines"I loved this book and can hardly wait for the next one.
Jim Hines' follow up to Libromancer is out. It's called Codex Born.
Howard wrote: "Jim Hines' follow up to Libromancer is out. It's called Codex Born."Yeah!!!!
Meredith wrote: "Howard wrote: "Jim Hines' follow up to Libromancer is out. It's called Codex Born."Yeah!!!!"
It was good too. :-)
Just finished The Necromancer's House by Christopher Buehlman. While not a series, you may enjoy it. It has many of the same elements of Dresden, but very different.
Ok here it is. I read #1 garett pi and the book is good. The story is interesting yet sometimes wandering . I started reading it and let other books lie while I finished this tome. Then I stated and Alex Verus novel and was hooked on page one. 4 chapters in and I had to thank the person who listed this reference. This book could have been written by Jim Butcher. The Dresden like characters and story line hook ed me fast. Similarities abound . Alex was an apprentice to a dark mage and trouble ensues, he has a female friend, is at odds with the council, and there is a Morgan like character. Also you have to love Starbreeeze.I also enjoyed Sandman SLIM THE FIRST NOVEL
J. wrote: "I've read much of the other options.Anybody read Zero Sight or Zero Sum by B. Justin Shier? Only two books out but they were fun.
The Zero series is GREAT!!! The only downside..... The author is going to medical school and we are now waiting (and have been) for book three........
Men of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong is very good. I wish the narrator, Charles Leggett had more books like this in his repertoire.
You might like to try Grave Witch, Kalayna Price's Alex Craft series. She's a PI, but can also raise shades (not ghosts) of the dead.
Sounds good, I'll try them!
Ross wrote: "Taskeen wrote: "check out kevin hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles and and Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series. both are really really similar to dresden files with the Iron Druid Chronicles being nearl..."Kevin really doesn't mention the fact that Atticus is Irish that much at all. Yes, there's a few jokes here and there, but every race has a stereotype, and it's sometimes good to see the humor in yours. I definitely wouldn't stay away from it because of stereotypes, though, as Kevin likes to stress how much Atticus accepts everybody.
Like many others here, I have read both the "Alex Verus" and "Rivers of London" series and liked them very much - definitely worthy complements to the Dresden Files. I am personally weary about the "Iron Druid" series after reading the synopsis and have not started it for that reason - I personally do not like books where the hero is SOOOO smart that he can outmaneuvre everything that might come his way ... then it is most likely no longer interesting - and the book description and some critics gave me the idea that this might be the shortfall of the Iron Druid chronicles (like Jim Butchers "Codex Alera" series ... in that one, you can also always count upon the hero having a last-minute plan to resort to to overcome all the things that are stacked against him).
I would like to endorse, however, an additional series: The "Night Watch" by Russian author Andreij Lukyanenko. The first book in the series was written already some time ago (1998), and it is a great series about the struggle between good and evil, or, more precisely, the "business" equilibrium that the light and the dark side have arrived at after centuries of being at each others throats, and how the forces of good and evil try to keep that equilibrium more or less stable, while at the same time trying to work out any advantage possible. The hero Anton Gorodetskiy is an underpaid middle-ranking light magician who is often the unwitting pawn in the chess game between the light and dark masters and trying to do his best to not get killed while helping to keep the good side on top. The first book in the series is called "The Night Watch", and is definitely worth a read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Wa...
Best regards,
Andy
Have you read Mike Carey yet? He wrote the Felix Castor series, starting with The Devil You Know. He's a natural storyteller and one of my favorite finds of 2013. If you like Night Watch, check out Mike Carey.
Wdmoor, thank you for the tip, however, something very strange here ... "Devil You Know" seems to be not available in Kindle edition (but #2 - #4 of the series are)
John Hartness' series "Black Knight Chronicles" is a really good Dresden-esque set. There are 4. The main character is a vampire, but it's the same overall 'feel' and tone as the Dresden books. I liked them very much.
for those who recommended Ben Aaronovitchs'"Rivers of London" series, they should also look at "London Falling" by Paul Cornell. It's similar tone - urban fantasy set in contemporary london with a strong focus on police procedural. if anything it's darker than Rivers of London (which i loved).i saw this link in someone's review. quite helpful when looking for ideas in urban fantasy
http://s3.postimg.org/bdjnau1xf/ufg2.png
I would definitely recommend the Iron Druid books, as well as the Felix Castor and Sandman Slim books. I've read all the Nightside books, and I enjoy them, but they definitely don't have as much meat as the Dresden Files or the above mentioned series. I loved the Abercrombie books, especially the beginning trilogy, but they are different in texture from the other series.
Tom wrote: "I would definitely recommend the Iron Druid books, as well as the Felix Castor and Sandman Slim books. I've read all the Nightside books, and I enjoy them, but they definitely don't have as much me..."I recently finished up the Felix Castor series by Mike Carey and I'm working my way through the Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey. I love that the urban fantasy field has attracted such intense and talented writers.
I'm about finished with the second Alex Verus book by Jacka. These are interesting with the only real issue I'm having is that despite the main character's wide range of knowledge, he seems to periodically forget it all. Ok, not really, but when he relates specific knowledge in one chapter and then two chapters down he runs into a relevant situation he goes in blind. More maddening is his constant references to his "missing something". Causes a plausibility issue in my head.
Are you kidding none of this stuff is plausible. We as readers always suspend plausibility to read any supernatural, urban fantasy, space opera, or any other fictional genre just to enjoy the story. It's all about the readability, humor, and action.I also just finished the second Verus book and i fell in love with Seabreeze. She is real .... right. not just plausible.
