erastes

I've just finished the last of the published Dresden Files and I'm just so impressed. I admit that reading the first two or three (whilst very enjoyable and good fun) didn't really "hook" me, but thanks mainly to chats with

gehayi, exploring the characters as I went, I went to the library and got the whole lot and read them all.

I'm completely hooked now, and thrilled to bits that I have the anticipation of the next book to make me happy. So now I'm waiting for another Pratchett (God willing!), A Dance with Dragons (COME ON

grrm!!) and Small Favor.

What I love is the progression of plot throughout. Whilst each book can be read as a standalone (he manages to tell his story without info dumping each time) the threads and the layers go on, sometimes almost unnoticably and three books later you realise "oh jeez! that was IMPORTANT? EEK!"

Writing action scenes is HARD. I've always been impressed with anyone who can do it, and Butcher has the gift, that's for sure. I've written exactly ONE action scene and I whined all the way through it as poor

rwday will attest. Butcher seems to (although I'm sure it's not) do it effortlessly, it seems like the words are just spilling onto the page, and you are swept away in a breakneck fashion never knowing what's going to happen next.

And the characters. Tons of them. And they are real. Not Sues. They bleed, some die, and they are all completely different, and I worry about evey single one of them! Hurrah! More please Jim!

And wow again. Go and squee over

black_hound's artwork. Some not work safe but sheesh, what talent.