Ghost Story is just a few months away, but for many of us the wait’s just unbearable. What’s a superfan to do?
Read something else, of course. I like my stuff pretty dark; so here’s what I’d recommend to fellow Jim fans looking in that direction, both by authors who I fully believe deserve a wider audience.
Harry Connolly’s Child of Fire: This is dark stuff (Changes dark, and maybe darker still), but so worth it. If you’re wondering what Harry’s adventures would look like in a more horror-inflected series where magic is an even surer route to pain, this is it. Jim Butcher has said that the writing here tells him he’s got to up his game, and you can see why. The plot is propulsive, the twists and turns are sharp, and the hero’s got some serious stuff darkening his door. This is part of the “Twenty Palaces” series, followed by Game of Cages and the upcoming Circle of Enemies.
While you’re at it, consider checking out Chuck Wendig’s collection of short stories, Irregular Creatures. Chuck runs an awesome, bizarre, profane writers’-advice blog over on Terrible Minds (good reading on its own!), and his e-collection of short stories here follows in that vein. He also has an upcoming novel about a vampire who returns to waking in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, Double Dead, which I’m betting will be up your alley as well.
So what are you reading while waiting on Ghost Story? Whose stuff would you recommend? Chime in in the comments, below! (Please avoid spoilers while making your recommendations!)
Aside from impatiently biting my nails waiting for Ghost Story, I’ve been reading The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie. Not an urban fantasy, but dark and enjoyable all the same.
Before I start, I might mention that while these novels are all available on Amazon’s kindle, I have no idea if they are available or not in paperback.
If you’re looking for the more humorous side of the Dresden Files, check out the Black Knight Chronicles by John G. Hartness. The story takes a lighthearted view of vampires, cops, the Fae, dragons, trolls, the more biblical figures of Lilith and an angel named Phil, demons and witches- all while making you wonder just where the author is going to take things next. Although lines like “And that’s when things really got messy” tend to be a bit overused, it is my only complaint on an otherwise intriguing ride into Urban Fantasy. There are two books in the series, starting with “Hard Day’s Knight” and progressing to “Back in Black with Bonus Content.”
I’d also highly recommend the Matthew Richter novels by Tim Waggoner. Think Zombie Detective (yes, he’s a zombie & a detective, not just some brain-hungry slave on a quest for its own stomach) in Monsterland, and you’ll have the basic concept of the story with the noir of the Dresden Files mixed in. The series starts with Nekropolis, progresses to Dead Streets, and the third book, Dark War, is currently being written.
The Simon Canderous line is another awesome series by Anton Strout. Simon Canderous is an agent of the Department of Extraordinary affairs, a government division assigned to investigate and “deal with” the paranormal residents and events that happen in New York City. He is a psychometrist, which means he can read the history of an object simply by touching it (however, this leads to him constantly munching on Life Savers, as it makes his blood sugar drop to dangerously low levels every time he does so), and his caseloads involve everything from politically correct cultists to homicidal bookshelves to wandering spirits. Don’t miss this one! Current books in the series are Dead Matter, Dead Waters, Deader Still, and Dead to Me.
Last but certainly far from least is the Connor Grey series by Mark Del Franco. Connor is a druid who summarily lost his powers when attempting to defeat his primary nemesis in a battle royale- and attempts to find his way through lots of political intrigue amongst supernatural entites and old enemies, as well as new challenges in his current state and a superbly written cast of supporting characters. Set in Boston, Connor encounters the usual host of supernatural creatures, as well as a few unexpected species. The Fae are by far the stars here. Check them out in Unshapely Things, Unquiet Dreams, Unfallen Dead, Unperfect Souls, and Uncertain Allies (to be released on April 26 of this year.)
Hopefully, this list is more than enough to fill the void between here and Ghost Story! I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of them, and more than once stayed up far too late to finish the next chapter. And the next one. And… you get the idea.
I remember Jim mentioning this book on an interview some time ago, which was the primary reason why I thought it was worth getting.
Yes, it’s darker than Changes. Seemed more like a Cal Leandros book sans the whining. Don’t get me wrong, I like the Leandros novels, but Cal is just downright depressing sometimes. Like Lovecraft with sarcasm, which would probably improve Lovecraft a bit. Sorry, got sidetracked. Where was I? Oh yes.
I liked the book. Liked enough to get the second one, Game of Cages (which coincidently arrived today, along with the lastest Leandros).
Long-ish (and rambling) story short, I recommend it as well.
