Urban Fantasy Recommendations

[Steve Long]

Hi folx! I am busy doing the reading and watching that counts as "research" for next year's Urban Fantasy Hero, and I thought it couldn't hurt to see if y'all had any recommendations.

By "Urban Fantasy" I generally mean books and movies that mix magic and modern-day societies in some way. Here's a list of some of the books I already have read or intend to read, by way of example (and to save you the trouble of suggesting them :)):

Jim Butcher -- Dresden Files novels (and the TV show, obviously)
Charles deLint -- most of his novels and stories
Tim Powers -- most of his novels and stories
Emma Bull -- War for the Oaks
Simon Hawke -- various novels
Neil Gaiman -- Neverwhere, American Gods
Philip Pullman -- the "Dark Materials" trilogy
China Mieville -- Perdido Street Station
David Bischoff -- A Personal Demon
Poul Anderson -- "Operation Salamander"
John Crowley -- Little, Big
Windling and Arnold -- the "Borderlands" anthologies
Tom Holt -- Who's Afraid of Beowulf


So, beyond those -- have any suggestions? Right now I'm more interested in books than movies.

[Mephron]

Mercedes Lackey and a few others (don't have them at hand), the SERRAted Edge and Bedlam Bards series, and spinoffs thereof.

Includes urban fantasy, enchanted cars, elves trying to hide among humans (and not doing it well), and a lot of 'the world is weirder than you thing' underlying it all.

Also, I am pleased that 'War For The Oaks' is already on the list.

[teh bunneh]

Most of what I'd recommend is already on your list, but one thing that's missing is "Elf Defense" by Esther Friesner. She's got others in the same vein as well, but Elf Defense is the best, IMHO. :thumbup:

[Korvar]

The Harry Potter books sound like they'd (just about) fit

Buffy / Angel / Charmed ?

[AliceTheOwl]

You may want to at least flip through some Laurell K. Hamilton, Kelly Anderson, Kim Harrison and Charlaine Harris. The vampires/werewolves/"other" stuff living in the same society as humans seems to fall under that umbrella, according to most urban fantasy enthusiasts.

Unless you want to leave that element out.

Diana Wynne Jones, while a children's author with a variety of stories in different settings, also writes some urban fantasy. The Merlin Conspiracy seems the most obvious, as do the Chrestomanci books.

[BlackSword]

To expand on Neil Gaiman, Books of Magic and Anansi Boys. Also from DC/Vertigo, Constantine/Hellblazer.

[archermoo]

I know you've already got deLint's stuff on your list, but I'd like to make a specific recommendation. His "Spirits in the Wires" does a wonderful job of combining the tech and fantasy worlds. :thumbup:

[John Desmarais]

(trying to avoid most of the current crop if nearly identical trashy vampire novels...)

Novels
The Smoke Trilogy and The Keeper's Chronicles -- by Tanya Huff.
Fables (comic) -- by Bill Willingham
The Southern Vampire Mysteries series - by Charlaine Harris
The Weather Warden -- books by Rachel Caine
The Sorcerer's Academy -- by Denise Little (Editor)
The Adept books -- by Katherine Kurtz and Deborah Turner Harris
Spellbinder: A Love Story With Magical Interruptions -- by Melanie Rawn
Magic Street -- by Orson Scott Card
The Diana Tregarde Investigation books -- by Mercedes Lackey Juvies:
The Sisters Grimm -- by Michael Buckley and Peter Ferguson
Percy Jackson and the Olympians -- by Rick Riordan
The Young Wizards Series -- by Diane Duane Movies:
The Cat Returns -- by Hiroyuki Morita
Kiki's Delivery Service - by Hayao Miyazaki (actually, most of the Studio Ghibli is quite good and falls into the "modern fantasy" genre, but most of it also lacks a definite sense of "modern" in that many of them could jsut as easily be set 50, 100, 300, or more years ago; so you lose some of the "fantasy interacting with modern society" thing)
The 10th Kingdom (yeah, I know, cheesy, but it hits a lot of the genre tropes).
The Librarian movies with Noah Wylie (see comment above)

[AliceTheOwl]

I know you've already got deLint's stuff on your list, but I'd like to make a specific recommendation. His "Spirits in the Wires" does a wonderful job of combining the tech and fantasy worlds. :thumbup:
I didn't know you read de Lint.

I have a wicked mental crush on him. (That's when you recoil in horror at the idea of doing anything physical with a person, but would follow them around like a lost puppy-dog for his or her mind.)

[Steve Long]

Thanx for the recommendations so far, everyone!


The Adept books -- by Katherine Kurtz and Deborah Turner Harris

I'm not sure I can ever read these. I morally object to them on the grounds that Kurtz should write more Deryni novels, dammit, not this other stuff. ;)


"Spirits in the Wires"

I will look for that one, then; so far of what I've read of his I'd say my favorite is Trader, though it's unsatisfying in some ways.

[lapsedgamer]

Thanks for starting this thread. Though you had noble intentions, I will use it selfishly as a personal reading list. This is one of my favorite genres.

I think you might like the cable TV miniseries The Lost Room. It has science fiction pretensions, but it is really fantasy, IMO. People questing obsessively for magical items. It makes a nice example of the gray area between the two genres. Its out on DVD.

Also from TV: the excellent Cast a Deadly Spell and its less stellar sequel Witch Hunt. Both combine 1950s noir with magic and Cthulu style weirdness. They are from the early to mid 90s and can be a littlle hard to find. They're on DVD, but out of print.

There was a good Titus Groan miniseries from BBC I saw about two yaers ago that you might enjoy. I never tackled the books, but I liked that show. It's out on DVD.

For books: Fritz Leiber's Conjure Wife, Lucuis Shepard's Green Eyes

More later. Duty calls.

[Karmakaze]

You may want to at least flip through some Laurell K. Hamilton, Kelly Anderson, Kim Harrison and Charlaine Harris. The vampires/werewolves/"other" stuff living in the same society as humans seems to fall under that umbrella, according to most urban fantasy enthusiasts.

If you go with Laurell K. Hamilton, though, you're looking for the Anita Blake books (not the Merry Gentry ones) and you want to stick with the earlier books in the series. Her later work devolved into some very bizarre porn.

[JmOz]

Terry Brooks has a series of novels, first one is Running with demons, there are at least two others, Knight of the Void or word, can't remember, and Angelfire East

Also there is a 4th one I have not read that is to link the series to the Shannara series (Basicaly it has to do with the appocylypse-sp that occured in the past of the shannara series). Can't recomend it as I have not read it yet

[teh bunneh]

Here's an unorthodox suggestion: the Hellblazer movie, starring Keanu.

Don't lynch me! :o

Seriously, if you ignore the fact that the lead character is named John Constantine and just pretend it's a stand-alone movie that has nothing to do with the comics, it's actually a pretty good urban fantasy flick.

Also, I can't believe no one has suggested the Nightwatch and Daywatch movies. Good, weird Russian urban fantasy. :thumbup:

[John Desmarais]

The Adept books -- by Katherine Kurtz and Deborah Turner Harris
I'm not sure I can ever read these. I morally object to them on the grounds that Kurtz should write more Deryni novels, dammit, not this other stuff. ;)


Here I've been thinking just the opposite - I want more Adept novels.:p

[Lord Mhoram]

The Repairman Jack series by F Paul Wilson (starting with The Tomb) - a modern day action hero runs into mystic stuff. This guy is a Dark Champions character dealing with mystic menaces. I can't recomend these books enough.

