List of fiction set in Chicago

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of fiction set in or near the city of Chicago.

Novels[]

  • Achy Obejas, Memory Mambo
  • Adam Langer, Crossing California
  • Adam Langer, The Washington Story
  • Adam Selzer, Just Kill Me
  • Aleksandar Hemon, Nowhere Man ISBN 0-375-72702-7
  • Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife ISBN 0-15-602943-X
  • Bayo Ojikutu, 47th Street Black, ISBN 0-7394-3326-1
  • Blue Balliett, Chasing Vermeer and The Wright 3
  • Bob Hartley, Following Tommy ISBN 978-0983104186
  • Bob Hartley, North and Central ISBN 978-0986092282
  • Brandy Colbert, The Revolution of Birdie Randolph
  • Brian J.P. Doyle, Chicago ISBN 978-1-25006-199-7
  • Charles Blackstone, The Week You Weren't Here
  • Chloe Neill, Chicagoland Vampires
  • Chris Ware, Building Stories (2012)
  • Chris Ware, Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth
  • Daniel Pinkwater, The Education of Robert Nifkin Snarkout Boys and The Avocado of Death, Snarkout Boys and the Baconburg Horror. Recognizably Chicago, even if never explicitly stated.
  • Don De Grazia, "American Skin"
  • Doug Cummings, Deader by the Lake
  • Doug Cummings, Every Secret Crime
  • Ed Wagemann, ""
  • Edna Ferber, So Big
  • Frank Norris, The Pit: A Chicago Story
  • Fredric Brown, The Fabulous Clipjoint
  • Graham Masterton, Headlines[1]
  • Halle Butler, ISBN 978-1474612296
  • Harry Stephen Keeler, The Riddle of the Traveling Skull ISBN 1-932416-26-9
  • James Patterson and , . ISBN 978-1-4555-4267-3
  • James T. Farrell, Studs Lonigan trilogy
  • Jami Attenberg, The Middlesteins[2]
  • Jennette Lee, Mr. Achilles
  • Jerry Ahern, The Survivalist Series - The early books of the series feature Chicago frequently as the Soviets build their HQ in Chicago, with Varakov setting up his HQ in the Museum of Natural History.
  • Jim Butcher, The Dresden Files series
  • Joe Meno, Hairstyles of the Damned[3]
  • John Green, An Abundance of Katherines
  • John Grisham, The Litigators (a #1 New York Times Best Seller in 2011)
  • John M. Ford, The Last Hot Time ISBN 0-312-87578-9
  • , Mortal Ruin ISBN 0-684-18958-5
  • Joseph G. Peterson, Beautiful Piece
  • Joshua Ferris, Then We Came to the End ISBN 978-0-316-01638-4
  • Leonard Pitts, Jr., Grant Park
  • Mord McGhee, Murder Red Ink
  • Nella Larsen, Passing ISBN 0-14-243727-1
  • Nella Larsen, Quicksand ISBN 0-14-118127-3
  • Nelson Algren, The Man With the Golden Arm ISBN 1-58322-008-9
  • Paul Krueger, Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge ISBN 978-1594747595
  • Peter Cheyney, Dark Hero
  • Philip Roth, Letting Go
  • Richard Peck, Fair Weather
  • Richard Powers, Generosity: An Enhancement
  • Richard Wright, Native Son #20 on Modern Library's 100 Best Novels
  • Robert Goldsborough, A Death in Pilsen
  • Robert Goldsborough, President in Peril ISBN 978-1-59080-616-6
  • Robert Goldsborough, Shadow of the Bomb
  • Robert Goldsborough, Terror at the Fair ISBN 978-1-59080-672-2
  • Robert Goldsborough, Three Strikes You're Dead
  • Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, Illuminatus!
  • Robert Wright Campbell, Jimmy Flannery mystery series
  • Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street ISBN 0-679-43335-X
  • Sara Paretsky, thrillers featuring private eye V.I. Warshawski
  • Saul Bellow, Dangling Man[4]
  • Saul Bellow, Humboldt's Gift
  • Saul Bellow, Ravelstein[5]
  • Saul Bellow, The Adventures of Augie March ISBN 0-14-018941-6
  • Scott Spencer, Endless Love
  • Shawn Shiflett, ""
  • Sherwood Anderson, Windy McPherson's Son
  • Somerset Maugham, The Razor's Edge ISBN 1-4000-3420-5
  • Stuart Dybek, The Coast of Chicago ISBN 0-312-42425-6
  • Terrance L. Smith, The Thief Who Came to Dinner
  • Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie ISBN 0-451-52760-7 on Modern Library's 100 Best Novels
  • Theodore Dreiser, The Titan
  • Upton Sinclair, The Jungle ISBN 1-884365-30-2[6]
  • Veronica Roth, Divergent - #1 on the Children's Paperback list in 2012
  • Ward Just, An Unfinished Season
  • Willa Cather, The Song of the Lark

