The First 100 - Richard Kadrey's "Sandman Slim" (Eos)

Let's face it, most urban fantasy sucks. With the ridiculous romantic subplots, supernatural stupidity, sluts a-plenty and the ubiquitous Does-this-cover-make-my-butt-look-fat dust jackets, most urban fantasies are about as much fun as taking a cheese grater to your tender parts.

So when you encounter something really good in the genre, it's like a happy cool breeze on a hot day. The proverbial breath of fresh air.

Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey is more like a cyclone of fresh air. It's that good. 100 pages in and I'd already recommend this book, however it turns out. Kadrey's voice is utterly unique and singularly wacky. Not since Charlie Huston's Joe Pitt series have I read an urban fantasy this good, this cool, this damn wicked. Definitely something to be checked out, particularly if you like urban fantasists like Charlie Huston, Warren Ellis, and Mike Carey.