I haven’t read Rivers of London, but I loved “Neverwhere” by Neil Gaiman. I read it a long time ago, either right before or maybe right after I visited London the first time, so maybe that’s why I enjoyed it so much.
I tried reading American Gods at some point but couldn’t get into it. I think that’s because I don’t enjoy Greek mythology at all. I tried to watch the TV show when it came out but it was too weird, even for me.
One thing that annoys me about modern urban fantasy - or paranormal fantasy- is that every single character in every book is given special powers. The protagonist is never a regular human anymore. To me it defeats the purpose of writing about anything supernatural. If there are no regular humans to marvel at the supernatural, there’s no mystery to it. If everyone is special, then no one is special.
I enjoy urban fantasy - Rivers of London was fun, and Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman is another good one. I didn't get on with American Gods and didn't finish it, though that was a long time ago back when I was a teenager, so perhaps I should revisit it. Diana Wynne Jones wrote some good urban fantasy - Archer's Goon is fantastical and also genuinely funny.
Just very nearly reading Dante's Inferno. Don't understand a lot of it, and very grateful for helpful notes online on parts. But I feel it seems like the great...great grandfather of Urban Fantasy. Centaurs and fae folk all over the show. Would be interested in an urban fantasy read too. I'll also keep endeavouring with the Divine Comedy
The Rivers of London series is worth reading through, at least the first grand story arc which I think is the first six books? A warning, I think the second book is the worst of the series. It’s not bad, but you might worry the series is going to do a Dune or Hitchhikers and get progressively worse.
I also love some of Neil Gaiman but have thus far baulked at American Gods. I'll read it if you do though!
As a novelist myself I am deeply biased, but I'd love to see you write a novel. People love funny books. There are less of them around than there are dark and/or preachy ones. Here are more reading list suggestions:
For comic British fantasy with a literary twist, dip into 'The Eyre Affair' by Jasper Fforde.
I am thinking about writing a historical fantasy, so I've been reading a bit of that recently. 'The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue' starts off as historical fantasy but moves into the present day - a woman sells her identity to a demon in return for freedom and immortality. The end went off the rails IMHO but conceptually striking and well written.
Another urban fantasy set in the nineteenth century is 'Babel' by RF Kuang, in which meaning is commodified and turned into magic at Oxford University. Also very interesting conceptually, but the novel is heavily post-colonial and anti-capitalist - all white male characters old, nasty and exploitative, versus nice, young Asians - I'd had enough half way through.
I'm currently reading 'Lady Helen and the Dark Days Club', in which the Regency is under threat from demons masquerading as humans. Historical fantasy again, but I found value in thinking about the 'theology' or magic system of the book, and how I'd do it differently, and you might too.
I haven’t read Rivers of London, but I loved “Neverwhere” by Neil Gaiman. I read it a long time ago, either right before or maybe right after I visited London the first time, so maybe that’s why I enjoyed it so much.
I tried reading American Gods at some point but couldn’t get into it. I think that’s because I don’t enjoy Greek mythology at all. I tried to watch the TV show when it came out but it was too weird, even for me.
One thing that annoys me about modern urban fantasy - or paranormal fantasy- is that every single character in every book is given special powers. The protagonist is never a regular human anymore. To me it defeats the purpose of writing about anything supernatural. If there are no regular humans to marvel at the supernatural, there’s no mystery to it. If everyone is special, then no one is special.
I enjoy urban fantasy - Rivers of London was fun, and Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman is another good one. I didn't get on with American Gods and didn't finish it, though that was a long time ago back when I was a teenager, so perhaps I should revisit it. Diana Wynne Jones wrote some good urban fantasy - Archer's Goon is fantastical and also genuinely funny.
Just very nearly reading Dante's Inferno. Don't understand a lot of it, and very grateful for helpful notes online on parts. But I feel it seems like the great...great grandfather of Urban Fantasy. Centaurs and fae folk all over the show. Would be interested in an urban fantasy read too. I'll also keep endeavouring with the Divine Comedy
The Rivers of London series is worth reading through, at least the first grand story arc which I think is the first six books? A warning, I think the second book is the worst of the series. It’s not bad, but you might worry the series is going to do a Dune or Hitchhikers and get progressively worse.
Christianity as 'urban fantasy' - love your take.
I also love some of Neil Gaiman but have thus far baulked at American Gods. I'll read it if you do though!
As a novelist myself I am deeply biased, but I'd love to see you write a novel. People love funny books. There are less of them around than there are dark and/or preachy ones. Here are more reading list suggestions:
For comic British fantasy with a literary twist, dip into 'The Eyre Affair' by Jasper Fforde.
I am thinking about writing a historical fantasy, so I've been reading a bit of that recently. 'The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue' starts off as historical fantasy but moves into the present day - a woman sells her identity to a demon in return for freedom and immortality. The end went off the rails IMHO but conceptually striking and well written.
Another urban fantasy set in the nineteenth century is 'Babel' by RF Kuang, in which meaning is commodified and turned into magic at Oxford University. Also very interesting conceptually, but the novel is heavily post-colonial and anti-capitalist - all white male characters old, nasty and exploitative, versus nice, young Asians - I'd had enough half way through.
I'm currently reading 'Lady Helen and the Dark Days Club', in which the Regency is under threat from demons masquerading as humans. Historical fantasy again, but I found value in thinking about the 'theology' or magic system of the book, and how I'd do it differently, and you might too.