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The problem with doing a deconstruction is that unless you handle it extremely well it's fairly trivial to become the thing you're deconstructing if you intend it or not. A lot of Urban Fantasy is guilty of this where it aims to subvert cliches and in doing so embraces them too regularly. To really make it work you have to end up with far more unlikable/marketable characters or being willing to break things a bit. Alex Verus has a lot of problems but I appreciate it spending the first book setting up a creepy abusive romance that was clearly supposed to be a touching generic urban fantasy one and then the second book ends with "wait, poo poo, no, that would be extremely hosed up." Unfortunately it has a lot of problems later on but I was terribly relieved when that creepy thing was strangled in the cradle. Honestly it would be helped a lot if urban fantasy writers could do equality better rather than "We want to make this total badass confident super-woman who is emotionally vulnerable enough to fall in love with a man with the emotional maturity of a 7 year old."
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Sep 12, 2016 21:11
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ConfusedUs posted:The Libriomancer series is interesting because it is actually exploring what would happen if magic, long-hidden from the muggles through some large-scale conspiracy of powerful actors, were suddenly thrust upon the world. I only read the first book, but I didn't really care for the magic because it seemed to be very much 'you can and can't do whatever the author wants'
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Sep 12, 2016 21:12
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Tunicate posted:I only read the first book, but I didn't really care for the magic because it seemed to be very much 'you can and can't do whatever the author wants' The later books even deal with that too, to some point. Most of those limits are being artificially enforced by the boss guy, and many do get broken later on.
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Sep 12, 2016 21:18
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WarLocke posted:I want to say he third book brought it up in the text. I'm fairly sure I remember what's her name saying that she wanted to try projecting her e-reader onto a theater screen so she could pull out a spaceship to go to/colonize Mars with. The last book I read had an in-universe press release that essentially said "Ok Muggles, you don't like us being here, gently caress ya'll. We're going to pull out space exploration technology and go colonize Mars. You can join us when you grow the gently caress up. In the meantime, we'll keep some ambassadors/enforcers around to keep the peace and train libriomancers as they pop up/defend Earth from threats."
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Sep 12, 2016 22:00
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What was the series with the elementalists and their genies? Because that one got hit hard by Bad Romance.
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Sep 12, 2016 22:17
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Tunicate posted:I only read the first book, but I didn't really care for the magic because it seemed to be very much 'you can and can't do whatever the author wants' There's an in-universe explanation for that! It's touched on in the first book and (are you sensing a trend yet?) attacked pretty hard in the second. By the third book the author has flat out owned every single common complaint I've heard. In many cases, he's turned it into a strength. Book three ends with Issac telling the world to gently caress off, and if they don't like it, they can come knock on his door on goddamned Mars.
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Sep 12, 2016 22:27
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JohnnyCanuck posted:What was the series with the elementalists and their genies? Weather warden series, I think...
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Sep 13, 2016 04:30
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ImpAtom posted:Honestly it would be helped a lot if urban fantasy writers could do equality better rather than "We want to make this total badass confident super-woman who is emotionally vulnerable enough to fall in love with a man with the emotional maturity of a 7 year old." The blurred lines between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance probably cause more of this than anything else. Thinking up reasons for people to conflict and bond in spite of it is hard. Just have them meet and instantly realize they're fated to be together. Throw in a love triangle and/or a villainous cock blocker and you've got your book. I blame Anita Blake and Twilight for a little of both.
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Sep 13, 2016 04:53
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ConfusedUs posted:There's an in-universe explanation for that! It's touched on in the first book and (are you sensing a trend yet?) attacked pretty hard in the second. I know the in universe explanation, but it still feels like lazy writing.
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Sep 13, 2016 05:19
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JohnnyCanuck posted:What was the series with the elementalists and their genies? Codex Alera?
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Sep 13, 2016 23:57
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God drat was Codex Alrea's romance almost universally terrible.
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Sep 14, 2016 00:04
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Codex Alera's romance wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either - in fact I had to wikipedia the series to even remember it. Man, I've read some bad urban fantasy "romances" and that poo poo ain't even close.
