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Well after finishing of the first five Wheel of time books over the past of couple months as part of my 4 hour a day commute. I have had as much of the two rivers folks as I can stand for a while. Especially as it doesn't look like Matt, the seachan, and all of the aes sedai are going to be killed off at the start of book 6.

So I'm thinking I'd give urban fantasy a try but have looked through few list it seems most urban fantasy books are paranormal romance novels and that is really not what I'm looking for. So I'm hoping for a little guidance.

What I don't want is a book about a 20 something girl who is living a dull life until she meets a mysterious stranger who leads to an exciting and dangerous world where she discovers she's been special all along. Blah blah. Also nothing with vampires, werewolves, witches, zombies, dwarves, or elves of any kind.

I know that seems to make it tough to find fantastical stories in modern times. But they must exist right?

The kinda of thing ideally I'd like is something similar to the persona 4 anime series where a serial killer is killing people by trapping them in a dark world that can be asked via any tv on a certain day. Once inside the victims have to battle their own demons or be destroyed by them. Or something like another persona game where a secret society uses an ancient power to cause rumors to become real and then starts manipulating information to sort their own ends. Or something like the manga series psyren where people are sent into a dark future where they discover a group has set the world on the path to destruction and those who survive to make back to the present must use the psychic powers they acquired to stop the group from carrying out their plan.

Ya so anything like those would be good. Mystery, playing with reality, some time warping stuff, and cults/secret societies. I don't suppose anyone's written a book set in a coffee shop where the events that writer writes about while there start to come to true and he and the barista have to team up to stop the cult posing as cupcake shop next door from awakening cuthulu from beneath the city?

My tak on Urban Fantasy is a little different; Charles de Lint's wonderful books set in the large city of Newford where there is a a cross-over between the worlds of myth and reality are simply stunning.

Ben Aaaronovitch writes about a London policeman who is also a wizard - perhaps similar to Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, although for my money much better written.

I'm not sure it is urban fantasy you are looking for but a I would suggest you check out Diana Rowland's Mark of the Demon, the first book in a series about a homicide detective that can summon demons. There is a bit of sex, not much and more tasteful than most other urban fantasy I’ve read and the romance is very downplayed.

You're going to have a hard time finding any Urban Fantasy that doesn't involve magic users or vamps/weres. Those two things are pretty much tropes of the genre. UF is my genre of choice and I'm struggling to bring to mind anything that doesn't involve at least one of the turn offs you mentioned.

I really liked Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. (I highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by Neil himself).
But I guess American Gods comes closer to what you are looking for.

Get the Dresden Files. Choose the audio books if you can, because James Marsters reads them wonderfully. I'm currently working my way through them, and they are great - wizard/detective angle is a lot of fun.

Alex wrote: " I don't suppose anyone's written a book set in a coffee shop where the events that writer writes about while there start to come to true and he and the barista have to team up to stop the cult posing as cupcake shop next door from awakening cuthulu from beneath the city?"

For some reason this reminded me of a graphic novel I read a while back. Not quite the same, but cute. I'll link below. :D

Well...looks like you should try the Originals of HP Lovecraft or Edgar Allan Poe. Storm Front has only two Wizards and a male Protagonist (and a short encounter with a female Vampire) but in the Series are Vampires, Faries, shapechangers, Gods, Demons, Angels, Outsiders. The Dirty Streets of Heaven with Angels and Demons/devils and male Angel Protagonist. Der Hexer von Salem Lovecraftian fiction 19xx. The Robert Langdon Series by Dan Brown is not officialy Urban fantasy but its contemporary and has mystery groups and conspiracies. The Urban Fantasy Showdows in this forum can also give you some inspiration.

That's tough. The only two things that jump to my mind would be Libriomancer and World's End.
The first is a story about a secret society, where the members can pull items out of story pages, the second is an Avoid-the-Apocalypse story based on celtic mythology.

Steelheart just came out, and it's urban fantasy/post apocalyptic with supervillians (because everyone who gets super powers turns evil) and the normal people who try to kill them. Plus, it's Brandon Sanderson.

As Ruth said, the Dresden Files violates most of what you asked for but is also probably the series you want to read. It starts off okay and becomes really really good by about book 3 or 4.

On that note, Zero Sight is also very good, despite the vampire.

Geekomancy by Michael Underwood is fun. And the main character is a wannabe screenwriter working as a barista in a coffee shop/comic book store. Therebis a second book also but haven't read it yet.

