SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

As we get ready to wrap up September and our discussion of Storm Front, I wonder some things.

--Has anyone read the rest of the series? If so, how much? (Please no SPOILERS!)
--If not, are you interested enough by Storm Front to read more of the Dresden Files?

I know we've covered this in the discussions, but I figured I'd throw it out here for everyone...

I am for sure going to read the rest of the series. I like that the read is fun and fast. So after reading a long, hard book I plan on picking up one of these books for a light read.

I've read them all.

I will definitely read the rest of the series. I think Angie has a good strategy - read one as a short respite after a book that is particularly challenging.

I have read them all. I can't wait for the next to come out.

Of course It may take a while to get to. It seems every author I read has come out with a new book this month.

I'll definately read the next one and then decide if I want to continue.

I have Fool Moon on my to-read list, but won't get to it anytime soon. If it proves better than this first installment, I may continue, but only if I don't have something more intriguing to peruse first.

I think the series gets more interesting with the introduction of the character Michael, who first appears in Book 3, Grave Peril. He's Harry's friend and ally who has a certain role in the fight against evil that Harry isn't always comfortable with.

I've read them all, up to and including Small Favors, which I love :)

I am now anxiously awaiting the next book like some kind of pathetically addicted fiend :)

I've also pre-ordered but have not heard anything about in eons the side story _Backup_ which covers another character in the Dresden universe unique to the books.

I totally agree. At first I was worried that this would become another instance of an author trying to bludgeon senseless with his particular brand of religious morality (I found the Christopher Stasheff's Wizardseries to be a particularly egregious instance of this, for example.) but was pleasantly surprised when Michael and co stayed firmly within the bounds of the already carefully laid out world view and universe, and didn't get all preachy beyond what the characters themselves would naturally have done.

I'm on the ninth book in the series and will read book ten by year's end. I wanted to catch up on the series this year and have enjoyed it a great deal.

I love how Butcher drops in hints in each installment but does it organically. Such as mentioning Elaine in one novel and giving a bit of background only to have her show up again later. I like it rather than having to do an info-dump every few pages.

I love that term, "info-dump" - that's exactly what Kathy Reichs does that annoys me. It's like, "YES, I've been reading your series all along, I KNOW what your job is and who you're dating and how you met." Jim Butcher avoids a lot of it, which I really appreciate.

Info-dumping bored me in elementary school when Ann M. Martin devoted a chapter of every single Baby-Sitter's Club book to describing each character in massive detail. I always skipped over it.

I've always figured it's a publisher requirement so that people can pick up any book in the series and understand what's going on.

I've read the next 3 in the series and I must admit Butcher's writing and storytelling does improve a little bit with each subsequent book however by the 4th book a formula does appear making each tale quite predictable.

I stick by my earlier assessment that these books are entertaining as candy but for real meat and potatoes, I'll stick to other authors for my meals.

I haven't finished 'Storm Front' yet, but based on how much I'm enjoying it, I will read more of the series, though it will be awhile before I get to the second book.

I'm happy to hear Jim Butcher has grown in skill as a writer as the series has progressed. While not bad by any means, I can see several areas that could be sharpened. I'm looking forward to seeing the improvement.

I have read all the way up to and including White Night (Small Favour has not been released in the UK ye and i wait for the paperback version so that they all match on my shelf) and the series just gets better and better.

Summer Knight is my favourite but i do devour each new Dresden book as quickly as possible as they are fantastic.

Rusty I agree this is the way I use them too, they are light reading and make for a nice 'break' in between more challenging reads.

Unfortunately, I have read through the entire series and am now eagerly awaiting _Backup_ - a side novel.

While this thread still has a wee bit of life in it, can any Dresden fans here recommend other writers & series that are in the same vein so hopeless addicts like me will have more grist for the mill once we've chewed through the entire series? :)

I have read all of the books and I think Small Favor was pretty good precisely b/c Butcher was getting away from the vampire white counsel mess.

Chris I am not sure about similar series as I think Dresden is fairly unique, but if you like the supernatural from a fantasy angle, I would say that Kat Richardson has a three book series out about a woman detective who can see into the Gray.

You might also want to check out Pamela Briggs.

Laurell Hamilton has written a fair number of books about Anita Blake the vampire hunter. While I stopped reading them a while ago, the first 5 or 6 are very good.

I read the hamilton books as well but once you cut out the graphic sex it is only a short story.

Another light read in the world of modern magic is Dead witch walking. Kim Harrison. Whole series of book quick fun read. It is in a post tomato plauge world but otherwize very like home.

Kevin

I have been reading these from a friend's recommendation. He was nice enough to lend me 1&2 and then got me 3-6 for my BD. I just finished 6 this month and I think the series is a good "book candy" series. I will probably read the rest because they are fun, fast and get my mind off the real world, LOL!

oh--as far as other book recommendations--how about Stephen Brust's Jhereg series? Not about vampires, but it does have the fun, cynical self-effacing banter you see in these.

I am a big fan the Brust's Jhereg series ... I find them to be much better then this Dresden Series (now finishing the second and finding it the same as the first ... only a little bit louder and a whole lot worse).