Merry Gentry Alternatives?

[delilahkanes.livejournal.com]

I think it's quite easy to find Anita-like alternative reading material in this day and age (I can't spit without hitting a book about some girl dealing with vampires/werewolves), but I was wondering if anyone has stumbled across some quality urban fantasy material about faeries? I'm almost completely clueless.

The only one that immediately comes to mind is War for the Oaks (highly recommended).

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'm without any books lined up to read right now and it's kinda freaking me out.

Comments

[twistedimp.livejournal.com]

War for the Oaks, yeeeees. And anything else by Emma Bull.

Charles DeLint, although he doesn't do too much with faeries, I don't think, he's not vampires and werewolves. Neil Gaiman... Neverwhere for what you're interested in, but I recommend reading basically anything he's ever written. Holly Black's books, even though they're YA, are quite good (Tithe, Valiant, Ironside). C.E. Murphy doesn't do (many) faeries, but she's also not (much) into the vampires and werewolves. I find Tanya Huff hysterically funny, although some people I know have mixed feelings about her, but her "Summoner" books have maybe one vampire in a very minor role. Her other big series should probably be avoided if you don't want fanged and fuzzy things, although Vicki Nelson could wipe the floor with Anita any day. Mercedes Lackey's elves-and-race-cars (SERRAted Edge) books are fun, in the same beach-read sort of way Tanya Huff is fun.

...off the top of my head. :)

[delilahkanes.livejournal.com]

Oh, look at you. I'm already a huge fan of Tanya Huff (I think at this point I've read every book she's ever written?) and I theoretically love Neil Gaiman but I must admit, red-faced, that I've only ever read his Sandman comics. See below on my opinion on Mercedes Lackey. As much as I used to love her (certainly used to be high up on my top favorite authors list), there are somethings she can't seem to pull off in a particularly great way and her elves stuff immediately comes to mind. I'll give your other recommendations a look over. Thanks!

[suzycat.livejournal.com]

I've only ever read his Sandman comics

*smites you*

Read American Gods IMMEDIATELY.

[coffeehouse.livejournal.com]

I third American Gods.

[caudebac.livejournal.com]

I fourth it. Wholeheartedly.

[siedhr.livejournal.com]

I prefer Neverwhere and Good Omens and Coraline. I wasn't that crazy about American Gods or Anansi Boys.

[libwitch.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU! I actually preferred Anasi Boys to American Gods, which was 2/3 longer then what it needed to be, with a plot that has been done a million times before (at least the idea of gods coming here with their believers and losing power....)

And certainly not his best work!

[thelittlebudgie.livejournal.com]

Yeah. American Gods seems to be one of those books that people either really like or dislike. NEverwhere, Good Omens and Coraline are definitely better starting points.

[twistedimp.livejournal.com]

The Sandman comics are made of awesome sauce, but so are his novels. You should read them! (Also, if you liked Sandman, try Moore's Promethea.)

My feelings towards Lackey are pretty much along the same lines as yours, actually, although for different reasons. I absolutely worshiped her during junior high and high school, but the characters and plots she uses (while still a hell of a lot of fun) got a bit repetitive for me after a while. If elves and NASCAR aren't your cup of tea, the Bedlam's Bard books are set in the same universe, but don't include race cars. I think the only books of hers that I still really keep up with are the Elemental Masters series.

I mentioned Emma Bull -- in particular, try "Territory." I was a bit skeptical going in, because it's a fantasy western, but it rocked hard.

[gorgeousnerd]

I second the recommendation for Holly Black's books. Since they're YA, they're pretty much guaranteed not to dip into porn. (Not that I have a problem with porn, just the LKH form of porn.

[rin-x-x.livejournal.com]

WHICH doesn't mean there is no romance in the novels.

Contrary to popular LKH-troobies belief.

[twistedimp.livejournal.com]

For that matter, it doesn't mean there isn't anything erotic or sensual in the novels.