I'll second Neverwhere by Gaiman, and the Dresden Files, but Dresden does have vampires and werewolves and fairies and the kitchen sink. But they are great, especially the audio versions.

Uh oh, Geekomancy is a 20 something female main character who gets sucked in to a crazy life so maybe not. Sorry I missed that part of the post.

I liked the Dresden Files books by Jim Butcher; I wish more "urban fantasy" was like that. There is also the Connor Grey series by Mark Del Franco which S&L read very early on and considered it "elf punk." It takes place in Boston, but there's a different side of it. Finally, you might try The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne. It's light but entertaining.

Hmm reading more carefully it sounds like you want manga in novel form? I can't think of anything like that. Like a modern day weird science techno mystery thriller. Maybe something like the Pendergast series by Preston and Child, where the murders seem supernatural but are some kind of weird science, or James Rollins stuff.

Michele wrote: "Hmm reading more carefully it sounds like you want manga in novel form? I can't think of anything like that."

You know what, now that you mention it, I actually do know of a book like that:

Whispers - Book One - Yggdrasil Children

This one comes with some caveats...

First and foremost, I know the author. He's a great guy, he's been writing and revising the story for like 5 years, but it's a grain of salt that you should probably hold on to.

Secondly, I last read this one when it was in early alpha (read: almost painfully rough), but that was a couple years ago and I'm sure it has improved since then. Which reminds me that I should read and review it soon...

Finally, this is a first book written by an indie author, and if you find the idea of debut or independently published novels frightening then this one is probably not for you. Then again, finding non-mainstream urban fantasy probably means you're looking for something off the beaten path, and that is where a lot of the indies hang out. It also means that the book is cheap, in case that's a factor.

Now (since I'm a bad friend) I haven't gotten around to reading this final version of the book yet, and I'm not a fan of blindly recommending things. However, from a strictly content-based point of view, I believe this book satisfies all of your criteria.

Except for the coffee shop thing. Everyone knows that Lovecraftian horrors from the beyond fthagen beneath football fields, and that it's the frozen yogurt shops that are part of a plot to awaken them. Cupcakes, honestly.

Sounds like the Laundry Files by Charles Stross might be up your alley. The first book is The Atrocity Archives. It's basically a secret branch of British intelligence versus Lovecraftian horrors.

I'm probably splitting hairs here, but you didn't specifically forbid faeries, so I'll mention Seanan McGuire's October Daye books, starting with Rosemary and Rue. It is superficially similar to a lot of the other paranormal detective books out there, but Toby Daye isn't a 20-something stumbling into a supernatural world--part of that is her backstory, but she's well into her 30s with an estranged husband and daughter.

Here are a few more I haven't read myself but from what I've heard they might be what you're looking for:

The Monster Hunter International series

Kraken by China Miéville

The Shambling Guide to New York City by Mur Lafferty

I recently read London Fallingand thought it was excellent. I'd also recommend the Dresden Files, I'm currently on my 3rd read through on the run up to the latest release...

I always highly recommend Dresden Files to everyone, but if you want something more off the the beaten path that's quick and not very deep, I rather enjoyed the Nightside books starting with Something from the Nightside.

They were mostly 3 star books for me, but they are usually pretty fun and I don't remember any vampires or werewolves, but it's been awhile.

If you would like to start with urban fantasy, how about 'The gates of Annubis' by Tim Powers. It was the story that got me hooked into this type of supernatural/how can this be?/adventurous/scary vain of writing. He is a great writer. He blends and mixes different elements and historical events from our 'reality' and shapes it into a very 'believable' story.
I followed it up with 'Last Call': also very good. And ended up reading all his work. 'Declare' is still the best for me, but as you are starting in this genre..I think you would benefit most from starting with his early works...

The sort of thing you're looking for sounds more like cyberpunk than urban fantasy (to some degree--what you're looking for sounds awesome but doesn't really have a name). It's not really my thing, but they tend to have global conspiracies and virtual reality stuff.

(Have you watched Steins;Gate? It's an anime I think you might enjoy.)

You might like Snow Crash.... Also, I second the recommendation of Charles Stross's Laundry files. It's got spy agencies and Lovecraftian horror.

Michele wrote: "Geekomancy by Michael Underwood is fun. And the main character is a wannabe screenwriter working as a barista in a coffee shop/comic book store. Therebis a second book also but haven't read it yet...."