Also by Wilson
The Touch - a Doctor gets a healing touch.

His stuff has more isolated instances of mystic phenomenon - although it really ramps up in later Repairman Jack novels. They could also be "horror".


Night in Lonesome October - Roger Zelazny.
A Knight of the Word - by Terry Brooks (second book of the series, can't remember the first one)

If you are going back a bit as to "modern" - The Lord Darcy stuff.

The wife says that for Diana Wynne Jones the three most urban are the Archer's Goon series.

While is is post apoc there is Ariel by Stephen R Boyett.

Tinker & Wolf who Rules by Wen Spencer - although it could be seen as sort of trans-world. A large chunk Pittsburgh switched back and forth with an area of Fairyland every 30 days.


You may want to at least flip through some Laurell K. Hamilton, Kelly Anderson, Kim Harrison and Charlaine Harris. The vampires/werewolves/"other" stuff living in the same society as humans seems to fall under that umbrella, according to most urban fantasy enthusiasts.

If you go with Laurell K. Hamilton, though, you're looking for the Anita Blake books (not the Merry Gentry ones) and you want to stick with the earlier books in the series. Her later work devolved into some very bizarre porn.

Info from the wife, there is a whole subset of Vampire romance modern stuff (and those that don't descend into porn). The Soozie Stackhouse books (as has been mentioned), the Lynsay Sands Vampire novels, stuff by Katie Macalister, Mary Janice Davidson (more the Werewolf novels rather than the Vampire novels), Sherrilyn Kenyon. These are mentioned from the wife, and she said "ignore the Kenyon if you can't stand butchered history and a lot of heaving bosoms" - The wife said these likely only list of stuff work reading in sub genre (although she hasn't read Dead Witch Walking).

[Lord Liaden]

For an early example of the genre, I recommend The Shadow People by Margaret St. Clair (c. 1969). You'll probably have to search online to find it, but a quick Search turned up several sellers including Amazon.

EDIT: This Amazon listing page includes a brief review of the book, about halfway down: http://www.amazon.com/shadow-people-Margaret-St-Clair/dp/B00005XVNT

[csyphrett]

Simon Green's seven tales from the nightside, and the man with the golden torc, autumn moon wine? (I don't remember the title. A werewolf fights the devil's sun for personifications of the Earth and the moon.) should fit in.
CES

[archermoo]

I will look for that one, then; so far of what I've read of his I'd say my favorite is Trader, though it's unsatisfying in some ways.

Very good book, and I agree that there are some unsatisfying things about it. I generally re-read books every once and a while, but Trader was unsettling enough to me that it was many years before I re-read it.

Memory & Dream is my favourite of his books, possibly my favourite book of all time. Though I think somewhat less useful for your purposes, though I suppose I could be wrong.

[Zindil]

I can't believe no one has mentioned this series from Neil Gaiman yet: The Sandman Comic series from DC-Vertigo. And yes I mean the entire series. :) Urban fantasy doesn't get any better than this.

Also someone else said above the Buffy the Vampire Slayer tv series. I second that one even if it isn't a book. Buffy is such a popular series among roleplaying geeks that I couldn't imagine a comprehensive urban fantasy book that didn't get some inspiration from Buffy.

[Doc Democracy]

Another "I cant believe these have not been mentioned yet" is Michael Scott Rohan's Chase the Morning (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/michael-scott-rohan/chase-morning.htm); Gates of Noon (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/michael-scott-rohan/gates-of-noon.htm) and Cloud Castles (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/michael-scott-rohan/cloud-castles.htm).

The first of those is the best and the other two dont add too much as they essentially are variations of the first novel. Chase the Morning is one of my favourite novels.


Doc

[archermoo]

Along the same vein as some of the recent suggestions, Hellboy should be pretty good source material.

[mallet]

I second "A night in the lonesome October" by Roger Zelazny, it is one of the best books I have read. Actually most of his stuff has a bit of Urban Fantasy in it, even the Amber books (especially the second series).

Also you probably shouldn't over look Steven King. I know it is more horror, but most of his books involve magic and a modern urban setting.

[Curufea]

I'm just happy you're including Perdido Street Station :)
It's "New Weird" - but I regard it as Dark Steampunk Fantasy (because it has more magic than you usually get in Steampunk).

[eternal_sage]

C.E. Murphey - Urban Shaman (1st book in the series, the others are good too). a little historical glossing, police work is a bit fuzzy, but the character interaction is awesome, and her powers (and there origin) are sort of neat, as is her method of employing them. she is currently my wife's fave author at the moment.

she also enjoys Patricia Briggs (Moon Called or Blood Bound), for a Laurel K Hamilton feel, without all the wanton....fornication.

the Tanya Huff vampire books are also pretty good (Blood Pact would be a good start), but these are a little dated, as they along with Anne Rice sort of started the whole genre as it stands.

as for movies, you can't forget: American Werewolf in London (or Paris), Underworld (1 and 2), and the Covenant.

i (for my wife) would also strongly suggest looking at the new World of Darkness books (especially the Mage book) for an interesting game related spin. pretty neat stuff, and it has a list of source materials.

most of the other stuff she's into has already been said.

[Basil]

I'd add Flying Dutch, also by Tom Holt, and Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

BTW, the Lord Darcy books are set in the 1960's (the date is given in the narrative of most/all of the stories); it feels, somewhat, like they're set earlier, but that's because magic has replaced technology (as we understand the term) and the result is a somewhat Edwardian to between-the-world-wars feel.

I have saved the best for last; IMO the best urban fantasy story ever, and one of my all-time top-of-the-line favorites is The Wizard of the Pigeons by Megan Lindstrom. Good luck finding it, but if you do, grab it immediately.

[Thag13]

I would have to recommend Garrett, PI books by Glen Cook for a great urban fantasy. Hard boiled PI solving crimes in a fantasy setting. Most of the books are pretty good.

John Belairs The House With a Clock in Its Walls is a great book with modern witches, ghosts and such. There are several books that feature the lead character Lewis Barnavelt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_with_a_Clock_in_Its_Walls

Also, the Friday the 13 series was a great urban horror fantasy. The TV series was not connected to the Jason character, but was about 2 young people who inherited a antiques shop, only to discover the items were cursed, and now had to get them all back.

Decent show actually, as was pretty scary for a TV show, and often didn't have happy endings....

[Basil]

I would have to recommend Garrett, PI books by Glen Cook for a great urban fantasy. Hard boiled PI solving crimes in a fantasy setting. Most of the books are pretty good.

With respect, I have to disagree with this recommendation. While they're great books, and have a marvelous noir feel to them, they aren't really "urban fantasy" as that term is used. They are not set in the modern world or anything even close. The setting is definitely pseudo-medieval (as most fantasy stories from Dunsany onwards), with nothing of technology (or tech-replacing magic) to them.

A great read, but not IMO what Steve is looking for. :)

[StGrimblefig]

Nobody has yet mentioned the Incarnations of Immortality (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarnations_of_Immortality) series by Piers Anthony.

[StGrimblefig]

And let's not forget Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury, along with probably a dozen or so short stories that escape me at the moment.

