Poll

Wow, why is Twilight and Dead Until Dark even on this list?

Hmm. I've read several of those books. Weirdly I haven't liked many of them all that much. I think I've read 4 of them all the way through, started two of them and don't like two of the authors on the list at all!

Kevin wrote: "Wow, why is Twilight and Dead Until Dark even on this list?"

Cause they're urban fantasy.

Difficult choices but I had to vote for soulless great series,gets even better in audiobook format.

for me.

As the poll says, it is a random poll. Of course it will have the randomest books, but my favorite remains to be Neil Gaiman, Anansi Boys is one of my favorite fantasy novels. I have read some of these, and though I liked Twilight, Dead Until Dark, City of Bones, and Harry Potter, they are models of excellence in writing. Jim Butcher is excellent, though his novels follow the same pattern of plots; China Mieville is another master, but I have not read Scar; I have Soulless, but have not had time to read it yet; the other two authors I have never heard of them. I have read hundreds of fantasy novels, this being my favorite genre, but it surprised me that it included very few that really represent the genre. By the way, most of these novels are Urban Fantasy, not only the ones mentioned by a reader. If the novel is set in modern times,if it is set in a city, even if it is imaginary, but the characteristics of the city brings the reality of a city, it is Urban Fantasy, like Charles B. De Lint, who is not even mentioned by the poll. He is a master of Urban Fantasy, whose novels are masterfully written as well.

I agree most are UF. But I don't care for Gaiman or Soulless. :>) See, lots of different tastes! It must be random indeed!

I am a big Miéville fan, and I adore Brust's Vlad Taltos universe, as well. I'd also be happy to read Anansi Boys, as I enjoyed American Gods, and this is in the same universe. (a sequel, but loosely so, as with Discworld)

Sorry, but nothing here holds a candle to Jim Butcher. :P

LaserWraith wrote: "Sorry, but nothing here holds a candle to Jim Butcher. :P"

Laser: PTTTTTTH!!!

(although in this list, I'd probably have to say he's in...third place? Maybe second.)

Emma Bull's 'War of the Oaks' should be there. And T.E.D. Klein's 'The Ceremonies'.

We've done War of the Oaks.

I have heard of most of these books, but not all. Which surprises me! And the few mentioned in comments I also haven't heard of.

(Though I have to be a little sad that Charles De Lint isn't on here. I adore him so so so so SOOOO much... well, his works anyway!)

Anyway, The Scar is my choice. I have read it, but it's been my favorite Mieville so far. He really rocks my world!

Some of these books are going to be impossible to have a 'real' discussion about.

I've already read Harry Potter, all the Jim Butchers(awesome), The City of Bones series, the Dead Until Dark series, all the Twilight books. Neil Gaiman annoys me and I couldn't get into Melville. I picked "Soulless" because I haven't read it yet and it looks like it could be good. We'll see.

The Aimdoggg wrote: "I've already read Harry Potter, all the Jim Butchers(awesome), The City of Bones series, the Dead Until Dark series, all the Twilight books. Neil Gaiman annoys me and I couldn't get into Melville...."

Soulless is okay. A little heavy on the romance and goo-goo eyes and somewhat...implausible there at the end, but not a bad read. Uhm, IMO.

Has to be Soulless. Miss Tarabotti is awesome.

Oh! Soulless is available for the kindle at my library! Yay!

Dead Until Dark isn't urban fantasy. It's Contemporary Fantasy, but it is decidedly rural. Small towns and countryside manors aren't in cities. Just sayin'.

Ironically, it's the only on on that list I would vote for, mostly because I haven't read most of them.

Trike wrote: "Dead Until Dark isn't urban fantasy. It's Contemporary Fantasy, but it is decidedly rural. Small towns and countryside manors aren't in cities. Just sayin'.

Ironically, it's the only on on that li..."

Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana and since a goodly portion of Dead Until Dark takes place in said CITY in a little bar called Fangtasia, it is decidedly urban too. Just sayin'.

Oh gosh. >.> Guys, it's still just a vampire books. Not exactly something that you've got to discuss and harp on little details for! Save that for the big ones!

Neil Gaiman or Jim Butcher for me.

Brad wrote: "Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana and since a goodly portion of Dead Until Dark takes place in said CITY in a little bar called Fangtasia, it is decidedly urban too. Just sayin'. "

Admittedly it's been years since I read it, but I don't recall all that much of it taking place in Fangtasia. Certainly not compared to similar books like Fat White Vampire Blues, which takes place primarily in New Orleans. As I recall, the heart of Dead Until Dark is Adele's house and the environs around Bon Temps.

♥Xeni♥ wrote: "Oh gosh. >.> Guys, it's still just a vampire books. Not exactly something that you've got to discuss and harp on little details for! Save that for the big ones!"

Who decides which ones are "the big ones"?

I've been wanting to read twilight for a while now. It seems people either love it or hate it.

I think Twilight could make for the liveliest of discussions.

that is a FACT Brad...of course half of the discussion would be, "I hate this book, I quit your club!!!!"

That quote is so true, Michelle, AND IT DRIVES ME MAD!

<.<

I haven't read Anansi Boys yet, but Neil Gaiman is a literary god so I have to vote for him. Also, I have to admit that I haven't read any of the other books. I like Butcher but his stuff is pretty simple and straightforward (albeit fun). Gaiman's writing is brilliant.

I also like Hounded & Blood Oath I they qualify.

TWILIGHT'S IN LAST!!!! *laughing so much*

wow, what a varied list. Glad to see twilights last.

No shocks at all in the voting. At least not yet.

Come on, Twilight!

Ok, just wondering if there is anyone over the age of 30 who has read and liked Twilight. I've always thought of it as more of a YA novel. Am I wrong? Is it really worth reading? I have very high standards;)

It's definitely not worth reading then. It's a super low standards novel.

But...the sparkles

Hahahaha! Okay, let me rephrase. It's worth reading if you want something to rip to shreds! Sparkles. Lol. I still giggle at "sparkling like diamonds"!

I pass on Twilight, Dead Until Dark, and the Harry Potter book.

I've not read the Neil Gaiman book yet, it would be my second choice.

But I have to say, Jim Butcher is amazing! I adore his writing, and would love to reread his book and have an excuse to talk about it. So I voted for his book for that reason.

eh, it's easy to hate on twilight, everybody hates twilight, right? but while i can't defend it at all on an intellectual basis (the blank-as-wonderbread super passive heroine, the creepiness of a 100 year old guy macking on a 17 year old kiddo, etc), on an entertainment basis it's pretty fun. think of it as the chicklit equivalent of a michael bay movie: it's crap, but it's very compellingly written crap. i devoured that doorstop in a day.

that being said, i've read everything on offer here but the mieville, and since i'm still waiting for one of his books to make my soul sing, 'the scar' has my vote. 'anansi boys' is nowhere near the charm of 'american gods', and 'fool moon' is easily the weakest of that particular series, and those are both from authors i adore. 'jhereg' is fantastic, and would be my pick for the best of this bunch.

either way, it looks to be a popular race, so let's hope for good discussion with whatever gets it.