Dear LKH. Explicit, graphic sex is not the only way to coven sexiness. Sigh.

[twistedimp.livejournal.com]

convey, even. Although "coven" is one of my more interesting typos.

Stealing the Elf-King's Roses

[rozasharn.livejournal.com]

Okay, it's about elves, but potato, potahto, right? Tall, beautiful, mesmerizing, nearly-immortal people?

Set in an alternate universe with elves and talking dog-people and stuff. Our heroine is a law-enforcement consultant with the second sight. Murder mystery leading to political intrigue. (http://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Elf-Kings-Roses-Diane-Duane/dp/0446609838/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221463233&sr=1-1)

Except not that much violence, no gore, no sex, no angst. Everyone is competent and professional. Her ex-boyfriend betrayed her, she still has to work with him, and they both focus on work and don't revisit the past. Poetic and well-written, with subtle world-building and characters described vividly and briefly, with more attention to personality than hair. The plot moves along briskly. Truly it is a paragon.

By Diane Duane. (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=stealing+the+elf-king%27s) It came out several years ago; look for it in the library.

Re: Stealing the Elf-King's Roses

[delilahkanes.livejournal.com]

I'll look into it. Thanks for the suggestion!

Re: Stealing the Elf-King's Roses

[allessindra.livejournal.com]

Meh. Didn't like it. Seemed flat and dry compared to whatever else I was reading at the time. And I've *liked* her stuff before, particularly the "Door Into..." series.

[easol.livejournal.com]

Try Martin Millar. He does a funnier, fluffier brand of urban fantasy in "Good Fairies of New York," same as he does for werewolves in "Lonely Werewolf Girl."

The thistle fairies and fairy wars are just gutsplittingly funny. There's a bit of nonexplicit sexual content, shoplifting, crazy ladies who think they're Greek generals, flowers, and a complete lack of angst and wangst, and Millar doesn't take his characters very seriously at all. It's wonderful, although kind of confusing and scatterbrained.

[pandorasblog]

I second Martin Millar; he's awesome.

[rozasharn.livejournal.com]

If you'll accept fairy godmothers as close enough, there's The Magic Touch, by Jody Lynn Nye. Teenage boy joins Fairy Godmothers' Union, has heartwarming and humorous adventures.

[xarra.livejournal.com]

Well, if you can cope with elves, there's the Mercedes Lackey et al Bedlams Bard series, and the Tannim series...

True faries-with-wings, I'm less certain on, sorry...

[delilahkanes.livejournal.com]

As much as I enjoy Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar and Halfblood Chronicles series, I never could tolerate her take on urban fantasy (okay, I just read a couple, but still). I mean, elves and NASCAR? Not my deal.

She is kind of hit or miss, I think. But I'm going to try her Elemental Masters series at some point because I think the premise sounds interesting.

[allessindra.livejournal.com]

Halfblood Chronicles? Haven't heard that one.

If you like young-teenage-outcast-wish-fulfillment-fantasy, Lackey is fine.

Unfortunately, I haven't yet read anything of hers that doesn't fall into that.

[delilahkanes.livejournal.com]

Sure. And to be fair, I read her books mostly between middle school and high school.

I think Halfblood Chronicles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Halfblood_Chronicles) is pretty good, though there is surely some young-teenage-outcast-wish-fulfillment-fantasy going on. It was co-written with Andre Norton about a time in which Elves have come to earth and turned the human race into slaves. Dragons also live mostly secretly in this world and dragons can be mischevious long-lived creatures that can change shape. They like to head off into the Human/Elf society and create trouble where they may. One such example is by creating this false "prophecy" about a human-elf halfbreed that will topple Elf society and free the human race. Unfortunately, our fair heroine fits the prophecy perfectly.

[dan-lian.livejournal.com]

Holly Black, Emma Bull, Charles de Lint (took me awhile, but I finally decided I do like him), esp. _Forests of the Heart_ for fairy-ish stuff.