[Steve Long]

Well, after checking the local used bookstore first and having almost no luck (one Dresden Files book), I just placed a nice large order with Alibris for various of these books (no doubt the first of several such orders :) ). Thanx for the suggestions and feel free to keep 'em comin'! :hex:

[Doc Democracy]

Well, after checking the local used bookstore first and having almost no luck (one Dresden Files book), I just placed a nice large order with Alibris for various of these books (no doubt the first of several such orders :) ). Thanx for the suggestions and feel free to keep 'em comin'! :hex:

I've got three copies of Chase the Morning if you want me to send you one...my wife is putting pressure on my shelf space!

:)


Doc

[FenrisUlf]

Thanx for the recommendations so far, everyone!

I'm not sure I can ever read these. I morally object to them on the grounds that Kurtz should write more Deryni novels, dammit, not this other stuff. ;)


Yeah, but if you want to read about reincarnated Templar hermetic ritual magicians fighting evil Tibetan Nazi black magicians in Scotland, there's no better source.

Oh, yes -- it'll be hard to find, but look for Runespear by Melinda Snodgrass and Victor Milan (I think). Set right before WW2, it tells of a SS-sponsored expedition to Greenland in search of Gungnir. Very pulpish, very different (these aren't your typical fictional Nazis), and some truly amazing characters. It's a great book.

[FenrisUlf]

Another "I cant believe these have not been mentioned yet" is Michael Scott Rohan's Chase the Morning (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/michael-scott-rohan/chase-morning.htm); Gates of Noon (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/michael-scott-rohan/gates-of-noon.htm) and Cloud Castles (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/michael-scott-rohan/cloud-castles.htm).

The first of those is the best and the other two dont add too much as they essentially are variations of the first novel. Chase the Morning is one of my favourite novels.


Doc

I'll add my recommendation to Doc Democracy's. They are beautiful books and amazingly adventurous modern fantasies.

And I dunno if this counts, but A. Merritt's Burn Witch Burn, Creep Shadow Creep, and The Fox Woman and Others are all incredibly well-done dark fantasy/horror tales set in the pulp era. Jack Williamson's Darker Than You Think is another great pulp-era 'modern fantasy'.

[John Desmarais]

Well, after checking the local used bookstore first and having almost no luck (one Dresden Files book), I just placed a nice large order with Alibris for various of these books (no doubt the first of several such orders :) ). Thanx for the suggestions and feel free to keep 'em comin'! :hex:


I coulda loaned you most of these.

[Steve Long]

I definitely appreciate the offer, John, but when I'm reading novels for research (and quotes), I tend to mark them up and be pretty rough on them, so I wouldn't want to borrow anyone's copies. They're cheap enough on Alibris that I don't mind the investment... and this way I can keep the ones I like!

Compared to writing the LOTR RPG, this is pretty inexpensive. For that I went out and bought all-new sets of all of Tolkien's Middle-Earth fiction so I could mark them up and write in the margins.

[Flames]

Is there going to be a thread going on this supplement in regards to suggestions for sections or topics? I have some ideas about it that have been rattling around in my head as I try to come up with a homebrew urban fantasy campaign setting of my own. Whether I ever get to run it, well, that's another matter.

I can tell you one thing, though, it won't have friggin' Jedi in it.

[mayapuppies]

I can tell you one thing, though, it won't have friggin' Jedi in it.

Ah, well, Warrior Mage or Paladnin? :smoke:

[Maur]

Flaming sword, lightsaber, what's the difference...

[Captain Obvious]

A lot of Manly Wade Wellman's stuff fits pretty well. The Silver John stories, while not urban, are still modern. The John Thunstone stories are pretty good, too.

[FenrisUlf]

I've got three copies of Chase the Morning if you want me to send you one...my wife is putting pressure on my shelf space!

:)


Doc

Heck, I'd take/buy one if you were willing to part with it!

EDIT: And how could I have forgotten Manly Wade Wellman? My brain is drying out in my old age. :doi:

Good on you for mentioning him, Captain Obvious. Rep to you!

[PhilFleischmann]

How about Shea and Wilson's Illuminatus trilogy? Maybe not exclusively fantasy, but there's a lot of fantasy elements in it (talking animals, magic, ancient gods, undead, etc.).

And the Woody Allen movie Alice.

[Captain Obvious]

Heck, I'd take/buy one if you were willing to part with it!

EDIT: And how could I have forgotten Manly Wade Wellman? My brain is drying out in my old age. :doi:

Good on you for mentioning him, Captain Obvious. Rep to you!

Thanks. You're the one that turned me on to his stuff, IIRC.

[bobrunnicles]

Along the same vein as some of the recent suggestions, Hellboy should be pretty good source material.

Agreed (both comics and the movie); and if we're including movies how about Dark City?

[Nightshade]

I don't know if other gaming books is what you wanted, but I highly recommend the Everlasting series. They were originally written by Steven Brown, who used to work for White Wolf and as far as I know now runs a gaming store down in Georgia. I found them far superior to the World of Darkness in terms of world building.

Of course, I use the HERO system to run the game due to the, IMO, inferior system (although basically a cross between HERO and WoD). The setting itself is very cool, though, and the ideas in it are pretty interesting.

Nightshade

PS I just realized that I am basically advertising someone else's products on the HERO boards. If this is a problem, let me know and I'll edit. Thanks.

[Nightshade]

If TV shows are something you were interested in, if you can find Poltergeist: the Legacy and Forever Knight, those were some pretty reasonable Urban Fantasy shows.

Nightshade

[tkdguy]

If we're including television series, Highlander: The Series comes to mind. And I agree with Nightshade that Poltergeist: The Legacy and Forever Knight are also good choices.

[Doc Democracy]

Heck, I'd take/buy one if you were willing to part with it!

EDIT: And how could I have forgotten Manly Wade Wellman? My brain is drying out in my old age. :doi:

Good on you for mentioning him, Captain Obvious. Rep to you!

Sold to the man, for free. Drop me an address in a PM and I'll send you a copy - I'll send Steve the most beat up copy - it's yours Steve use and abuse at will.

My wife will be happy - I will only have one copy of the book!

:)


Doc

[John Desmarais]

How did I forget this?

Books of Magic (comic) -- by John Ney Rieber, Jane Yolen, & Neil Gaiman
Books of Magic (novelizations) -- by Carla Jablonski. Although the comic is decidedly better, the novels - aimed at the teen market - offered a slightly different take on the basic premise that made them worth reading as well.there were two spin-off or equal series as well. I'd skip Books of Magick: Life During Wartime by Si Spencer unless your a fan of "odd purely for the sake of being odd" - but The Names of Magic by Dylan Horrocks wasn't bad and provided a lot of addition background info on the main character and the magical world.

[John Desmarais]

I definitely appreciate the offer, John, but when I'm reading novels for research (and quotes), I tend to mark them up and be pretty rough on them, so I wouldn't want to borrow anyone's copies. They're cheap enough on Alibris that I don't mind the investment... and this way I can keep the ones I like!

Compared to writing the LOTR RPG, this is pretty inexpensive. For that I went out and bought all-new sets of all of Tolkien's Middle-Earth fiction so I could mark them up and write in the margins.


Heck, after my wife's gotten hold of one, you'd be hard pressed to do any additional noticeable damage :p - but I must admit, it is nicer to have one's own copies for later perusal.

[AnotherSkip]

check out Orson Scott Cards Wyrms, semi fantasy with something that resembles computers.

Joel Rosenburg series The Guardians of the Flame has a definate non-mix element twixt science and fantasy however in book five they are building an urban out of the fantasy.
Besides it's about roleplayers breaking the mold of a fantasy world.

