Dresden Files Books newbie Discussion

[Nikitta]

Originally Posted by Connavar

So what did you think of it ? The Nightmare thing ? Fae godmother everywhere which is nice since i like her. She is nasty but so interesting to read. God's warrior with the holy sword heh.

Sorry it took me a bit to reply, but - yes, it was great. Plenty of good ideas/interesting solutions there and his fairy godmother is quite entertaining too.

I still keep day dreaming myself into that universe. I can't stop! One moment I'm a damphyr (sp?) and another, I'm a human who has undiscovered powers and another I a completely different person. Far from all people in that universe comes into direct contact with the supernatural, you know.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by Nikitta

Sorry it took me a bit to reply, but - yes, it was great. Plenty of good ideas/interesting solutions there and his fairy godmother is quite entertaining too.

I still keep day dreaming myself into that universe. I can't stop! One moment I'm a damphyr (sp?) and another, I'm a human who has undiscovered powers and another I a completely different person. Far from all people in that universe comes into direct contact with the supernatural, you know.

Heh which book are you on now ?

I have just started reading the 5th book. The danger level for Harry reminds me of Grave Peril.

[Nikitta]

Originally Posted by Connavar

Heh which book are you on now ?

I have just started reading the 5th book. The danger level for Harry reminds me of Grave Peril.

I've finished reading White Night and have yet to buy Small Favor, though I know that my favourite book pusher has it now. I meant to buy it Saturday, but got a cold and didn't feel up for going there.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by Nikitta

I've finished reading White Night and have yet to buy Small Favor, though I know that my favourite book pusher has it now. I meant to buy it Saturday, but got a cold and didn't feel up for going there.

Heh everyone who joined the Dresden fan club after me in chrons is ahead of me now in the series. I have been taking it slowly not overdose in Dresden Files.

But now its enough of that, i will catch up finally. The JB forums is dangerous otherwise with all the characters story you dont know about

[soulsinging]

Originally Posted by Connavar

I think Dresden is the only fantasy books/series i read for the fast paced fun it is. Thats why the books always look better to me after a while off them. Only other type of books i like read for that reason is crime books.

I think that might be my problem. I like the IDEA of blending the fantasy and detective genres, but in practice it doesn't seem to work for me. If I feel like some magic, I opt for some more epic fantasy. If I'm in the mood for some crime stuff, I like a good hard-boiled detective. Dresden sits in the middle of that area, and it sounds good in my head, but when I'm reading it just doesn't seem to work for me. Bummer!

[Highlander II]

Storm Front is much closer to the 'noir' feel than later ones, but, then again, Harry's done a LOT since that first book. There's a lot going on and as it goes, we learn more and more about pre-Storm Front Harry. It's not easy to balance character development and backstory with 'casefile' plot and keep everything the same as the beginning.

Heck, Jim's even said if he were to write Storm Front with the 'knowledge' he's gained, it would be a completely different book. XD Though, I don't know that it would work as well, I like Storm Front for what it is. =)

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by Highlander II

Storm Front is much closer to the 'noir' feel than later ones, but, then again, Harry's done a LOT since that first book. There's a lot going on and as it goes, we learn more and more about pre-Storm Front Harry. It's not easy to balance character development and backstory with 'casefile' plot and keep everything the same as the beginning.

Heck, Jim's even said if he were to write Storm Front with the 'knowledge' he's gained, it would be a completely different book. XD Though, I don't know that it would work as well, I like Storm Front for what it is. =)

Then we should be glad he cant write Storm Front again.

Cause as you say it had more noir feel,solving a mystery to it than others with huge important storylines like Fae wars,Fallen Angels etc
That made me a fan. I wouldnt feel the same for a more typical urban fantasy full on magic,demons,vamps etc from the start.

I think he should go back to alittle to the elements of the first two books. Not that should a stand alone casefile plot but to balance things. Make it more simpler for Harry. Im reading Death Masks and it is too many enemies,storylines at once. Its good but could be more fun if Harry had act like an investigator again. Now in this books he comes up against his enemies because they find him,hunt him down.

Only crime,noir things left in the series now is the type of character,humor,the mystery in the first few pages. Thats a shame imo.

Not saying i dont enjoy the big important storylines focused books.

[soulsinging]

Originally Posted by Connavar

Then we should be glad he cant write Storm Front again.

Cause as you say it had more noir feel,solving a mystery to it than others with huge important storylines like Fae wars,Fallen Angels etc
That made me a fan. I wouldnt feel the same for a more typical urban fantasy full on magic,demons,vamps etc from the start.

I think he should go back to alittle to the elements of the first two books. Not that should a stand alone casefile plot but to balance things. Make it more simpler for Harry. Im reading Death Masks and it is too many enemies,storylines at once. Its good but could be more fun if Harry had act like an investigator again. Now in this books he comes up against his enemies because they find him,hunt him down.

Only crime,noir things left in the series now is the type of character,humor,the mystery in the first few pages. Thats a shame imo.

Not saying i dont enjoy the big important storylines focused books.

That's exactly the problem I had, and it started around Summer Knight. I liked the more noir feel of the early novels, with Harry as an investigator. As the series progressed though, each book became more part of some longer, as-yet-unclear plot arc and each novel had about 3 different mysteries. Oftentimes, they would be totally unrelated to boot and seemingly only got tossed into the book to inflate the number of Dan Brown style cliffhangers.

[The44]

Yes, JB is leaving loose threads from each of his books. That is why I suppose it is a series and not a one off story complete in one book.

Equally, yes, JB did not have a complete story arc in mind when he started the series. Though he may have a "sort of" ending in mind when he started.

However, I like the series. I plan to read until until I am too dead to buy another book. I do have an actuarial chance of reading the last one, though. hehe

[Nikitta]

Originally Posted by Connavar

Heh everyone who joined the Dresden fan club after me in chrons is ahead of me now in the series. I have been taking it slowly not overdose in Dresden Files.

But now its enough of that, i will catch up finally. The JB forums is dangerous otherwise with all the characters story you dont know about

Well, you might catch up with me soon if I don't get better before Easter and you read really fast