|
fordan posted:Seanan is icked out by sex scenes in urban fantasy novels too based on a conversation I had with her at a convention back a year and half ago so hopefully there won't be much. Or at least you'll be able to do what she says she does which is look a page or two ahead to jump to after the sex. Huh! That's a relief to here- I definitely enjoy her stuff, and it's nice to know that the lack of terrible fantasy sex is a choice and not a coincidence. But yeah, book one of the series isn't that bad that I can recall (admittedly, I read it awhiiiile back) and probably worth reading if you're going to get into the series for the longer term.
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 05:14
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 15, 2024 08:26 |
|
|
OmniBeer posted:Huh! That's a relief to here- I definitely enjoy her stuff, and it's nice to know that the lack of terrible fantasy sex is a choice and not a coincidence. Yeah, she was complaining about how she couldn't skip ahead with Laurell K Hamilton books since the plot is wrapped into the sex. Of course, there's an obvious solution to that problem...
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 05:46
|
|
|
Kate Griffin's Midnight Mayor/Magicals Anonymous books are pretty fun too. Nice and light, and no weird sex stuff that I can recall.
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 07:36
|
|
|
I really liked them, but I wouldn't bother with it once you've finished the Midnight Mayor stuff. I found her writing style took a little getting used to as well, especially in the first book.
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 07:40
|
|
|
Reading Foxglove Summer and the bits with the Roman road made me think about the implications of the American Trans-Continental Roailroad. Like, who did we plow under?
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 08:08
|
|
|
fordan posted:Yeah, she was complaining about how she couldn't skip ahead with Laurell K Hamilton books since the plot is wrapped into the sex. Of course, there's an obvious solution to that problem... Descend into perversion?
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 13:15
|
|
|
I don't want to come across as hating on Laurel K. Hamilton or any other writers of her ilk. There is clearly a market for those books and if people like them that's just fine with me. I happen to find them the supernatural equivalent of those romance novels my mother liked to read when she was younger. You know the ones with the fabios on the covers. I just wish there was less of them around. Often tainting the perception of the genre... (I mean its pulpy work sure you just don't need to get to the point where half of it is creepy werewolf sex) I wonder what started this whole mess? Is Anne rice to blame? I tend to think so. Also. I am glad this is the unofficial urban fantasy thread or with the delay between Dresden books increasing this would descend into "mouse is actually reincarnated time traveling Harry" crazy  If anyone is interested here are my UF favorites top to bottom: Dresden files > Rivers of London > Alex Verus > > libriomancer > the Rook > Iron Druid
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 17:09
|
|
|
I share you're compliant about Laurel K Hamiton. I personally would really like books with female leads that don't end up as softcore porn or don't end up with her biggest problem being which guy should she hook up with. But I'm equally frustrated with the Urban Fantasy books where woman is a device or sex kitten or damsel in distress. I liked Libromancer but the main woman/love interest really bothered me. so I haven't checked out the second book. Felix Castor has a succubus as a main character but still better than the way most Urban Fantasy treats their ladies. I think both need to be addressed to get that therorectical taint off the genre. Because right now when I recommend Urban Fantasy books to friends those are the first two things I got to tell them about the series. I know we talk about how goony Dresden is, but despite his preoccupation with tits, the ladies in the books are pretty cool.
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 20:07
|
|
|
The Greywalker series has a female protagonist, but they're boring. The Rook has a female protagonist and it totally owns.
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 20:14
|
|
|
ConfusedUs posted:The Greywalker series has a female protagonist, but they're boring. Yeah I gave Greywalker a shot. I gave up when it became all about the tru luw between her and her homeless boyfriend. The Rook is on my audible wishlist right now. I'm on Rivers of London right now. And Male protagonist is okay, just as long as the ladies in his life are fully formed people. I really liked the Felix Castor books. Edit: I know everyone in this thread kinda hates her, but I love Murphy. My dream is to find a series about basically Murphy. KellHound fucked around with this message at 20:22 on Nov 18, 2014 |
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 20:19
|
|
|
KellHound posted:I share you're compliant about Laurel K Hamiton. I personally would really like books with female leads that don't end up as softcore porn or don't end up with her biggest problem being which guy should she hook up with. But I'm equally frustrated with the Urban Fantasy books where woman is a device or sex kitten or damsel in distress. I liked Libromancer but the main woman/love interest really bothered me. so I haven't checked out the second book. Felix Castor has a succubus as a main character but still better than the way most Urban Fantasy treats their ladies. Eh, the Libriomancer books are taking that character and moving her away from her origins by having the main character write a book about her and basically write her as a tree nymph that has the freedom to choose who she cares about, with the people that care about her reading the book and basically exploiting the magic system of that world to make it so she doesn't have such a terrible background. It still sucks and is somewhat aggravating waiting for it to get to that point, but as of the last book I read it really isn't anywhere near as bad as the first book.