Check out Battle Magic by DAW books.
the stuff spans the magic element of books from urban to rural but may have some good places to look.

now then for another think
Mercedes lackey, so
to NOT rehash the fantasy stuff,
check out Reap the Whirlwind which has CJ Cherryh working with ML. it is more of an alternate history to base a world on but it definately brings to mind the timline adventures stuff of .... forgot his name darn.

Im more than willing to ship to you copies of a page or two to see if you can stand the writing rather than suggesting buying it, I remember your expressions about her writing style. it also goes for Her bedlam bard and her Diana Tregard series both set in similar if not identical universe, im willing to send you some to see if you won't toss it against the wall :)

Blackwood Farm by Anne Rice may be a good choice

Also definately check out Changeling by White Wolf. note DON'T Play Changeling but as a read it covers the genre well enough, the magic system stinks and is pretty much unplayable. having played White Wolf Editions: Vamipre 1-3, Werewolf 2&3, & Mage 2 Changeling just dosen't mesh nor operate well. A series of one trick ponies. decent enough to read (and the stories in the book felt like they were swiped from Mercedes with new serial numbers rivited in place over the old ones).

If you want more western in your Urban magic check out Wild Wild West and Bonanza for rural fantasy tv shows. Some Deadlands could be useful,



As a final caviat Don't expect a huge response, the genere in my xp seems to be a marginal niche something like giant robots or cyberware. None of these have had their Tolkein or Stan Lee yet, so there is little to truly enjoy.

[archermoo]

Agreed (both comics and the movie)

Books too. :)

[Psylint]

Steven Brust Agyar is one of my favorites thought it does kinda bleed into gestalts.

Perhaps Storm of the Century by Stephen King.

s'all I got

[PhilFleischmann]

I haven't read them myself, but I was just told t'other day that Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events is also Urban Fantasy - modern world setting with magic. Like Harry Potter, I guess, but for an even younger audience.

[Alathan]

I haven't seen it mentioned in this thread yet, but I think it was in some other "urban fantasy" threads...

The Case of the Toxic Spell Dump by Harry Turtledove

And if you want to include movies, you could consider M. Night Shyamalan's movies like The Village and Lady in the Water. (My apologies if these were already mentioned, if so then I missed it.) Admittedly, The Village isn't "fantasy" in the "wizards and dragons" sense, but if that kind of scenario were played out in an urban fantasy world with magic, imagine how much more you could do with it...

[mallet]

This is a little different from everyone elses suggestions, but how about the Carlos Castaneda books? Supposedly true, anthopological accounts, of a scientist learning about the ancient native american magic and how to become a sorcerer. Sure it involved taking drugs, but the books were pretty cool account of learning and using magic in the present day (well the 70's).

[Manic Typist]

Artemis Fowl, anyone? Faerie police?

[TheQuestionMan]

Urban fantasy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Fantasy


'nough said


QM

[Enforcer84]

Would Aaron Allston's Doc Sidhe count? Or is that more of an modern pulp?

[TheQuestionMan]

Does that qualify as Urban? It is kinda mixed I know, but how else would you classify it?


Historical Urban Fantasy?


QM

[Shadowsoul]

Most of the stuff that I could recommend has been suggested already. But 9tail Fox by Jon Courtenay Grimwood is quite an interesting little tale with an Eastern flair to it. If you can extract any coherence from Hal Duncan's Vellum then it might give you a few ideas. If you get tired of reading, (admittedly unlikely), you might want to look into the Shadow Hearts games, RPGs set in an alternative/paranormal version of the early 20th century. Also films like Dog Soldiers, Underworld and Dusk til Dawn for various befanged horrors. And of course all the moderately amusing tv series that perhaps were too obvious for anyone else to mention i.e. Buffy, Angel, Supernatural, Doctor Who, (shorn of the sometimes thin scientific explanations it has a few interesting creatures). Oh and definitely don't watch Charmed, NEVER WATCH CHARMED. (Well that's just my opinion).

[tkdguy]

There's a new show on CBS called Moonlight, about a vampire detective. I know it sounds like an updated Forever Knight, but I enjoyed the premier last night. I think this one has potential.

[JmOz]

Just thought of something, it might have been mentioned but

Think Disney (I'm serious)

Gargoyles...

Man that show was PERFECT for this, it really was...

[Direbadger]

(I don't think I've seen these mentioned already)

Kelley Armstrong - Women of the Otherworld series
Kat Richardson - Greywalker
Sergei Lukyanenko - Night Watch

Kelley Armstrong isn't a favorite of mine, but her books cover a wide variety of supernatural and are quite popular.

Kat Richardson does a good job of capturing my style of Urban Fantasy gaming. A typical tough PI with supernatural abilities helping out the underdog against the big baddies. Importantly, though, is the concept of the "twilight" or another plane the hero can cross into where the bad things live. This concept is prevalent in a lot of urban fantasy and should definitely be touched on in a game supplement.

Night Watch and the other books in the series are great reads. The supernatural forces of the world are largely divided into two camps, light and dark, which patrol and monitor each other, all the while scheming and conspiring. The book also works in a great deal of ambiguity between light and dark, good and evil. The concept of "twilight" or another dimension is prevalent as well.

With regards to other books that have been mentioned already, Laurel K. Hamilton's early Anita Blake novels are some of the defining books of the genre in my opinion. The social power plays between characters are amazing. The various rules and customs of supernatural societies are very well fleshed out. This should be required reading for any urban fantasy game designers.

Patricia Briggs is extremely entertaining for a light read with a little different take on how things work in a supernatural world.

[Shadowsoul]

Can't believe I forgot these and sorry if they have already been mentioned. Witchblade and The Darkness.

[bobrunnicles]

Can't believe I forgot these and sorry if they have already been mentioned. Wychblade and The Darkness.

Ooh, good catch, although the first one is actually spelled 'Witchblade' IIRC. Great stories though. Never saw the TV show, I heard mixed things about it - anyone out there see it?

[Shadowsoul]

My bad. Fixed it now.

[ThothAmon]

Fritz Leiber - Our Lady Of Darkness (something of a must for this genre ;)) and Conjure Wife

Alan Aldridge - The Gnole

[Spence]

Would Aaron Allston's Doc Sidhe count? Or is that more of an modern pulp?

Awesome book :thumbup:

I think I remember a sequel.....

[Spence]

(trying to avoid most of the current crop if nearly identical trashy vampire novels...)


The Adept books -- by Katherine Kurtz and Deborah Turner Harris




Thanx for the recommendations so far, everyone!


I'm not sure I can ever read these. I morally object to them on the grounds that Kurtz should write more Deryni novels, dammit, not this other stuff. ;)


Two comments :D

1) the Adept series is most definitely a must read. It takes magic into the modern world without being just a repeating cliche'. A great world view that would be great to roleplay.

2) Please, no that is not right....PLEASE OH PLEASE don't let the Urban Fantasy book be overrun with endless overdone vampires and werewolves. If they were left as afterthought footnotes on the last page after the index I would be ecstatic. :D

[Flames]

On the subject of urban fantasy, I was going to link to this YouTube video but I'm afraid of getting in trouble for making a reference to this late-60s British sketch comedy series that I'm sure no-one here has ever heard of.

okay, here it is (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY31P7sLJho)

[Sketchpad]

As an example of Superheroic Urban Fantasy, how about Matt Wagner's Mage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mage_(comics))? :)

[Steve Long]

Is there going to be a thread going on this supplement in regards to suggestions for sections or topics?