Love Geekomancy. Michael Underwood needs a paper pub deal instead of E Only

Dresden is obvious right? :)

Libriomancy is great

Love Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicle's just roll your eyes past some of the sillier parts and keep reading cuz the characters are great.

London Falling by Paul Cornell sounds a little closer to your description although I'm only about a third through and not really loving it yet. Helps to be very up on your Brit speak too:)

Oh, Bad Radio is another good one. WW2 vet fighting to stop a Lovecraftian horror from devouring the world.

Some great recommendations.
London falling in particualr is better then I expected.

Sky's recommendation jogged my memory--Ian Tregillis's Milkweed Triptych. Alternate WWII where British warlocks battle German ubermenschen. There's a psychopath who can see the future and bargains made with eldritch horrors.

I also recommend the Dresden books. They're excellent! Also, the books by Kim Harrison are really good as well. Although the main character is a witch. So that might not meet your requirements. I think in the genre of Urban Fantasy you're going to have a hard time finding books that don't have some supernatural characters.

Wow some interesting suggestions looks like my seemingly hopeless quest has turned into a pile of good books to read. Gold Stars all around. I think I'm going to read Neverwhere first as I've been meaning to give Gaiman a try and it sort of seems like a dark Alice in Wonderland.

A lot of people have mentioned the dresden files but its not a series I've ever thought to try probably because I caught a bit of an episode of tv series once and didn't like it. Is it the kind of series you should start at the beginning or can I jump in anywhere?

I have to stay though London seems to be the go to urban paranormal city. And I have to ask what is with all the cheesy descriptions on these books? I had to laugh after reading a few of them.


Libriomancer sounds like it could be interesting even if it does have vampire. The premise reminds a bit of some books I read by Jasper Fforde. He did a series of humorous books with the lead character is a literary detective Thursday Next. A woman who can travel in and out of fiction. The first one has her tracking down Jayne Eyre's kidnapper.

@Sara I do like cyberpunk but I confess to having not read many cyberpunk novels. I only got a round to reading neuromancer earlier this year and snowcrash is still collecting dust on my tablet.

In fact my unsuccessful :-( entry into the S&L anthology was a cyberpunk short story.

I haven't seen Steins;Gate yet I'll give it a watch though. The premise reminds me a bit of Mirai Nikki an anime series about the god of time giving 12 people cell phones that contain entries in their blog/twitter about the future. And then tells them that the universe will end in 90 days unless they battle to death and the sole survivor becomes the new god of time.

As someone who's not really a fan of the current vein of Urban Fantasy that throws every type of horror creature and mythology in a single melting pot and pits 1 badass hero/heroine against the lot, I really enjoyed the following Urban Fantasy books:

Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. For me this pretty much embodies the definition of Urban Fantasy. The setting (London) is integral to the plot and as much a character as the protagonist is.

Chuck Wendig'sBlackbirds. Grim and seedy. One woman and her special ability to see the time and place of the death of everyone she touches, against, well, herself mostly, but also a pair of hired tugs and a crime boss. I personally call things like this "contemporary fantasy" or a paranormal thriller maybe even but the book has "file under: Urban Fantasy" printed on the back, so there's that.

Dan Well's I Am Not A Serial Killer
John Wayne Cleaver is diagnosed with "clinical sociopathy" and is worried about the (very real) possibility that he might become a serial killer. So he builds barriers around his inner monster in an attempt to be as normal as possible. Then an actual serial killer starts killing in his hometown and our "hero" decides to go after him. Of course things get complicated when John finds out that the serial killer is actually a demon, and that he has trouble containing his own inner demon now he has let him out for the hunt. The way the author places you into the mind of a sociopath is really uncanny IMO.

Lauren Beukes' The Shining Girls
Continuing with our supernatural serial killer theme: All throughout the 20e century promising young women turn up brutally butchered. During the 90's one of the victims however narrowly survives the attempt on her life, scarred for life, both physically and emotionally, she's unable to let go and starts to track down her would be murdered. Things get surreal when she begins to suspect that a 100 years worth of murders might all be committed by the same man.

Alex wrote: "Wow some interesting suggestions looks like my seemingly hopeless quest has turned into a pile of good books to read. Gold Stars all around. I think I'm going to read Neverwhere first as I've been..."

Please don't let a glimpse at the Dresden Files tv show put you off the books! The books are far superior whereas, in my opinion, the tv show completely screwed the pooch!

David wrote: "Please don't let a glimpse at the Dresden Files tv show put you off the books! The books are far superior whereas, in my opinion, the tv show completely screwed the pooch!"

