Small Favor, the most recent Dresden novel

POSTED BY: singate
UPDATED: Thursday, June 19, 2008 10:26
VIEWED: 6048
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SINGATE

Sunday, May 25, 2008 6:11 AM

So this had been sitting on my shelf for about a month before I even opened it. As usual, once I read the first page, it became a mad dash to finish the book. I'll put the spoilery stuff in tags.

A few comments on the whole before I dive into the details. For some reason Butcher decided to throw in just about every character from the Dresden universe. It's the sort of thing I would expect in the final novel of a series, not one which represents the halfway point in the overall story. While I like just about all of the secondary characters there just wasn't enough space in this book to warrant their inclusion. My only other criticism is that this book felt more like it was setting up future events rather than telling it's own story. I realize that Butcher has done this sort of thing throughout the series but for some reason it really nagged at me.

Now onto the good stuff...

Select to view spoiler:

At this point I'm never surprised to see Harry to take a beating but the amount of punishment inflicted on his allies was stunning.

From all indications Michael is out of the game permanently. This may have been the most shocking part of the entire novel. Now Harry has 2 swords that he doesn't know what to do with. Perhaps Charity will take up the mantle. I really thought Murphy would take Shiro's blade after what happened on the boat. The whole not wanting to turn her back on the CPD is getting old considering how many times they've fucked her over.

As bad as things are for Michael I think what happened to Ivy was far worse. I know the Denarians are the #1 baddies in the Dresdenverse but torturing a 12 year old girl puts them in a whole new category of depraved. If Luccio is right Ivy may become a grave threat even though they couldn't break her down to the point of accepting a coin.

Even Dresden's not so good allies got pretty well messed up. Marcone-kidnapped and presumably tortured, Gard-disemboweled, Kincaid-FUBAR.

That's not to say the heroes didn't get in some good licks. They did manage to reduce the Denarians to 6 active members, and one of them was crippled. I'm not sure if I liked how easily and quickly some the Denarians were dispatched after they had been built up as nearly indestructible. Harry also got to kick some Gruff ass, the highlight being the fight at the train station. For some reason I kept picturing Yoda when big brother Gruff showed up at the end. If Harry didn't get creative with that boon he would have been toast.

Harry's use of soulfire was interesting. I'm not completely clear on whether it was due entirely to angelic intervention or if this is something that he evolved into. Uriel's statement in the chapel makes me think Harry received unseen help in that fight, but Luccio's comments about a wizard developing new abilities over time makes me think it could have been due to his heritage. Either way I liked Bob's explanation and his subsequent comments about the human soul.

Speaking of Luccio I really did not see a relationship developing between her and Harry. If it wasn't for what happened to Michael this would have been the big shocker of the book. The funny part is that if Thomas didn't point out her attempt to seduce Harry he might still be oblivious as to what was going on. It will be interesting to see how they balance work and play.

I think that covers all the major stuff. If anyone else around here has read the book I'd like to hear your thoughts.

_________________________________________________

We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.

AMDOBELL

Sunday, May 25, 2008 9:17 AM

I loved Small Favor and won't go into details in case it spoils anything for newcomers to Jim Butcher's wonderful Dresden Files. Not sure if you have seen the new comic series yet, it is called Welcome to the Jungle and is a four part comic series (with variant editions). My favourite book so far though is Dead Beat, I thought that was amazingly awesome. One thing you said has me really intrigued, what do you mean Small Favor is the halfway mark for the series?

Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me...

FLATTOP

Sunday, May 25, 2008 1:53 PM

Yup The Dresden Files is slated for a 20 book run.
I just received the Dresden Files audio books. Narrated by James Marsters (Spike). Great to listen to while I'm working on the house

Most of this post is spoilery. You've been warned.

Select to view spoiler:

I find myself agreeing with you on this book being a setup for things to come. Butcher has always done a good job of carrying elements through from book to book, but this one seemed a bit cramped for everything that happened.
The end of the encounter at the train station, "My elder brother shall kill you wizard," and the exchange with the eldest Gruff was classic Dresden. I'd been wondering when he would use his boon from Summer.

