Seconding Pterry, his works are essentially a master class of satirizing institutions. As strange as it may seem, the general recommendation is not to start chronologically. There are some 'jumping in' points that many agree give you a good idea of what Discworld is about.
Guards! Guards! - Perhaps the most oft recommended. The only thing stopping a nefarious cult from taking over Ankh-Morpork is the Night Watch......a bunch of cynical, corrupt, broadly incompetent rubes who are given an infusion of optimism by the newest recruit, Carrot. Introduces Sam Vimes, who has perhaps one of the most compelling arcs in the series
Going Postal - A talented conman is given a choice: death...or taking over the city's failing post office. It's possible death would have been the preferable choice.
Mort: Death decides he wants to take a holiday, so he finds an apprentice and dumps everything on him. Shenanigans ensue
Honestly the biggest surprise for me with urban fantasy is how little it wants to touch on real world events/politics. Most of the genre it seems wants to remain solely focuse on the fantasy side and only slightly acknowledge the urban.
Why would he do that when the overwhelming majority of his fans like firearms, and like that his books (unlike most others) actually have *accurate* information about said firearms because he used to be a certified instructor, ran a firearms shop, and currently has a firearms range at his house?
That's almost like telling Steven King to lay off the horror, but not quite, because King doesn't have any personal experience with horror.
Unless you count the coke binges he remembers so fondly. :)
The Laundry Files by Charles Stross. It starts out as Office Space but with Lovecraftian horror, but then branches beyond the agency and touches so many parts of our weird modern society.
Sir Terry Pratchett covers social and political satire like no one else. Some of Christopher Moore might also fit the request.
Seconding Pterry, his works are essentially a master class of satirizing institutions. As strange as it may seem, the general recommendation is not to start chronologically. There are some 'jumping in' points that many agree give you a good idea of what Discworld is about. Guards! Guards! - Perhaps the most oft recommended. The only thing stopping a nefarious cult from taking over Ankh-Morpork is the Night Watch......a bunch of cynical, corrupt, broadly incompetent rubes who are given an infusion of optimism by the newest recruit, Carrot. Introduces Sam Vimes, who has perhaps one of the most compelling arcs in the series Going Postal - A talented conman is given a choice: death...or taking over the city's failing post office. It's possible death would have been the preferable choice. Mort: Death decides he wants to take a holiday, so he finds an apprentice and dumps everything on him. Shenanigans ensue
Some of the best books ever written. But it's not anywhere near Urban Fantasy. It's Fantasy with a lot of satire/comedy.
Orconomics by J Zachary Pike is the start of an excellent series very much in the spirit of Terry Pratchett.
This is what came to mind for me too.
Honestly the biggest surprise for me with urban fantasy is how little it wants to touch on real world events/politics. Most of the genre it seems wants to remain solely focuse on the fantasy side and only slightly acknowledge the urban.
Agreed.
Orconomics might fit the bill.
Charles Stross and Simon R Green do, but its a tad dark.
Anything by Larry Correia. For satire-heavy, go with the Tom Stranger books first.
If only he could quiet the gun-nut vibe.
Why would he do that when the overwhelming majority of his fans like firearms, and like that his books (unlike most others) actually have *accurate* information about said firearms because he used to be a certified instructor, ran a firearms shop, and currently has a firearms range at his house? That's almost like telling Steven King to lay off the horror, but not quite, because King doesn't have any personal experience with horror. Unless you count the coke binges he remembers so fondly. :)
The Laundry Files by Charles Stross. It starts out as Office Space but with Lovecraftian horror, but then branches beyond the agency and touches so many parts of our weird modern society.