This is a list of fiction set in or near the city of Chicago.
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| Author | Title | Year | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achy Obejas | Memory Mambo | 1996 | ||
| Adam Langer | Crossing California | 2004 | ||
| Adam Langer | The Washington Story | 2005 | ||
| Adam Selzer | Just Kill Me | 2016 | ||
| Aden Polydoros | The City Beautiful | |||
| Aleksandar Hemon | Nowhere Man | 2002 | ISBN 0-375-72702-7 | |
| Andy Van Slyke and Rob Rains | The Curse: Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Or Do They? | 2010 | ||
| Arthur Hailey | Airport | 1968 | ||
| Audrey Niffenegger | The Time Traveler's Wife | 2003 | ISBN 0-15-602943-X | |
| Bayo Ojikutu | 47th Street Black | 2003 | ISBN 0-7394-3326-1 | |
| Blue Balliett | Chasing Vermeer | 2004 | ||
| Blue Balliett | The Wright 3 | 2006 | ||
| Bob Hartley | Following Tommy | ISBN 978-0983104186 | ||
| Bob Hartley | North and Central | ISBN 978-0986092282 | ||
| Brandy Colbert | The Revolution of Birdie Randolph | 2019 | ||
| Brandy Colbert | Pointe | 2014 | ||
| Brian J.P. Doyle | Chicago | ISBN 978-1-25006-199-7 | ||
| Carolyn Keene | The Case of the Rising Stars | 1989 | 87th volume in the Nancy Drew mystery series | |
| Charles Blackstone | The Week You Weren't Here | 2005 | ||
| Chloe Neill | Chicagoland Vampires | 2009 - 2017 | ||
| Chris Ware | Building Stories | 2012 | ||
| Chris Ware | Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth | 2000 | ||
| Daniel Pinkwater | The Education of Robert Nifkin | 1998 | Recognizably Chicago, even if never explicitly stated. | |
| Daniel Pinkwater | The Snarkout Boys and The Avocado of Death | 1982 | Recognizably Chicago, even if never explicitly stated. | |
| Daniel Pinkwater | The Snarkout Boys and the Baconburg Horror | 1984 | Recognizably Chicago, even if never explicitly stated. | |
| Don De Grazia | American Skin | 1998 | ||
| Doug Cummings | Deader by the Lake | |||
| Doug Cummings | Every Secret Crime | |||
| Ed Wagemann | The Panty Thief of Bridgeport | |||
| Edna Ferber | So Big | 1924 | ||
| Elliot Perlman | The Street Sweeper | 2012 | ||
| Eoin Colfer | Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code | 2003 | ||
| Erika Sánchez | I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter | 2017 | National Book Award Finalist | |
| Frank Norris | The Pit: A Chicago Story | 1903 | ||
| Fredric Brown | The Fabulous Clipjoint | 1947 | ||
| Graham Masterton | Headlines [1] | 1986 | ||
| Halle Butler | The New Me | 2019 | ISBN 978-1474612296 | |
| Harry Stephen Keeler | The Riddle of the Traveling Skull | 1934 | ISBN 1-932416-26-9 | |
| James Patterson and David Ellis | The Black Book (Patterson and Ellis novel) | 2017 | ISBN 978-1-4555-4267-3 | |
| James T. Farrell | Studs Lonigan trilogy | 1932 - 1935 | In 1998, the Modern Library ranked the Studs Lonigan trilogy 29th on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. | |
| Jami Attenberg | The Middlesteins [2] | 2012 | ||
| Jean Toomer | Cane | 1923 | ||
| Jennette Lee | Mr. Achilles | 1912 | ||
| Jerry Ahern | The Survivalist Series | 1981 - 2019 | 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 | 2000–present | ||
| Joe Meno | Hairstyles of the Damned [3] | 2004 | ||
| John Green | An Abundance of Katherines | 2006 | ||
| John Grisham | The Litigators | 2011 | (a #1 New York Times Best Seller in 2011) | |
| John M. Ford | The Last Hot Time | 2000 | ISBN 0-312-87578-9 | |
| John Malcolm | Mortal Ruin | ISBN 0-684-18958-5 | ||
| Joseph G. Peterson | Beautiful Piece | 2009 | ||
| Joshua Ferris | Then We Came to the End | 2007 | ISBN 978-0-316-01638-4 | |
| Kathy Reichs | 206 Bones | 2009 | ||
| Leonard Pitts, Jr. | Grant Park | 2015 | ||
| Marcus Sakey | The Blade Itself | 2007 | ||
| Matthew Rettenmund | Boy Culture | 1995 | ||
| Meyer Levin | Compulsion | 1924 | Inspired by the real-life Leopold and Loeb trial | |
| Miami Mitch (Glazer) | The Blues Brothers | 1980 | ||
| Mia P. Manansala | Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series | 2021–present | ||
| Mord McGhee | Murder Red Ink | 2014 | ISBN 978-1501041174 | |
| Nella Larsen | Passing | 1929 | ISBN 0-14-243727-1 | |
