Dresden books are insanely fast reads with a very interesting urban take on them things going bump in the night. Even better is James Marsters' (Spike from Buffy) audiobook readings of most of the books. Great for trips... though not really kid material safe trips.
I just have to say that I bought into the Dresden hype a year or two ago and read the first book. It was legit one of the worst books I've ever read, I finished it out of spite. Amateurish fanfic would be a generous description.
I really enjoy the Dresden series, but was a bit concerned that the last but one - ("Cold Days"?) was getting into Mary-Sue territory, but the most recent one ("skin games" I think ) seems to be back on track... and yes, they're not thought-provoking, high-class literature, but definitely not just hack work....
I was wondering if Dresden Files is any good. The premise sounds pretty silly to me.
I made an account just to address this... 15 books.. each one better than the last... they are /seriously/ some of my favorite books. Jim Butcher takes and applies a supernatural world to a 'real world' in such a way that is entirely believable.
Go read these books!! Give Jim all your monies!
The second book is not better than the first. It is worse. Considerably worse.
It has every hall mark of second novel syndrome writ large across it.
I hope Tycho is right in his newspost and it does lead to the Brust books, anything that gets more people there the better in my opinion.
While I really liked most of the Vlad Talos books, he really lost me hard with Tiassa. But it was a fun long road getting there, so I'm cool with stopping now.
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KragaarA Million Feet Tall of AwesomeRegistered Userregular
I hope Tycho is right in his newspost and it does lead to the Brust books, anything that gets more people there the better in my opinion.
While I really liked most of the Vlad Talos books, he really lost me hard with Tiassa. But it was a fun long road getting there, so I'm cool with stopping now.
If you've got a bookstore near that doesn't mind you flopping down and reading for a bit check out the first chapter of Hawk. That was some seriously gripping writing.
The second book is not better than the first. It is worse. Considerably worse.
It has every hall mark of second novel syndrome writ large across it.
Except for having any of the actual hallmarks? You can't have second novel syndrome if you don't have a highly successful first novel. Butcher's first novel wasn't even published before he completed his second and it isn't like any of the early ones were break away hits.
I hope Tycho is right in his newspost and it does lead to the Brust books, anything that gets more people there the better in my opinion.
While I really liked most of the Vlad Talos books, he really lost me hard with Tiassa. But it was a fun long road getting there, so I'm cool with stopping now.
If you've got a bookstore near that doesn't mind you flopping down and reading for a bit check out the first chapter of Hawk. That was some seriously gripping writing.
While normally that'd work, Tiassa was written in 3 styles and it was only the 3rd style I had an issue with. So I had read 2/3rds of the book before I had to give up on it.
I found out about the Dresden Files books after the tv show was cancelled after one season and was hungry for more. I still picture Paul Blackthrone when reading the books.
I found out about the Dresden Files books after the tv show was cancelled after one season and was hungry for more. I still picture Paul Blackthrone when reading the books.
Which is interesting because Paul Blackthone is usually people's biggest problem with the TV show. I also got into Dresden via the TV show so he never bothered me, but I've heard it said multiple times. I honestly think TV Bob is the better Bob.
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KragaarA Million Feet Tall of AwesomeRegistered Userregular
I hope Tycho is right in his newspost and it does lead to the Brust books, anything that gets more people there the better in my opinion.
While I really liked most of the Vlad Talos books, he really lost me hard with Tiassa. But it was a fun long road getting there, so I'm cool with stopping now.
If you've got a bookstore near that doesn't mind you flopping down and reading for a bit check out the first chapter of Hawk. That was some seriously gripping writing.
While normally that'd work, Tiassa was written in 3 styles and it was only the 3rd style I had an issue with. So I had read 2/3rds of the book before I had to give up on it.
man, if you like Harry Dresden, you should definitely read Skulduggery Pleasant. He's a Sorcerer, a Detective, and a Skeleton (he's pretty much one of the most awesome characters every written)
the first few books are kinda kiddish I suppose, but going further on into the series, it gets delightfully dark.
About 4 years ago at my LARPs 12 day event I or should I say the orc samurai I used to play met an oger named spook hat, on account of he wore a hat to keep the undead away (for some reason) . That Spookhat was a strange fellow.
About 4 years ago at my LARPs 12 day event I or should I say the orc samurai I used to play met an oger named spook hat, on account of he wore a hat to keep the undead away (for some reason) . That Spookhat was a strange fellow.
I would rather have watched recordings of this LARP event than watch the SciFi show.
I hope Tycho is right in his newspost and it does lead to the Brust books, anything that gets more people there the better in my opinion.
