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Sorry, I'm not sure where to ask this question, though I've thought of it for a while.

Is there some place to mention/refer to Superhero prose books read? Like, I've read 8 of them so far this year, but the vast majority are not 2015 publications so I can't put them into the 2015 publications thread. Obviously the 3 I read in 2014 would not have been published this year.

If nothing else, this question has pushed me to realize that I really do need a 'Superhero Prose' shelf. It's hard to attempt to find these books, when the vast majority of the books on my Superhero shelf are comics.

Natalie wrote: "Hi, Lexxi Kitty! I'm a little unsure about what you are asking. Are you asking about discussing the books here in the group? Or did you mean something about categorizing them on your own shelves?"

Mentioning that they exist in this group with any discussion that might spring up.

Thanks :)

Yes - what Natalie said - feel free to add them to the Comic and Superhero books thread. (But I guess you already did that with "Love for the Cold-Blooded".)

Additionally, talking about adding books to shelves, please feel free to add any books to the appropriate shelves for this group. I have a ton on there, but there are so, so many superhero books...

Jim wrote: "Additionally, talking about adding books to shelves, please feel free to add any books to the appropriate shelves for this group. I have a ton on there, but there are so, so many superhero books..."

Hmms. I attempted to do so, but only moderators can add books.

non-2015 Superhero prose books:

2011:

The Black Stiletto: The First Diary--1958 by Raymond Benson
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Superhero Prose
Location: Odessa, Texas; New York, New York.
Time Period: 1958

From one of the authors who continued the James Bond book franchise comes 'The Black Stiletto'. There are five books in this series.

A son finds his mother's diary and learns that back in the 1950s she was a superhero called 'The Black Stiletto'. Story includes scenes from 'modern times' and 1950s.

3 out of 5 stars.


The Falling Machine by Andrew P. Mayer
Genre: Alt History, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Superhero prose novel
Location: New York
Time Period: 1880s

A combination of historical fiction, steampunk, and superhero prose fiction. There are three books in the series.

There's this "Society of Paragons", aka superheroes, who fight crime back in the 1880s New York city.

Book opens after the leader of the Paragons is murdered. Sarah Stanton steps forward to be a superhero. Though she faces certain problems. Easier to lift from book description: "when women aren't allowed to vote, much less dress up in a costume and fight crime."


Hearts of Smoke and Steam by Andrew P. Mayer
2nd book in the series. I gave this one 2 out of 5 stars.

2012:

Thrusts of Justice by Matt Youngmark
Genre: Choose-Your-Own-Adventure (for adults), Science Fantasy, Superhero Prose
Location:
Time Period:
You're just an unemployed reporter until a cryptic warning and an explosion outside your favorite bar send you down the road to becoming one of three superpowered heroes (or, potentially, villains - we're not here to judge). Dark vigilante? Armored space ­cop? Wisecracking mutant? Whichever path you choose, ­ you'd better get busy, because a mysterious plot is afoot and - like it or not - you're the only thing standing ­between the forces of evil and ­utter annihilation.

Thrusts of Justice is an action/comedy ­reimagining of the choose-your-own-path books you grew up with. There are 90 possible endings (81 of which result in your ­humiliating death).

There is an interesting story embedded in this "Choose Your Own Adventure" type book. It might have been better as a straight forward narrative book. I say that mostly because there seems to be a specific path that must be taken to "succeed". Most paths seem to end way quicker than you would except and if you back track, you find that both choices lead to endings.

Still, there's an interesting enough story to keep things entertaining and enjoyable. I rated it 3 out of 5 stars.


Velveteen vs. The Junior Super Patriots by Seanan McGuire
Genre: Fantasy, Superhero Prose Novel
Location: West Coast USA
Time Period: contemporary

A young woman was sold to a superhero corporation when she was a child. She grew up training to be a superhero, and spent some time out and about as . . . Velveteen. Book opens, though, after she had had a falling out with the superhero group and is trying to make her way on her own.

I rated this one 4 out of 5 stars.

2013

Secret Origins by Michael C. Bailey
Genre: Science Fiction, Superhero Prose Novel, Young Adult
Location: Massachusetts
Time Period: contemporary
A young woman and her mother move to the mother's hometown of Kingsport following a divorce. The story follows the young woman as she attends high school. Shortly after arriving Carrie Hauser develops superhero powers, and makes some new friends at the high school . . . who just happen to also have some powers. (it's a regular high school, it just so happens that those with powers meet).

There are currently 4 books in this series.

I gave the first book in the series 4 out of 5 stars.


Velveteen vs. The Multiverse by Seanan McGuire
The continuing adventures of Velveteen. I rated this one 3 out of 5 stars.

2014

Black Magic Women by Michael C. Bailey
Genre: Science Fiction, Science Fantasy, Fantasy, Superhero Prose Novel, Young Adult
Location: Mass.
Time Period: Contemporary
The first book in the series had a science fiction vibe, the second one introduces a magic element to the mix.

I felt that the second book was stronger than the first, though still having a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.


Love for the Cold-Blooded, or The Part-Time Evil Minion's Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero by Alex Gabriel
Genre: LGBT, Romance, Science Fiction, Superhero Prose Novel
Location:
Time Period:
The son of a supervillain is a young man going to college to be a city planner. He has no plans to become a villain himself. To make some extra cash he takes a job as a night manager at a superrich guy's house. That rich guy happens to be a superhero. Through a mistake in communication they meet and a kind of romance begins.

I gave this one 5 out of 5 stars.


Next by Joshua Guess
Genre: Science Fantasy, Superhero Prose Novel
Location:
Time Period: contemporary (though with some flashbacks).
'Something' happened and average humans started finding that they have powers. Not all the same. Some have speed, flight, various powers. The main character, Kitra Singh, works for the OSA, an organization that monitors the newly appearing superhumans.

So far a two book series. I gave the first book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Lexxi Kitty wrote: "non-2015 Superhero prose books:"

Thanks for listing these! They all look interesting.

Lexxi Kitty wrote: "Jim wrote: "Additionally, talking about adding books to shelves, please feel free to add any books to the appropriate shelves for this group..."

Hmms. I attempted to do so, but only moderators can add books. "

That's my bad! I thought I had put the setting so that anyone could add books. That was my original intent.

I just fixed it, so if you want to go in and add - you can do it to your heart's content!

(Unfortunately, any books we are not currently reading or are about to read have to be marked as "read", so that's fine to mark any book you add as "read" even if the group hasn't read them.)

Thanks for your input!

Bah. Notifications not working. Didn't see your responses until just now.

THE UNBECOMING OF JONATHAN JONES was a fun read. It came out this month. I highly recommend it. As was the new ZEPHYR novel.

The Wearing the Cape series by Marion G. Harmon:
Wearing the Cape: A Superhero Story
Villains Inc.
Bite Me: Big Easy Nights
Young Sentinels
Small Town Heroes
Ronin Games

Also Jeramey Kraatz's Cloak Society trilogy:
The Cloak Society
Villains Rising
Fall of Heroes