Dresden Files Books newbie Discussion - Page 5 - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Highlander II · 1st February 2009, 04:42 PM

It's not really a 'must' to read them in order. Jim's said several times that he's designed the series so each book can be a one-off. It's helpful to read them in order, b/c you can see the timeline unfold, but it's not required.

Essentially, it boils down to - 'how anal are you about reading a series in order?' XD

Me? I like to read them in order. I have comic books I haven't read yet b/c I'm missing a piece.

But I have read the Dresden books 'in reverse' before - which is just as fun. =)

Allegra · 1st February 2009, 08:08 PM

Thanks, guys. Okay if I'm hooked on the 1st one, promise I'll read in order.

murphy · 1st February 2009, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allegra

Thanks, guys. Okay if I'm hooked on the 1st one, promise I'll read in order.

Just remember, the first book isn't his best. Each book gets better and better as the series progresses. I'd read at least the first three before you give up (if you do).

The44 · 1st February 2009, 09:47 PM

Tsk, tsk, heresy! I say. If the first book had not been good, I would have not read the next books in the series. It was somewhat like the first 110 pages of the Fellowship of the Ring. Then you are suddenly being pursued by Black Riders and running through mushrooms and gettin caught in Old Man Willow, etc, etc.

The mysteries about Harry Dresden keep unfolding like an onion. It brings tears to your eyes, but the taste is very good.

murphy · 1st February 2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The44

Tsk, tsk, heresy! I say. If the first book had not been good, I would have not read the next books in the series. It was somewhat like the first 110 pages of the Fellowship of the Ring. Then you are suddenly being pursued by Black Riders and running through mushrooms and gettin caught in Old Man Willow, etc, etc.

The mysteries about Harry Dresden keep unfolding like an onion. It brings tears to your eyes, but the taste is very good.

I didn't say it wasn't good, I said it wasn't his best.

Highlander II · 2nd February 2009, 05:25 PM

Even Jim complains about SF not being very good. I disagree. I loved SF - obviously, or I would've been really angry about dropping $45 on the audiobook! (even if it was James Marsters doing the reading).

FM is the weakest book, IMO. It's not 'bad', it's just my least fave of them all. GP and DM are my faves - still. And they're all good in some way or another. There's just something about the werewolf book that doesn't 'work' for me.

Connavar · 2nd February 2009, 10:54 PM

Personally i thought SF was clearly better than Fool Moon.

If books 5-10 are better than Fool Moon, i mean alot better like Grave Peril than im very happy.

Storm Front was a very good first book. Maybe it has the magic of being my first Harry Dresden book but i rate only Grave Peril ahead of of the first 4 books.

limubai2000 · 3rd February 2009, 11:52 AM

Hi all,

I just started DM after chewing my way through the first 4 books in only 10 days. I finished the last half of GP in one night because I couldn't put it down!

So far I'm with many of you, GP is my favorite to this point. I like Storm Front much more than Fool Moon. And Storm Front is a great first book, Jim probably doesn't like it as much now because he's a much better writer.

Highlander II · 3rd February 2009, 06:12 PM

That's the general consensus - that SF is better than FM and GP is the best of the first 4. DM is tied at first, for me, b/c I really like GP. Everything from 6 on is really good too. I haven't picked on up yet, read it, then felt the need to fling it across the room because it was bad. They're all good books. =)

The44 · 3rd February 2009, 08:08 PM

Please, guys, make a distinction between Storm Front and Small Favor. I had to really follow your context to make sure you were not downplaying Small Favor, which I hold to be a very good read.

As I said before, Storm Front was a good first novel in a series. I am somewhat inclined to agree about Fool Moon that it was somewhat weaker than the ones that followed.

BTW, I am planning a reread to pick up on the issues where Harry is special. Lea is his godmother with a lien on Harry that she trades to Mab. He is also on a lot of peoples bad list and not all of them are obvious or named. Did not Harry clear his debt with Mab by what he accomplished in Small Favor? That is my present belief.