Yes, of course, but that's months away. Please stick to literature recommendations only in this thread.

Thanx for the suggestions so far, folx, and feel free to keep 'em comin'! There's only so much I can read and watch during the course of a year, but it helps to have a lot of options to pick and choose from. ;)

[Markdoc]

but The Names of Magic by Dylan Horrocks wasn't bad and provided a lot of addition background info on the main character and the magical world.

Heh. I thought they were OK, too, but Dylan calls them "the most horrible thing I've ever written" and wishes everyone would forget them.

That said, they certainly fit the genre.

Most of the books I would mention have already been listed, so I'll just add Gene Wolfe's books Free Live Free, Castleview and There are Doors: with the caveat that Gene Wolfe is something of an acquired taste.

cheers, Mark

[Markdoc]

This is a little different from everyone elses suggestions, but how about the Carlos Castaneda books? Supposedly true, anthopological accounts, of a scientist learning about the ancient native american magic and how to become a sorcerer. Sure it involved taking drugs, but the books were pretty cool account of learning and using magic in the present day (well the 70's).

They're cool books (well, the first 4 are), but they're "true" in the same sense as "Harry Potter" is true. Meaning they're interesting works of fiction. I enjoyed the heck out of them anyway. You might be able to get something out of them for an urban fantasy game: they give a different take on magic from your traditional mage, for sure, but my feeling is that they are a little specialized to be really inspiring reading for something like this.

But you'd want to avoid making nay claims about "real-world" practice - on examination, the books are full of contradictions and verifiable errors of fact. For example, the hallucinogenic mushrooms described as being harvested, don't actually grow anywhere near where we are told they grow (meaning not within hundreds of miles). We're told Don Juan only spoke Spanish, but in the book he makes puns which are meaningless in Spanish - they're colloquial English jokes which only make sense if translated in a certain way. The "traditional yaqui beliefs" actually bear little or no resemblance to "traditional yaqui beliefs" but do mesh closely with "newly-traditional new age beliefs" and Asian philosophy.

Castenada's never been a poster boy for accuracy. For example, he claimed to have come from a wealthy Brasilian family (though he spoke Spanish, not Portuguese!), but his immigration and school records show he was born and went to school in Peru, where he was the son of a craftsman.

cheers, Mark

[FenrisUlf]

Just thought of something, it might have been mentioned but

Think Disney (I'm serious)

Gargoyles...

Man that show was PERFECT for this, it really was...

Wouldn't that count as Superpowered Urban Fantasy?

And yes, I loved the show too. Great protagonists, great cast all the way around, and Xanatos was the best d*mn villain I've ever seen anywhere.

[AliceTheOwl]

One just occurred to me, and I don't know if he's been mentioned yet: Christopher Moore. His stuff is very quirky and funny; he strikes me as the Terry Pratchett of the urban fantasy set. He has two books about vampires, but he gets into a lot of other mythologies, as well.

A Dirty Job, about taking on Death's workload, is an excellent read, and should yield a lot of material regarding an "otherness" that most people don't notice.

[shadowcat1313]

kinda surprised these havent been mentioned yet

Bureau 13 novels by Nick Pollotta, based on the RPG
Bureau 13 Judgement Night
Bureau 13 Doomsday Exam
Bureau 13 Full Moonster
Bureau 13 Damned Nation

always loved nicks stuff, including Illegal Aliens
hes also written several of the Deathlands books
and at least a couple Mack Bolan books

[Dr.Device]

Poul Anderson - Operation Chaos, Operation Luna
Robert Heinlein - Magic Inc. (Published as a Double with Waldo
Robin McKinley - Sunshine
Charlie Stross - The Jennifer Morgue, The Atrocity Archives
Aaron Allston - Galatea in 2D
Scott Westerfeld - The Midnighters Trilogy
Christopher Moore - Coyote Blue, Island of the Sequined Love Nun, Practical Demon Keeping, and others

[DrFaust]

I'll throw in James P. Blaylock's The Paper Grail and The Last Coin, which share a lot in common with Tim Powers' novels. I'm told All the Bells on Earth rounds out the trio, thematically speaking.

[Spence]

kinda surprised these havent been mentioned yet

Bureau 13 novels by Nick Pollotta, based on the RPG
Bureau 13 Judgement Night
Bureau 13 Doomsday Exam
Bureau 13 Full Moonster
Bureau 13 Damned Nation

always loved nicks stuff, including Illegal Aliens
hes also written several of the Deathlands books
and at least a couple Mack Bolan books

We knew you had called dibs on them and we didn't want to steal your thunder :nonp:

[AliceTheOwl]

Apparently Thomas Burnett Swann (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Burnett_Swann) has some good stuff, though most of it's out of print.

[rmccarty4]

+1, my wife has read all the Aisling Grey novels by Katie MacAlister, and she has picked up other "chick lit w/ magic" books. Yes, it's a whole sub-genre.

[Curufea]

I'm not sure if the use of "chick lit" as a genre is telling us there is something wrong with our publishers, or something wrong with our entire culture.

[Captain Obvious]

Is there something separating chick lit from romance novels? Is chick lit aggro-feminist or something? Or is it just a fancy name for "almost a romance novel but with magic or sci-fi or something thrown in"?

I don't think I've ever heard the term before.

[rmccarty4]

I don't think I've ever heard the term before.
Gee, I guess my wife has been reading chick lit for so long, I'd assumed the term had wide exposure. Entertainment Weekly usually reserves part of their (short) book review section for chick lit books.

Is chick lit aggro-feminist or something?
No way. At their core, they're deeply traditional. Girl meets boy, girl loses boy, girl gets boy. I think chick lit readers would be offended if somehow the girl didn't get the boy; it'd violate the primary convention of the genre. It'd be like a Clive Cussler novel in which nothing manly or impossible happened.

Is there something separating chick lit from romance novels?
It's like this: romance novels are published by a Romance Novel publisher. Harlequin is the most famous, but there are several. Fabio, the blond long-haired Italian guy used to be the cover boy on every third book, generally holding a fetching lass in a lusty embrace. They're mass-market paperback size, usually on really cheap paper, with small print. They are accordingly cheap, on the order of $4.99.

Chick lit is always in trade paperback size, features higher-quality paper, comes from "normal" publishing houses, and has pastel-colored covers with cartoony illustrations on the front. They cost on the order of $10.95 (less at Costco & Target). My impression is that most chick lit is either written by Brits or American Anglophiles, and the majority of the heroines seem to work in the media (lots of publishing, advertising, television, and such). I get the idea that they're better written and not quite as predictable as romance novels. They're supposedly a little hipper, a little more knowing, a little more contemporary.

Bridget Jones' Diary is THE chick lit, the ur-chick lit. Chick lit entered my world when Bridget Jones' Diary hit the best-seller list. When Bridget Jones' Diary came out, my wife stopped reading romance novels & started reading chick lit.


Or is it just a fancy name for "almost a romance novel but with magic or sci-fi or something thrown in"?
Most chick lit is straight-up normal fiction. But it turns out that a bunch of chick lit authors must have been BTVS fans (or been White Wolf RPG-ers?), because after BTVS became a cult hit, the wife started finding & reading vampire chick lit and werewolf chick lit and magic chick lit.

Here's my bucket: my wife's not a gamer, but in the "hope springs eternal" department, I think there's an outside chance I might be able to interest her in our little hobby, as long as it's something like the Aisling Grey novels.
But I'm going to have to get her to brief me on the stories, because... I'm just not going to read them.

