Busy Friday and Book Query

[kennahijja]

Had a rather good if stressful first day of the bank holiday weekend. Went on a trip to hell clothes shopping, and returned with a new pair of jeans and four books. Well, there have to be perks!

Was also sorely tempted to pick up the first book of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files which has had a few honourable mentions on my flist (jaelle_n_gilla?), mostly in

Comments

[dora_the_nymph]

I am a big fan of urban fantasy (real world with fantastic elements) but it's becoming a bloated market.

I've not got around to reading the Dresden Files yet, but a lot of people who I trust enjoy them a lot. I've not really heard anything negative about them :)

[kennahijja]

Yes, 'urban fantasy' was the term I was looking for :). Thanks! And I agree that a lot of trustworthy people are reccing it, so I'll probably pick up the first book.

[mad_maudlin]

I really enjoy the Dresden Files, although I have to admit I don't read a lot of urban fantasy so I don't know how it compares to Anita et al. It's got its infuriating moments, but the characterization is strong and unlike a lot of ongoing series, Butcher's not afraid to modify his original premise to keep stories fresh, and while he fills his world with a bunch of really great side characters he also allows time to pass. Kids actually grow up, people change jobs, events have consequences both negative and positive.

In other words, I recommend giving it a try. The first book is a little bit "off" in terms of style and tone (because Butcher started out trying to write the worst story he could, invoking all kinds of detective story cliches because he was writing for a class where the teacher wouldn't let him write a traditional high fantasy)...the point is, it's good fun and worth picking up.

[kennahijja]

Well, characterisation is one of the central elements that tend to sell me books, so that looks promising. I'll probably succumb next week at some point ;).

[aliciajd]

The Dresden Files series is excellent. As opposed to the Anita Blake series each book is better than the previous one, the main character and his relationships are built on in each new book and the magical world also just keeps getting better and better. There is very little sex in the series and what there is takes place off screen. Expect lots of magic and lots and lots of action scenes. I highly recommend the series especially if you enjoy fantasy and mystery.

[kennahijja]

Thanks! Well, the prospect of a series that actually gets better as opposed to others I could name is encouraging ;). And if it's not relationship-centric, that'd be a big plus in my book! Thanks for the rec!

[erastes]

the dresdens are GOOD and getting better with each one

[kennahijja]

Yay - in that case, I'll probably pick it up soonish.

[forked]

I strongly agree that the books get better over time- and I now pick a new one up whenever one comes out. That said, I was underwhelmed by the first several books. Mostly I thought the Harry was kind of annoying- I liked EVERYONE better than I liked him. There was this hint of hypocritical emo to him that just... irked. But I liked everything else enough to keep reading. And a couple of books in, I warmed up to Harry.

So- qualified rec.

[kennahijja]

So when I pick up the first and am not utterly overwhelmed but not completely turned off either, I better stick with it, right? Then again, I stuck with half a series of full-blown hypocritical emo in Anita Blake, so...