Short stories[]

  • "Deadly City," March, 1953 issue of If magazine under the pseudonym Ivar Jorgensen (later made into the motion picture Target Earth; the story was about an alien invasion and evacuation of Chicago)
  • Chicago Stories: 40 Dramatic Fictions by Michael Czyzniejewski, Jacob S Knabb and Rob Funderburk, 2012
  • The Coast of Chicago: Stories by Stuart Dybek, 2004
  • Chicago Style Novella by R. Felini 2013
  • "The Box of Robbers" a fairy tale by Lyman Frank Baum, reprinted in American Fairy Tales by Lyman Frank Baum, English Classical Literature, KAPO, 2015. Original, 1901. ISBN 978-5-9925-1039-3.

Plays and musicals[]

Films[]

Although not set in the city's limits, the John Hughes films Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink (1986) (#1 film in U.S.), and Weird Science take place in the fictional town of Shermer, Illinois, which is based on Northbrook, Illinois.

In The Matrix (1999), the subway sets were based on the CTA. One of the trains is clearly a Brown Line train, which in reality, barring construction, never goes underground.

Chicago destroyed on film[]

  • In Old Chicago (1938) - destroyed by the Great Chicago Fire
  • Independence Day (1996) - mentioned
  • Chain Reaction (1996) - parts of the city destroyed by an explosion caused by a hydrogen reactor
  • Category 6: Day of Destruction (2004) - destroyed by a series of tornadoes and a category 6 hurricane over the Great Lakes
  • Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) - seriously damaged by the Decepticons' assault on the city as well as the final battle between the Autobots and Decepticons (#1 film in U.S.)
  • Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) - the city was rebuilt five years later, where it was used for KSI first (#1 in U.S.)

Music videos[]

  • "Hard to Handle" by Black Crowes 1990, blues rock
  • "Jam (song) 1992, by Michael Jackson from Gary, he plays Michael Jordan in an abandoned indoor basketball court
  • "I Used to Love H.E.R." by Common (rapper) 1994, shows clips from the Southside, jazz rap
  • "I'll be Missing You" by Puff Daddy 1997, filmed at the United Terminal at O'Hare Airport
  • "Cha Cha Slide" by Chicago's DJ Casper 2000, shows the Marina City towers; house and hip hop
  • "I Wish" by R. Kelly 2001, nominated for Best R&B Video at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, video start shows the "L" train
  • "The Game of Love" by Santana feat. Michelle Branch 2002, filmed in Pilsen
  • "Step in the Name of Love" by R. Kelly 2003, filmed on a yacht on Lake Michigan
  • "Lyric (song)" by Zwan (Billy Corgan) 2003
  • "Overnight Celebrity by Twista feat. Kanye West 2004, video has cameos by Chicago rappers like Da Brat, shows Chicago landmark buildings like the Tribune Tower
  • "The Corner (song)" by Common (rapper) feat. Kanye West 2005, video start shows Navy Pier by a frozen Lake Michigan, song is about Chicago
  • "Give It All" by Rise Against 2005, they have a mosh pit inside an "L" train
  • "Swing Life Away" by Rise Against 2005, video start shows the "L" train
  • "Kick Push" by Lupe Fiasco 2006, video shows skateboarding in the city
  • "Homecoming" by Kanye West feat Chris Martin of Coldplay 2008, nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, video shows the Millennium Park "bean", Cloud Gate, song is about Chicago
  • "Re-Education (Through Labor)" by Rise Against 2008
  • "You Found Me" by The Fray 2009, filmed on top of skyscrapers
  • "1,2,3,4" by Plain White T's 2009, on the VH1 Top 40 Videos of 2009
  • "Angels" by Chance the Rapper feat Saba (rapper) 2016, nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, video shows Chance rapping on top of the "L" train
  • "City in a Garden" by Fall Out Boy 2018, shows Wrigley Field and other city landmarks, song is about Chicago

