09-16-2010, 01:26 PM
It seems I'm reading a lot of urban fantasy novels these days. I've got your Jim Butcher and your Mark Teppo (Codex of Souls) and your Harry Connolly (Twenty Palaces) and of course Charlie Stross (The Laundry Files). It seems it all the rage to have wizards and spell users solving mysteries. Jim Butcher gives you your basic Raymond Chandler Detective, Connolly and Teppo's magicians are rogues out to save the world from annihilation. And Charlie Stross takes the bureaucratic view of the wizard as spy game. Again Stross's character is saving the world from demons but as part of her Majesty's Secret Service. And I almost forgot Mike Tepper who is London's answer to Jim Butcher. It's nice to know there are so many wizards out there trying to save the world. It makes me sleep safe at night. Who knew there were so many demons trying to end our plane of existence. I wonder if this rash of books is trying to tell us something.
Now, I've come across Simon R. Green and his take on this genre. I recently read his Nightstalker series, at least the first two, and they never grabbed my imagination. But again it's a detective in the demon haunted area of London. But in "The Man With the Golden Torc", Green seems to be going into Stross territory with a government spy wizard. His name is Edward Drood. I'm sure the reference is deliberate. The Drood family has been protecting England and the world since before the time of Christ against supernatural incursions.
Eddie Drood is just the latest in a long line of agents from the Drood family. The book starts out quickly with the abortion of the male US president's demon baby and ramps from there. It's a quick light read. Impossible situation follows impossible situation, which Eddie manages to extricate himself from a little too easily. But by the time that thought crosses your mind, your on to the next battle Cars that eat people or wizards who are able to alter reality.
Eddie's job is to find out who the traitor is in the family. But on that path, he finds himself cast out of the family and declared Rogue himself. Adventure ensues.
A lot of the other books take themselves too seriously. Magic is a burden. Their lives are endless struggles and they can't find any happiness. But Eddie seems to be having a great time with his power. He's banging robot chicks from the future. He's got a cool bachelor pad in London. He's got all the best toys and loves using them. It was nice to read about a happy wizard for a change.
All the books I've mentioned are pretty good. This one stands out because of it's lightheartedness. It's no Shakespeare, but it is diverting. And best of all, Green writes fast. There are five more books in this series. Plus he has another thirty books out there in different series, including the aforementioned Nightstalker.
Now, I've come across Simon R. Green and his take on this genre. I recently read his Nightstalker series, at least the first two, and they never grabbed my imagination. But again it's a detective in the demon haunted area of London. But in "The Man With the Golden Torc", Green seems to be going into Stross territory with a government spy wizard. His name is Edward Drood. I'm sure the reference is deliberate. The Drood family has been protecting England and the world since before the time of Christ against supernatural incursions.
Eddie Drood is just the latest in a long line of agents from the Drood family. The book starts out quickly with the abortion of the male US president's demon baby and ramps from there. It's a quick light read. Impossible situation follows impossible situation, which Eddie manages to extricate himself from a little too easily. But by the time that thought crosses your mind, your on to the next battle Cars that eat people or wizards who are able to alter reality.
Eddie's job is to find out who the traitor is in the family. But on that path, he finds himself cast out of the family and declared Rogue himself. Adventure ensues.
A lot of the other books take themselves too seriously. Magic is a burden. Their lives are endless struggles and they can't find any happiness. But Eddie seems to be having a great time with his power. He's banging robot chicks from the future. He's got a cool bachelor pad in London. He's got all the best toys and loves using them. It was nice to read about a happy wizard for a change.
All the books I've mentioned are pretty good. This one stands out because of it's lightheartedness. It's no Shakespeare, but it is diverting. And best of all, Green writes fast. There are five more books in this series. Plus he has another thirty books out there in different series, including the aforementioned Nightstalker.
So much for the flickr badge idea. Dammit
