So, here's where I'll post links to any reviews I do on the blog, after all that's what I have a blog for! Feel free to comment on any reviews or ask any questions - I'm more than happy to answer (almost) anything

First up is Shadow of the Scorpion by Neal Asher, a great book set in his Polity universe that focuses on the early life of Ian Cormac, the ECS agent we know from the Gridlinked sequence. Great stuff again by Neal and thoroughly deserving of your time It's out now by Night Shade Books in the US, but Pan Macmillan will be releasing a hardback in the UK this coming April, so either way there's no excuse!

Another review up today, this time it's Black Magic Woman by Justin Gustainis. As I usually read sci-fi it takes something quite special to fight it's way into the reading list, but after I read an extract from Evils Ways (book 2 in the series) I had to at least give it a go. Very glad I did now, it's one of those books that I struggled to put down, and then when I did I tried to find excuses and ways to get back to it Anyway, check the full review at the blog

[quote="chitman13"]Another review up today, this time it's Black Magic Woman by Justin Gustainis.

I heard a lot about this one when it came out in the US. Glad it's getting a UK release. The only thing that's slightly putting me off is that I'm following quite a few Urban Fantasy series as it is. I'm not sure if I can fit in another!!

Hey Gav

This was pretty much my first venture into Urban Fantasy, so I can't really compare it to what is out there at the moment, but I loved it. I'll be adding this series to me read asap list and will probably try some more UF because of it What do you think is the best series to go for though, for a complete newbie

Mark

The two most guy friendly urban fantasies I can think of are also paranormal investigation series: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and The Nightside by Simon R Green.

It took me a couple of books to get into the Dresden Files but by book 4 I was grabbing them from the library as fast I could and am now impatiently waiting for the next release. I think the writing has improved and is now some of the best stuff out there - the plotting, the characterization, the high stakes - and riding a zombie dinosaur(in book 7, Dead Beat)!

I've been a fan of Simon R Green for a long time, the Nightside is a very enjoyable series. Sometimes I think his writing can get a bit sloppy, but the Nightside books are filled with energy and ideas (so many ideas - probably twice as many per book than most other writers) and interesting characters. He writes with humour and creates impossible situations for his main character to get out of.

The other writer I really like is Patricia Briggs. Her earlier work is fantasy, she started writing Urban Fantasy with the Mercy Thompson series, beginning with Moon Called. Mercy is a coyote shape-shifter and a mechanic, her neighbour is a werewolf, the previous owner of her garage is fae, and she fixes the car of a vampire. I'm not sure if this series will appeal to you, but it is the best Urban Fantasy series I can think of.

I'll be interested to know if you try any of these books, and if so, what you think. I don't read a lot of science fiction but I've recently gotten into Charles Stross and John Scalzi - it's nice to know there are good books on the other side!

I think I'll definitely have a look into the Dresden books, they sound like the sort of thing I'd enjoy

I've also just finished Predator: South China Sea by Jeff VanderMeer. As a tie in I wasn't expecting too much from it but was very pleasantly surprised. This is one I would recommend to anyone that enjoyed the films and even one I think could be right up there with the first film if it was adapted.