| Nella Larsen | Quicksand | 1928 | ISBN 0-14-118127-3 | |
| Nelson Algren | The Man With the Golden Arm | 1949 | ISBN 1-58322-008-9 | |
| Paul Krueger | Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge | ISBN 978-1594747595 | ||
| Peter Cheyney | Dark Hero | 1946 | ||
| Philip Roth | Letting Go | 1962 | ||
| Richard Peck | Fair Weather | 2001 | ||
| Richard Powers | Generosity: An Enhancement | 2009 | ||
| Richard Wright | Native Son | 1940 | #20 on Modern Library's 100 Best Novels | |
| Robert Goldsborough | A Death in Pilsen | 2007 | ||
| Robert Goldsborough | A President in Peril | 2009 | ISBN 978-1-59080-616-6 | |
| Robert Goldsborough | Shadow of the Bomb | 2006 | ||
| Robert Goldsborough | Terror at the Fair | 2011 | ISBN 978-1-59080-672-2 | |
| Robert Goldsborough | Three Strikes You're Dead | 2005 | ||
| Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson | Illuminatus! | 1975 | ||
| Robert Wright Campbell | Jimmy Flannery mystery series | |||
| Sandra Cisneros | The House on Mango Street | 1984 | ISBN 0-679-43335-X | |
| Sara Paretsky | V.I. Warshawski | thrillers featuring private eye V. I. Warshawski, most recently 2020: Overboard | ||
| Saul Bellow | Dangling Man [4] | 1944 | ||
| Saul Bellow | Humboldt's Gift | 1975 | ||
| Saul Bellow | Ravelstein [5] | 2000 | ||
| Saul Bellow | The Adventures of Augie March | 1953 | ISBN 0-14-018941-6 | |
| Saul Bellow | The Actual | 1997 | ||
| Scott Spencer | Endless Love | 1979 | ||
| Shawn Shiflett | Hey, Liberal! | |||
| Sherwood Anderson | Windy McPherson's Son | 1916 | ||
| Somerset Maugham | The Razor's Edge | 1944 | ISBN 1-4000-3420-5 | |
| Stuart Dybek | The Coast of Chicago | 1990 | ISBN 0-312-42425-6 | |
| Stuart Dybek | Childhood and Other Neighborhoods | 1980 | ||
| Stuart Dybek | I Sailed with Magellan | 2003 | ||
| Terrance L. Smith | The Thief Who Came to Dinner | |||
| Theodore Dreiser | Sister Carrie | 1900 | ISBN 0-451-52760-7, on Modern Library's 100 Best Novels | |
| Theodore Dreiser | The Titan | 1914 | ||
| Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins | Apollyon | 1998 | ||
| Upton Sinclair | The Jungle | 1906 | ISBN 1-884365-30-2 [6] | |
| Veronica Roth | Divergent | 2011 | Set in post-apocalyptic Chicago - #1 on the Children's Paperback list in 2012 | |
| Veronica Roth | Insurgent | 2012 | ||
| Veronica Roth | Allegiant | 2013 | ||
| Ward Just | An Unfinished Season | 2004 | ||
| Willa Cather | The Song of the Lark | 1915 |
Although not set in the city's limits, the John Hughes directed 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. A scene of Weird Science was filmed at Northbrook Court mall.
In The Matrix (1999, directed by the Wachowskis from Chicago), 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.
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.
Batman is a 1989 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. Directed by Tim Burton, it is the first installment of Warner Bros.' initial Batman film series. The film was produced by Jon Peters and Peter Guber and stars Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, and Jack Palance. The film takes place early in the war on crime of the title character (Keaton) and depicts his conflict with his archenemy the Joker (Nicholson).
Gotham City, or simply Gotham, is a fictional city in the Northeastern United States that serves as the primary city appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. It is best known as the home of the superhero Batman and his allies and foes. Created by writer Bill Finger and artist Bob Kane, the city was first identified as Batman's place of residence in Batman #4 and has since been the primary setting for stories featuring the character. In most of its incarnations, Gotham is depicted as one of the most crime-ridden cities in the world.
Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. is an American actor and filmmaker. He gained prominence for his portrayal of the taxi dispatcher Louie De Palma in the television series Taxi (1978–1983), which won him a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award. He plays Frank Reynolds on the FXX sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–present).
