Reading roundup, more virtual cons, and meme
18. Jim Butcher, Peace Talks -- Well, that was certainly... not really a book. :/ I mean, I went in knowing, from Butcher's Comic Con @ Home panel, that it was the first half of a complete story and that it ended on a cliffhanger, and from 
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have some kind of interaction with Thomas, neither of which emphatically happened
This! It's never Ebenezar vs Thomas, it's always and only Ebenezar vs Harry over Thomas, like he's some sinkful of unwashed dishes. Actually, come to think of it, it's a part of a broader Thomas problem: he's kept on standstill, which unfortunate by-effect is that everything and everyone around him got way ahead in development. Maybe that's why this time I discovered I don't even care much about him anymore... He just needs to be revived, preferably yesterday.
Lara! *nods*
I became more and more skeptical that Butcher could write a Harry/Murphy relationship and not screw it up.
Well, for now, as far as I'm concerned his take on love is poor, friendship fine, straight-cut enemies crappy, and frenemies excellent.
Oh, and Murphy's trick with siccing a cop on the tail following Harry's invisible car was a great little moment!
*purrrrrs*
it seems like remote-controlling a wizard construct would be, I dunno, really hard, and you'd lose enough power that McCoy would be able to notice something was off, given that he'd just fought side by side with Harry for real.
Yeah, basically here and later Harry suffers from the plot-dictating-abilities-for-given-scene syndrome, and not just him.
die heroically in battle, possibly saving Harry's and/or Maggie's (and/or Thomas's, but at this point that's a much longer bet) life
No way, I need the old grump alive long enough and in the first row seat to watch Thomas' Staggering Huge-Ass Glitter-Exploding Half-Of-The-Universe Saving Act of Public Absolution.
a book that had cameos from pretty much everyone who has ever so much as strolled through these books
Erm... meanwhile I was thinking of all the missing ones, sooo... :D This aside, yes, six years, ugh. Thanks the Holy Engineery for Kindle's searchbox and enough memory to fit the entire DF. Funny how Skin Game is somehow the most forgettable in spite of being the most recent before PT (and though fun while read).
But she still should've been called Minerva, come on ;P
Yep. (And hey! Maggie and Minnie? XD)
I suppose we'll see more of her in future books, but so far I don't have much of an opinion.
Because of not much to have an opinion on... She badly needs development.
Starborn Harry was a thing already, but 666 years is new.
Harry talking about how Thomas is "not exactly a complicated guy. He likes, in order, Justine, sex, exercise, food and drink, and occasionally fighting someone who needs fighting" also did not sit well with me. Look who's talking, buddy.
Same here. That was unfair and didn't really felt true for the character (are we talking about the same guy from "Blood Rites", for one???). Also, gee, if he's simple now, maybe that's an author problem, not a character problem, Jim, eh? :P
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Thank you! :) I mean, you don't need to worry if you'd rather not -- I have not read Battle Ground yet (though at least getting closer to thinking about it, lol) but I've spoiled myself for all the things, so you don't need to worry about spoiling me -- I just wouldn't have anything to say to BG canon :) (which is why I'll probably need to come back later to comment on your post, though of course I've read it right away :P)
This! It's never Ebenezar vs Thomas, it's always and only Ebenezar vs Harry over Thomas, like he's some sinkful of unwashed dishes
That's a very good analogy, sadly! (and a very good point, too) I agree that Thomas was completely passive in this one, and so fell behind on all kinds of character development, and it's just such a WEIRD choice. Why would you sideline a major secondary character like that at a pivotal point?
as far as I'm concerned his take on love is poor, friendship fine, straight-cut enemies crappy, and frenemies excellent.
Definitely agreed on love and frenemies! (Lara, Marcone, Lash -- this is definitely his strength) I don't remember if I have any opinions on Harry & uncomplicated enemies writing, which probably means it's forgettable. As for friendship... I'm trying to figure out what I think of the trajectory here and I feel like I used to like the way Butcher wrote friendships more than I do now. Did his priorities change? Did my tastes change? I'm not sure, but I used to really love the Harry & Carlos, Harry & Butters, Harry & Michael scenes, the friendship parts of Harry & Thomas, Harry & Molly, Harry & Murphy (though obviously in each case it's not JUST a friendship relationship). But I feel like on the whole, they've been working less well for me, and/or featured less prominently in favor of some other stuff, in the more recent books. *shrug*
basically here and later Harry suffers from the plot-dictating-abilities-for-given-scene syndrome, and not just him.
Oh, great...
I need the old grump alive long enough and in the first row seat to watch Thomas' Staggering Huge-Ass Glitter-Exploding Half-Of-The-Universe Saving Act of Public Absolution.
I would definitely be in favor of that! Both Thomas having one of those (finally!) and McCoy being there to be confronted with it.
Erm... meanwhile I was thinking of all the missing ones, sooo... :D
Well, I was too, the ones I wanted to see, which was mainly Kincaid. But, right, I reread my write-up and was thinking -- of my three favorites characters in the series, one (Thomas) was put on a bus at the very beginning with no resolution and in horrible circumstances, one (Carlos) was at odds with the protagonist, and one (Kincaid) was missing altogether. No wonder this was, let's say, not my favorite book.
(And hey! Maggie and Minnie? XD)
Exactly! (though I wonder if it's something like, an editor suggested not introducing to the main narrative two "young girl" characters with similar-ooking names.)
Starborn Harry was a thing already, but 666 years is new.
I remembered the IDEA from an earlier book, but not the name "starborn" -- was that also already a thing? and do you remember from where?
That was unfair and didn't really felt true for the character
To me, either. And I'm with you that it seems more like an authorial goof than Harry (suddenly) being an unreliable narrator about it...
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Yep. ;D Someday, no pressure.
Why would you sideline a major secondary character like that at a pivotal point?
On one hand it's great to have so many characters, on the other that makes for the "not enough plot for them all" problem, and now it even seems we're reaching the "not enough author's operational memory for them all" point. Bonea, for one.
Harry & uncomplicated enemies writing, which probably means it's forgettable.
ETHNIU!!! Also Fomor, King Raith, the Red Court, and basically anyone who's needed for an opponent without potential for alliance.
But I feel like on the whole, they've been working less well for me, and/or featured less prominently in favor of some other stuff, in the more recent books. *shrug*
Yeah, good point. Right now, Harry's friends have been moved into 'love' area or killed off (typically both :P), or dumped him and got replaced with frenemies, or are busy with something that keeps them off-pages (locked up Thomas; Mouse on the Maggie duty; Bob with Butters; Molly officially Wintering around), and that leaves us with Alphas (who've never been more than a fluffy background anyway) and the Knights, who are kind of held/hold themselves at a Sword's reach while frowning worriedly. All of which, besides, from outside and away really looks like Dresden gone a warlock.
Oh, great...
Titania, just sayin'. You'll see. -.-
(Carlos) was at odds with the protagonist
You're going to really, really hate Battle Ground... :(
*as a belated thought* Omg, but no worries, he lives!!!
the name "starborn" -- was that also already a thing? and do you remember from where?
Yes, it was. I've checked now and apparently the word itself was used for the first time in "Cold Days". Funny, I thought it must have been even earlier, but before it was only hints for Harry's birthday and Outsiders and not the name...
However, as a general afterthought, look, we're pissed in the "what you're gonna do with all this, Jim?" way, not the "enough of this shit, I'm out" way, and at 17th part it's basically the highest praise an author can earn, isn't it? XD
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