Connavar · 4th February 2009, 04:01 AM

Someone i hope plays a role in the coming books is that islamic named guy that helped Harry in the vote in Wizard's council in Summer Knight.

What was his name again ? It has slipped my mind i think was it Rashid ?

Highlander II · 4th February 2009, 04:58 PM

The way I've been distinguishing the books is SF = Storm Front and SmFv = Small Favor, just b/c Storm Front was SF loooong before Small Favor released, so I added a couple letters to distinguish. =)

As for the Islamic guy from SK - I don't recall his name off the top of my head, but if he was given a name, it's unlikely that he won't be seen again. Jim tend to not have 'small characters'. If Harry remembers or makes note of them, they have a purpose.

soulsinging · 4th February 2009, 05:44 PM

I must be the only one that really liked Fool Moon. Storm Front was entertaining but underwhelming. But the combo of Fool Moon and Grave Peril were what hooked me. After that, the series became less appealing to me. Summer Knight was way over the top to me. Death Masks was pretty good, but Blood Rites didn't hold me the way they had before. I think I'm going to need a long break from this series.

Connavar · 4th February 2009, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulsinging

I must be the only one that really liked Fool Moon. Storm Front was entertaining but underwhelming. But the combo of Fool Moon and Grave Peril were what hooked me. After that, the series became less appealing to me. Summer Knight was way over the top to me. Death Masks was pretty good, but Blood Rites didn't hold me the way they had before. I think I'm going to need a long break from this series.

What was over top with Summer Knight ?

Sure it wasnt as good GP but i liked the hole world being at stake and not just a supernatural case involving vamps or werewolfs.

I liked the huge fae battle at the end. I like Wizard meeting.

Ice fyre · 4th February 2009, 06:16 PM

I'm with everyone on Fool Moon being the weakest so far, I thought that Storm Front was rather good myself. Got me hooked good and proper Guvnor!

I thought that Summer Knight wasnt over the top at all a good supernatural detective story in which Jiim keeps catching us with in most of his books.

What keeps me reading him is his ability to write good and bad guys so well, his charicters are all fantastic you feel for them, you want em to win, he is also very subtle and can write very powerful scenes without descending into mush or mellodrama. Heck he writes so well as the later books show.

1st February 2009, 04:42 PM	#61 (permalink)
Highlander II There can be only one!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 9,616	Re: Dresden Files Books newbie Discussion It's not really a 'must' to read them in order. Jim's said several times that he's designed the series so each book can be a one-off. It's helpful to read them in order, b/c you can see the timeline unfold, but it's not required. Essentially, it boils down to - 'how anal are you about reading a series in order?' XD Me? I like to read them in order. I have comic books I haven't read yet b/c I'm missing a piece. But I have read the Dresden books 'in reverse' before - which is just as fun. =)

1st February 2009, 08:08 PM	#62 (permalink)
Allegra Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,845	Re: Dresden Files Books newbie Discussion Thanks, guys. Okay if I'm hooked on the 1st one, promise I'll read in order.

1st February 2009, 09:47 PM	#64 (permalink)
The44 Let God sort 'em out Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: California Posts: 64	Re: Dresden Files Books newbie Discussion Tsk, tsk, heresy! I say. If the first book had not been good, I would have not read the next books in the series. It was somewhat like the first 110 pages of the Fellowship of the Ring. Then you are suddenly being pursued by Black Riders and running through mushrooms and gettin caught in Old Man Willow, etc, etc. The mysteries about Harry Dresden keep unfolding like an onion. It brings tears to your eyes, but the taste is very good.

2nd February 2009, 05:25 PM	#66 (permalink)
Highlander II There can be only one!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 9,616	Re: Dresden Files Books newbie Discussion Even Jim complains about SF not being very good. I disagree. I loved SF - obviously, or I would've been really angry about dropping $45 on the audiobook! (even if it was James Marsters doing the reading). FM is the weakest book, IMO. It's not 'bad', it's just my least fave of them all. GP and DM are my faves - still. And they're all good in some way or another. There's just something about the werewolf book that doesn't 'work' for me.