For a Cal Leandros novel without the whining, read Chimera. You get all the Rob Thurman goodness without the brooding. On the other hand, you miss the Robin Goodfellow’ness. Plus the sequel Basilisk comes out in August, not o’er long after Ghost.
I think Changes is more intense but Conolly’s novels don’t have a lot of humor, which is good cuz that means he doesn’t wanna copy Jim.
I would recommend the Hollows/Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison. The series follows Rachel who is a witch that works as a “runner”(cop/agent) for the I.S (Inderland Security), who is basically like the F.B.I for the paranormal peeps.
I actually stumbled across this while looking for stuff to hold me over in between Dresden books and was instantly hooked.
Rachel is like a female version of Harry no lie, she has the same bad luck, and trouble seems to follow her where ever she goes, she lives with her partner who is a “living vampire”, and her sidekick Jenks who is a pixy and this series’ equivalent of Bob. A witch, a vampire, and a pixy,oh not to mention said pixy’s wife and kids, all living in the same church….yes church…what could possibly go wrong?
I firmly believe if Butcher and Harrison wrote even a short story or novella teaming Harry and Rachel together it would be the most epic(and hilarious) book EVER!!! there are currently 9 books in the series so that should help keep your mind off the wait for Ghost Story, I however have am all caught up, so now i have two books i love that i have to wait for. -_- *sigh*……..
they should definitly write one together!!!!!!!
I love the Hollow’s series. I am all caught up with that series as well. Pale Demon, the latest, was really good. Oh, for those not familiar with this series they are all named after Clint Eastwood movies.
I’d go with Simon R Green’s Nightside series. A more over the top urban fantasy, with a fantastically rich environment, and no masquerade to keep things ordinary.
“The Nightside is the dark, secret, brooding heart of London, hidden away from the rest of the world, where magic is realer than you can bear, where lives and souls and everything else you can think of are always up for sale, and all your worst dreams go walking openly in borrowed flesh. It’s always dark in the Nightside, always three o’clock in the morning, the hour that tries men’s souls. Hot neon burns over rain-slick streets, bars and clubs never close, and gods and monsters go walking hand in hand. You can find anything you ever dreamed of in the Nightside; but watch your back. It might find you first.”
I just started Death’s Excellent Vacation, an anthology from the same editor’s of Many Bloody Returns. No Dresden in this one, but it’s stories of supernatural beings on vacation. It starts off with a new Sookie Stackhouse from Charlaine Harris, whoch I’m reading and enjoying now, and has a lot of familiar faces in the authors list if you’ve read other anthologies with Dresden shorts in them.
Brent Weeks – Night Angel trilogy
Name of the wind + Wise Man’s fear
The Last Stormlord + Stormlord Rising
Spellwright
A Dance of Cloaks
The Last Hunter
Ancient Awakening + Ancient Enemies
Shadow’s Son
And then one can always have a look at:
Brandon Sanderson (esp Way of Kings and Elantris)
George RR Martin (reread in anticipation of new book in June)
Raymond E Feist (Faerie Tale)
If you have done all of those and feel like branching out to SF
Immune + Second Ship
I am number 4
Really is the book coming out in June for George RR Martin? Time to get the series out.
Currently, I’m reading “The Neon Court”, the third book in Kate Griffin’s Wonderful Matthew Swift series. Her writing is so gorgeous and dense and her take on magic is so original you can’ help but to love it. Blue Electric Angels forever!
I am also reading the Story of Fire and Ice–I’ve finished “A game of Thrones” and I’m about 2/3 through “A Clash of Kings” Marvelous stuff.
Also I’m doing a non-systematic reread of the first 12 novels an the stores to scree out clues for “Ghost Story”
Read Ilona Andrews! Her “Magic” series is outstanding urban fantasy. Yes, the protagonist is female, but this is not paranormal romance (at least not much). Like Harry, Kate Daniels lives and works in a nuts and bolts world, where bills have to be paid and things break down. In fact, things break down a lot because her world has alternating periods of technology vs. magic power, and the waves of magic are unpredictable. Kate has made a living as a mercenary, and has to use both magic and mundane weapons to survive. The books are very funny as well as action-packed; Kate has a lot of attitude and sometimes talks before she thinks.
Next up, I just ordered the second Hollows. Less action than Jim, but well written IMO. OF course, right now I am reading some old Robert E Howard El Borak stories, so someone is getting chopped up or shot about every other page, so it evens out… yeah, I kinda vary my stuff, and haven’t spent $90 at Amazon since… this morning… 😉
Daemon by Suarez looks interesting, too. (that’s like UNIX daemons, BTW – not Jim’s). Ordered the last Alera, too – any word on Jim’s next series?