Television shows[]

  • According to Jim (2001–2009). ABC
  • Against the Wall (2011)
  • Animaniacs (2020)
  • Barbershop: The Series (2005)
  • The Beast (2009)
  • Betrayal (2013-2014)
  • Biker Mice from Mars (1993–1996)
  • The Bob Newhart Show (1972–1978). CBS
  • The Boondocks (2005-2014) Adult Swim
  • Boss (2011–2012)
  • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979–1981) - in its first season (1979–1980), "New Chicago" functioned as Earth's capital city
  • The Building (1993)
  • Charlie & Co. (1985-1986)
  • The Chicago Code (2011) Billy Corgan did the theme song. FOX
  • Chicago Fire (2012–present). NBC
  • Chicago Hope (1994–2000). Emmy-winner for Mandy Patinkin. CBS
  • Chicago Med (2015–present). NBC
  • Chicago PD (2014–present). NBC
  • Chicago Sons (1997)
  • Chicago Story (1982)
  • Coupling (2003) - US version only
  • The Crazy Ones (2013-2014) with Robin Williams. CBS
  • Crime Story (1986–1988)
  • Crisis (2014)
  • Cupid (1998)
  • The Dresden Files (2007)
  • Due South (1994–1996, 1997–1999) - some filming in Toronto, Canada
  • Early Edition (1996–2000)
  • Easy (2016)
  • E/R (1984–1985)
  • ER (1994–2009). Won 23 Emmy Awards. Most nominated drama show ever. NBC
  • Exosquad (1993–1995) - Chicago, renamed to Phaeton City, was one of the central locations of the show
  • Family Matters (1989–1998) Emmy-nominated. ABC
  • The Forgotten (2009–2010). ABC
  • Generations (1989–1991). NBC
  • The Girlfriend Experience (2016) Starz
  • The Good Fight (2017–) CBS All Access/Paramount Plus
  • Good Times (1974–1979) Golden Globe nominated. CBS
  • The Good Wife (2009–2016) 5-time Emmy winner for Julianna Margulies. CBS
  • Happy Endings (2011–2013)
  • The Hogan Family (1986–1991)
  • It Takes Two (1982-1983). ABC
  • Invincible (2021-present)
  • Kenan & Kel (1996–2000) on Nickelodeon
  • Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974–1975)
  • Lady Blue (1985–1986)
  • The League (2009–2015)
  • (2009)
  • Leverage (2008–2012) - pilot episode only
  • Life Goes On (1989–1993)
  • Life With Bonnie (2002–2004)
  • The Loop (2006–2007)
  • M Squad (1957–1960)
  • Married... with Children (1987–1997). FOX
  • Mike and Molly (2010–2016) Emmy winner in 2011 for Melissa McCarthy. CBS
  • Mind Games (2014)
  • Modern Men (2006)
  • My Boys (2006–2010)
  • Milagros de Navidad (2017). Telemundo
  • Pepper Dennis (2006)
  • Perfect Strangers (1986–1993)
  • The Playboy Club (2011)
  • Postcards from Buster (2004-2012) - One Episode set in Chicago, also where Buster Baxter and his dad ride a CTA Brown Line train in the theme song.
  • The Real O'Neals (2016)
  • Prison Break (2005–2009) - partly set in Chicago
  • Punky Brewster (1984–1986)
  • Revolution (2012–2014)
  • Samantha Who? (2007–2009)
  • Sense8 (2015–2018)
  • Shake It Up (2010–2013) Disney Channel
  • Shameless (2011–2021) Emmy-winner in 2015 for Joan Cusack. Showtime
  • Sirens (2014-2015)
  • Sisters (1991–1996)
  • Soul Food: The Series (2000–2004). Emmy-nominated. Showtime
  • South Side (2019-2021). Comedy Central/HBO Max
  • Special Unit 2 (2001-2002)
  • Starting Over (2003–2004 season)
  • Station Eleven (2021-2022)
  • The Steve Harvey Show (1996–2002). The WB
  • Still Standing (2002–2006). CBS
  • Terra Nova (2011)
  • Traffic Light (2011)
  • Trust Me (2009)
  • Turks (1999)
  • Two of a Kind (1998–1999). ABC
  • The Untouchables (1959–1963) Emmy winner. ABC
  • Webster (1983–1987)
  • What About Joan? (2001)
  • Whitney (2011–2013)
  • Wild Card (2003–2005)

