Dead Beat / Jim Butcher

Dead Beat

category: fantasy, author:

Jim Butcher

book 7 of The Dresden Files
original copyright 2005

read in May 2012

Agamedes' opinion: 7 out of 10, well worth reading

Another book in the Harry Dresden series... For a general flavour of these fantasies set in modern-day Chicago, see my earlier reviews of books in the series. Small Favour, for example... The books are consistently good. The hero is consistently good. The bad guys vary.

Dead Beat does have some highlights. There is, for example, the occasional good comic line: "Everyone else who lets me ride on their dinosaur calls me Carlos." Okay, you have to have read the book :-) Just take my word for it: this is a serious book with some good comic lines.

Now here's a really interesting aside...

I was browsing a site on the web, a blog for wannabe authors by a published author. A reader's comment mentioned in passing, that Harry Dresden had been in a graphic novel. And I thought, Yes, that's it: this novel is very... very... graphic!

Graphic as in graphic novel, that is.

Take, for example, a scene where Harry calls up a very powerful faerie. He can summon equally powerful beings in a suburban backyard. But for this scene, he goes to the lakeside. Stands on a very small spit of land. Just above the water level. Picture him: the wizard in black, standing tall on a small spit of land jutting over the dark and stormy lake. Calling a faerie -- who appears as a waterspout.

Excellent graphic imagery. Graphic as in graphic novel. This book is full of such set pieces. I wonder if Butcher wrote with a graphic novel in mind? Or does he just enjoy writing a book with very strong imagery...

Now, however, I must point out a weak point in the book. A serious lack of logical thinking. By the hero.

Dead Beat is about necromancy, the magic of raising or using the dead. If you master necromancy you can become immortal. So the story goes.

At one point Dresden is being tempted. Read the bad book and become an immortal, he is urged. Absorb the power of the dead and you can live forever! He seriously considers the offer.

Think how much good I could do if I had forever in which to do it, he thinks. If everyone could live forever we could stop killing each other. We would all have all of eternity in which to help make the world a better place, for everyone...

This is from the wizard who has spent, to that point, six books in the fight against supernatural baddies. Baddies who are, by and large, immortal. Has immortality made these beings into nice people? No way!

If only they had used their immortality for niceness instead of evil... But they did not.

So there's a blatant lack of logic by the hero.

No worries. As a private wizard investigator, he is best in class. And would still be best in class even if there were others in his class.

Another good book from The Dresden Files.

Changes / Jim Butcher

Changes

category: Fantasy, author:

Jim Butcher

book 12 of Dresden Files
original copyright 2010

read in April 2012

Agamedes' opinion: 7 out of 10: well worth reading

Number twelve of the series. Each book is independent. Each book builds on the previous books.
Each book builds on the previous books. So the hero, Harry Dresden, gets more friends, more enemies, more magical powers. Which means that each book, each adventure, is more challenging than the last.

The alternative is the old-style sitcom, where a key rule was, each episode must end with the same "sit" as at the start. So, for example, if someone wins a lottery then they must lose it, before the end of that episode.

The developing series -- such as the Dresden Files -- is more of a challenge for the author. How to make each book more exciting that the last? As the hero learns new tricks and techniques, how to set challenges that are still difficult?

Well, actually, Changes is just a bit over the top.

Has Dresden reached the limit of acceptable magical powers? Will book thirteen have the hero solving all problems by simply clicking his heels and wishing? Will the baddies simply wilt and fail in the face of Harry's magical super-powers?

Probably not...

Changes is over the top. In terms of magical powers, magical bad guys... and kill count. But it's still a lot of fun. And Dresden is still a good character, doing his best to be good, in a world full of evil.
I am beginning to wonder... Is there a particular end point for which Butcher is aiming? Is there a plateau of magical power that will see Dresden set for life, as the benevolent controller of all things magical? Or will he just continue to grow... and grow... and grow.

Either way, I look forward to reading the next in the series.

Oh. But. I do have one rather picky complaint.

At the end of the book is an "Author's Note". These can be interesting. Sometimes the author's note offers an insight into the writer. Or into the writer's approach to writing.

This Author's Note is simply an ad for a book by the same author but in a new series..
Worse yet, it's much the same set of words -- according to my memory -- as is published in the new book.

