Ok, I've read all the Pendergast books twice and I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions of other books, preferably a series, with a character
similar to Pendergast.
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Looking for Pendergast-like
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 chennault2424 |
Looking for Pendergast-like |
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Posts: 1 (07/02/09 08:00 AM) |
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JoyceD |
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Posts: 954 (07/02/09 10:26 AM) |
I'm stating the over-obvious here, but you can always read the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.
"Nobody told me there'd be days like these...Strange days indeed." -John Lennon
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Fantastopotamus |
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Posts: 1710 (07/02/09 01:19 PM) |
I'm not sure about Pendergast-like, but if you enjoy reading D'Agosta you might like Robert B. Parker's Spenser series.
The only character that I've read that seems even remotely similar to Pendergast is from a fantasy trilogy, and in truth he's not a whole lot like Pendergast. He's just kind of odd, as is Pendergast, so... But if you're interested in reading unique characters, you might give Jack Vance a try (if Sci-Fi doesn't bother you). I'd try the Lyonesse trilogy first, or possibly the Araminta Station trilogy. The Planet of Adventure series is great too.
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kleenexwoman |
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Posts: 159 (07/02/09 04:24 PM) |
The character of Lord Vetinari in the Discworld series, by Terry Pratchett, always struck me as very similar to Pendergast, in temperament and personality if
not in narrative role. (He's the dictator of the largest city on the Discworld and is surprisingly libertarian.) He's generally a main/important
secondary character in the City Watch books, along with Sam Vimes, the Captain (and then Commander) of the City Watch, who's a little more of a
D'Agosta character (although, tbh, O'Shaughnessy totally, totally reminded me of him). And there's also Captain Carrot, who's a very
good guy and good with people and the heir to something big he doesn't ever talk about that shows up in him anyway.
The City Watch books are, in order: "Guards! Guards!" "Men at Arms" "Feet of Clay" "Jingo" "The Fifth Elephant" "The Truth" (if you are particularly fond of the Smithback bits, you will like this book) "Night Watch" "Thud!" ...although I would recommend reading most of the Discworld books anyway, except for maybe the first few which aren't that great. I also recommend the books of Tim Powers for twisty fantasy/horror/action/thriller-type stories; the characters and plot aren't particularly Pendergastian, but the tone of most of his books makes me think that it would be a good fit for anyone who likes the Pendergast series for its more Gothic, atmospheric traits. I would particularly recommend: "The Anubis Gates" "Last Call," "Expiration Date," and "Earthquake Weather" (a series) "Three Days to Never" Le cadavre exquis boira le vin nouveau. The exquisite corpse will drink the new wine.
Last Edited By: kleenexwoman
07/02/09 04:27 PM.
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deering |
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Posts: 7296 (07/02/09 05:50 PM) |
Weirdly-enough, one of George RR Martin's first big successes, FEVRE DREAM (Yep, you read that right.
 ), has two leads and a central relationship that is
very Pendergast/D'Agosta. If D'Agosta was a tough pre-Civil War southern steamboat captain and Pendergast was a reasonable-minded aristocratic vampire
bucking to be Vampire King, that is... .
http://www.amazon.com/Fevre-Dream-George-R-R-Martin/dp/0553383051/ref=ed_oe_p. It's a terrific book on its own, to boot...well-worth reading several times over. ************************************** "Super highways, coast to coast, easy to get anywhere... On the transcontinental overload, just slide behind the wheel How does it feel? When there's no destination that's too far... And somewhere on the way, you might find out who you are." --LIVING IN AMERICA, James Brown
Last Edited By: deering
07/02/09 06:13 PM.
Edited 5 times.
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kleenexwoman |
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Posts: 160 (07/02/09 07:07 PM) |
omg I have to get that. I tried reading the "Song of Fire and Ice" series and could not get into it--is it any less crushingly depressing?
