The Dresden Files

So, a few days ago I used the fact that my wife had bought me the first 4 books of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series as an excuse for low blog output, and promised a review of the books to make up for it.

I'm generous like that.

First off, it IS a series, and the stories build upon on another.  Because my wife rocks, she actually, you know, talked to someone at our local book store, and asked if the reading order was important.  The valued employee said that they could be read in any order, but for the best experience, you should read them as released. 

I agree.  I think if you read them out of order, there is enough story there you would get something out of it, but there would also be a few statements he makes that you would just have to take on faith, without actually getting anything out of it. 

For those who know nothing about the series, it follows the exploits of on Harry Dresden, professional wizard and private investigator in an alternate Chicago where there are all manner of supernatural creatures about.  Vampires, werewolves, Sidhe(fairies), ghosts and many other things that I'm sure I haven't been exposed to yet. 

Live as a PI and the only wizard in the phone book is not all fun and games for Harry.  He had a rough upbringing, nearly being killed by his mentor, before killing him, and as such he is constantly questioned and under watch from the ruling council of wizards, who don't trust him.

Life likes to poop on Harry....a lot.  While he is a powerful wizard, he is regarded as nothing more than a fake and charlatan by most of the population, unless his help is needed. 

It's a good series so far...not literature by any means, but what they would describe as a 'rollicking good ride!'.  They are fast reads...usually by the time you get halfway through the book, you don't want to put it down.  As I stated, I got the first four books for Christmas and had them read 8 days later.  I wanted to make them last longer, but it was tough to 'savor' it.

All in all, I would compare the books very favorably to Mr. Correria's writing style, with the feel probably closer to his Spellbound series, even though the Dresden Files are set in the here and now...they just both have that 'gritty' feel.

Negatives?  Yeah....and this just might be me.  For a PI, Harry doesn't always seem to do a lot of investigation.  I mean, he starts trying to investigate, but after talking to 1 or 2 folks, but for the most part, he solves his problems by the 'shake things up' method...after asking a question or two, and usually ignoring a warning to 'just stay out of it', the bad guys try to take Harry out, helping him figure out just who is behind his problems.

I don't know...maybe most detective fiction is that way.  I must admit, reading about Harry getting out of trouble is more exciting than reading about him accessing the DMD database for license plate information. 

On the good side, one of the things I really like is that Harry doesn't always win.  He usually solves his main plot point in each book, but because the series is built for the long haul, it's not always a happy ending.  There are several 'Empire Strikes Back' moments, where Harry ends up worse than when he started, so that is neat...it keeps things from being too predictable. 

If you enjoy sci-fi/fantasy at all, these are worth reading.

The worst part for me, it is that I have completed the books on hand.  Now I can start keeping my eyes out for the next book in the series at the local used book stores.  Or wait until my wife reads the 4 we've already got so I can justify spending the cash to buy book 5 new, since it's for 'the both of us.' 

Boneshaker

I am a chronic re-reader.  90% of the books that have passed through my hands in the last year are books I have previously read by the likes of Robert Heinlein, Alistair MacLean, Stephen King and Tom Clancy.  A big part of it is my reading habit.  I like to read, but I don't always have huge stretches of time available to immerse myself in a getting into a new book.  It's just easier mentally to pick up something I have already read, and jump into a favorite passage or two before nodding off to sleep(or while using the potty).

I have read a few new books in the last year.  My wife and I worked through the Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs.  We have read all of Larry Corria's stuff, and read the new Rawles book that came out.  And that is about it. 

Until now.

Steampunk is all the rage right now...and other than admiring pictures of models wearing corsets with gear pieces pinned to them, I haven't really embraced the culture yet.  Late to the party, as usual.  For Christmas, I picked up a few books by Cherie Priest: 'Boneshaker' and 'Dreadnought'.  They are books we have looked at once or twice, but just never splurged for, which is what the Christmas season is all about, right?  Plus, in November it was announced that 'Boneshaker' was picked up by Hammer Studios to be made into a movie, and it has gotten really good reviews. 

Anyway...'Boneshaker' is the first book in what Cherie Priest calls her 'Clockwork Century' series.  You know it is steampunk because the cover picture has someone wearing goggles with extra lenses, and there is a strange looking blimp reflected in the goggles.  I promise that is the last snarky comment I will make, because it is a really good book, even if I don't necessarily get 'steampunk'(other than the girls in corsets and thigh-highs with gear pieces pinned to them).