No mention of the Dresden Files series, past or future. No insight into the author's approach to writing. A claim that he is interested in the style of story in the new book. So what?!

I tell myself, It's not the author's fault, the publisher made him do it...

Still...

Disappointing.
===

13jul18: 

a second reading.

Yes, I agree with everything I wrote in the original review. With points which I may have mentioned in reviews of other Dresden books:

This series is (a) very comic book and (b) aimed at horny teenage boys.

Comic book: Despite being all words, the book (and series) is very visual. Lots of strong imagery, plenty of characters with strong visual -- as well as characteristic -- differences. And yet... the wordy self-analysis does occasionally drag.

Teenage: very attractive women, most of whom are unavailable. (Or should that be "women"; many are female but not human.) Wish-fulfilment, escapist fantasy with the hero risking death and worse in order to save all and sundry.

I had barely read a chapter when I thought... again... wordy comic books for horny teenage boys. Then I continued reading & enjoying :-)

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

PissWeakly: the Index

Turn Coat / Jim Butcher

Turn Coat

category: fantasy, author:

Jim Butcher

book 11 of the Dresden Files
original copyright 2009,
read in Sep 2011

Agamedes' opinion: 8 out of 10

With each Dresden Files book, Butcher adds complexity -- and danger. Not quite the right word... Let me explain.

The plots have always been somewhat complex: these books are detective mystery fantasy. The complexity is added by the scope of characters.

Dresden works in modern Chicago. With various "fantasy" realms which add magic to the mix. Each novel stands alone but each novel adds to the background. In Dresden's world you can't simply say, this is a Vampire problem... It's, Which group of Vampires? How does it affect the Wizard Council? Will the Faerie get involved? etc, etc, etc.

I have not read all of the Dresden Files, so some references go over my head. Doesn't matter, there is sufficient explanation in this book. I suspect, however, that it would not be wise to read this book -- eleventh in the series -- as your first Dresden novel. It would be like joining a tv soap opera in the middle of its third season...

Furies of Calderon / Jim Butcher

Furies of Calderon

category: fantasy, young adult, author:

Jim Butcher

book 1 of The Codex Alera
original copyright 2004,
read in August 2011

Agamedes' opinion: 8 out of 10

This book is, "A classic coming-of-age epic". Actually, this quote is pinched from the cover of another book, Pawn of Prophecy, which will be the next to be reviewed. Both Pawn and Furies are coming-of-age fantasies. One book is much better than the other.

Furies of Calderon says, in its Prologue, that the course of history is determined by the actions of the individual. The book then documents the actions of several individuals... and documents them well.

The characters are strong and well-meaning. Even the baddies have good intentions. The book even provides a nice piece of philosophy to explain the motivations of the bad guys:

Death Masks / Jim Butcher

Death Masks

category: fantasy, action, author:

Jim Butcher

book 5 of The Dresden Files
original copyright 2003,
read in May 2011

Agamedes' opinion: 8 out of 10

After a few rather disappointing books -- it's great to get back to an enjoyable author! I've read a few of Butcher's books and enjoyed them all. Action, humour, magic and great characters...

I've categorised Death Masks as "fantasy, action"... I don't (yet?!) have a category for "crime". The whole Dresden Files series is gumshoe: hard-boiled private investigator with dames, booze, thugs and scheming evil villains... Philip Marlowe, I think, is the original. (Must read some Philip Marlowe books!)

The Dresden villains are particularly evil. When bad guys can be demons and other supernatural creatures, evil is easy to arrange. On the other hand, there are also some really, really, good, good guys. Ones who work for the angel who reports directly to God, for example.

Amongst all this, the author -- via PI and wizard Harry Dresden -- maintains an almost science fiction attitude: all these gods, demons, faeries, ogres, they are just creatures from alternate universes -- or planes of existence -- with their own powers and drives and rules.