Le cadavre exquis boira le vin nouveau. The exquisite corpse will drink the new wine. |
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Francie |
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Posts: 62 (07/02/09 07:17 PM) |
Deering -- I am ALWAYS looking for new and interesting books -- Fevre Dream sounds just odd enough to strike my fancy. I think I'll add it to my Kindle
books.
I would say so far only Sherlock Holmes and Pendergast have the most in common, character-wise for me. If there were any decent Star Trek fiction, I might say Spock... but most of the Star Trek fiction is utter dross. I've just finished re-reading all the Pendergast books and now feel sort of bereft to leave my "friend" for awhile. |
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dixie pixie |
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Posts: 25 (07/02/09 08:42 PM) |
Well, I don't know if this character quite fits the bill, but my other fictional crush is a character named Cardinal Chang (he's neither a cardinal nor
Chinese) from Gordon Dahlquist's Glass Books series (two so far). He's an assassin-for-hire but with a heart of gold. He's a tall and lean sexy
beast. He's a poetry-loving romantic. He's had his heart broken (tragic past). He's a handsome devil if you overlook the scarring around his eyes
(like I said, tragic past). He embarks on life-or-death adventures with two unlikely comrades..... Can you tell what kind of men I prefer? lol
Anyway, the books sort of defy categorization, but I guess are generally termed steampunk. The setting is quasi-Victorian, as is the prose. I really love the series. Wonderful characters, wild adventures. In a totally different vein, there's the Dresden Files books, by Jim Butcher, which feature a wizard who helps the Chicago PD solve 'unusual' crimes. Harry Dresden is an engaging protagonist, though he's a total goofball, not at all like Our Special Agent. More like our dear departed Smithback.
Last Edited By: dixie pixie
07/02/09 08:47 PM.
Edited 2 times.
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deering |
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Posts: 7297 (07/02/09 10:48 PM) |
"I tried reading the "Song of Fire and Ice" series and could not get into it--is it any less crushingly depressing? "
I've never read SOFAI, but from what I hear about Martin killing off sympathetic characters (*mutter* *pfit* Smithback, bwahhhhh!   )...yes, it's
much less depressing.
"Deering -- I am ALWAYS looking for new and interesting books -- Fevre Dream sounds just odd enough to strike my fancy." I liked it quite a lot. His THE ARMAGEDDON RAG is terrific as well--one of the best "rock gothic"/horror novels out there. ********************************* "Super highways, coast to coast, easy to get anywhere... On the transcontinental overload, just slide behind the wheel How does it feel? When there's no destination that's too far... And somewhere on the way, you might find out who you are." --LIVING IN AMERICA, James Brown |
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deering |
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Posts: 7298 (07/02/09 11:02 PM) |
I've been wanting to read THE DRESDEN FILES series forever, but I keep feeling guilty reading more books when I've got a stack I haven't yet gotten
through.
Maybe I should just bite the bullet and read whatever whenever. Tim Powers is a fav. of a few folks 'round here, including the mysterious M.
Tame (), and LAST CALL is quite good.
******************************************* "Super highways, coast to coast, easy to get anywhere... On the transcontinental overload, just slide behind the wheel How does it feel? When there's no destination that's too far... And somewhere on the way, you might find out who you are." --LIVING IN AMERICA, James Brown
Last Edited By: deering
07/02/09 11:05 PM.
Edited 2 times.
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PalinDrakel |
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Posts: 67 (07/02/09 11:26 PM) |
>>"I tried reading the "Song of Fire and Ice" series and could not get into it--is it any less crushingly depressing? "
>>I've never read SOFAI, but from what I hear about Martin killing off sympathetic characters (*mutter* *pfit* Smithback, bwahhhhh!
>> )...yes, it's much less depressing.
Heh. Almost any modern book is less crushingly depressing than SOIAF. Alas, I can't offer any advice for books with Pendergast-type characters. Generally, I tend toward fluff as opposed to drama. Well, except for the tome series like SOIAF. Hm. Actually, I take that back. The title character in the Mallory series by Carol O'Connell is kinda sorta like a (slightly) less sociopathic female version of Diogenes. Good reads, if a bit dark in places. Life is wasted on the living ~ Douglas Adams |
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dininebula |
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Posts: 9955 (07/02/09 11:53 PM) Moderator |
You probably aren't going to find a character that's entirely similar to Pendergast - that's because he's unique!
