# Urban Fantasy... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 23, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538 "2010-03-23T21:24:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/21 "2010-03-24T18:22:40Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > There are four books in the Joe Pitt series now. I thought of recommending those, too, but I hesitate because they’re ultra violent, which I wouldn’t normally enjoy. But Huston’s fantastic dialogue keeps me reading them. (I must look up this Elmore Leonard.) Four? Awesome. 😃 Elmore Leonard is **the** author people talk about when they talk about good dialogue. I’ve read _Get Shorty_ and a couple others. The new FX series _Justified_ is based on one of his characters. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/22 "2010-03-24T18:38:13Z")
I just read one of J D Robb’s In Death series. It’s a police procedural but set about 50 years in the future. I liked it enough to search out the rest of the series. Kinda frustrating, the library doesn’t have book one. I adore Christopher Moore, Jim Butcher, Harrison and Harris. I’ve read a couple by Lev Grossman that I really liked. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/23 "2010-03-24T18:53:42Z")
> [@maladroit](#): > > I just read one of J D Robb’s In Death series. It’s a police procedural but set about 50 years in the future. This reminded me of Jasper Fforde’s Nursery Crime series. It’s not so much urban fantasy as it is urban nursery rhymes, but it’s still very good. I understand the Thursday Next series is also very good. ---
**Author:** ![Nightingale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@Nightingale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightingale)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/24 "2010-03-25T00:16:10Z")
> [@susan\_foster](#): > > Guess I’ll have to check out Gustainis, because I agree with you on the other two. Andrews and Briggs just seem to be getting better and better. Gustainis isn’t as polished as the others, but he seems to be gaining momentum with each succesive novel. Also, he seems like a pretty clever guy and he answers his emails really quickly when you write to ask why his next book isn’t out yet ;). You know that PB’s next Mercy Thompson novel, _Silver Borne_, is being released March 30, right? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/25 "2010-03-25T00:21:59Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > This reminded me of Jasper Fforde’s Nursery Crime series. It’s not so much urban fantasy as it is urban nursery rhymes, but it’s still very good. I understand the Thursday Next series is also very good. I was just gonna say that Fforde’s Thursday Next series is urban fantasy stirred in with about a dozen other genres. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/26 "2010-03-25T00:41:16Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > He’s actually really, really good. Dresden is firmly genre fiction, not necessarily literature as such, but Butcher is very talented at weaving coherent storylines, setting clues and foreshadowing, creating an interesting world, and giving his writing life and excitement. He’s a _good_ author; he just happens to be an RPG and fantasy geek. I agree with all that. When I say he’s not great literature, I don’t really mean that as an insult. I read a helluva lot more genre fiction than I read great literature (I set myself a goal of reading one classic a year, whereas I read probably four or five dozen genre books a year). Some folks can write both genre and great literature–e.g., Cormac Macarthy, China Mieville, Ursula Le Guin, IMHO. Butcher doesn’t do that: he just writes tremendously fun genre books. And I love him for it. **MrDibble** , while King Rat is definitely urban fantasy, I shy away from recommending it: it’s one of Mieville’s weakest works, IMO (the other being the lameo **Un Lun Dun** ). His New Crobuzon books, as well as _The City and the City_, are far superior. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/59ef9b/32.png) [@FlyingRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRat)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/27 "2010-03-25T06:54:05Z")
Once you might enjoy, although it’s a standalone, is _Stealing the Elf-King’s Roses_ by Diane Duane. Again, don’t let the romance-y cover put you off: it’s a fantastic read, and really isn’t romance at all. > [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > You too? I didn’t know anyone else was as crazy about \*Last Call \*than I was. Oh, thirding this. _Last Call_ is my favorite, but _Declare_ is a close second-- if you like spy novels at all, this is a must-read. Have you heard that Powers’ _On Stranger Tides_ is being adapted for the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie? [Quote=Bosstone] He’s actually really, really good. Dresden is firmly genre fiction, not necessarily literature as such, but Butcher is very talented at weaving coherent storylines, setting clues and foreshadowing, creating an interesting world, and giving his writing life and excitement. He’s a good author; he just happens to be an RPG and fantasy geek. [/Quote] Seconding this as well. Butcher does a simply amazing job of weaving everything together. (I just finished _Changes_, the latest Dresden novel-- advance copy-- and brr. If you thought the last one was heavy…well, just wait.) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/28 "2010-03-25T09:38:57Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > **MrDibble** , while King Rat is definitely urban fantasy, I shy away from recommending it: it’s one of Mieville’s weakest works, IMO (the other being the lameo **Un Lun Dun** ). His New Crobuzon books, as well as _The City and the City_, are far superior. _De Gustibus_ and all that. Especially with regards to **Un Lun Dun**. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/29 "2010-03-26T15:06:22Z")