I still see Murphy taking up one of the swords. She just has to get her head around the idea first, and be presented with a situation that falls into the "someone has to do it" category coupled with the realization "I'm the only one who can"; no doubt coupled with saving Harry from some big bad or other.

I definitely think divine intervention was at play with Harry's new found ability. None of the other wizards have demonstrated that kind of magic. Tighter beams, better control, finesse & efficiency seem to be the marks of experience (Ivy holding Denarians at bay through magic while having a very limited pool to work with). That and the comment "You dare use..." made by one of the Denarians when Harry 'grabbed' him & started smashing him around made it sound like something they hadn't seen before.

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AMDOBELL

Sunday, May 25, 2008 5:04 PM

I agree with your comments in the spoiler zone. Really pleased to pieces that there is a planned series of 20 books, but why stop there? It is such a good tale I don't ever want Harry's exploits to end!

Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me...

EMMARIGBY

Saturday, May 31, 2008 7:54 PM

LOVED the latest Dresden and was so excited to learn that it was on audio CD (which I listen to all the time as they are the only things to keep me awake on long car journies) and read by James Masters! FANTASTIC!

I'm seriously sulking now as this isn't out in the UK yet.

___________________
Hissssssssss!

SIRI

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 2:58 AM

Since I'm one of the few dinosaurs in the world that doesn't have cable - I recently rented the first Dresden files DVD from last year. Naturally, I then started reading the books. I was surprised at some of the changes. I actually kind of like that. I just finished White Knight and there were so many characters to keep track of that, well, I felt like I needed to make a list with a genogram.

I'm hooked on it - both the show (that may be a kiss of death) and the books.

Siri

SINGATE

Thursday, June 5, 2008 3:14 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Siri:
Since I'm one of the few dinosaurs in the world that doesn't have cable - I recently rented the first Dresden files DVD from last year. Naturally, I then started reading the books. I was surprised at some of the changes. I actually kind of like that. I just finished White Knight and there were so many characters to keep track of that, well, I felt like I needed to make a list with a genogram.

I'm hooked on it - both the show (that may be a kiss of death) and the books.

I came to this series exactly as you did...TV series, then the books. I don't mind the differences. I especially enjoyed the TV version of Bob. Many long time fans of the series were less than happy with the many differences.

If you want to experience truly complicated character interactions try reading A Song of Fire and Ice. This series has a mindboggling number of characters. I'm dead serious when I say there should be college credit for keeping track of all the players and their dealings in these books. The Dresdenverse is Sunday tea compared to these books.

Back to Dresden. While the books will keep coming, somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 are planned, the TV series will not be back. Another fine series cut down before finding it's niche.
_________________________________________________
We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.

SIRI

Thursday, June 5, 2008 3:37 AM

I heard the show might not be back but didn't realize it was a definite. I just can't seem to "pick 'em." Oh, well, at least there are the books. Jim Butcher doesn't live far from me either - which is kind of cool - and Chicago is a really neat place to have a resident PI wizard. What with the history of the fire and all the mobster lore - I liked that they referred back to the Chicago fires and could really get a picture of the wooden structures of that era.

My brother told me that Butcher's website has some short stories that you can download. I went to the website and he's right. I didn't read any of them yet though.

Siri

FLATTOP

Thursday, June 5, 2008 11:18 AM

Thought I'd mention, the Dresden Files (1-4, 10) are available on audio CD, read by James Marsters (Spike, from Buffy). No british accent at all (except where needed for a character (he doesn't, but I can totally imagine Bob sounding like Spike)). Some of the breaks in the audio seem a bit out of place, but if you have to coin, it's a great way to spend time with your favorite wizard while you're working on something else.

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ANGELLEMARCS

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 10:33 PM

I absolutely love Dresden and hope he never stops. They are the bomb. BTW, I loved the series as well. I know it wasn't quite like the books, but seriously, if our Firefly started out in novel form, it would have been different, too.

BOB rocks as a ghost!!

Angelle

"Into the dark..it cradles me in its arms and I know I'm home....

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