Not sure this type of book exists...

[LOG]

I aint very hopeful.
I'm looking for a book, or books if you know em, that are urban fantasy, and involve supernatural creatures, but there is no romance in the story, or at least if there is, the author makes an actual attempt at it. I don't want to spend half of yet another story listening to how incredible sexy this man/woman is, and people being 'mysteriously' attracted to one another.
Sex without romance being involved is...okay I guess.

 

[ELMontague]

And Jim Butcher's Dresden files didn't work for you?

 

[LOG]

And Jim Butcher's Dresden files didn't work for you?

Never read em. So now I'll take a look.

 

[Khimera9]

If you have a nintendo DS, then get The world ends with you They have supernatural creatures and no romance and junk.

 

[Smiling Ted]

Why don't you try War for the Oaks?
It's the opposite of romance.

 

[BookWhirl.com]

I honestly don't remember if i have encountered that kind of book. But as to my observation, fantasy books often touches with romance. More often, the main character is driven to defend his/her love interest. But for your research, please browse on our bookshelf. You might find what you're looking for. Here's a link for your convenience: http://www.bookwhirl.com/bookshelf/1.html

 

[LOG]

Why don't you try War for the Oaks?
It's the opposite of romance.

But she falls in love with the fae dude...

Sorry Khimera, no DS.

 

[Polenth]

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.

I don't guarantee a complete lack of mention of relationships in any way, as the MC is in one at the start. But it's not romancy.

 

[ChaosTitan]

Child of Fire, Harry Connolly
Mark of the Demon, Diana Rowland (there is some sex, but not really romance persay)
Blue Diablo, Ann Aguirre
the Magic series, by Ilona Andrews (some romance starts seeping in around the third book, but it's so well done you may not care)

 

[Thump]

Tim Bowler's books are sort of Urban Fantasy and very good and those I've read didn't have any or much romance: River Boy, Frozen Fire (the MC is obsessed with this supernatural boy but not in a romantic sort of way), Starseeker (the MC is interested in a girl but it's not the focus of the story, just something that happens and isn't that important).

 

[scarletpeaches]

I can understand your dislike of romance as so much of it is done badly. And trust me, as an erotica writer, I know this for sure. Too often that which is meant to arouse merely amuses.

*cue rolling around on the floor, crying in hysterics*

However. Leaving aside the fact it's my aim to change the bad reputation erotic romance has (along with my loyal minion tt42)...one ventures it's just as unnatural to have NO romance as it is to have BAD romance.

Relationships are part of life and I completely agree with you, please believe me on that. However. A world in which there are no 'pair bonds' would seem as weird to me as one in which romance is the centre of everyone's universe.

I know. It seems weird to say that when we're discussing suspending our disbelief for things such as werewolves, fairies and vampires - and yet romance is a problem.

I've noticed that werewolves tend to be a hell of a lot better written than love and sex, which is a puzzler.

I've had a lot more sex than I have encounters with werewolves, for one.

 

[waylander]

Try Mike Carey's Felix Castor series starting with 'The Devil You Know'

 

[NightOwl]

You might want to also check out The Night Watch series. (Night Watch / Day Watch / Twilight Watch) by Sergei Lukyanenko.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Watch_(Russian_novel)

 

[Smiling Ted]

But she falls in love with the fae dude...

Oh, yeah. My bad.
It's been awhile.

 

[Etola]

I'm not sure if you've looked into Charles DeLint's Newford books...He was one of the first modern urban fantasists (writing long before this current trend of blending "urban fantasy" with "erotica"), and his books and short stories don't go into romance unless it is a natural outgrowth of the characters, who are very much 'real' people--i.e., the stories are not written to be romances first, they are written to be explorations of various characters' encounters with the supernatural within their lives. And you won't get lengthy descriptions of how sexy everyone is. I think they are beautiful people, but not always on the outside, if you know what I mean. On the outside, they run the gamut across the human spectrum. They are crazy artists, street urchins, buskers, dumpy immigrants, hobos, etc. Sometimes romance happens, sometimes it doesn't.

If you haven't, I recommend giving his work a look.

 

[NicoleMD]

I really enjoyed Unshapely Things by Mark del Franco.

Nicole

 

[rugcat]

I aint very hopeful.
I'm looking for a book, or books if you know em, that are urban fantasy, and involve supernatural creatures, but there is no romance in the story, or at least if there is, the author makes an actual attempt at it.

If I read you right, it's not that you're objecting to relationships appearing in these books -- it's that you're objecting to books where the relationship is the major focus of the book, or where sexual encounters and romantic possibilities make up a great deal of the story line and motivation.

To me, that's the major dividing line between paranormal romance and UF. And in fact, most of UF these days is, if not romance free, at least romance impaired. As you can see by the number of UF books already mentioned here.

But if you want books that are entirely free of any relationship or romance angle, you'll be limiting yourself. People have interest in the opposite (or same) sex in real life, and to cut it out completely can result in characters who are less three dimensional and less interesting.

Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon falls for Brigid O'Shaughnessy, and was having an affair with his partner's wife when the book opens. Surely you wouldn't disqualify that book because of it's "romantic" motivations.

 

[geardrops]

And Jim Butcher's Dresden files didn't work for you?

They won't work for him after book 4 or so (in my experience -- I'm stuck at Blood Rites right now b/c goddamn I don't give a fig about wozzername).

Though I haven't read it yet, from what I'm hearing, VanderMeer's FINCH might be up your alley. Though it's more SF than fantasy.

 

[Shadow_Ferret]

mine.

But you have to wait...

...until I find an agent... find a publisher.... etc., etc.

 

[Lyra Jean]

mine.

But you have to wait...

...until I find an agent... find a publisher.... etc., etc.

He could be a beta reader.

 

[LOG]

He could be a beta reader.

I'm already juggling four beta readers, not sure how many more I could take...

 

[JimmyB27]

You might want to also check out The Night Watch series. (Night Watch / Day Watch / Twilight Watch) by Sergei Lukyanenko.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Watch_(Russian_novel)

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.

I don't guarantee a complete lack of mention of relationships in any way, as the MC is in one at the start. But it's not romancy.

Second both of these. Also, Good Omens by Gaiman and Pratchett might fit the bill. There is a sort of a romance, but not really; can't explain it without spoilers.

 

[bearilou]

My biggest pet peeve with Hollywood is shoe-horning a romance relationship into the story that didn't need one. Not that sex or any interest in it isn't part of being human, but sometimes I really do wonder why this desperate need (it appears to me) Hollywood has in giving the MC a boyfriend/girlfriend when the story, or the character growth, has no need for it.

But if you want books that are entirely free of any relationship or romance angle, you'll be limiting yourself. People have interest in the opposite (or same) sex in real life, and to cut it out completely can result in characters who are less three dimensional and less interesting.

To that end, I have made up my mind to prove you wrong! *is stubborn like that* I may not succeed but I intend to give it a hell of a shot. I have one novel in progress where no 'love interest' has appeared and there is none in the planning stages or even on the horizon.

And early readers have already commented that my characters are three dimensinal and interesting.

 

[LOG]

I have one novel in progress where no 'love interest' has appeared and there is none in the planning stages or even on the horizon.

And early readers have already commented that my characters are three dimensinal and interesting.

Let me know when it comes out

 

[veinglory]

Mercedes Lackey's "SERRAgged Edge" line. But, seriously, many thousands of books would match your description.