I added many of the suggestions onto Amazon wish list. In your opinions…is Rob Thurman pretty good or is she just a writer that, for some reason, appeals to me but is not that great? Also, since I have you all here…Jim Butcher had graphic novels coming out - Welcome to the Jungle, Storm Front 1…WTF happened to Storm Front 2? Did it die? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/30 "2010-03-28T19:11:44Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > In your opinions…is Rob Thurman pretty good or is she just a writer that, for some reason, appeals to me but is not that great? She’s a good storyteller, which is the point of writing fiction. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/31 "2010-03-28T21:34:34Z")
Somebody on another board years ago turned me on to Charles De Lint. His novels are urban fantasy set in and around Ottawa. I liked _Jack of Kinrowan_ and _Moonheart._ Haven’t read _Little (Grrl) Lost_ yet, but from looking at the Amazon page for it, I think my daughter will like it when she’s older. ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/32 "2010-03-29T00:56:53Z")
If you like Patricia Briggs and the Sookie Stackhouse books, you’ll probably like the “Kitty and the Midnight Hour” books by Carrie Vaughn. I’ve read them all and they just keep getting better. ---
**Author:** ![Nightingale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@Nightingale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightingale)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/33 "2010-03-29T01:09:31Z")
> [@FlyingRat](#): > > Seconding this as well. Butcher does a simply amazing job of weaving everything together. (I just finished _Changes_, the latest Dresden novel-- advance copy-- and brr. If you thought the last one was heavy…well, just wait.) I’m looking forward to _Changes_; I’m in the process of reading back through the whole series to refresh my memory before I pick up the new book. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/34 "2010-03-29T12:03:13Z")
> [@Nightingale](#): > > I’m looking forward to _Changes_; I’m in the process of reading back through the whole series to refresh my memory before I pick up the new book. Yeah, Butcher is the only author I preorder. As soon as I see a new book come out, I go ahead and order it. It should be coming soon, eh? ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/35 "2010-03-31T00:36:02Z")
Damn, but I used to love the Dresden Files. Not enough to buy the hardcovers, but I bought the paperbacks as fast as I could. Then suddenly the paperbacks started coming out in those moronic extra-tall editions. Result: Mr Butcher lost a reader. ☹ Note to publishers: Yes, the packaging _does_ matter. There are book formats that I’m not willing to have on my shelf. Jim Butcher wasn’t the first formerly-favourite author I’ve dropped because suddenly their books weren’t being published in any editions I was prepared to buy. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/36 "2010-03-31T08:25:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Note to publishers: Yes, the packaging does matter. I hate trade paperbacks, too. Standard paperbacks fit nicely in my purse. Trade paperbacks have the disadvantage of hardbacks’ size, and paperbacks’ fragility. I’ve heard that they’re supposed to be of higher quality than standard paperbacks, but I’ve never seen this supposed higher quality. ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/37 "2010-03-31T09:16:33Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I hate trade paperbacks, too. Standard paperbacks fit nicely in my purse. Trade paperbacks have the disadvantage of hardbacks’ size, and paperbacks’ fragility. I’ve heard that they’re supposed to be of higher quality than standard paperbacks, but I’ve never seen this supposed higher quality. Agreed, but I’m not talking about trade paperbacks. I’m talking about this weird new format that’s the same width as a mass-market paperback, but about half an inch to an inch taller. It’s just strange, it feels bad in the hand, it looks like crap on the shelf, and of course it’s more expensive. I heard it called a “premium” edition once. Well, spare me from premiums… ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/38 "2010-03-31T13:56:21Z")
> [@MacSpon](#): > > Agreed, but I’m not talking about trade paperbacks. I’m talking about this weird new format that’s the same width as a mass-market paperback, but about half an inch to an inch taller. It’s just strange, it feels bad in the hand, it looks like crap on the shelf, and of course it’s more expensive. I heard it called a “premium” edition once. Well, spare me from premiums… I have a few paperbacks like that - they’re all UK editions. Speaking of trade paperbacks, I wish my local used bookstore would acknowledge their increasing popularity and shelve them decently. They’re still treating the trades like oddballs, stuffing them sideways in random order in a back corner, where they’re now overflowing the shelves. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/39 "2010-03-31T21:02:18Z")
> [@MacSpon](#): > > Agreed, but I’m not talking about trade paperbacks. I’m talking about this weird new format that’s the same width as a mass-market paperback, but about half an inch to an inch taller. It’s just strange, it feels bad in the hand, it looks like crap on the shelf, and of course it’s more expensive. I heard it called a “premium” edition once. Well, spare me from premiums… What are the normal measurements of paperbacks? ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538/40 "2010-04-01T01:49:29Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > Most recently I’ve read Mike Carey’s urban fantasy series starting with _The Devil You Know_. It’s a bit like Harry Dresden in London, darker and with admittedly less snark. Series? _SERIES_?! \*Hugs **Eleanor** , \*runs _to bookstore_ (I really enjoyed _The Devil You Know_, and I guess I’ve been busy and distracted these past couple years.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urban-fantasy/533538.md?page=3)