Completely agreed. The TV show was dreadful. The books (what I've read so far, and I intend to read more) are great!

Urban fantasy is a pretty odd subgenre in my view in that as much as it means anything it basically means that the setting is a city - and that is it.

So for instance some of the Fritz lieber gray mouser stories are "urban" fantasy where as others are not. As such there is huge diversity as to what books you might or might not be interested in.

If you take say the Lauren Hamilton and the Sookie Stackhouse novels they share 99% of their DVD although much of the action in the sookie stories has a more rural setting.

Nights of Villjamur is a great series of books set in a city (i have only read the first one). It is literate, epic and a lot of fun. I cannot think of a book or series to compare it to which is a strength in itself

China Mieville often has an urban setting whether in his superb YA Un Lun Dun, in his excellent crime/Fantasy crossover The City and the City or most of his other work. I think that there are some other authors who write more interesting characters but his books are very much worth checking out.

Jeffrey Ford's Well-built City series (at least the first 2 count) is really creative and interesting. Think one part wierd, one part gene Wolfe...

Speaking of Gene Wolfe - his Book of the Long Sun series is mainly set (first volume anyway) with an urban setting and is an enjoyable story with layers and layers buried beneath the surface adding more and more to it as pieces start fitting together.

Graham Joyce and Liz Jensen are two authors who write contemporary fantasy that isnt full of vampires etc. The setting is not always "urban" but they are consistently worth looking for.

I am currently reading House of Leaves which could be classed as an urban fantasy (it can be seen as a haunted house story). Its a pretty heafy book to be carrying around for a commute but it is really a lot of fun once you get your head around it and the story gets going.

Caitlin Kiernan writes really interesting dark fantasy stuff like The Drowning Girl that would be worth checking out.

I see some others have recommended - Tim Powers - I have been meaning to give him a try. Although there are vampires in Libromancer it is a lot of fun and it does not feel like a "vampire" book.

Imajica, by Clive Barker.

Am I the only person that enjoyed the Dresden Files television series? I realize it came nowhere near its full potential, but I enjoyed it for what it was, and it also introduced me to the novels, which also happens to be true for many other people, from what I've heard.

In regards to your question, which I feel has been covered very well by the other posters, I would like to suggest the 20 palaces series by Harry Connolly. These novels we're very much under appreciated and deserved more recognition, and while the series was officially cancelled the books are still worth reading.

I didn't hate the show, but it wasn't great. It's responsible for me discovering the series though.

I liked the show. It actually interested me so much I went out and bought the books. Was the TV series as good as the books? No. But for what it was, it was still good.

Rob wrote: "I always highly recommend Dresden Files to everyone, but if you want something more off the the beaten path that's quick and not very deep, I rather enjoyed the Nightside books starting with Someth..."

I have to second Rob's recommendation about the Nightside series by Simon R. Green. It's "lighter" UF than the Dresden files, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but it also is set largely in a world that resembles Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. For a different spin, also try Snake Agent by Liz Williams, which is UF with an asian setting. All that being said, I'm also a huge Dresden fan...

Jacob wrote: "Am I the only person that enjoyed the Dresden Files television series? I realize it came nowhere near its full potential, but I enjoyed it for what it was, and it also introduced me to the novels, ..."

I also discovered the novels through the TV series. It was kind of silly and campy, but it was an enjoyable show and I didn't have the books to compare it to at the time.

I would also like to second the previous mention of The Dirty Streets of Heaven. Great book, and the second in the series just came out not too long ago.

Just to follow up on the Dresden Files TV Series discussion, Jim Butcher has reiterated the following point in a few places:

[From Wikipedia] In a forum post Jim Butcher stated "The show is not the books. It is not meant to follow the same story. It is meant as an alternate world, where the overall background and story-world is similar, but not all the same things happen. The show is not attempting to recreate the books on a chapter-by-chapter or even story-by-story basis." continuing by saying that viewers should not expect a duplicate of the books, and those expecting it would be disappointed.

I'll second everyone else to say that Dresden is probably right up your alley -- except fair warning, vampires show up occasionally (thankfully none of them sparkle).

I'm surprised you haven't tried Gaiman's The Sandman, Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes graphic novels yet. Given the things you say you like, I'd be stunned if you didn't like them. "Ya so anything like those would be good. Mystery, playing with reality, some time warping stuff, and cults/secret societies." -- there's probably all of that in first 30 pages of the first comic ... and Gaiman says that he didn't even hit his stride until a full volume in.