While I really liked most of the Vlad Talos books, he really lost me hard with Tiassa. But it was a fun long road getting there, so I'm cool with stopping now.
If you've got a bookstore near that doesn't mind you flopping down and reading for a bit check out the first chapter of Hawk. That was some seriously gripping writing.
While normally that'd work, Tiassa was written in 3 styles and it was only the 3rd style I had an issue with. So I had read 2/3rds of the book before I had to give up on it.
The Paarfi stuff or the Cawti POV sections?
The Khaavren section. I ultra-super-hate the writing style in The Phoenix Guards. The ten-sentences-to-expresses-one style. I'm not a "words for their own sake" person, so I cannot stand when writers write just to marvel at how they octupled the number of words in a sentence.
And as long as we're suggesting fantasy detective books, Glen Cook's Garret series are kind of like the inverted Dresden (but a decade older). They are about a magicless PI living in an actual fantasy world (he's from the world, it's not a fish-out-of-water story). They are very much hard-boiled. Full of dangerous dames, chin-music, burly thugs, and treacherous employers. I don't like them as much as the Dresdens, but I did like them.
Just read my first Dresden Files book, and it was alright.
There are times when he seems a little overpowered, but I did start half way through the series, so he's had a few books to level up...
I liked Charles Stross' Laundry Files a lot more personally.
tl;dr: British Secret Service meets Call of Cthulhu.
If Gabe is looking for something new after finishing Dresden, I'd point him in that direction.
I just have to say that I bought into the Dresden hype a year or two ago and read the first book. It was legit one of the worst books I've ever read, I finished it out of spite. Amateurish fanfic would be a generous description.
I'm reading through the first book right now and... hoo-boy. This is some pretty bad shit. Like, really hackneyed and obvious plot identical to all similar novels stuff.
Is it going to get better, or is it going to stick with the snub-nosed detective who overlooks the really obvious clues and chases the early red herring stuff every book? Because the thing I hate most is protagonist holding the stupid-ball plot lines.
I can't believe I had forgotten when reading this strip, that they've covered Dresden in a previous strip already - including informing that he is both detective and wizard - Plus a Zookeeper.
I really need to read these books though. For reals. My friends won't hush about 'em.
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The second book is not better than the first. It is worse. Considerably worse.
It has every hall mark of second novel syndrome writ large across it.
I made a game, it has penguins in it. It's pay what you like on Gumroad.
Currently Ebaying Nothing at all but I might do in the future.
Nintendo ID: Incindium
PSN: IncindiumX
While I really liked most of the Vlad Talos books, he really lost me hard with Tiassa. But it was a fun long road getting there, so I'm cool with stopping now.
If you've got a bookstore near that doesn't mind you flopping down and reading for a bit check out the first chapter of Hawk. That was some seriously gripping writing.
Except for having any of the actual hallmarks? You can't have second novel syndrome if you don't have a highly successful first novel. Butcher's first novel wasn't even published before he completed his second and it isn't like any of the early ones were break away hits.
While normally that'd work, Tiassa was written in 3 styles and it was only the 3rd style I had an issue with. So I had read 2/3rds of the book before I had to give up on it.
The Paarfi stuff or the Cawti POV sections?
the first few books are kinda kiddish I suppose, but going further on into the series, it gets delightfully dark.
I would rather have watched recordings of this LARP event than watch the SciFi show.
The Khaavren section. I ultra-super-hate the writing style in The Phoenix Guards. The ten-sentences-to-expresses-one style. I'm not a "words for their own sake" person, so I cannot stand when writers write just to marvel at how they octupled the number of words in a sentence.
And as long as we're suggesting fantasy detective books, Glen Cook's Garret series are kind of like the inverted Dresden (but a decade older). They are about a magicless PI living in an actual fantasy world (he's from the world, it's not a fish-out-of-water story). They are very much hard-boiled. Full of dangerous dames, chin-music, burly thugs, and treacherous employers. I don't like them as much as the Dresdens, but I did like them.
There are times when he seems a little overpowered, but I did start half way through the series, so he's had a few books to level up...
I liked Charles Stross' Laundry Files a lot more personally.
tl;dr: British Secret Service meets Call of Cthulhu.
If Gabe is looking for something new after finishing Dresden, I'd point him in that direction.
I'm reading through the first book right now and... hoo-boy. This is some pretty bad shit. Like, really hackneyed and obvious plot identical to all similar novels stuff.
Is it going to get better, or is it going to stick with the snub-nosed detective who overlooks the really obvious clues and chases the early red herring stuff every book? Because the thing I hate most is protagonist holding the stupid-ball plot lines.
I really need to read these books though. For reals. My friends won't hush about 'em.