The Sword and Laser discussion

537 views
Are there any "high fantasy" books that take place in the 20th century?

Comments Showing 51-63 of 63 (63 new)    post a comment »
« previous 1 2 next »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 51: by Joe Informatico (new)

Joe Informatico (joeinformatico) | 888 comments I haven't read it myself, but Harry Turtledove's The Darkness series is a high-fantasy version of World War II.


message 52: by Viola (new)

Viola | 188 comments In The Devil You Know magic is known to everyone but few can actaully use it, I think, long time since I read it. It is sort of like the Dresden Files but much darker.


message 53: by Allison (new)

Allison Brown (alliekat893) It has been a while since I read it but I think Knight Life by Peter David is modern high fantasy. Also, Simon R Green's Night side series.


message 54: by Skip (new)

Skip | 517 comments Pouria wrote: "I haven't read the Shadowrun books myself, as it is a pen and paper RPG world and I don't want to "ruin" or "change" the world me and my friends have built on, but if might fit well for you, link provided below."

I really wouldn't worry about it, as the different authors took different tacks at the series, and the impact of certain characters changed over the course of the game and series development.

If you want to taste a sampling you can a short piece by Tom Dowd here.

I'd also suggest the works of Ben Aaronovitch, though it isn't really high fantasy, it does get close.

And since no one else suggested it, I would suggest the Amber series by Roger Zelazny. Very high fantasy, multiple worlds, including ours.


message 55: by Clare (new)

Clare (claremac) | 8 comments Ilona Andrews Edge series was mentioned. She also has another series, The Magic series, that fits what you are describing. In this world there is magic and tech, and when there is a magic surge , tech crashes. Magic's power has destroyed a lot of the modern infrastructure, and there are all sorts of magical creatures, beings, and even some sort of evil and powerful King, Roland.


message 56: by Joseph (new)

Joseph | 2433 comments A bit further off the mark, but there's also books set in the D&D game world Eberron, which is definitely a fantasy world but is a bit more advanced than, say, the Forgotten Realms -- they have railroads (or railroad analogues) and the like. The City of Towers by Keith Baker, for example.


message 57: by David (new)

David Newhall | 41 comments Did I miss mention of Zelazny's Amber series? I'd call that high fantasy and it starts out in a Mercedes.


message 58: by Paul (new)

Paul Cassidy | 9 comments how about "The Iron Druid Chronicles". it has it all gods, demons, knights, sword play, magic good and bad. it is a fantastic series that starts out in modern Tempe, AZ.


message 59: by Wiml (new)

Wiml | 1 comments If Max Gladstone's Craft series and WJW's Metropolitan books are in the right direction, then the Detective-Inspector Chen series by Liz Williams (Snake Agent et seq.) probably is too.


message 60: by Leland (new)

Leland (lelandhw) Paul wrote: "how about "The Iron Druid Chronicles". it has it all gods, demons, knights, sword play, magic good and bad. it is a fantastic series that starts out in modern Tempe, AZ."

I was just going to mention this one too. It's also pretty humorous, or so I've been told (It's at the top of my TBR, but the wife is reading this series right now.)


message 61: by Martin (new)

Martin (martinc36au) | 91 comments Gaimans Neverwhere might fit the bill


message 62: by Eric (new)


message 63: by Sue (new)

Sue (spaltor) | 10 comments I just scrolled through the other comments quickly, so forgive me if I missed someone else mentioning it, but I immediately thought of Jasper Fforde's Last Dragonslayer Series. It's YA, and only the first 2 books are out so far, but very much enjoying these.


« previous 1 2 next »
back to top