Love to all:
The Red Wolf
Let me clarify.I am not talking about plausibility as in it could be real. As you say, we all suspend our sense of reality as it relates to the world we live in. I am talking about the plausibility of the specific character within the world created by the author as an effective mage, and find that I have less success in feeling for the character.
Note though that I will likely still pick up book three. Heck, I read the first three Iron Druid books and the Alex Verus books are much better!
Have also read "London Falling", and found it quite good. The unusual thing (in the fantasy genre) was that that the protagonists (London policemen) get confronted with an evil spirit and need to come up with conventional ways to battle it, not having any expierence or exposure to magic. Thanks to John for the suggestion!Downside is that it seems to be a single book (or the relevant series just remains to be written). Am now on to "Monster Hunters International" based on good reviews on other forums.
Best regards,
Andy
Nightside by Simon R. Green. John Taylor, the main character is very similar to Harry Dresden. It's an urban supernatural P.I. series. I've actually referred to the Nightside series the British version of the Dresden Files before.
I'd disagree. Simon R. Greenin general is to vulgar to be called anything near Dresden. British Dresden would more likely be Peter Grant series. I do love Simon R. Green (he's one of my top 5), but he uses too much profanity for him to be like the more clean and chivalrous Dresden. Then there's also the fact that he's a lot more detailed with his world. While I like the Dresden Files more than Simon's universe, it's much more in-depth than Butcher's.
Andreas wrote: "Thanks to John for the suggestion! Downside is that it seems to be a single book (or the relevant series just remains to be written)."You're welcome! Book #2 apparently is due out May 2014...i'm chewing my nails just waiting for this one while i'm waiting for the next Dresden which i'll read while waiting for the next iron druid etc etc...
Monster Hunter and Grimnoir Chronicles are great pulpy reads. enjoy!
Damian wrote: "I'd disagree. Simon R. Greenin general is to vulgar to be called anything near Dresden..."
heh going slightly OT, in terms of vulgarity, i reckon Sandman Slim is a serious contender. still enjoy the darkness of Richard Kadrey's writing
Damian wrote: "British Dresden would more likely be Peter Grant series. "
or possibly Felix Castor? especially early Dresden. don't get me wrong I love the Peter Grant series but as a PC he is part of an established order with the organisation resources to support him. Castor is a bit of an outsider just like the other maverick in Chicago...
I would definitely recommend the Simon R. Green Nightside novels, and also his Secret Histories series. In fact I have thoroughly enjoyed everything he has written.
Freya wrote: "I would definitely recommend the Simon R. Green Nightside novels, and also his Secret Histories series. In fact I have thoroughly enjoyed everything he has written."Agreed. I'm actually in the process of going through the series again (again) right now.
I also would recommend the Steven Brust Novels. Vlad Taltos is very much in the vein of Harry Dresden/John Taylor and the books are High Fantasy, rather than Contemporary Fantasy. Really great reads all of them.
I'm really enjoying Mike Shevdon's Courts of the Feyre series. Starting with the book Sixty-One Nails, it's the tale of Niall Peterson who stumbles into the world of the Fae when he has a "heart attack" in the London Underground. Very similar to Neverwhere but still very good in my opinion.
A short update, as I mentioned earlier that I am now reading "Monster Hunter International" ... I am 40 % into the first book, and I guess I will not be continuing much longer.What shall I say, the book can most likely be characterized as "controversial". Some people will love it, some will not.
So, why am I one of the few who do not like the book?
Well ... how shall I put it ... the suggestion read "If you like monsters and guns, then you will love that". Hmm, sounded pretty innocent.
I would like to put that a little more precisely ... "If you like to play with your guns and knives every evening before going to bed, think that the NRA is the greatest invention of mankind, and want to read lots and lots about that, and something about monsters, then you will love that".
Now, I can bear with the gun porn that makes up about 30 % of the narration - actually, the guns are the only thing that is somehow characterized and described in detail, so this is most likely actually a plus (if you LIKE guns)
I can - barely - bear with the incredibly shallow characters ... hmm, well, the heroes are super-awesome, and everybody else is super-bad (which, of course, especially includes also any kind of "government" person mentioned in the book).
I can - barely - bear with the right-wing spew that Mr. Correia has to regurgitate at every possible occasion ... if you are a "Tea Party" supporter, you will love the book. If not, hmm.
BUT ... the dialogue, the story, which is basically an endless repetition of firefights with ever more ugly monsters... that is becoming increasingly unbearable.
I personally guess I will not read much further, as my time is too valuable for this. I will rather re-read some other, half-decent fantasy book. Should have read that book when I was 13, then I would most likely have liked it.
So, go figure. I guess many of you will like the book, and many others might rather go for Rivers of London, Alex Verus, and Night Watch instead.
Best regards,
Andy
Eric wrote: "My first suggestion would have been the Iron Druid series as well. Since that's been covered I'll recommend Spider's Bite
. Its the first in the Elemental Assas..."I really enjoyed the Elemental Assassin series...waiting on the next installment. There are so darn many series out there that I follow. Dresden, Mercy Thompson, Jane Yellowrock, Sandman Slim, the Greywalker books, the Joanne Walker books (by CE Murphey), the Nightside books, etc., etc., etc
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I defintely agreed with the Mercy Thompson recommendations - the entire series is pretty good- and I have only read the first in the Kitty series but they also seem fairly humorous UF. I am currently reading one other UF that is incredibly good - although the cover and title are sort of sucky - and that is "Death Ain't But a Word" about a crackhead that sees ghosts. I never thought I'd recommend a book with a crackhead as the hero but this is a different kind of book - read it, you'll see!