2nd February 2009, 10:54 PM	#67 (permalink)
Connavar Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 7,985	Re: Dresden Files Books newbie Discussion Personally i thought SF was clearly better than Fool Moon. If books 5-10 are better than Fool Moon, i mean alot better like Grave Peril than im very happy. Storm Front was a very good first book. Maybe it has the magic of being my first Harry Dresden book but i rate only Grave Peril ahead of of the first 4 books.

3rd February 2009, 11:52 AM	#68 (permalink)
limubai2000 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: China Posts: 33	Re: Dresden Files Books newbie Discussion Hi all, I just started DM after chewing my way through the first 4 books in only 10 days. I finished the last half of GP in one night because I couldn't put it down! So far I'm with many of you, GP is my favorite to this point. I like Storm Front much more than Fool Moon. And Storm Front is a great first book, Jim probably doesn't like it as much now because he's a much better writer.

3rd February 2009, 06:12 PM	#69 (permalink)
Highlander II There can be only one!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 9,616	Re: Dresden Files Books newbie Discussion That's the general consensus - that SF is better than FM and GP is the best of the first 4. DM is tied at first, for me, b/c I really like GP. Everything from 6 on is really good too. I haven't picked on up yet, read it, then felt the need to fling it across the room because it was bad. They're all good books. =)

3rd February 2009, 08:08 PM	#70 (permalink)
The44 Let God sort 'em out Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: California Posts: 64	Re: Dresden Files Books newbie Discussion Please, guys, make a distinction between Storm Front and Small Favor. I had to really follow your context to make sure you were not downplaying Small Favor, which I hold to be a very good read. As I said before, Storm Front was a good first novel in a series. I am somewhat inclined to agree about Fool Moon that it was somewhat weaker than the ones that followed. BTW, I am planning a reread to pick up on the issues where Harry is special. Lea is his godmother with a lien on Harry that she trades to Mab. He is also on a lot of peoples bad list and not all of them are obvious or named. Did not Harry clear his debt with Mab by what he accomplished in Small Favor? That is my present belief.

4th February 2009, 04:01 AM	#71 (permalink)
Connavar Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 7,985	Re: Dresden Files Books newbie Discussion Someone i hope plays a role in the coming books is that islamic named guy that helped Harry in the vote in Wizard's council in Summer Knight. What was his name again ? It has slipped my mind i think was it Rashid ?

4th February 2009, 04:58 PM	#72 (permalink)
Highlander II There can be only one!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 9,616	Re: Dresden Files Books newbie Discussion The way I've been distinguishing the books is SF = Storm Front and SmFv = Small Favor, just b/c Storm Front was SF loooong before Small Favor released, so I added a couple letters to distinguish. =) As for the Islamic guy from SK - I don't recall his name off the top of my head, but if he was given a name, it's unlikely that he won't be seen again. Jim tend to not have 'small characters'. If Harry remembers or makes note of them, they have a purpose.

4th February 2009, 05:44 PM	#73 (permalink)
soulsinging the dude abides Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,001	Re: Dresden Files Books newbie Discussion I must be the only one that really liked Fool Moon. Storm Front was entertaining but underwhelming. But the combo of Fool Moon and Grave Peril were what hooked me. After that, the series became less appealing to me. Summer Knight was way over the top to me. Death Masks was pretty good, but Blood Rites didn't hold me the way they had before. I think I'm going to need a long break from this series.

4th February 2009, 06:16 PM	#75 (permalink)
Ice fyre Dark Lord Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Falkirk Posts: 674	Re: Dresden Files Books newbie Discussion I'm with everyone on Fool Moon being the weakest so far, I thought that Storm Front was rather good myself. Got me hooked good and proper Guvnor! I thought that Summer Knight wasnt over the top at all a good supernatural detective story in which Jiim keeps catching us with in most of his books. What keeps me reading him is his ability to write good and bad guys so well, his charicters are all fantastic you feel for them, you want em to win, he is also very subtle and can write very powerful scenes without descending into mush or mellodrama. Heck he writes so well as the later books show.

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