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 21:00
|
|
|
Libriomancer is a weird one for me. I haven't fully made up my mind on what to think of the love interest (leena? I can't remember and that enough should be an indication but I was having a hard time remembering the protagonists name also) on the one hand she was explicitly created as a male fantasy/sex slave type character from a pulp novel. On the other hand that is recognized by the protagonist and explicitly denounced. Also, Despite her nature being that she craves to be whatever her partner desires she wants to grow beyond it. I would not give up on libriomancer just yet. What I am trying to say regarding that book is: Jim Hines created a character she serves a role in the story and does not seem in any way to exemplify his view on women. (Apparently his princess series which I am yet to read is full of badass fairytale princesses that are far from distressed damsels) E. Beaten
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 21:14
|
|
|
Also, Twenty Palaces is a pretty cool, if incomplete and never going to be completed, series. Annalise Powliss is pretty loving hardcore.
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 21:23
|
|
|
I just re-read all four Twenty Palaces books this month. Goddamn, what a series it could have been if he'd just started with the prequel. The first book is frustrating as hell when you don't understand the character's recent history. Book 1 starts literally hours after Ray gets out of jail following the events in the prequel. But those are events are never explained. Just endlessly referenced. It's frustrating to the reader to have all this information deliberately withheld. The books thrive on their eldritch weirdness, but are very slow burns otherwise. So you spend 70% of book one wondering what the gently caress is going on. You're told over and over that predators and magic are bad and dangerous, with vague allusions to previous events. There are no details and little showing. Just constant tell, tell, tell. Then at the end it's made mostly clear. If you've read the prequel, the pacing and references suddenly snap into place. You see weird poo poo, and you know it's just the edges of something far worse. You know because you've seen what can happen.
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 21:36
|
|
|
I believe he did write the prequel first, but the publishers didn't want it. Child of Fire was the second novel written. Although I have to say that I've never had any problems with understanding what was going on. It starts with in medias res, yes, and it's content to show things without immediately explaining them, but it works. Everyone who thinks otherwise is a terrible person who should have been made to buy, like, three copies of every book and read them until they got it. 
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 21:49
|
|
|
Megazver posted:I believe he did write the prequel first, but the publishers didn't want it. Child of Fire was the second novel written. The publishers are dumb. Just like the networks that air TV series out of order and then wonder why they bomb. The first book is workable (to some degree) as-is, but its pace is glacial and the mystery is artificial, which I find frustrating. R.I.P. Firefly and Twenty Palaces
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 21:52
|
|
|
ConfusedUs posted:The publishers are dumb. Just like the networks that air TV series out of order and then wonder why they bomb. Admittedly, I think he did give the prequel another pass or two with the benefit of having published three novels before self-pubbing it. Maybe it was that rough, I dunno.
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 21:56
|
|
|
KellHound posted:Yeah I gave Greywalker a shot. I gave up when it became all about the tru luw between her and her homeless boyfriend.
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 22:23
|
|
|
Mars4523 posted:High five! I love Murphy. I love murphy too, save for the early books! Murphy is freaking awesome and i hope she remains in the series.
|
|
#
?
Nov 18, 2014 23:19
|
|
|
I hope Murphy dies when Fix gets around to getting his revenge.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 00:59
|
|
|
KellHound posted:Edit: I know everyone in this thread kinda hates her, but I love Murphy. My dream is to find a series about basically Murphy. Murphy's great
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 02:16
|
|
|
I don't want Murphy and Harry to be in ~a relationship~ but she's a great partner for him. I'd hate to see her dead. Some of the best moments are her, Harry, and Marcone/Michael/Kincaid/Thomas working together with their differing outlooks and goals. Is Murphy the only character that has been in every book other than Harry? There was one book I didn't think Mister was in (but I could be wrong) and I can't think of anyone else. Mac maybe? Fix is.... kind of a non character to me.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 03:44
|
|
|
autism chariot posted:I really liked them, but I wouldn't bother with it once you've finished the Midnight Mayor stuff. I found her writing style took a little getting used to as well, especially in the first book. Contrary opinion here. The midnight mayor series is very entertaining, all of them, and the two magicals anonymous books are a nice, new approach to urban mythos and equally entertaining.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 04:19
|
|
|
mastajake posted:I don't want Murphy and Harry to be in ~a relationship~ but she's a great partner for him. I'd hate to see her dead. Some of the best moments are her, Harry, and Marcone/Michael/Kincaid/Thomas working together with their differing outlooks and goals. I want murphy to quit harry, and go off stage left to do something, anything, for herself. The vacation with kincaid was kinda this, but then it didn't work out so we could have more pointless tension.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 04:26
|
|
|
mastajake posted:Is Murphy the only character that has been in every book other than Harry? There was one book I didn't think Mister was in (but I could be wrong) and I can't think of anyone else. Mac maybe? As someone who as been going through the books finding every characters appearance to draw them, I can tell you Murphy, Bob, and Mister are the characters that show up in every book besides Harry. Mac isn't in Grave Peril or Summer Knight. As for Harry/Murphy dating, I'm indifferent. But I want Murphy to stick around. If Butters can suddenly be a knight, then Murphy can stick around and keep kicking rear end. KellHound fucked around with this message at 05:19 on Nov 19, 2014 |