Oh, and BTW, Felix, Ilona Andrews is a husband and wife team. Recently found that out, haven’t read them yet.
Orb – Phil is an angel? I thought he was the Prince of Insufficient Light?
Karen Chance – series about a psychic who becomes the pythia and has to chase through time to defeat her rival to the chief psychic throne
Patricia Briggs – series about a coyote shapeshifter how has to figure out how to live side by side with territorial werewolves
Lisa Shearin – series about an elf who ends up attached to a soul sucking rock who bestows immense power to its bearer and is on the run from just about everyone
Eric Nylund – a new find…a series about twins who find out that they are the children of Lucifer and one of the mythological goddesses, and both sides of their family are trying to claim them
Was reading Kim Harrison, but got annoyed with her. Always a big fan of Laurell K Hamilton, especially now that she is returning to more mystery/horror based writing
I’m just re-reading all the Dresden Files until Ghost Story comes out. I’m on Dead Beat. Trying to time it right before the release.
What, no love for “Sandman Slim” by Richard Kadrey? Definitely my favorite representative of the genre. It’s gritty, hard-edged, and told in the present tense. I immediately reread the book after finishing it! There are two books in the series.
You might also like the “Felix Castor” books (5 in the series) by Mike Carey. Set in London, these are a little less fantasy and a lot more focused on ghosts, the dead, the undead, and a lot of exorcist gumshoeing.
Good stuff.
hey I love the Child of Fire series too
I would recommend Simon R Green’s and Rob Thurman’s novels. But honestly, no one does detective fantasy like Sir Butcher.
Check out “The Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss and it’s sequel “Wise Man’s Fear.” They are the first two books in a trilogy and well worth a read in my opinion.
Game of Thrones. ‘Nuff said.
Adding to the list of urban fantasy…
Michelle Sagara – Cast In series
Suzanne McLeod – Spellcracker series.
Seanan McGuire – October Daye series
Kevin Hearne – Iron Druid Chronicles series (begins on May 3rd)
Eileen Wilks – World of the Lupi series
J.F. Lewis – Void City series
Larry Correia – Monster Hunter series
Carolyn Crane – The Disillusionists series
Stasia Cane – Downside Ghosts series
John Levitt – Dog Days series
Jennifer Estep – Elemental Assassin series
Diana Rowland – Kara Gillian series
Adding to fantasy…
Robin Hobb – Farseer & Tawny man series – also Liveship Traders series was good
Glenda Larke – Just finished Stormlord series 2 books – excellent.
Juliet Marillier – Sevenwaters series
Happy reading!
October Daye series is my current favorite after dresden.
I’m rereading a lot of stuff…
The Chronicles of Amber – Roger Zelazny (classic fantasy & has a couple shoutouts in the Dresden Files)
Nightwatch – Sergei Lukyanenko (gritty urban fantasy – from Russia!)
His Majesty’s Dragon – Naomi Novak (the Napoleonic war with DRAGONS)
I might pick up some of the recommendations, too. Child of Fire looks interesting, and I’ve been meaning to read Patricia Briggs.
Ditto on Harry Connolly’s Child of Fire. I’ve read the first Simon Green Nightside novel and it was pretty good.
Joe McKinney has a couple of good zombie novels – Dead City and Apocalypse of the Dead.
Tim Powers seems to have his own genre of historical urban fantasy – (secret history fantasy?). So far, I think all his novels are stand alone- not a series. Titles include The Anubis Gates, On Stranger Tides*, The Stress of Her Regard, Last Call and Declare. I’m about 1/3 of the way through Declare.
There’s the great grandpa of urban fantasy, Bram Stoker’s Dracula (reading the novel is not quite the same as watching any movie version).
PS Yes, On Stranger Tides is also the upcoming Pirates of the Caribean Movie. The rumor I heard was the writer for te 4th movie wanted to do a story with Blackbeard, so did some research and started writing. Somebody who read the first draft said something like “this is real close to the Tim Power’s novel On Stranger Tides”, so to avoid any later accusations of plagiarism, they just bought the rights to the novel. But it’s just a rumor.
Declare was iffy for me, but Last Call and On Stranger Tides I enjoyed immensley, oh so many moons ago.
Always look out for some Fafrhd and the Gray Mouser by F. Leiber, and if you want something really esoteric and interesting, read “A War in Heaven” by Charles Williams. An Inkling with Tolkien. Very cool stuff.
TAC