Books like King Rat
23 fantasy books to read after King Rat, by Clavell, James, the closest match first.
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Asian book 2
1. Tai-pan
by Clavell, James
- Same series
- Same author
Dirk Straun, a pirate, smuggler, and ruthless individual, finds glory beyond his dreams as the Tai-Pan, or supreme leader, of Hong Kong.
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Asian book 3
2. Shōgun
by Clavell, James
- Same series
- Same author
After Englishman John Blackthorne is lost at sea, he awakens in a place few Europeans know of and even fewer have seen--Nippon. Thrust into the closed society that is seventeenth-century...
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Asian book 4
3. Noble House
by Clavell, James
- Same series
- Same author
Under the eyes of the KGB, the CIA, and the People's Republic of China, British and American businessmen maneuver for control of Hong Kong's oldest trading house in a torrid...
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Asian book 5
4. Whirlwind
by Clavell, James
- Same series
- Same author
Iran, during the revolution of 1979, is a dangerous place for the helicopter pilots of Noble House and their women.
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Asian book 6
5. Gai-jin
by Clavell, James
- Same series
- Same author
The new leader of the noble family meets a beautiful French woman in Japan in the 1860s.
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6. Nightside
by Green, Simon R.
- On the same lists
A superb mix of suspense, humor, fantasy, horror, and romance. A blend of Raymond Chandler and Jim Butcher. This one is a detective noir along the lines of a Harry...
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7. The Blue Girl
by Lint, Charles De
- On the same lists
Charles de Lint is one of the founders of the Urban Fantasy movement - his influential works have helped shape the entire genre as a whole. And as one of...
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8. Ariel
by Boyett, Steven R.
- On the same lists
Post-apocalyptic urban fantasy. The world has changed - the lights don’t work, cars are no longer functional and magical creatures now roam the landscape. The world is no longer the...
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9. Mortal Instruments
by Clare, Cassandra
- On the same lists
What Twilight really should have been. Think of this as a more adult, more complex vision of Twilight. Basically, on every single level, this series supersedes Twilight.
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Twenty Palaces book 1 Start here
10. Child Of Fire
by Connolly, Harry
- On the same lists
I quite liked this one. I think it's probably the best next It’s dark, gritty, and it dose new things in the genre. Yes, it’s got some of the elements...
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The Detective Inspector Chen book 1 Start here
11. Snake Agent
by Williams, Liz
- On the same lists
A surprising cocktail of Chinese Fantasy, detective fiction, and science fiction that manages to still taste good. The novel is set in a futuristic China (future Shanghai) and incorporates high...
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12. Un Lun Dun
by Miéville, China
- On the same lists
This was Mieville’s first foray into YA fantasy and boy was it a good one; he manages to subvert the standard fantasy formula, giving the reader a story that’s both...
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Bobby Dollar book 1 Start here
13. Dirty Streets Of Heaven
by Williams, Tad
- On the same lists
This one by Tad Williams, a master at writing well plotted, rich fantasy tales.This is his second foray into urban fantasy territory (first being War of the Flowers - another...
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14. Neverwhere
by Gaiman, Neil
- On the same lists
An example of the crossover between Urban Fantasy and Crossworlds. An ordinary man is transported to a world of shadows and darkness and must make his way home.
Most (all?) of Gaiman’s works are urban fantasy. The crowd favorite is Neverwhere, which is an interesting take on the whole multiverse conceit found in science fiction. The premise is...
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15. Sookie Stackhouse
by Harris, Charlaine
- On the same lists
Vampire Fiction often falls into the Urban Fantasy sub-genre, and this series is a great example of how popular it has become.
For those who love Twilight, the next step should be to read the Sookie Stackhouse novels. The popular True Blood TV series was based on these novels, so if you...
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Mythago Wood book 1 Start here
16. Mythago Wood
by Holdstock, Robert
- On the same lists
There are many novels and novellas in this cycle which take place in a forest that has been untouched since the last ice age. It is a labyrinth, a place of peril and living myths.
'Unique' is a vastly overused word. It has about as much meaning as Kim K's twitter feed. But in the case of Mythago Wood, it's warranted. Firstly, Holdstock tells the...
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17. The Anubis Gates
by Powers, Tim
- On the same lists
An award winning novel that has time travel, historical figures, Egyptian mythology, and 19th century England.
In creating this world, Powers borrowed ideas from all over the place. Mythology, Ancient Egyptian theology, quantum theory, and classical literature“ they're all used in The Anubis Gates. It's a...
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18. Fevre Dream
by Martin, George R. R.
- On the same lists
A lesser known novel by the Game of Thrones creator that is a fine example of a more mythic take on vampirism. Fevre Dream is a steamboat sailing up the antebellum Mississippi River, which just so happens to be carrying the lord of the vampire race. It is a blend of history and myth.
He writes stories where castration, rape, skull-crushing, and child sacrifice are parred for the course. So it should come as no surprise that George R.R. Martin conquered the sub-genre of...
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Dresden Files book 1 Start here
19. Storm Front
by Butcher, Jim
- On the same lists
A crime version of the Urban Fantasy sub-genre. Harry Dresden is a wizard and a private investigator
Harry Dresden is a wizard. He has decided to use his power to solve minor crimes to make a living, so he opens up his own private eye firm, the...
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20. War For The Oaks
by Bull, Emma
- On the same lists
What happens when a rock star is pulled into a supernatural conflict between good and evil? Well, let's head on over to Minneapolis of all places and find out
It was in the 80s that the subgenres of fantasy we know today started. One of these – urban fantasy – owes much of its development from War for the...
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21. Harry Potter
by Rowling, J. K.
- On the same lists
This incredibly popular series is a story of an alternate world, a secret world of wizardy that exists within our own, but seems ever so vast.
Yes, everyone has probably read this. In fact, these these may have been the books that got you started reading fantasy in the first place. These books do make for...
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The Magicians book 1 Start here
22. The Magicians
by Grossman, Lev
- On the same lists
A prequel novel about a high school senior who is admitted to a school for gifted children, for a magical education in upstate New York. A typical quest story that turns dark. Things are not black and white in this world and the characters are psychologically rich.
School fantasy is often aimed at children, and it's very successful at hitting that market. It's much harder to appeal exclusively to adults, and that's where The Magicians shines. Rather...
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23. 2005: Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
by Clarke, Susanna
- On the same lists
The revival of magic in an alternate Britain with two very different magicians and some fairies, too.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is an epic tale of the rebirth of magic in nineteenth-century England. Taking place among the regular historical occurrences of the time, the main difference...
Matches come from series and authors, from the lists the books share, and from the books readers open together. They are rebuilt every night. Back to King Rat.
The shortlist
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