Dresden Files discussion
Novel series like the Dresden Files?
Mod
Have you found Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus books? My favorite "like Dresden" books so far."It's on my to-read list but work does get in the way of reading at times. BTW, for Gustanis, do note that his other (earlier) series, Quincey Morris Supernatural Investigations, is definitely not like Dresden.
Mod
Thanks for even more recommendations!@ Damian - I love The Druid Chronicles because Luke Daniels as the narrator of the audiobooks does an amazing job. Same with James Marsters narrating The Dresden Files. For health reasons, these days rather than read it, I listen to most of my fiction choices and a big factor in whether or not I stick with a book is the voice of the narrator. I'm not sure I would have even picked up many of the books to which I've listened. Atticus does get serious btw ;-), but Oberon never does LOL!
Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus books are not available on audiobook and at the moment there are no plans to offer that format. This is a great shame and I hope this changes some time soon (Benedict confirmed this to me on here, but he was in favour, so fingers crossed!).
Mod
Mike, what is your definition of Urban Fantasy? Cal Leandros has all the fantastical elements hidden within normal society like most other Urban Fantasy books. Just curious.I love Cal Leandros and I mean LOVE, but the series is VERY angsty. If you don't like angst, you'll hate them.
Mod
I consider Butcher's Dresden, Jacka, Simon Green's Secret History and the Nightside Series, The Repairman Jack series (and possibly Wilson's Adversary series which is a tie in/ cross over with Repairman Jack. These are also somewhat horror). You mentioned the Cal Leandros series, there's also Ben Aaronovitch Rivers of London series.
That pretty much answer what you wanted to know?
Sort of. I agree with your definition. My question is why you feel the Cal Leandros series doesn't fit that. I don't like stuff classified as PNR, either. I do like love in my stories, but I want it to be a subplot, and I want it to be real and ongoing. I want it to build over several books, not something that happens suddenly and then there's a new romance in the next book with new characters. Eww.
I liked some stuff about the Rivers of London series but not enough to keep going with it. I'm not quite sure why, though.
Mod
Have any of you read Larry Correia's Monster Hunter series? It has some elements that are similar to the Dresden Files, especially the abundance of ass-kicking.
Off to check out Aaronovitch and Gustanis. That's the great thing about reading groups -- you get so many good recs (hard on the wallet, though!).
Mod
BTW, I just started
and I'm enjoying the heck out of it. Two words: sentient mice.
I read that one, JP, and am eagerly awaiting the next installment.
I'd say that I'm the opposite Mike, I really like the Grimnoir Chronicles better than the MH books. Something about the main character just rubs me the wrong way.
Mod
I fully plan on reading all comments in this thread as this would've been my first post had this thread not already existed.Not having read it yet though, I don't know if this one has been suggested yet. Check out the "Iron Druid Chronicles" very Dresdenesque
It looks like it has! Which is good! I really want some more like them and Dresden. I've wanted to try the Felix Castor series also....glad to see many enjoyed it.
@Allison, I really enjoy audiobooks as well and you're spot on about Marsters and the ID narrator. If you like a good story with GREAT narration Jim Dale does a FANTASTIC job.
I tried twice, but couldn't get into the MHI books because they were too comic book kapow bam boom for me. Will check out The Grimnoir Chronicles though and Discount Armageddon (InCryptid #1) by Seanan McGuire - thanks!Despite what I've said about PNR, I'm enjoying the Charley Davidson books by Darynda Jones. The first book isn't great, but the books that follow are better and made me want more (there are four in the series so far). This is definitely helped by the fact they are narrated by Lorelei King who is one of my favourite voice actors.
@ Magicmike I agree about Jim Dale! Lorelei King and Kate Reading are also superb.
I've listened to Kate Redding in the WoT series. Actually n the last one now!
Funny, I was thinking about tackling the WoT series next for a bit of a change!
I thought about it too, Alison but I've heard not so good stuff about the middle of the series from some friends that have read it.
Rj I've heard mixed things about the whole series and that's why I decided that in the end I needed just to give it a try myself.
Alex wrote: "You might try the Jeremiah Hunt series the first book is Eyes to See. It gets dark, great read"Please tell me he has some powers besides just seeing ghosts.
Alison, I remember LMAO at the first Darynda Jones book, but damned if I can remember much about it now. I have the next 2 TBR all the same.BTW, digging further into Discount Armageddon now (2 hour train trips will do that for a person) and have no complaints. I still adore the mice.
@JPerceval I have laughed out loud a couple of times now (I'm on book 4) - she's good at catching you unawares! I hope Discount Armageddon comes out in audiobook format soon because I do like the sound of it. ;-D
Here's the deal with the WoT...it's 15 books long and they're all 800-1100 pages a piece. It's an EPIC series, in all sense of the word. For those of us who've been reading it a long time...it was started 23 years ago. I myself started it 12 years ago. We had to wait for books. For a long time :). Additionally, this series has A LOT of "main" characters and when you get the the middle of a series like this there are a lot of things going on with people In diff places, so you run into that following some characters in be book with only touches on others and then in the next it's the same but with the opposite characters. This way it gets everyone in the same time point eventually. This happens in ASOIAF too, except grrm took 7 effing years before the latest was published. I digress.