Reality TV[]

Video games[]

This is a list of video games in which a major part of the action takes place in the city. This list does not count sports games or flight simulators, save for Pilotwings 64 and Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.

Comics, manga, and cartoons[]

  • Biker Mice from Mars
  • Blue Beetle
  • Bojack Horseman Season 6 splits time, with much of the season taking place in Chicago
  • Cage, volume 1 (April 1992-November 1993) - ongoing series by Marvel Comics featuring the superhero Luke Cage; 20 issues were published
  • C.O.W.L. [11]
  • Ghost[12]
  • Gunsmith Cats
  • Kremin 1-4 Grey Productions Inc 1991-1992
  • Nightwing Vol 3., Issue #18-ongoing
  • Plastic Man (DC)
  • Riding Bean
  • Savage Dragon
  • Tintin in America

Miniseries, specials or individual episodes[]

  • Ben 10
    • "Monster Weather"
  • The Legend of Tarzan
    • "The Mysterious Visitor"
  • Danger Rangers
    • "Fires and Liars"

References[]

  1. ^ "The Official Site: Bibliography". Graham Masterton. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  2. ^ Levitt, Aimee (13 June 2013). "Jami Attenberg Shows You Can Go Home Again". The Chicago Reader. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Fiction". Joemeno.com. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  4. ^ Coetzee, J.M. (May 27, 2004). "Bellow's Gift", New York Review of Books. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  5. ^ Hitchens, Christopher (27 April 2000). "Christopher Hitchens reviews 'Ravelstein' by Saul Bellow · LRB 27 April 2000". London Review of Books. 22 (9). Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  6. ^ "BRIA 24 1 b Upton Sinclairs The Jungle: Muckraking the Meat-Packing Industry - Constitutional Rights Foundation". Crf-usa.org. 1906-06-30. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  7. ^ Roeper, Richard (March 1, 2018). "Little Seems Real — Not Chicago, Not Bloodshed — in Bruce Willis' 'Death Wish'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  8. ^ "Dhoom:3 (2013)". IMDb.com. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  9. ^ "Home That Was Scene Of 'The Fugitive' Murder Is For Sale « CBS Chicago". Chicago.cbslocal.com. 2014-04-18. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  10. ^ "Why you can't visit Soldier Field in Watch Dogs". Joystiq.com. 2014-05-28. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  11. ^ "The Golden Age Is Over in C.O.W.L. | News". Image Comics. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
  12. ^ "Ghost #11 :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics". Darkhorse.com. 2015-01-07. Retrieved 2016-02-05.

External links[]

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