>>Harry Dresden is an engaging protagonist, though he's a total goofball, not at all like Our Special Agent. More like our dear departed Smithback. You just reminded me why I need to start reading those books very soon. 
Crackers and camembert went flying.
Smithback grabbed crackers and cheese off his frilled
shirt and started eating.
-Relic Aghast, Smithback watched a massive brie roll like a white wheel all the way across the hall before coming to a gluey rest in a dark corner. -Book of the Dead |
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chennault2424 |
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Posts: 2 (07/03/09 12:33 AM) |
Thanks for the suggestions. I'd say my favorite character besides A.P. is Odd Thomas, but Ive read everything Koontz has written. May go back and read some
Holmes. I read a few as a kid, been a while..... cant wait till we get another A.P. book!
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deering |
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Posts: 7300 (07/03/09 02:41 AM) |
A while back, chemlia recommended Katherine Neville's THE EIGHT, which features Alexander Solarin, an intense chess-master adventuring hero who strongly
resembles Pendergast...
http://www.amazon.com/Eight-Katherine-Neville/dp/0345419081/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246606708&sr=8-1 And the heroine is a computer ace, to boot...
**************************************** "Super highways, coast to coast, easy to get anywhere... On the transcontinental overload, just slide behind the wheel How does it feel? When there's no destination that's too far... And somewhere on the way, you might find out who you are." --LIVING IN AMERICA, James Brown |
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silverwraith |
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Posts: 88 (07/04/09 12:51 AM) |
Honestly, I've not read this series yet, but because a fellow Pendergaster at a recent signing recommended it to me I'll pass on the word here: the
Repairman Jack series by F. Paul Wilson.
I like F Paul Wilson for his other books (Midnight Mass), but I haven't gotten a chance to read this Jack series. Anyway, that's my two cents.
-- "What's wrong with my pierced tongued?"
"Perhaps nothing. Females of the Wimbu tribe of the Andaman Islands pierce their labia and dangle strings of cowry shells from them. The shells jingle under their skirts when they walk. The men find it most attractive." "That's totally foul!" Pendergast smiled. -- - Still Life with Crows |
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deering |
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Posts: 7302 (07/04/09 01:42 AM) |
Just started THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO . Had only heard that it was good; had no idea it features a fascinating tattooed-and-pierced hacker heroine very
much like Corrie...
****************************************************** "Super highways, coast to coast, easy to get anywhere... On the transcontinental overload, just slide behind the wheel-- How does it feel? When there's no destination that's too far... And somewhere on the way, you might find out who you are." --LIVING IN AMERICA, James Brown |
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Francie |
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Posts: 67 (07/04/09 06:35 PM) |
I LOVE REPAIRMAN JACK!!!!
I've read every book in the series and I highly recommend the Repairman Jack books. Jack is a cool guy... but he's not suave, culturally discerning and elegant like our man, Pendergast. However, Jack is tough, compassionate and has lots of street smarts. And the books have a continuing thread/theme. If you haven't read the Repairman Jack series, please do! Very cool with elements of the supernatural. In fact, I may just re-read them all again. But no one touches Pendergast as a character. NO ONE. (Which is why I love P/C. I sure wish I could meet them someday.) |
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chennault2424 |
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Posts: 3 (07/05/09 07:51 PM) |
Thanks for all the great suggestions. I drive a lot for work and i've been listening to books from Audible. I can do about 1 every 2 days, so anymore
suggestions you have are welcome... thanks again
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chennault2424 |
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Posts: 4 (08/04/09 09:33 AM) |
Well like has been said, there's only one A.P. I've started reading the Harry Bosch books by Michael Connelly and so far have really enjoyed them. They
are all on Audible unabridged which is a big plus for me. I highly recommend them.
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