It's an interesting setting.  Cherie uses an alternate history Seattle, where the Civil War is still raging after 16 years, and the Klondike Gold Rush caused Seattle to bloom much earlier than in our timeline.  Seattle also then faded, the site of a horrible accident during a drilling experiment, which released 'blight gas' into the city. 

The blight gas is bad ju-ju.  It's not just a poison that kills...it also brings some of the victims back as 'rotters'(zombies to you and me).  The only way to keep the gas from spreading is to build a 200-foot wall around most of Seattle, creating a walled off bowl of anarchy and conflicting factions, into which our heroes venture.

Except, they aren't really heroes.  The two main characters in the book are Briar and Zeke Wilkes, the widow and son of the man who brought this ruin to the fine city of Seattle.  Briar has had a tough 16-years since the accident, as most people hold her responsible for what her husband did.  Zeke, not as willing to take it as Briar is, sets out to collect evidence to prove his father was not the bastard that people made him out to be.  Of course, the only way to do that is to head into Seattle, where Briar follows to make sure he gets out alive.

It's a good story, and Cherie does a fine job of world building.  The only real negative is that it takes a while to feel anything for the two main characters.  They just kind of feel like pawns who are going through motions to advance the story...which is an interesting story, and it's engrossing...but it's not until about 2/3rds of the way through the book where you kind of find youself wondering if Briar and Zeke are going to be okay.

I recommend the book.  If you are at all into zombies, or steampunk, or alternate history, or books where widows rescue their kids using Spencer Repeating Carbine's, give this one a chance. 

Especially before the movie comes out.

The Gripping Hand

Recently finished 'The Gripping Hand' written by the team of Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. It is the sequel to 'The Mote in God's Eye', 19 years in the making.  I'm not sure how writing as a team works, but, I do know that a a team they would make my Top Ten list of Authors, just lacking enough volume to crack the Top 5. 

I have read 5 of their books: 'The Mote in God's Eye', 'The Gripping Hand', 'Fallen Angels', 'Foot Fall' and 'Lucifer's Hammer'...and the truth is, they would make my Top 10 just based off the strength of two of them: The Mote.. and 'Lucifer's Hammer'.  'Foot Fall' is an interesting read, and had some great parts, especially their references to Bob Anson(as in Robert Anson Heinlein) as part of an advisory team to the President.  Prior to reading 'Foot Fall' I had never heard of Project Orion, and I had assumed during the reading that is was something Niven and Pournelle made up, and found it one of the more unbelievable portions of the book.  Imagine my chagrin when I actually did MY research.

While the story line of 'Fallen Angles' was neat, it's one of the few books I have read where the message is actually more important to me than the story-line.  The book serves as tribute to fan-boys, and there is a lot of Global Warming bashing, and bashing of funding cuts to science programs, and ignorance in general.  A fun read, but not by any means one that represents the pinnacle of science fiction novels. 

We'll save that pinnacle stuff for 'Lucifer's Hammer', and 'The Mote in God's Eye'.  'Lucifer's Hammer' is the book that the movie 'Deep Impact' wishes it could be.  Just a completely fascinating book from beginning to end.  I can't say it shaped any of my ideals/ideas about TEOTWAWKI, as I was already heading down the dark path of being a closet prepper when I read it, but, it did confirm some things in my mind...one of them being, you won't be able to make it alone.  It wouldn't hurt to have a U.S. Senator with some acreage in a valley in your hip pocket either. 

'The Mote in God's Eye' is, quite plainly put, one of the finest examples of 'hard' science fiction that I have read.  I would put it up against anything written by Heinlein or Asimov.  I think it is a very plausible look into how a human society would deal with first contact with another species, and, the imagination involved in coming up with The Moties boggles my mind.  I give 'The Mote in God's Eye' and 'Lucifer's Hammer' my highest recommendation, and Three Snaps Up. 

'The Gripping Hand' is not as good as 'The Mote in God's Eye', but, I didn't expect it to be.  If I had read TMIGE when it was first released, and had to wait 19 years for the sequel, I might even go as far as to say I would have been disappointed.  Finding it at the used book store, and buying it on a lark, just because I had REALLY enjoyed the first book...not as disappointing.  It was a better than average read on it's own merit, but I would not recommend it to someone who had not read the first book.   Too many things are alluded to without fully being described.  This is a true sequel and not Book 2 in a series that can be read without background.