In the end it's a LOOONG series, it will take you a LOT of time to read. iMHO is it worth it? Most definitely. It has great characters that develop wonderfully. It's a very rich and full world. There are some series that you enjoy the story's world, people and environment, but it's still like you are watching the world. In the WoT, you feel immersed in it, you know all and understand where and why etc... It's really great, don't pass it up.
Mod
Magicmike wrote: "It looks like it has! Which is good! I really want some more like them and Dresden. I've wanted to try the Felix Castor series also....glad to see many enjoyed it.
@Allison, I really enjoy audi..."
I wouldn't reommend the Felix Castor series. There's something about it I liked, but it is rather low on my "To read" list.
I rather liked Castor myself, its a lot darker than anything you'd find in most of the Dresden Files novels so keep that in mind if its not your thing, but they were very enjoyable. again, while ive said it before, best work i've seen out there compared to Butcher would be Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series, closely followed by the Iron Druid Chronicles.
ASOIAF is one of my favourite series and the one that really brought home how a good voice actor could make a huge difference, so I suspect that the WoT series read by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer will be right up my street. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series comes out in audiobook format soon. ;-)
Darkcain11 wrote: "I love first person view novels anyone have any ideas on series with the same feel as the Dresden Files?"Give Joe Ducie's the Reminiscent Exile series a try. It's first person and sort of blends Dresden, Stephen King's Dark Tower, and Doctor Who into a great series. It's only two books in so far.
I just have to say that I adore this thread. All you people are so NICE! Plus my reading list has expanded dramatically and now I am exhausted because I still suffer from the "finish the book regardless of the hour" syndrome that I had as a child under the covers with a flshlight reading furiously...
Mod
My rechargeable batteries got a lot of wear, but now I mainly listen to audiobooks at night. Easier on the eyes, which helps me fall asleep faster.
Mod
Audiobooks are fantastic for doing anything that doesn't require calculative thought. I listen when working out, doing laundry, lunches for kids, cleaning, yard work and it awesome for my hour+ ride to the office. Nothing makes the time for such tasks better. I stopped trying to listen to them at bed time though as I hated trying to find where i left off when I fell asleep.
Mod
LOL! I had exactly the same problem, so now I split my books into files 5 minute long. ;-D
I've been meaning to make myself read Castor but its hard for me to gain traction on those. Is he the self sufficient type with at least a modest amount of power or does he rely on his friends? because I have to say I did not get a good first impression in that regard.A small overview of his abilities at his peak would be great.
Mod
I won't go on as (like I said) I really didn't care for the series, my reviews are there on the first 2. many like these a lot, I'm just not one of them.
Another choice for people to consider would be Simon R Green's two series, The Secret Histories and the Nightside series, both pretty good UF's. Maybe a tad more crazy than stuff like Dresden, Castor, or Cal Leandros that does sorta minor engagements in an urban city, where Simon R Green prefers the idea of all out war, with some pretty giant goverment coverup's afterwards. But they have plenty of action, all the weird fantasy stuff you could ask for and some decent comedy thrown into the mix at times.
Magicmike wrote: "I stopped trying to listen to them at bed time though as I hated trying to find where i left off when I fell asleep. "My Sansa MP3 player automatically goes back to my place when it turns on, which is awesome.
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "I do that to...though I'm not sure I fall asleep faster, LOL."
I think that melatonin production is limited by light, so being in the dark helps me fall asleep faster. Or seems to at least - either way, I prefer audiobooks when in bed. :)
I second Simon Green's books, as well.
Green is on my list now. BTW, my audiobook player thankfully does the same (MortPlayer Audiobooks) but if I fell asleep I won't know when :p. it has a sleep timer which can help mitigate that, but still.
Mod
yup, do that all the time, im starting to learn that when I start considering going to lie in bed and listen to the book, that its a good time to note te time its ran for, as ill probably need to rewind to there later after ive slept through everything thats happened since my head hit the pillow.
That's what I do. I split the book into 5 minute slices and then make a note of the track number before setting a sleep option. Also, I never let my MP3 player's battery run down completely. I keep it on charge when I'm not using it, but before I put it on charge I don't switch it off, I just pause the track. My MP3 player has a bookmark function, but it only works with books from certain sources e.g. Audible.
Mod
Dresden Files
Books mentioned in this topic
Trail of Lightning (other topics)Rivers of London (other topics)
Rotherweird (other topics)
Dead Things (other topics)
The Legacy of Gird Omnibus: Surrender None/Liar's Oath (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ben Aaronovitch (other topics)Stephen Blackmoore (other topics)
Andrew Caldecott (other topics)
Brian McClellan (other topics)
Charles de Lint (other topics)
More...
Many have recommended Kevin Hearn's Iron Druid series is similar to the Dresden series. I have tried the first book but lost interest in the halfway through the second - There is a certain smugness in Atticus which I disliked. I think an online reviewer commented that he "thinks and acts like an oversexed frat boy" which is pretty much spot on for me.
For a similar feel of the Dresden files, I would say Ben Aaronovitch's Rivers over London series and Justin Gustanis' Haunted Scranton series.