White Night / Jim Butcher

White Night

category: fantasy, action, author:

Jim Butcher

book 9 of the Dresden Files
published by Orbit, original copyright 2007, read in May 2010

Agamedes' opinion: 8 out of 10

It's great fun watching this author develop his skills. Actually, I just checked his website... Butcher has written Dresden Files books (twelve, now) -- plus ten or so other books. So the skill development is not just through the Dresden books that I've read. Too bad! I comment only on what I've read:-)

So, it's great to watch Butcher develop his skills. An earlier book had every chapter ending with, "Oh no it looks as though I'm doomed!" The next chapter would start, "With a final burst of magical energy, I used an amazing new spell to escape..." Butcher still likes his cliff-hangers -- but, in White Night, they are a bit more subtle! Except for the combination of cliff-hanger and flashback:

One of the earlier Dresden books used flashback, very effectively. There were hints of past battles -- which could well have been references to past books. The flashback revealed all -- at an appropriate moment -- without interrupting the flow of action. White Night uses a similar flashback technique... except that the flashback occurs just as the hero has said, "Oh no it looks as though I'm doomed!" Sure, it revealed essential information. But it was a bit of an unsubtle and overworked cliffhanger.

Then there's the title of the book; it has me a little confused. White Night. Ah! wait! now I see it! Of course!

Harry Dresden is a wizard, in modern-day Chicago. In White Night, he battles -- I had overlooked the obvious! -- he battles the vampires of the White Court! Vampires of the White Court kill you with pleasure, Red Court prefers misery, Black Court work on the agony angle. So this book is about the battle, possibly at night, of Harry & friends -- and the White Court.

And, as with other books in the series, the title is a pun.

Harry is a nice guy. Tough, but nice. Protector of the weak, defender of the innocent, always ready to help a damsel in distress. In White Night, Harry helps protect a whole coven of wiccan witches: sweet & cheerful ladies with only minor magical powers. A sort of sewing circle with cup cakes and candles, altars, magical wards and a nice, hot cup of tea.

Harry the hero rushes in -- like a white knight, of course! -- to save these (possibly) damsels in distress. Also convinces an evil spirit to become good, demonstrates that he is still true to his one true love, and wipes the floor with the very vicious ghouls.

Yes, this book has a strong theme of Harry the white knight hero. Yes, there is non-stop magical action -- backed up by plenty of non-magical bullets and bombs. Yes, there is a solid plot, gradual discovery of means and motives, a hint of sex, lots of good versus evil action and violence. Yes, there is humour, heroics and a good side to nearly everyone...

Yes, this is another, great, Dresden Files novel!

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

Grave Peril / Jim Butcher

Grave Peril

(category: fantasy)
book 3 of Dresden Files by

Jim Butcher

published by Orbit, original copyright 2001
Nick read a library book, in April 2010

Nick's rating: 7 out of 10

Nick's opinion:

Another great book from The Dresden Files -- but, perhaps, not quite as great...

This is the fifth Dresden book that I have read, all within three months. Perhaps I have Dresden overload? I enjoyed Grave Peril but was -- just slightly -- dissatisfied. It is partly that Butcher is (it seems) still experimenting with his writing style. I also have a problem with the way in which the hero's personal life is going downhill...

You could say that this book has a complex plot. Or, you could say that the pace is frenetic... Either way, there's a lot happening. Non-stop, in fact. In each chapter the hero gets in trouble, just a little deeper; each chapter ends with a cliff-hanger. Still, the cliff-hangers are not as bad as in the previous book, Fool Moon.

Then there's the general happiness of the hero, Harry Dresden.

My first experience with Harry Dresden was with the tenth in the series, Small Favour. My next experience was with Summer Knight -- the fourth in the series. I noticed the difference, that book four was darker than book ten. At the end of book four, Harry Dresden has been drawn out of his funk. In this third book (Grave Peril), he reaches deep into the depths of despair.

For me, I enjoy the happy ending. I don't mind ongoing plots -- but I don't really like the hero to be quite so depressed at the end of a book!

So it's a great book, an exciting adventure, with lots of human and fantasy creatures to battle and to save. But for full enjoyment, I'm considering re-reading book four... just so that I can see Harry Dresden end a book in a cheerful frame of mind.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes & documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

Fool Moon / Jim Butcher

Fool Moon

(category: fantasy)
book 2 of Dresden Files by

Jim Butcher

published by Orbit, original copyright 2001
Nick read a library book, in April 2010

Nick's rating: 8 out of 10

Nick's opinion:

I do enjoy these Dresden Files books!

This is the second in the series. In the first (Storm Front) there is magic, violence and a lot of sex. In Fool Moon, there is more magic, some sex and a lot of violence -- especially violence to Harry Dresden, the hero. And every chapter ends with, "... oh dear... this looks like the end for me!" An author learning his trade? No worries: Butcher began well and was still able to improve.

