Dresden Files discussion
Novel series like the Dresden Files?
message 51:
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Mike (the Paladin), White Council
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Aug 04, 2011 08:24PM
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I think I first mentioned Child of Fire and Game of Cages along with some others you might like, and a few others also mentioned them later. Glad you enjoyed them- did you get a kick out of Annaliese? I thought she was a great character. I read a very new book recently- Low Town by Daniel Polansky- more fantasy than UF, but has some of the flavor of Dresden, Connolly and Charlie Huston- very dark.
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Yes Annliese was my favorite character. Shes a pure badass. Wish she was in GoC a little more but she was awesome in what she was in. She needs to balance her diet though.
Alright I'll check Low Town out after i read Confessions of a D-list Supervillain. It had me with just the title.
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Confessions of a D-list is on my TBR list too, hope it lives up to the title. And I will definitely look for Circle of Enemies.
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Been reading CoaDSV I thought itd be different. The pacing is way too fast.
Another great mage/ detective is John Constantine (Hellraiser Comics). The movie was not very good (in my opinion) but the comics from the 80's and 90's were amazing (darker than The Dresden Files though), but JC is a cynical character who faces some really nasty, sick enemies. I think they are available in compilations.Also- does anyone else do this?- I try to alternate reading fantasy and "literary fiction". I find that it cleanses the palate.
A few people above mentioned the Joe Pitt books. My wife loved them. I plan to try to the first book sometime next year.
Hi Armand, I love the Joe Pitt books- but they are very brutal. I alternate genres or sub genres to avoid feeling like I am reading the same story over and over. but I rarely read literary fiction these days, I tend to juggle dark urban fantasy-light urban fantasy- SF- mystery-steampunk-other fantasy (like Amanda Downum's fabulous The Drowning City). Would you consider The Raw Shark Texts or JeanetteWinterson's Lighthousekeeping or Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow literary fiction? They all have fantastic elements but are "real" (not escapist, throwaway books).
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Hi Tasula- I had not heard of the books that you mentioned (Raw Shark Texts. etc.) but I'll check them out! I guess when I say literary fiction, I mean stories that generally either have no fantasy or they leave the fantasy ambiguous, but also novels that focus on more on personal plot events instead of "let's save the day" plots. A few that jump to mind are "Atonement", "The Shipping News", and "Empire Falls". Or older stuff from the 1800's (although when it comes to old literature, I tend to read short stories) Like you, however, I like to vary my reading schedule because if I read too many of the same type of book in a row, it starts to bother me.
I have to check out the books you mentioned. There are so many good authors that we can never read them all, it's good to get ideas from like-minded friends.
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Synopsis looks alright but the reveiws on amazon are mixed just putting it out there.
MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.
When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….
As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands….
Darkfever is a very well known and popular urban fantasy/PNR book. Karen Marie Moning writes mostly PNR- Scottish warrior filled books. Darkfever is more oriented to UF, but still has PNR aspects, and quite a bit of explicit sex later in the series. Altho I am not a PNR fan, I read and enjoyed this series as a change from the usual UF/Fantasy I read, sort of a guilty pleasure.
Cjpines wrote: "My first post in the group so first I'd like to thank you all for the advice on other books in the same general feel as Butchers Dresden files. Looking forward to Midnight Riot.That said I have a..."
I highly recommend this series to try! It has that same "feel" to the point of view of Harry, similar satire and wit. I really enjoy this series!Book two and three:
Alana wrote: "Cjpines wrote: "My first post in the group so first I'd like to thank you all for the advice on other books in the same general feel as Butchers Dresden files. Looking forward to Midnight Riot.Th..."
I also recommend the Iron Druid series. Powerful magical guy, funny and sarcastic, fighting against enemies? Check. Not as much mystery as the Dresden Files, though.
I would recommend the Repairmen Jack series from Wilson. This one and Nghtside are close to Dresden.Jack is very much like Dresden's character. It is not wizards and demons but it very close in plot and character development.
Jack fights an ultimate evil over some 16 books with an actual end story.Characters, as in Dresden, come and go and die.
Try the first in the series called the Tomb.
Just got through reading the first Sandman Slim novel like a number of people recommended on here and I really enjoyed it. Although I felt it was a bit more like the Nightside series than Dresden.
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Please do Angie... the dog Oberon is so funny!
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John wrote: "I would recommend the Repairmen Jack series from Wilson. This one and Nghtside are close to Dresden.Jack is very much like Dresden's character. It is not wizards and demons but it very close in..."