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 05:11
|
|
|
Murphy is a great character, but at this point in the series she's so severely outgunned that she just needs to die. and come back as a valkyrie
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 05:27
|
|
|
Wait, why is Fix getting revenge? Didn't Fix see that Maeve killed Lilly? I can see Murphy keeping pace with Harry through improved firepower. Butcher has written a number of points where mortal weapons have been significant in the magical world; AP mines have been used as a deterrent multiple times, Kincade nearly killed Harry with a gun, and Murphy already has a rocket launcher that made Nicodemus pause.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 06:13
|
|
|
Hieronymous Alloy posted:Murphy is a great character, but at this point in the series she's so severely outgunned that she just needs to die. and come back as a valkyrie I suddenly hate how I never thought of that, and hate you for making a small part of me want the same. I think she's fine as is, and I wouldn't mind them trying SOMETHING. Honestly, it'd probably wind up as short lived as Kincaid.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 09:13
|
|
|
Shinjobi posted:I suddenly hate how I never thought of that, and hate you for making a small part of me want the same. Somebody hasn't read Side Jobs. There is a story in it where Gard offers Murphy a job with Monoc Securities, with heavy implication that it would be as a Valkyrie.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 13:27
|
|
|
just_a_guy posted:Asking for recommendations now. It's not exactly Urban Fantasy, since it doesn't take place in our world, but it has the same feel to it: Max Gladstone's Craft Sequence is really great. Every book features different protagonists (which tend to come up as side characters or even antagonists in other books), and they are really well written, regardless of gender (which is partly very fluid in the first place in this world). I think it was recommended a few pages ago, which I can only second. Also features skeleton mages heading law firms if that's your thing.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 15:18
|
|
|
Decius posted:
Skeleton mages is definitely my thing I went with Midnight Mayor this week since the blurb appealed to me the most I should be finished pretty quick since I'm stuck home with a sick child and a weather that Noah himself would be impressed by. (try reading with Dora the Explorer in the background. Makes for an interesting experience) So far I am enjoying the Urban take on magic. Subway gates becoming powerful wards is pretty clever and makes for a certain amount of sense. I am just a bit unsure about the magic system. I generally like the ones with clearly defined boundaries and that don't break the laws of physics too much or in the least not suspension-of-disbelief breaking. just_a_guy fucked around with this message at 15:28 on Nov 19, 2014 |
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 15:25
|
|
|
Hieronymous Alloy posted:Murphy is a great character, but at this point in the series she's so severely outgunned that she just needs to die. and come back as a valkyrie Butters got a power up from making magic gizmos. There's a precedent set for magic weapons with Luccio making magic swords so I think Murphy could get away with a power up from Harry in the form of magic items.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 16:08
|
|
|
just_a_guy posted:Skeleton mages is definitely my thing There will never be clearly defined boundaries. In some ways, as the series goes on, it becomes less defined. I like that, but I can see where it might bug you.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 17:33
|
|
|
Azuth0667 posted:Butters got a power up from making magic gizmos. There's a precedent set for magic weapons with Luccio making magic swords so I think Murphy could get away with a power up from Harry in the form of magic items. I'm really surprised we haven't seen more than that one magic bullet. I guess with any luck some of the trinkets from hell might liven things up in the power department.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 18:15
|
|
|
torgeaux posted:There will never be clearly defined boundaries. In some ways, as the series goes on, it becomes less defined. I like that, but I can see where it might bug you. Yeah I thought this was part of the charm of the books. Sorcerers seem to use magic based on their understanding/belief of the world. It seemed like some of the other magic users had more defined rules but they aren't the main character so we don't get to see them. It felt way less D&D and more organic.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 18:23
|
|
|
Dr. MonkeyThunder posted:I'm really surprised we haven't seen more than that one magic bullet. I guess with any luck some of the trinkets from hell might liven things up in the power department. I'm surprised at this as well and Harry has a lot of resources now especially after Skin Game so I expect we should see more stuff like this.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 20:09
|
|
|
Lyon posted:Yeah I thought this was part of the charm of the books. Sorcerers seem to use magic based on their understanding/belief of the world. It seemed like some of the other magic users had more defined rules but they aren't the main character so we don't get to see them. It felt way less D&D and more organic. You see more of the other styles in the magicals anonymous series.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 20:20
|
|
|
computer parts posted:He'd probably be old enough for Ebeneezer by the time the book rights were finalized. Continuing the casting discussion, Chris Pratt would make a great harry.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 20:48
|
|
|
Wade Wilson posted:I hope Murphy dies when Fix gets around to getting his revenge. Murphy killed Maive. Maive killed Lilly. What the gently caress does Fix have to get revenge on?
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 20:51
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 15, 2024 08:26 |
|
|
Rhymenoserous posted:Continuing the casting discussion, Chris Pratt would make a great harry. I think he's too lighthearted. Harry needs someone who can do cynical and who can do gruff.
|
|
#
?
Nov 19, 2014 20:54
|
|