The hero is a true good guy. He believes in using his powers for good, protecting the weak, saving damsels in distress. Most of the damsels are attractive and the men are handsome. Interestingly, though, even the overweight, suspicious, less attractive characters have their good points... Even the murderous killer has an understandable motive.

Then there's the female werewolf who loves the mad killer and looks after the younger werewolves: I just love the final explanation of her origins!

I've read four Dresden books in the last few weeks. And I'm still looking forward to reading the next. An excellent series of books!

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes & documents, email nick leth at gmail dot com.

Storm Front / Jim Butcher

Storm Front

(category: fantasy)
book 1 of Dresden Files by

Jim Butcher

published by Orbit in 2000
Nick read a library book, in March 2010

Nick's rating: 8 out of 10

Nick's opinion:

Magic in modern-day Chicago... The hero is a wizard in the private eye mold: tough, honest, fair, put-upon. And he's a gentleman who wants to protect the innocent. It doesn't hurt, that the innocent are often incredibly attractive young women. For even more emphasis on Dresden's nice-guy image, one of the attractive women is protecting her two adorable children... Mind you, there are also a lot of young, attractive women who are involved in the sex trade.

I like the fit of magic into modern Chicago. There are magic-user rules which -- in general -- protect non-magic users. When these rules are broken, Karrin of the Chicago police gets very upset. Dresden helps Karrin solve magical murders, while protecting Karrin from magic threats. Not everyone uses magic but there are still strong though minor roles for the non-magicians. One very minor character is a policeman: he is scruffy, cynical, dislikes Dresden -- but is still recognised as being an extremely intelligent cop. See the positive in everyone!

Meanwhile, Dresden meets, argues with and fights against all sorts of magical creatures and forces. These are sort of familiar but uniquely interesting -- characters who are interesting, helpful, scary, threatening -- without being too outlandish. Lots of action, solid plot, good characters, mystery to be resolved, life-threatening climax followed by a happy ending. Enjoyable. Very!

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes & documents, email nick leth at gmail dot com.

Summer Knight / Jim Butcher

Summer Knight

(category: fantasy)
book 4 of The Dresden Files by

Jim Butcher

published by Orbit in 2005
Nick read a Library book, in March 2010

Nick's rating: 8 out of 10

Nick's opinion:

Did I enjoy this book? Well, I finished reading it. Wondered a bit about the various characters, trying to sort out who was who... then read the book again. Yes, I enjoyed it... the second time, too ! This is only the second Dresden book that I have read; I would like to read the entire series. It seems to me that Summer Knight is slightly darker than Small Favour. In this earlier book (Summer Knight) the hero Harry Dresden is suffering guilt, for imagined failings from earlier books. This book brings him through the guilt; the later book has less emotional baggage. Summer Knight is excellent fun, with a cast of likable characters. Even the villains are not simply evil for the sake of it. Well, not all of them, anyway. Dresden is a wizard with strong and developing powers. He is also a nice bloke. As he says, "For me, chivalry isn't dead; it's an involuntary reflex." I suspect that this book scored high in part because I was in a mood where I needed "a good read"... but is is still, definitely... a good read.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your own documents, email nick leth at gmail dot com.

Small Favour / Jim Butcher

Small Favour

(category: fantasy)
book 10 of The Dresden Files by

Jim Butcher

published by Orbit in 2008, read in February 2010

Agamedes' rating: 7 out of 10

Agamedes' opinion:

A lot of fun, with a wizard and all sorts of mythological magic wielders battling it out in modern-day Chicago. Yes, there is a lot of brutal violence -- but it takes a lot of hitting (and gouging and cutting and burning) to keep a good monster down. In fact... most of the main monsters seem to survive anything that is thrown at them. Which is a bit annoying: This is the tenth book of The Dresden Files and there are a lot of "well known" characters. On the other hand... it is easy to read by itself, and makes me want to read earlier books -- not to find out who is who but because I enjoyed this one. I also like to read a book where the hero is incorruptible and where even the worst of the baddies is approachable... albeit carefully! I also enjoyed the humorous / sarcastic insults by the hero, though there could, perhaps, have been less references by that same hero to his propensity to make humorous / sarcastic comments to the baddies...