Also, you stopped at the right time on WoT. If you think you're tired of Aes Sedai now, the next 5 books will make you homicidal.

I thought the first Anita Blake was pretty good. The were-orgies don't come until book 5 or so.

There is only really one place to start if you want to start with Urban Fantasy. Of course, starting here will be problematic as everything else will be not-as-good, but that's going to have to be the price you pay.

Kate Griffin.

Kate Griffin is the name under with Catherine Webb writes urban fantasy, set in London (which is where Urban Fantasy must begin). The first four books by Griffin set in her UF locale center on Matthew Swift, a sorcerer who finds himself reliant upon the magic of London to again and again fight back ... everything, including the bureaucracy.

Reviews to her books are available at Fantasy Book Review (.co.uk) and below;






Maybe the prototypical Urban Fantasy is Neil Gaiman's , and that's a good place to start too.

There are other authors - and spring to mind, but both write middling-to-good stories.

The best new urban fantasy would have to be , which is definitely an impressive debut.

Yeah, I review books for a 'living'. :)

Interesting the no one has mentioned what I see as one of the originals of the genre: Emma Bulls' War for the Oaks. It may be hard to find but as the start of a genre it is a great start.

Charles de Lint, pretty much all his stuff.

Have to second Bull's War for the Oaks and the work of de Lint

Would also add stories set in the shared world Borderland

Anthologies:
Borderland, edited by Terri Windling and Mark Alan Arnold (1986)
Bordertown, edited by Terri Windling and Mark Alan Arnold (1986)
Life on the Border, edited by Terri Windling (1991)
The Essential Bordertown edited by Terri Windling and Delia Sherman (1998)
Welcome to Bordertown, edited by Holly Black and Ellen Kushner (2011)

Novels:
Elsewhere, Will Shetterly (1991)
Nevernever, Will Shetterly (1993)
Finder, Emma Bull (1994)

Darren wrote: "Imajica, by Clive Barker."

I love this book but its not for the faint of heart as its IMMENSE. Can't say for sure but it might well be the longest by far book I've ever read. My version is 1300 pages of the most densely packed print per page I've ever seen. One page of this book has as many words as 3-4 pages of most books.

David wrote:Please don't let a glimpse at the Dresden Files tv show put you off the books! The books are far superior whereas, in my opinion, the tv show completely screwed the pooch! "

Caveat though to potential Dresden Files readers. The first few books are Butcher's first published novels and aren't really that good. Its not until book three or four where it finally starts clicking for him and the series hits high gear. Someone gave me this advice a year or two ago when I was struggling with the first books and I'm glad I took it because from the third to fourth book on I loved it.

I'll agree, it takes a few novels before Butcher really hits his stride, but they are still entertaining before that. Fool Moon has some stellar moments.

Another interesting place to jump into urban fantasy might be The Magicians and The Magician King by Lev Grossman. The first one starts more on the premise of "what if a Harry Potter-esq character had more of a typical college experience and then went out into the world".

Everything changes when Quentin finds himself unexpectedly admitted to a very secret, very exclusive college of magic in upstate New York, where he receives a thorough and rigorous education in the practice of modern sorcery. He also discovers all the other things people learn in college: friendship, love, sex, booze, and boredom.

An interesting take on urban fantasy (no detectives, vampires, werewolves, dark conspiracies etc), but it does fit into the broader definition of the genre.

Joe Informatico wrote: "Kraken by China Miéville..."

id recommend Kraken.

Neil wrote: "Another interesting place to jump into urban fantasy might be The Magicians and The Magician King by Lev Grossman. The first one starts more on the premise of "what if a Harry Potter-esq character..."

I just finished The Magicians and found it to be one of the most tedious unenjoyable experiences I've ever had in books. I did it via audio book and had I not basically been a captive audience in an across Nevada and back road trip I would have surely lemmed it.

Its like Harry Potter meets Narnia only without any of the fun, likeable characters, or enjoyable moments of those series. In fact, the main character Quentin is such a miserable little **** that I was hoping that he'd get eviscerated by the end.

Barring another captive audience situation I can't imagine ever going back to this series.

If it's manga-like stories you're looking for, maybe you should go to the source and try Japanese fantasy.

MM9 is about kaiju, but it has a very interesting view of how the universe works and how these giant monsters can exist. It's Urban Fantasy without elves.