I've been getting into the Dresden Files books, myself, because I've discovered the fandom. But the books themselves - I'm on book 3 now - I don't know. I'm finding them a little bit of a slog?
I've heard that they improve as they go on, in terms of Butcher's writing style and pacing, but I'm not sure that's what I'm having trouble with. I think it's partly - as you say - that the magic seems overly structured and predictable, and not really...hmm, numinous enough? (Hell, even alchemy is full of bad poetry, wacky history, and divine secrets.) And part of it is that, dear God, it's been a while since I've read books that shouted, "I was written by a straight white geek dude!" this loudly. There is a fuckload of male-gazing happening here - like, near-Piers Anthony-level in places.
And yet a lot of the fic is fantastic. I'm having trouble not seeing the actual books through the lens of the fic, to be honest. So...I don't know.
'There is a fuckload of male-gazing happening here'
PERZACKLY. I knew there was a word for the "something off" that was bothering me about the beautiful ladies and all! I just couldn't come up with it.
(I have no idea who Piers Anthony is. Sounds like I might not want to, lol.)
'(Hell, even alchemy is full of bad poetry, wacky history, and divine secrets.)'
Indeed. Whereas most of the magic I'm seeing in modern novels just isn't that... cracky. XD (And it seems like almost everything published this century that's not a straight-up romance is "_____ with magic!" or "with vampires!" I know I'm exaggerating, but... *g*)
'[/unsolicited thoughts]'
Hey, no problem! The point of posting Opinions About Books (as somebody else told me a while back) is to have Conversations About Books. I always figure the act of posting on LJ with commenting enabled implies that you're soliciting your flist's opinions... :-)
'a lot of the fic is fantastic'I haven't read any of the fic at all (well, I think I read a couple pieces that popped up on my
( ... )
(I have no idea who Piers Anthony is. Sounds like I might not want to, lol.)
AHAHA. Oh man, how to explain. So: Piers Anthony is a ridiculously prolific, best-selling SF/Fantasy author noted for his fondness for puns, his light and adventurous plots often containing logic puzzles for the main characters, and for being the self-described "dirty old man of SF/F." And if you're thinking, "One of these things is not like the other," you're not alone. His best known series are Xanth, the Incarnations of Immortality, and the Apprentice Adept books.
I don't know that I can actually recommend his books, tbh. He does some fun and creative things with worldbuilding, especially in combining tech and fantasy. And if you like puzzles in your plots, or characters navigating mazes, he does a lot of that. (The movie "Labyrinth" is very Anthony-esque. Or the scenes in the Harry Potter books where the Trio have to figure out how to solve magical problems.) From a stylistic standpoint, though, a lot of his writing is...not great, and his
( ... )
Continued, with REC LIST OF DOOMinnocentsmithJuly 29 2011, 23:00:16 UTC
Starting list of must-read fics, pretty much all of them Dresden/Marcone:
Careful When We Are (Marcone POV, shortish, very lovely and a nice antidote to the non-magical magic of the books)
Hard Day's Night series - the first two parts are linked in header (lightweight, kind of fluffy Dresden/Marcone)
The Matter of Chicago series - first two books are up at AO3, and then there are about a dozen chapters of the WIP third book at matterofchicago - amazing AU from the second book, with Harry forced into working for Marcone, slow-burn UST, and the two of them ever-so-gradually learning to work together. This is the one I keep getting confused with canon, and then realizing that canon's not as good.
The Spirit and the Letter (nice, thinky genderswap and relationship stuff), Cross (epic, awesome, and somewhat heartbreaking story of Marcone bringing Harry back from his canonical death), and everything else by lightgetsin, no seiously, read everything she's written.
I am intrigued by your reaction to Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell! I think this is the first time I've heard someone say that it needed more worldbuilding. I like it as it is, but I think I can see where you're coming from, too -- I just never thought to think of it like that.
My opinion of Dresden Files: the books are mostly fun, but have issues, and the real enjoyment is in the fandom. SO MUCH GREAT FIC, that is often frankly better written and better thought out than the actual DF books...
Comments 6
I've heard that they improve as they go on, in terms of Butcher's writing style and pacing, but I'm not sure that's what I'm having trouble with. I think it's partly - as you say - that the magic seems overly structured and predictable, and not really...hmm, numinous enough? (Hell, even alchemy is full of bad poetry, wacky history, and divine secrets.) And part of it is that, dear God, it's been a while since I've read books that shouted, "I was written by a straight white geek dude!" this loudly. There is a fuckload of male-gazing happening here - like, near-Piers Anthony-level in places.
And yet a lot of the fic is fantastic. I'm having trouble not seeing the actual books through the lens of the fic, to be honest. So...I don't know.
[/unsolicited thoughts]
Reply
PERZACKLY. I knew there was a word for the "something off" that was bothering me about the beautiful ladies and all! I just couldn't come up with it.
(I have no idea who Piers Anthony is. Sounds like I might not want to, lol.)
'(Hell, even alchemy is full of bad poetry, wacky history, and divine secrets.)'
Indeed. Whereas most of the magic I'm seeing in modern novels just isn't that... cracky. XD (And it seems like almost everything published this century that's not a straight-up romance is "_____ with magic!" or "with vampires!" I know I'm exaggerating, but... *g*)
'[/unsolicited thoughts]'
Hey, no problem! The point of posting Opinions About Books (as somebody else told me a while back) is to have Conversations About Books. I always figure the act of posting on LJ with commenting enabled implies that you're soliciting your flist's opinions... :-)
'a lot of the fic is fantastic'I haven't read any of the fic at all (well, I think I read a couple pieces that popped up on my ( ... )
Reply
AHAHA. Oh man, how to explain. So: Piers Anthony is a ridiculously prolific, best-selling SF/Fantasy author noted for his fondness for puns, his light and adventurous plots often containing logic puzzles for the main characters, and for being the self-described "dirty old man of SF/F." And if you're thinking, "One of these things is not like the other," you're not alone. His best known series are Xanth, the Incarnations of Immortality, and the Apprentice Adept books.
I don't know that I can actually recommend his books, tbh. He does some fun and creative things with worldbuilding, especially in combining tech and fantasy. And if you like puzzles in your plots, or characters navigating mazes, he does a lot of that. (The movie "Labyrinth" is very Anthony-esque. Or the scenes in the Harry Potter books where the Trio have to figure out how to solve magical problems.) From a stylistic standpoint, though, a lot of his writing is...not great, and his ( ... )
Reply
Careful When We Are (Marcone POV, shortish, very lovely and a nice antidote to the non-magical magic of the books)
Hard Day's Night series - the first two parts are linked in header (lightweight, kind of fluffy Dresden/Marcone)
The Matter of Chicago series - first two books are up at AO3, and then there are about a dozen chapters of the WIP third book at matterofchicago - amazing AU from the second book, with Harry forced into working for Marcone, slow-burn UST, and the two of them ever-so-gradually learning to work together. This is the one I keep getting confused with canon, and then realizing that canon's not as good.
The Spirit and the Letter (nice, thinky genderswap and relationship stuff), Cross (epic, awesome, and somewhat heartbreaking story of Marcone bringing Harry back from his canonical death), and everything else by lightgetsin, no seiously, read everything she's written.
Not Even Silence In Chicago - post-apocalyptic greatness. The first few stories are ( ... )
Reply
Reply
My opinion of Dresden Files: the books are mostly fun, but have issues, and the real enjoyment is in the fandom. SO MUCH GREAT FIC, that is often frankly better written and better thought out than the actual DF books...
Reply
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