I've actually read about 5 books in that series. I enjoy it, but I dislike that Jack doesn't have powers that Dresden has. I feel that the series would be better without the scary weird magical elements.
@Mike: I disliked the Sandman Slim book extremely. First, it was very dark. Second, though the guy acted tough, he didn't seem to be that powerful.
The Iron Druid series is great. Has some of the same sarcasm as the Dresden Files.
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A freind of mine just turned me onto the Mathew Swift Series by Kate Griffin. It has a very Dresden feel of urban magic but set in London. The first Book "A Madness of Angels" Begins with the main chracter being resurected from the dead and trying to discover not only who killed him, but who brought him back.
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Love the Twenty Places series so far I'm willing myself not to read the third one yet.
The Nightside books are alright. I really couldn't careless about the characters and the twist in the first book was stupid. Plus all the main character has is a death staredown and the ablity to find things none of the time.
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Love the Twenty Places series so far I'm willing myself not to read the third one yet.
The Nightside ..."
I'm a big fan of the Twenty Palaces Series! It's worth the wait to read it.
Eh, the main character in Nightside gets better powers as he goes along (at least near the end). He's just too scared to use his finding powers, lol.
Nightside simon green great
Seanan McGuire's October Daye series is the second favorite urban fantasy series.they are funny and full of action try them.
Not sure about the October Daye series...I've had some tell me the main character often has to rely on the others for help...
LaserWraith wrote: "Not sure about the October Daye series...I've had some tell me the main character often has to rely on the others for help..."Yes, and no... for example- she needed help to get to a specific place and know what the "rules" were, but once she was there- it was all up to her. I really like October Daye, too- and it's very light on any girly girly romance (first few books have almost none except for playful banter)
Dresden gets help from many of his friends... very regularly in his books.....
LaserWraith wrote: "Not sure about the October Daye series...I've had some tell me the main character often has to rely on the others for help..."Not more than any other UF heroes,you can also try sandman slim series.
Alana wrote: Yes, and no... for example- she needed help to ge..."What abilities/powers/fighting skills does October Daye have? Powers that would help her survive and hopefully kill the bad guys.
Alana wrote: "Dresden gets help from many of his friends... very regularly in his books....."
Yes, but you know he has his own power and can stand with the best of them, at least in the middle to late parts of the series.
Krishna wrote: "Not more than any other UF heroes,you can also try sandman slim series."
Too many UF books, in my opinion, feature a protagonist that gets all brave and noble, and gets into something beyond their abilities and has to be rescued. In fact, just about all of them feature some pretty, supposedly "kick-ass" female protag who ends up getting saved by her handsome tough strong muscly male boyfriend.
Which is one reason I prefer UF books from the POV of a male: usually they have less chance of being wimpy or weak.
However...I did say usually. The protag in Sandman Slim seemed not to be too special, or at least was quite dumb (as in getting into situations over his head). The tone was extremely depressing to me as well.
LaserWraith wrote: "LaserWraith | 7 comments Alana wrote: Yes, and no... for example- she needed help to ge..."What abilities/powers/fighting skills does October Daye have? Powers that would help her survive and hopefully kill the bad guys.
Well, I really don't want to giveaway major plot developments- so anyone who hasn't gotten into book 3 or 4, please don't read the spoiler (view spoiler) So she does has natural inherent ability to protect herself and fight bad guys.
Alana wrote: "Dresden gets help from many of his friends... very regularly in his books....."
Yes, but you know he has his own power and can stand with the best of them, at least in the middle to late parts of the series.
Yes, but often would not have prevailed without the help of his friends. October often doesn't have back-up. It's her against the big bad. Dresden- while powerful, and I love his character (I'm not saying by any means October is better or anything) -he often has backup. He can't always prevail without the backup he has at that moment.
Krishna wrote: "Not more than any other UF heroes,you can also try sandman slim series."
Too many UF books, in my opinion, feature a protagonist that gets all brave and noble, and gets into something beyond their abilities and has to be rescued. In fact, just about all of them feature some pretty, supposedly "kick-ass" female protag who ends up getting saved by her handsome tough strong muscly male boyfriend.
Which is one reason I prefer UF books from the POV of a male: usually they have less chance of being wimpy or weak.
Perfectly understandable, and you are right. But there are "gems" out there- I think Kate Daniels
Magic Bites and Elena Angels' Blood are excellent examples of women who hold their own without always getting saved by the guy- Kate even more so than Elena.