[Captain Obvious]

But I'm going to have to get her to brief me on the stories, because... I'm just not going to read them.

LOL...thanks for the explanation. Yeah, it sounds like an upgraded version of romance novels then. Like a graphic novel to a comic book.

[AliceTheOwl]

LOL...thanks for the explanation. Yeah, it sounds like an upgraded version of romance novels then. Like a graphic novel to a comic book.
Well, there's far less purple prose, and, in general, less sex. The heroines are also more likely to be based on someone the author knows, rather than someone she wishes she could be. I'd say calling them an evolved form would be a more accurate statement than "upgrade," but that's just splitting hairs.

[FenrisUlf]

Most chick lit is straight-up normal fiction. But it turns out that a bunch of chick lit authors must have been BTVS fans (or been White Wolf RPG-ers?), because after BTVS became a cult hit, the wife started finding & reading vampire chick lit and werewolf chick lit and magic chick lit.



I've heard those latter called "Occult Romance". Once tried to look at one (who knows, it might be good). Oh my lord, was it awful. Soppy romance + the worst excesses of Laurel Hamilton = :sick:

[OddHat]

Don't miss the Terry Pratchett books, especially Nightwatch, Thunk! and Going Postal. Heavier on the Fantasy side, but an interesting look at adventures in a fantasy world with a modern Urban sensibility.

Also, Undead and Unwed and the other books in the series is a weirdly entertaining comic take on life as a modern female vampire.

Darklost and Mick Farren's other vampire books are a very pulpish / comic bookish take on magic in 21st Century America, pretty interesting as a potential game setting.

[Kristopher]

Ooh, good catch, although the first one is actually spelled 'Witchblade' IIRC. Great stories though. Never saw the TV show, I heard mixed things about it - anyone out there see it?

I kinda liked the TV series, wished they'd gotten it to a resolultion before it was dropped. I kinda like Yancy Butler, though.

[Photon1966]

What about Tanya Huff. Her books of various "Blood" series is now a television show called Blood Ties. I really enjoyed her books and the show is an ok fun romp.

[Icel]

Roger Zelazny with Jane Lindskold's "Lord Demon".

[StGrimblefig]

I don't suppose Isaac Asimov's Azazel stories count?

They are pretty tightly focused on George (the mooch) and his pocket-sized demon friend, and played for humor, but they are still stories about a modern world where a guy has a demon doing things for him.

[bobrunnicles]

Some of Dean Koontz's material, while generally considered horror, veers into the fantastic on occasion. Certainly he's had a 'fallen angel/risen demon' story at one point although I don't remember the name. Anyone else recall it?

[Southern Cross]

The Quatermass TV series were published as a set of cheap paperbacks from Arrow books many years ago.While they're out of print as far as I know,they are still worth picking up,especially Quatermass & the Pit.Also,is there a novelization of the TV series The Stone Tape out there?

[csyphrett]

Some of Dean Koontz's material, while generally considered horror, veers into the fantastic on occasion. Certainly he's had a 'fallen angel/risen demon' story at one point although I don't remember the name. Anyone else recall it?

I believe that was Hideaway.
CES

[csyphrett]

I don't recall if anybody recommended this, but I just watched Night Watch. That certainly fits in with what has been discussed.

Also Karas.
CES

[OddHat]

Tales of Gavagan's Bar

Uneven, but it does a nice job of mixing fantasy into a modern urban setting.

[StGrimblefig]

Now you've done it:

Callahan's Crosstime Saloon (and sequels)

Yes, it is mostly science fiction. But there was a leprechaun.

[shadowcat1313]

He wasnt quite a leprechaun, your thinking of the Clurichane, not the nicest of fellows.

The Callahans Bar and Lady Sallys books are wonderful reads, just beware of the really abominable puns, tall tales, and other strangeness.

alt.callahans on usenet has been around what seems like forever, and its associated IRC channel is quite active too.

I used to run the alt.callahans website actually, and I can usually be found in the #callahans IRC channel on undernet, and or in #traveller
as either Shadowcat or Shadocat depending on which bot heisted my nick

[Basil]

Don't miss the Terry Pratchett books, especially Nightwatch, Thunk! and Going Postal. Heavier on the Fantasy side, but an interesting look at adventures in a fantasy world with a modern Urban sensibility.

Actually, any of the "Guards" sub-series (within the Discworld series) will have that urban sensibility. "Guards! Guards!" is the first of them. There's also "Jingo," "Men at Arms," and "Feet of Clay"; those and the ones OddHat mentioned are the only ones I can recall off the top of my head.

[rmccarty4]

Haven't seen anyone mention the Arrowsmith books by Busiek & Pacheco. Definitely on the "ubiquitous magic" side, but an interesting take on ubiquitous magic.

[AliceTheOwl]

I've also just started reading The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. It's pretty wacky and weird, but it could be counted as urban fantasy, from what I've seen of it. It's set in a universe where time travel exists, and literature fills the niche celebrities and rock stars would normally fill. I can't figure out if it's science- or magic-based, yet.

[Silverbullet]

Wow.. I'm shocked no one has mentioned the show "Supernatural" yet. Granted it, like "Forever Knight" would fit in better with Horror Hero, but it has plenty that would fit the Urban Fantasy mold: Demons, djinn (Gennie), Reapers, magic rituals, etc.

Hey my favorite show on TV right now...

[Spence]

Wow.. I'm shocked no one has mentioned the show "Supernatural" yet. Granted it, like "Forever Knight" would fit in better with Horror Hero, but it has plenty that would fit the Urban Fantasy mold: Demons, djinn (Gennie), Reapers, magic rituals, etc.

Hey my favorite show on TV right now...

Dead Like Me!

Another take on death and one I enjoyed alot.

And does anyone remember Wonderfalls? A bit of an odd premise, but definitely modern fantasy (which is how I interpret Urban Fantasy ;)).

[Flames]

There sure are a lot of recommendations in this lengthy thread.

If I were to put up a simple database for Steve's benefit (and ultimately our own benefit), would any of you be willing to stop by and populate it with your recommendations?

If so, Steve could just print out the list or even just add each book to his Amazon "Wish List."

[Spence]

There sure are a lot of recommendations in this lengthy thread.

If I were to put up a simple database for Steve's benefit (and ultimately our own benefit), would any of you be willing to stop by and populate it with your recommendations?

If so, Steve could just print out the list or even just add each book to his Amazon "Wish List."

Hmmm.... So your asking if anyone here....on the boards....would be willing to post?

To opinionate?

Be careful your server doesn't overload ;)

[teh bunneh]

Sure, I'll put my suggestions up.

[Silverbullet]

Dead Like Me!

Another take on death and one I enjoyed alot.

And does anyone remember Wonderfalls? A bit of an odd premise, but definitely modern fantasy (which is how I interpret Urban Fantasy ;)).

Forgot about Dead Like Me. Nice! I haven't seen Reaper yet, but its supposed to be pretty good too...

[Kharis2000]

This isn't so much a book reccomendation as a thematic topic one:

One of the themes that I've started to see crop up more and more in urban fantasy that has therianthropes of varying sorts in it, is the idea of genetically-programmed pack dynamics. By that, I mean the idea that 'alpha males' and 'alpha females' exist in pretty much all varieties of therianthropes, and that other members of the same 'family' of therianthropes are genetically programmed to kowtow to them, submit to requests and demands for services, and suffer 'programmed' physical and emotional attraction to them. Along with the individual effects, the therianthropes also have progammed social structures and responses that are (theroetically anyway) based on the social behavior of pack predators in the wild.

