McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

question on urban fantasy literature.

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Moritz:
I recently found out (partly via amazon) that there is a whole bunch of books similar to Dresden Files. I mean that particular style of series with PIs and supernatural critters and so on. Supposedly a lot of overlap with romance stories lately.

I have read some reviews, talked with some people about it, and have come to the conclusion that I might limit my reading of this particular kind of UF to Dresden Files after all.

So as I have never read those other books (I am thinking about Patricia Briggs, Laurell Hamilton, Kim Harrison, Tanya Huff, Carrie Vaughn etc. here)
- are they - writing style wise - in any way comparable to Jim Butcher?
- are the perspectives and the narrative styles similar?

meg_evonne:
Not quite sure what you would like in response? 

I find JB unique.  You might get some of the short story books to find similar writers that you might like?   I enjoyed several of those that have books you could check into like Enrod.

I read little else from the genre, but I did enjoy Succabus Blues.

Leaning towards paranormal romance, the Clapp/Adams are nice and steamy.  :-)

What I've found amusing is that when you read what others suggest--it turns out we all must like the Butcher books for a lot of different reasons, because our other reading diverges strongly from each other.  I've learned that means that I go to the library over purchasing the books to start out.  Most books I buy go to my bookshelves and when you only have so much space--you get very picky. 

I read a lot of popcorn that I donate back to Planned Parenthood or the Library for fundraisers.  Popcorn for one, is vile to someone else or treasured.  We are a varied lot, the JB fans.

Moritz:
OK...
then I didn't make myself clear.

I was asking if other Urban Fantasy books in the vein of Jim Butcher had similar or different stlyes and if you could name them. E.g. are all those typically named PI stories in first person? Are there any which are less pulpy? And so on.

edit: I am not looking for a "second Jim Butcher" to read, I wanna know what the width of style in this sector of Urban Fantasy is like.

LizW65:
As far as style/attitude, I would list  PN Elrod's Vampire Files as being the most similar - lots of snarky humor, minimal angst, a mystery to be solved, and romance/sex used only as a subplot and kept very much to a minimum.  I've only read one of the LKH books and none of the others that you mentioned, so I can't really comment on them.

comprex:

--- Quote from: Moritz on April 22, 2008, 10:50:16 PM ---edit: I am not looking for a "second Jim Butcher" to read, I wanna know what the width of style in this sector of Urban Fantasy is like.

--- End quote ---

Perhaps a short story anthology such as the ones in which JB's stories appear would give you an idea.     Personally, I find it a rather narrow genre but my reading is severely limited in it.

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