However...I did say usually. The protag in Sandman Slim seemed not to be too special, or at least was quite dumb (as in getting into situations over his head). The tone was extremely depressing to me as well. "
I haven't read Sandman Slim so I can't say one way or the other on this.
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It gets better with each book... and painfully slowly builds with a little romance...
It's almost more like innuendo than romance
However...I did say usually. The protag in Sandman Slim seemed not to be too special, or at least was quite dumb (as in getting into situations over his head). The tone was extremely depressing to me as well. "I like the gritty UF like Joe Pitt and Felix castor, sandman is like that.the setting is good and they have an interesting take on the christian mythology.he isn't dumb he is just pissed off that he had to live in hell for 11 years and bent on revenge.
I've also listened to a couple of October daye novels on audio and the narrator is excellent.
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I really like this book too!
Alana wrote: "Well, I really don't want to giveaway major plot developments- so anyone who hasn't gotten into book 3 or 4, please don't read the spoiler (view spoiler) So she does has natural inherent ability to protect herself and fight bad guys."Thanks, I actually like reading spoilers and wish reviews included them more often. (No, I'm not being sarcastic :P )
The main problem is that I associate myself with the main character. I want that character to have powers that his companions recognize, that the MC can stand his own with his companions and against the enemies. Must be something left over from my childhood practice of having me be the hero in all my imaginary stories... :)
Anyway, so I just wanted to make sure that October Daye wouldn't "jar" that mindset much, and usually the way I can tell is if the MC just has a lot of powers and a fair amount of brains.
Dresden- while powerful, and I love his character (I'm not saying by any means October is better or anything) -he often has backup. He can't always prevail without the backup he has at that moment.
True. But he has brains and is pretty effective in a fight. And I really can't wait for Cold Days: (view spoiler)
Perfectly understandable, and you are right. But there are "gems" out there- I think Kate Daniels' Magic Bites and Elena Angels' Blood are excellent examples of women who hold their own without always getting saved by the guy- Kate even more so than Elena.
Magic Bites and the rest of the series was good. That werelion guy, the main boyfriend, was quite annoying, but whatever. As for Angels' Blood...the summary hints of romance (which I usually dislike from the POV of the female): "Hired by the dangerously beautiful archangel Raphael... , ... succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just might."
Maybe because the males in the romance are usually too mysterious and powerful for my liking. With Dresden, his only "girlfriends" are a reporter and, maybe, a cop.
I just started Rosemary and Rue, about a third of the way through it. Don't know enough to say much. It's not Harry but so far it's not bad. It helps that (so far st least) it is UF not PNR as so many of the books I've been recommended lately have been. I think the world she's building could use some firming up, but we'll see.
That's assuring, since I enjoy the same fiction books as you about 90% of the time. :)
It gets better with each book... and painfully slowly builds with a little romance...
I hope it ain't a mysterious guy or a love triangle. :P
I like the gritty UF like Joe Pitt and Felix castor, sandman is like that.the setting is good and they have an interesting take on the christian mythology.he isn't dumb he is just pissed off that he had to live in hell for 11 years and bent on revenge.
See? Revenge is unprofessional and usually leads to dumb actions.
Don't care for the Castor novels, to each their own.
Ditto. :)
No worries about a love triangle... more like there is one character that does little things throughout the books- it gives you the idea of something under the surface- similar to how it was with Kate and Curran in the first two books- nothing outright obvious but it's there. And she had a human husband, and a little girl before the first book even begins. So she has "baggage" and being a changeling adds it's own social problems with would-be suitors. The most romance I think I've read in her books was the most recent- One Salt Sea. And there were a few "triangle love" type awkward moments- but I would by no means describe the book as a love triangle.October is softer than Dresden. It's a different world than Dresden's Chicago. While I find much humor in the October Daye series, it cannot rival the humor of the Dresden Files. But, I still feel someone looking for something else to read between the latest Dresden Files could enjoy October Daye.
There is magic, action, mystery, mermaids, kitsune (fox-like with many tails), sea witch, Daoine Sidhe (spelling could be off) ...
Ah, you've convinced me...I'll push it up my to-read list. :)
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and it must have been mentioned before, but I'll mention it again... I love the Iron Druid Chronicles... highly recommend them. VERY funny- like Dresden funny- almost - pretty much zero romance, little "nookie" even, action, and think Bob from Dresden, but turn him into a more innocent personality stuck inside a dog that Atticus (the main character) can mentally talk to.Great stuff.
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