[polymexina.livejournal.com]

justina robson's keeping it real is supposed to be really good.

Life is anything but real in this entertaining fusion of SF and fantasy spiced with sex, rockin' elves and drunk faeries, the first of a new series, from British author Robson (Mappa Mundi). In 2015, the quantum bomb at Texas's superconducting supercollider blew a hole in spacetime's fabric, revealing "a total of five other realities" unknown to the human inhabitants of Otopia (formerly Earth). One of these is Alfheim, a home to elves. By 2021, Alfheim extremists, who despise Otopian technologies (and Otopians), have targeted Zal, a rebel rocker elf and his band, the No Shows, for thriving in a human realm. Death threats prompt the Otopian security agency to assign Lila Black, a nuclear-powered cyborg still adapting to her AI abilities, to Zal as his undercover guard. After Zal is kidnapped, Black travels to Alfheim, where she meets an old foe and tangles with a wicked necromancer. Deft prose helps the reader accept what in lesser hands would be merely absurd. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[rin-x-x.livejournal.com]

Holy shit that sounds like something out of a random generator.

But looks really really good. XD

[graesea.livejournal.com]

Charles de Lint gets my vote. He was writing urban fantasy long before LKH was published and doing a better job of it than she ever will.

[allichaton.livejournal.com]

Drat. Someone already mentioned Holly Black. ;) There's Wicked Lovely, by Melissa Marr, which is also YA.

Tam Lin, by Pamela Dean.

Blood and Iron, by Elizabeth Bear.

[siedhr.livejournal.com]

My favorites at the moment are Jim Butcher and TA Pratt. But urban fantasy will never replace epic fantasy in my heart. George RR Martin, Daniel Abraham, Kate Elliott, Lynn Flewelling, Patricia Briggs' Huron series, Jacqueline Carey, Ellen Kushner, Guy Gavriel Kay, Sarah Monette, Greg Keyes, Pratchett, naturally. I never found an urban fantasy series to get even close in quality (writing, plot, characters, ideas) to epic fantasy.

[butterflyrei.livejournal.com]

Lisa Shearin's Raine Benares series is really fun..it's more fantasy adventure really. I really like her take on goblins. :D You can look at some sample chapters at her website: http://www.lisashearin.com/

Re: Crivens!

[genchaos.livejournal.com]

Seconded on Lords and Ladies. He does a great job of addressing all the dark nasty corners that most other people ignore for the fluffy light and prettiness. (Fairies in the old days were also capricious and cruel, too.)

I haven't read too much on the Feegles yet, but man, I do so need to rectify that. :)

Re: Crivens!

[libwitch.livejournal.com]

oh damn, I didnt think anyone hit L&L yet - I have her that too, along with Wee Fee Men, since Tiffany does go head to head with the Queen there.

[windiain.livejournal.com]

'Wicked Lovely' by Melissa Marr. It's Young Adult, but still a damn good read if you're an adult as it's not afraid to be a little darker and sensual. Actually, being YA means you don't have to worry about atrocious sex scenes cropping up. There's a second book out set in the same world, but I haven't read that yet.

[genchaos.livejournal.com]

Jim Butcher's Dresden Series I also think does a nice job of conveying the fae. They're very nonhuman in their thinking, perilous to do deals with, and even the Sidhe of the so called "nice" court (Summer) are not necessarily nice-- just more hospitable to humanity in the same way summer is as opposed to winter. And don't even get into Winter... Mab and Maeve are the Queens of nasty. ;)

[2headed-chicken.livejournal.com]

If you're into comics, I can not recommend the Aria series enough. Written by Brian Holguin, drawn by Jay Anacleto, and published by Avalon Studios, the collection of miniseries sees Lady Kidare, a faerie princess and now occult book/antique store owner dealing with the remnants of the 'old world' when it butts heads against 'modern' times. The writing is descent but the art of the early issues is fabulous, almost photo realistic. Look for cameos of some famous faces *cough*garyoldman*cough*.