Personally I find the idea annoying and a cheap cop-out to force characters to perform less-than intelligent actions required to move the plot along (I believe that it's a holdover from the current generation of urban fantasy's roots in the romance genre, personally), but it seems to be pervasive enough that it deserves some kind of discussion and representation as a Limitation.

[Spence]

Forgot about Dead Like Me. Nice! I haven't seen Reaper yet, but its supposed to be pretty good too...

I know a few people who like Reaper. I have watched a few episodes, and while I won't say I dislike it. I will say it did nothing for me or grab my attention. I don't even remember when it is on.

[Ryhope Wood]

Not sure if these are too late to make Steve's reading list but I would recommend the books of Robert Holdstock and Mark Chadborne.

Robert Holdstock has written the Mythago Wood series including Mythago Wood and Lavondyss. The setting deals with modern day ordinary people interacting with a mythical world formed from our own subconcious thoughts and racial memories into heroic archetypes.

Mark Chadborne has written the trilogy Age of Misrule including World's End, Darkest Hour, and Always Forever. It deals with the end of the Age of Reason and the return of magic and fae into the world with drastic consequences for the world. In many respects it blends fantasy with post apocalypse themes.

[Steve Long]

Not sure if these are too late to make Steve's reading list

Far from it. "Too late" would probably be around next March. Though to be honest, there's no way I can read every book that's been recommended here. ;) Now it's a matter of picking and choosing what seems best from my own library, bibliographies I have access to, and these recommendations.

[Steve]

For movies, I know "Cast a Deadly Spell" has been mentioned, but I second the nomination. Fred Ward playing PI Phil Lovecraft in a world where everyone uses magic? A great film for the genre. :thumbup:

Some book & author suggestions:

Simon Green(one of my favorite authors)

The Secret History series: The Man with the Golden Torc, Demons are Forever, and The Spy Who Haunted Me
The Nightside Series

Orson Scott Card - Enchantment

Mike Resnick - Stalking the Unicorn (great book) :thumbup:

[Spence]

Far from it. "Too late" would probably be around next March. Though to be honest, there's no way I can read every book that's been recommended here. ;) Now it's a matter of picking and choosing what seems best from my own library, bibliographies I have access to, and these recommendations.

Well if you can't read them all, just read the good ones :thumbup:




I like being all helpful and stuff :D

[GreyGuardian]

The Complete Werewolf by Anthony Boucher (spelling should be close) - short story that's appeared in several collections and was originally published in the original weird tales. Any version (original or one of the ressurections) of Weird Tales in general should be a good source for short fiction fantasy in modern times.

Grendel (comic book by Matt Wagner)
Marvel's Thor
DC's Demon, Doctor Fate, Shadow Pact, Spectre, etc.
Both Marvel and DC's comics tend to be more super hero-ish but there may still be elements you'd want to pick up... or it may be relevant for the champions section of the book if there is one.

ZBS media's Jack Flanders radio plays. (Fourth Tower of Inverness, Moon over Morrocco, the various Travels with Jack.)

Fiction based on the games Shadowrun and Mage (or just the source books I suppose, but that might be a bit troubling to have floating in the back of your head as you write your own take on the topic).

Of the books etc. mentioned so far I recommend:
War for the Oaks
Mage - The Hero discovered (comics / graphic novel)
Neverwhere
Anansi Boys (American Gods shares the same world but is a serious crunchy novel where Anansi Boys is more of a light screwball comedy) - the audio book version read by Lenny Henry was quite good.
Sandman - The new ultimate versions are very nice.
Lord Darcy - the stories are set in the year that Garrett was writing them, so they range from the late 1960's into the 1970's.

[FenrisUlf]

Another "I cant believe these have not been mentioned yet" is Michael Scott Rohan's Chase the Morning (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/michael-scott-rohan/chase-morning.htm); Gates of Noon (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/michael-scott-rohan/gates-of-noon.htm) and Cloud Castles (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/michael-scott-rohan/cloud-castles.htm).

The first of those is the best and the other two dont add too much as they essentially are variations of the first novel. Chase the Morning is one of my favourite novels.


Doc

Dear heaven, but I love those books. They are enthusiastically recommended.

I forget who sent it to me, but thanks again to whoever shipped me the copy of Chase the Morning.

[FenrisUlf]

This isn't so much a book reccomendation as a thematic topic one:

One of the themes that I've started to see crop up more and more in urban fantasy that has therianthropes of varying sorts in it, is the idea of genetically-programmed pack dynamics. By that, I mean the idea that 'alpha males' and 'alpha females' exist in pretty much all varieties of therianthropes, and that other members of the same 'family' of therianthropes are genetically programmed to kowtow to them, submit to requests and demands for services, and suffer 'programmed' physical and emotional attraction to them. Along with the individual effects, the therianthropes also have progammed social structures and responses that are (theroetically anyway) based on the social behavior of pack predators in the wild.

Personally I find the idea annoying and a cheap cop-out to force characters to perform less-than intelligent actions required to move the plot along (I believe that it's a holdover from the current generation of urban fantasy's roots in the romance genre, personally), but it seems to be pervasive enough that it deserves some kind of discussion and representation as a Limitation.

I do remember reading about a female Swedish werewolf called a vargma ('Mother Wolf', I think) who could infect men with lycanthropy and then force them to change whenever she so desired. She could control their actions in beast form too.

The Swedes also had the varulf, werewolves who ran in packs and only ate human flesh when they couldn't get beer.

[Basil]

The Swedes also had the varulf, werewolves who ran in packs and only ate human flesh when they couldn't get beer.

Sounds almost civilized. "I'm going to chew your arm off!" "Here, have a beer instead!" "Oh. Why thank you, I believe I shall."

:D

[Doc Democracy]

I forget who sent it to me, but thanks again to whoever shipped me the copy of Chase the Morning.

I'm pleased it arrived and that you enjoyed it!


Doc

[FenrisUlf]

Sounds almost civilized. "I'm going to chew your arm off!" "Here, have a beer instead!" "Oh. Why thank you, I believe I shall."

:D

Well, it's better than the French werewolves, the lupin, who used to hide outside cemeteries speaking to each other in "whispering voices", would dig up and consume the dead, and mugged any passerby who bothered them.

[eternal_sage]

my wife is a big fan of Urban Fantasy so these are her favs...if these have been said, sorry:

Urban Shaman Series by C.E. Murphey
Moon Called (and sequels) by Patricia Briggs
Blood Pact (etc) by Tanya Huff
the first few Luarell K. Hamilton Annita Blake novels
the first few Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles
the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

[EvilJim]

I can't believe no one has suggested the Nightwatch and Daywatch movies. Good, weird Russian urban fantasy. :thumbup:

I know UF is already written but the novels these movies were based on are amazing! If there are gonna be UF source books I'd recommend Steve read these!

[Southern Cross]

As would I.
I'd also recommend Twilight Watch,the last book in the original trilogy.Also there is the first of a new trilogy by the same author.The title is The Last Watch,and I haven't started reading it yet.
Another title I'd recommend is The Accidental Sorceror by K.E.Mills.The story is about a minor sorceror who's doing a long-overdue inspection of the premier staff-making factory in the country.Despite all his attempts to prevent a catastrophe (the new owner is a greedy miser) the factory goes up and he is unfairly blamed for the disaster,forcing him to take a job as a court wizard in a foreign country.
It turns out he's jumped from the frying pan into the fire.The kingdom is a mess,and the king is a deranged sociopath who has been meddling in black magic.(He's stolen the magic from the previous court wizards,which kills the wizard in question).Even with his few allies and his greatly increased powers,it comes down to a duel between dragons.

