One of my favorite bits in Alas Babylon is Alice Cooksey, the librarian, bicycling into town to open the library every day. Without electricity and gasoline, "All entertainment, all amusements, all escape, all information again centered in the library."

I've enjoyed Seanan McGuire's October Daye novels.

I started the first book in the fever series, but was annoyed by the protagonist's voice before the first chapter was done, so I stopped and picked up something else. I'll probably give it another try eventually.

It gets much, much better. She's annoying as hell at first but gets darker and more interesting as the series continues.

I have read a ton of urban fantasy in the past year (damn you Kindle and your tempty easy-to-buy-books ways!) and have a lot more recs for those that are interested, but Harrison and Briggs are my initial favorites. I also love Ilona Andrews (start with Magic Bites, Rayne, I think you'll like them) and Richelle Mead's Succubus series (starting with Succubus Blues) and Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series (starting with Ill Wind).

Um. I read a lot, as the rest of you do. Ima stop there for now.

I read Charlaine Harris's mysteries long before Sookie Stackhouse. I eventually lost interest in the Sookie Stackhouse books, mostly because I got weary of all the politics. What is this urge to recreate all the horrors of bureaucracy with extra added blood feuds for vampires, werewolves, fairies and other supernatural beings?

Is Urban Fantasy the genre that usually has a cover with the female protagonist showing her back and usually sporting a tattoo and wearing leather or something badass-ish and holding a weapon?

Emma Bull is urban fantasy for me. It's possible I'm a little behind the times.

Emma Bull is urban fantasy for me. It's possible I'm a little behind the times.

Admittedly, War of the Oaks is right at the beginning of that genre and it's really good.

I don't care for Harris' Aurora Teagarden stuff, but I like the Shakespeare and Grave series...which are not, technically, fantasy. I've enjoyed the Sookie Stackhouse ones that I've read, but I haven't caught up with all of the politics yet.

Sigh, so many books, so little time.

Erin: Walmart: guns, fishing rods, sewing stuff, groceries and a pharmacy.

Hard to control by yourself though. Post-apocalyptic Buffista Island?

Is Urban Fantasy the genre that usually has a cover with the female protagonist showing her back and usually sporting a tattoo and wearing leather or something badass-ish and holding a weapon?

yes. And I've liked many of them, including Briggs, Harrison, and Andrews. Not quite as sold on Richelle Mead, and go back and forth on Rachel Caine. Hate when heroines get TSTL or when after a couple of books they have to bring the big big big bad and the heroine has to have god-like powers

Hate when heroines get TSTL

I had to look that up.

or when after a couple of books they have to bring the big big big bad and the heroine has to have god-like powers

Anita Blake?