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Sep 14, 2016 00:20
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NerdyMcNerdNerd posted:The blurred lines between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance probably cause more of this than anything else. Reminds me of the time I was in a book store and grabbed this one because the latest Dresden book was still not out. Yeah, Gena Showalter doesn't write Urban Fantasy...  (Bonus: The love interest in that book is a were-jaguar  )
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Sep 14, 2016 00:28
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Wizchine posted:Codex Alera's romance wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either - in fact I had to wikipedia the series to even remember it. Man, I've read some bad urban fantasy "romances" and that poo poo ain't even close. If you managed to block the goddamn Earth Pokemon making people horny thing out of your memory than more power to you.
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Sep 14, 2016 00:33
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ImpAtom posted:If you managed to block the goddamn Earth Pokemon making people horny thing out of your memory than more power to you. That wasn't really part of any of the romances though? Like that was a weird detail, but it didn't really play into any of them and mostly seemed to be a 'clever' way to foreshadow Tavi's strategy at the end of the book.
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Sep 14, 2016 00:56
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Zore posted:That wasn't really part of any of the romances though?. It was explicitly part of Amara and Bernard's romance. Like basically as soon as they meet they're gettin' horny because of the Earth Furies.
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Sep 14, 2016 00:58
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NerdyMcNerdNerd posted:I can not think of a single urban fantasy or fantasy book where I wasn't left cringing and desperately wishing that the author hadn't gone down that particular path. New Authors tend to fair poorly. I think Michelle Sagara West does the best with it from the word go in her books. Seanan doesn't do so badly these days but the first toby daye was rough.
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Sep 14, 2016 03:59
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When the heck does Peace Talks come out? I need me some more Harry Dresden in my life.
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Sep 14, 2016 05:09
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The Sex Cannon posted:When the heck does Peace Talks come out? I need me some more Harry Dresden in my life. We're on GRRM time now, so maybe...a while
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Sep 14, 2016 05:15
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The Sex Cannon posted:When the heck does Peace Talks come out? I need me some more Harry Dresden in my life. When the leaders of the Middle East settle down for peace negotiations in real life.
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Sep 14, 2016 13:01
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I know it's Amazon and therefore subject to speculation, but last I saw it was slated for Feb '17. But that's just the best guess, really. And if Jim's really stuck it might be longer.
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Sep 15, 2016 00:48
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Vicissitude posted:I know it's Amazon and therefore subject to speculation, but last I saw it was slated for Feb '17. But that's just the best guess, really. And if Jim's really stuck it might be longer. I wish Amazon would--rather than put a "to be released on:" note on unknown dates--instead put a realistic "available no sooner than:" note, instead; using knowledge of the editing, typesetting, printing and binding industries to make the guess. Like, assuming Jim turned in a completed manuscript right-now-today, how soon could it be out? That would serve their customers better, IMO.
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Sep 15, 2016 20:14
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newts posted:Weather warden series, I think... Oh yeah, that was it. Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad romance.
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Sep 15, 2016 22:20
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I read two of those I think, the weather genies. The idea was really cool and the romance was really... harlequinn? I dunno, I feel like saying it was bad doesn't really work because it was following another genre's general tropes. Where when urban fantasy romance is bad it's usually bad for different reasons. I may be an outlier in this thread since I like reading schlocky romance here and there and I like having relationship arcs in my books. If it gets in the way of the plot that's bad but I want my protagonists to have a love interest, it's more fun.
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Sep 16, 2016 00:53
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http://www.gollancz.co.uk/2016/09/the-hanging-tree-announcement/quote:Gollancz is delighted to announce the publication of THE HANGING TREE, the sixth book in Ben Aaronovitch’s bestselling Peter Grant series, on November 3rd 2016. Now please stop whining about it  .
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Sep 16, 2016 15:43
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Wasn't there a set of short stories or something or am I remembering wrong?
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Sep 16, 2016 16:24
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mistaya posted:I may be an outlier in this thread since I like reading schlocky romance here and there and I like having relationship arcs in my books. If it gets in the way of the plot that's bad but I want my protagonists to have a love interest, it's more fun. I don't mind it, and can even enjoy it, so long as it makes sense. It is just annoying when two people are in love for no reason other than the fact that they're the main characters of a story. I could pick at the relationships in Dresden, but they're miles ahead of the crap I normally gloss over in genre fiction. I hope Brief Cases has a side story where Charity and Michael smite something together. Slanderer posted:We're on GRRM time now, so maybe...a while That made me look up when Skin Games came out and now I am sad.