The first miniseries sees Kildare trying to solve the murder of the Cottingly Fairies.
During the second series, set during during the Victorian Spiritualist Movement, Kidare finds a real angel being held in a sideshow.
Puck shows up in the third story arch running a black market for supernatural creatures wanting to buy a human soul.
We take another trip back for the fourth miniseries to see Kildare reconnecting with her old bf True Thomas against the backdrop of 1960's London.
The final TB shows what happens when Kildare comes face to face with our 21st century ideas of a fairytale kingdom.

[miladygrey.livejournal.com]

I'm really liking Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series. Werewolves, vampires (one of whom drives the Mystery Machine, more or less), and some faeries, plus the heroine is a sort of unaligned shapeshifter who works as a mechanic. Definitely read the first two (Moon Called and Blood Bound), decide for yourself about Iron Kissed.

[libwitch.livejournal.com]

You want elves? Terry Pratchett, Lords and Ladies. Or Wee Fee Men, which is YA.

Ohhh... Simon Green, Shadows Fall - I can never ever think of fae the same way again. He is most known recently for the Nightside series, which is overall, a great example of some really dark urban supernatural.

For urban supernatural generally, I do recommend some of the above - Mercedes Thompson series, the Dresden Files, even the Hallows series by Kim Harrison is pretty good. I also forgot to mention Rob Thurman books and although its not a series, and set in the victorian age, the Ladies of Grace Adieu by Susanah Clarke was very good.

[alondra-del-sol.livejournal.com]

I liked Jennifer Armintrout's Blood Ties series which just came to an end. I thought she did some neat things with vampires, but her next series is going to be fairy centric. I'm not sure when it's due out, but for future reference Jennifer Armintrout :)

[slayra.livejournal.com]

Ink and Steel by Elizabeth Bear is supposed to be faerie related (it's an alternative history/urban fantasy kind of book involving Queen Elizabeth, Shakespeare, Marlowe and a bunch of faeries). I still haven't read it, so I don't really know if the faeries play a big part, but I'm pretty sure they are there. In the same theme (Queen Elizabeth and faeries) there's Marie Brennan's new book Midnight never Come.

More "faerie-centric": The Faerie Wars books by Herbie Brennan I guess. O__O

[duchym.livejournal.com]

Tad Williams wrote a stand alone (but still ginormous) fantasy novel "War of the Flowers" which is about the fae, and I thought it was pretty good.

[easol.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, and Memory Sorrow and Thorn series has some very intriguing, very OTHER elves in it. They're very clearly not human beings with pointy ears, and Jiriki is DAMN HOT.

[quicksilvereyes.livejournal.com]

I really love everything by Karen Marie Moning. She writes only about faeries. She has a loose Highlander romance series and a newer one about someone who can see the fae. The fist is called Darkfever.

I also recently found a recently released first book by a really promising author - Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake.

[mr-spivens.livejournal.com]

I'm late to the party, but here's a really great recommendation: Sunshine by Robin McKinley (http://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Robin-McKinley/dp/0425224015/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221547890&sr=8-2"). This is an amazing book about vampires and magic. I promise that you will be craving cinnamon rolls by the end of it.

[mr-spivens.livejournal.com]

Never mind that link - this (http://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Robin-McKinley/dp/B0008EH6Q4/ref=pd_cp_b_0?pf_rd_p=413864201&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0425224015&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0P3GZD8FS8H914KCJRGC) is the version I own and which is in bookstores.

[othellia.livejournal.com]

If you don't mind slipping into the more YA/children's side of things, I'd recommend the Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Colfer. So it might not be as "mature" as other books mentioned here, but when you've an twelve year-old mastermind trying to exploit the faerie race for the sake of getting one metric ton in gold as ransom, you know you're in for a good ride.