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a 1993 American animated romantic superhero film featuring the DC Comics character Batman. It was directed by Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm, and written by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko, and Michael Reaves. The film is based on Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995), and is the first film of the DC Animated Universe and the only one to receive a theatrical release. Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Bob Hastings and Robert Costanzo reprise their voice roles from Batman: The Animated Series, joined by Dana Delany, Hart Bochner, Stacy Keach Jr., Abe Vigoda, Dick Miller and John P. Ryan.
Peter MacNicol is an American actor. He received a Theatre World Award for his 1981 Broadway debut in the play Crimes of the Heart. His film roles include Galen in Dragonslayer (1981), Stingo in Sophie's Choice (1982), Janosz Poha in Ghostbusters II (1989), Gary Granger in Addams Family Values (1993), Renfield in Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995), and David Langley in Bean (1997).
Robert Dean Stockwell was an American actor with a career spanning seven decades. As a child actor under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he appeared in Anchors Aweigh (1945), Song of the Thin Man (1947), The Green Years (1946), Gentleman's Agreement (1947), The Boy with Green Hair (1948), and Kim (1950). As a young adult, he played a lead role in the 1957 Broadway play Compulsion and its 1959 film version; and in 1962 he played Edmund Tyrone in the film version of Long Day's Journey into Night, for which he won two Best Actor Awards at the Cannes Film Festival. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama for his starring role in the 1960 film version of D. H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers.
William Louis Petersen is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Gil Grissom in the CBS drama thriller series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000–2015), for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award; he was further nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards as a producer of the show. He reprised his role as Gil Grissom in the sequel CSI: Vegas, which premiered on October 6, 2021.
Douglas Moench is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Moon Knight, Deathlok, Black Mask, Harvey Bullock, Electric Warrior, and Six from Sirius. He is also known for his critically acclaimed eight-year run on Master of Kung Fu.
John Ostrander is an American writer of comic books, including Suicide Squad, Grimjack and Star Wars: Legacy.
Héctor Elizondo is an American character actor. He is known for playing Phillip Watters in the television series Chicago Hope (1994–2000) and Ed Alzate in the television series Last Man Standing (2011–2021). His film roles include The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), American Gigolo (1980), Leviathan (1989), Pretty Woman (1990), Beverly Hills Cop III (1994), Runaway Bride (1999), The Princess Diaries (2001), and Valentine's Day (2010).
Adam Arkin is an American actor and director. He is best known for playing the role of Aaron Shutt on Chicago Hope. He has been nominated for numerous awards, including a Tony as well as three primetime Emmys, four SAG Awards, and a DGA Award. In 2002, Arkin won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Children's Special for My Louisiana Sky. He is also one of the three actors to portray Dale "The Whale" Biederbeck on Monk. Between 2007 and 2009, he starred in Life. Beginning in 1990, he had a recurring guest role on Northern Exposure playing the angry, paranoid Adam, for which he received an Emmy nomination. In 2009, he portrayed villain Ethan Zobelle, a white separatist gang leader, in Sons of Anarchy and Principal Ed Gibb in 8 Simple Rules (2003–2005). His brother Matthew is also an actor, as was his father, Alan Arkin.
The Batman is an American animated television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. Developed by Michael Goguen and Duane Capizzi, and produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Comics for seasons 3–5, the series first aired on Kids' WB on September 11, 2004, then Cartoon Network on April 2, 2005. The show would become exclusive to the former network for its third, fourth, and fifth seasons in early 2006. The Batman won six Daytime Emmy Awards over the course of its run. Many elements from previous Batman storylines were borrowed and adapted, such as those from the comic books, film series and the animated shows like Batman: The Animated Series from the DC Animated Universe, but it remained strictly within its own distinct continuity. Jackie Chan Adventures artist Jeff Matsuda served as art director and provided the character designs. The production team altered the appearances of many of the comic books' supervillains for the show, such as the Joker, the Penguin, Mr. Freeze, Bane, and the Riddler.
Bruce Gowers was a British television director and producer, best known for his work on large-scale live music and event productions.
Christopher McDonald is an American film, television, theatre and voice actor.
Jonathan Nolan is a British and American screenwriter and producer. He is the creator of the CBS science fiction series Person of Interest (2011–2016) and co-creator of the HBO science fiction/Western series Westworld (2016–2022).
Daniel John Cannon is a British film and television producer, director and writer, known for executive producing the 15-season CSI: Crime Scene Investigation series franchise, and simultaneously executive producing the CSI: Miami and CSI: NY spin-offs.
Troy Miller is an American film producer, director and screenwriter. He is best known for his work in comedy and has directed four feature films as well as directing and producing numerous TV shows and specials.
Adam Bernstein is an American film director, music video director and television director. For his work on the television show Fargo in 2014, he received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special. In 2007, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series for his work on 30 Rock.
Amusement rides and stunt shows themed to the Batman franchise its derivative elements are commonly found at Warner Bros. and Six Flags amusement parks across the world.