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Sep 16, 2016 20:04
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NerdyMcNerdNerd posted:That made me look up when Skin Games came out and now I am sad. 
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Sep 16, 2016 20:24
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Pretty much. I'll probably all caught up on all the thread recommendations ( Rivers of London, etc ), by the time Peace Talks comes out. 
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Sep 16, 2016 20:47
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Based on the way Jim was talking at DragonCon, it seems more like we'll get the next short story collection before Peace Talks. Also shout out to the people that told me I was wrong over the last few years when I said a book a year was the best we could hope for  .
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Sep 16, 2016 23:39
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So if there are 8 more books and it takes 3 years in between each book....we'll finish sometime in 2040....gently caress.
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Sep 17, 2016 03:06
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Oroborus posted:So if there are 8 more books and it takes 3 years in between each book....we'll finish sometime in 2040....gently caress. Butcher either has to cut down his number of books or pump up his output. I'd bet on the former.
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Sep 17, 2016 03:08
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ImpAtom posted:Butcher either has to cut down his number of books or pump up his output. I'd bet on the former. Pretty sure he is happy to work until 65-70 and is more than satisfied to string his fans out over that length of time. Fortunately the Aeronaut's Windlass is quality, so he's not wasting his time with his spacing stuff. Urthor fucked around with this message at 04:04 on Sep 18, 2016 |
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Sep 18, 2016 03:58
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I recently read The Root by Na'amen Gobert Tilahun.Blurb posted:A dark, gritty urban fantasy debut set in modern-day San Francisco, filled with gods, sinister government agencies, and worlds of dark magic hidden just below the surface. I enjoyed it, I thought it was going to be about fae originally with the whole two parallel worlds shtick. I'm glad it was angelics instead, especially with the variety of forms, one angelic was definitely an ophanim. I mean we have one of the traditional UF starts with new guy Erik discovering he has powers because he is a descendant of a god, with him learning about the secret world/organisation fight the angelics, although it isn't as clear cut as that with the government themselves involved, the rogue organisation agent and the mentioned darkness. Lil's parts of the story I enjoyed a tiny bit more if only so far it takes place in the alternate world so the set up/world building I found more interesting. It also features a diverse cast with both the main viewpoint characters being black and Erik being gay. I did think that there sometimes it did need more show and less tell in some parts and I do hope that one of the characters doesn't become as overpowered as they seem to be. Overall I enjoyed it and will pick up the next book in the trilogy when it comes out.
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Sep 18, 2016 14:18
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Book 5 of Alcatraz vs the evil librarians by Sanderson just came out so I picked up the first 4 ebooks for 2.99 each and reas through them all. Its marketed towards younger kids - like pre / early teens but I still enjoyed it. I would probably describe it as Sanderson tries to write Harry Potter in discworld set in America. Worth a read if you're in the mood for something easy and fun.
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Sep 18, 2016 18:16
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So the thread was recommending Mercy Thompson/Patricia Briggs. I'm like 120 pages into the first book. The prose is fine, but so far it's been wall-to-wall alpha dominant werewolf werewolf alpha werewolf dominant alpha alpha. Please tell me it gets better.
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Sep 19, 2016 01:29
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Scorchy posted:So the thread was recommending Mercy Thompson/Patricia Briggs. I'm like 120 pages into the first book. Werewolf politics are pretty central to the series, so it is laid on a little thick in the 1st book.
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Sep 19, 2016 01:39
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Scorchy posted:So the thread was recommending Mercy Thompson/Patricia Briggs. I'm like 120 pages into the first book. If you want less alpha poo poo relationship stuff the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews is better - I mean, it's still there, but its' a lot better. I think Andrews wrote the better series, even.
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Sep 19, 2016 02:08
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Scorchy posted:So the thread was recommending Mercy Thompson/Patricia Briggs. I'm like 120 pages into the first book. It gets less werewolf-centric as it goes along, but they're the core group of beings Mercy associates with. I think the world Briggs builds is very compelling, and the slant on the supernatural critters is often refreshing. Note that I accidentally started the series with the second book, before going back and reading the first. (I never noticed I was "missing" the first book, by the way,which is always the mark of a good writer.) The second book is focused on vampires and is a good read, iirc. Gut out book one, and if you don't like book two, then bail out I suppose.
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Sep 19, 2016 03:23
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Okay well sounds like I should truck on till the second book.
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Sep 19, 2016 03:44
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