[AmadanNaBriona]

my wife is a big fan of Urban Fantasy so these are her favs...if these have been said, sorry:

Urban Shaman Series by C.E. Murphey
Moon Called (and sequels) by Patricia Briggs
Blood Pact (etc) by Tanya Huff
the first few Luarell K. Hamilton Annita Blake novels
the first few Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles
the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

I will note that it seems like Laurell Hamilton might be getting her libido under control based on the last couple of her books I read. The quality is coming back up somewhat.

[Clonus]

I'm not sure I can ever read these. I morally object to them on the grounds that Kurtz should write more Deryni novels, dammit, not this other stuff. ;)


The last few Deryni novels I read indicated that inspiration is failing her. For gaming inspiration I found Tanya Huff's Blood series to be good. Same basic territory as Diana Tregarde, but I didn't think Diana Tregarde was very good and I did like the Huff novels. Hamilton's Merry Gentry novels were interesting in that they were terrible plot-wise (because...what plot?), but they actually contain a version of the Seelie and Unseelie courts which I like better than any other depiction of them that I've seen. Too bad she didn't have a story to go with it.

[AmadanNaBriona]

The last few Deryni novels I read indicated that inspiration is failing her. For gaming inspiration I found Tanya Huff's Blood series to be good. Same basic territory as Diana Tregarde, but I didn't think Diana Tregarde was very good and I did like the Huff novels. Hamilton's Merry Gentry novels were interesting in that they were terrible plot-wise (because...what plot?), but they actually contain a version of the Seelie and Unseelie courts which I like better than any other depiction of them that I've seen. Too bad she didn't have a story to go with it.

Yeah, the Merry Gentry setting and background is golden, too bad she keeps submerging the series in her kinky potboiler romance "plot"

[Curufea]

I think they could be used "as is" for a setting - all the characters in the books would be NPCs that would have little to no contact with the PCs.
They have the kind of melodramatic over-the-top lives that would be good to drive plots in the background of what the PCs are doing.

[danbuter1]

Haven't read every post, but I HIGHLY recommend Patricia Briggs. Especially Moon Called, Blood Bound, and Iron Kissed. She is a great writer, but be warned, she does not pull punches.

[Manic Typist]

What does that mean, she doesn´t pull punches? I´ve read Moon Called, and look forward to picking up the next few novels...

And what does potboiler mean, anyway? It´s all about getting hot and heavy, like a pot boiling over?

[gojira]

Just read Stormfront (the first book of the Dresden Files) yesterday, by Jim Butcher. Fun stuff.

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but there were a series of graphic novels, The Books of Magic, and also The Books of Faerie, that would make excellent Urban Fantasy inspiration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Books_of_Magic

[Spence]

What does that mean, she doesn´t pull punches? I´ve read Moon Called, and look forward to picking up the next few novels...

And what does potboiler mean, anyway? It´s all about getting hot and heavy, like a pot boiling over?

From the titles, they sound like being about either Vampire's or Werewolves.

Hopefully not, but I rather find out before I buy the book ;)

[ghost-angel]

And what does potboiler mean, anyway? It´s all about getting hot and heavy, like a pot boiling over?

No, it's a negative term. Usually quickly turned out hack writing used to keep the cash flow going to live day to day.

Pot Boiling is an allusion to "keeping the pot boil" i.e. "being able to eat every day."

The mystery genre, on the other hand, uses is slightly differently - removing a lot (if not all) of the negative connotations.

[Markdoc]

Just read Stormfront (the first book of the Dresden Files) yesterday, by Jim Butcher. Fun stuff.

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but there were a series of graphic novels, The Books of Magic, and also The Books of Faerie, that would make excellent Urban Fantasy inspiration.

Yeah, one of our old gaming group (Dylan Horrocks) wrote part of the series (Hunter: The Age of Magic, specifically). It's a nice background, I think.

cheers, Mark

[danbuter1]

What does that mean, she doesn´t pull punches? I´ve read Moon Called, and look forward to picking up the next few novels...


Book 3 especially, I actually really really wanted to kill a fictional character. The things that happen in that book are just plain disturbing (psychologically, not gross-out).

And to other posters: the main character is a shape-shifting coyote, whose main ability is tracking other supernaturals. There are vamps, werewolves, etc. It sounds cliche, but Briggs has the best characters and stories of any of the people who write this particular part of the genre (and I've read them all).

[ghost-angel]

oh, sounds familiar. I think I read the first half of book 1.

[Manic Typist]

Book 3 especially, I actually really really wanted to kill a fictional character. The things that happen in that book are just plain disturbing (psychologically, not gross-out).

And to other posters: the main character is a shape-shifting coyote, whose main ability is tracking other supernaturals. There are vamps, werewolves, etc. It sounds cliche, but Briggs has the best characters and stories of any of the people who write this particular part of the genre (and I've read them all).

Ah, I know that. One of the ¨Song of Fire and Ice¨ novels made me so angry at one point I wanted to jump up in the middle of class and throw the book across the room while cursing a certain character to very painful dooms. If you´ve read the series, you probably know exactly what moment I´m talking about. I think it´s even in the first book, but I´m not sure...

I really liked Moon Called, and my only hesitation is that it reminded me of Anita Blake (before it turned into mostly porn)... which was good, except that it had me worried that it´d do the same thing to me a few books in...

[Korvar]

Ah, I know that. One of the ¨Song of Fire and Ice¨ novels made me so angry at one point I wanted to jump up in the middle of class and throw the book across the room while cursing a certain character to very painful dooms. If you´ve read the series, you probably know exactly what moment I´m talking about. I think it´s even in the first book, but I´m not sure...


For me it was the "Red Wedding". Bastard Freys...

[Manic Typist]

That was the SECOND time I was made that angry.


He needs to destroy them. He needs to ruin them utterly. That CANNOT be allowed to slide. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Korvar]

I don't know how many of you can get hold of BBC shows, but Being Human is Urban Fantasy.

Brief summary: a Vampire, a Werewolf and a Ghost live together in an attempt at a "normal" life. Hijinks ensue. It sounds like the set-up for a sitcom, and it is quite funny at times, but there's also a lot of drama, largely because the Vampires are Up To Something.

[StGrimblefig]

Elizabeth Bear, anyone?
The Promethean Age (http://www.elizabethbear.com/promethean.html) books, specifically.

[Celt]

FWIW Drops of Crimson (http://gothhuntress.com/crimson/homepage.html) and Urban Fantasy Land (http://urbanfantasyland.wordpress.com/), a couple of urban fantasy ezines.

edit: and both sites have a mess of links to further explore.

[AlexShinjo]

For people who enjoy anime I would also suggest Tokko as an idea to get inspiration from.

[Spence]

For people who enjoy anime I would also suggest Tokko as an idea to get inspiration from.

Or Silent Mobius, Witch Hunter Robin, and Blood the last Vampire.

[csyphrett]

I have found some books by Liz Williams starring Detective Inspector Chen that involves dealing with Hell, Heaven, and how they affect the real world.

Also I saw an anime movie called strait jacket where people used magic but too much turned them into monsters so they turned to wearing suits to keep their risk of turning down.
CES