The Dresden Files (the books)

[gnine]

So, after almost exactly two weeks, I've just finished all nine of the currently written Dresden Files. And I ADORE them! Due to being laid low with a cold last week, my options for activities became limited to sleep, reading and TV. Got a LOT of the first, did a bunch of second with regards to the Dresden series, and got most of the way thru Farscape to even out the third. (And just gotta say, it's amazing how many parallels can be drawn between Harry and John, starting with them being neck to neck in the competition of most tortured character. Ever. )

Anyway, now that I've just put aside the ninth book (meaning I have to wait for the next one. *sigh* I hate waiting. Add it to the list…which will be shortening by one in July. Can't believe we'll be getting the LAST HP book soon. WOW), my thoughts, reactions, possible questions/speculation and squeeing over the books:



First off, HARRRRRY!! *hugs* My *god* does the man need hugs! Poor poor boy. I've loved his steadily increasing number of friends and allies as the books go along. The first one, when he has NO ONE to turn to truly is depressing! And luckily enough, I'm quite fond of all of 'em.

Which brings me to Thomas!! I love him, I can't help it. I liked him even before I knew he was Harry's bro, I mean he's PRETTY. And amusing. But, I didn't *love* him till the whole brother thing came out and then it's just too cute! I love Harry's interactions with him, their total loyalty to one another. Just too cute. And funny, the gay stuff, especially in the ninth book, amused me to no end.

More on the allies, I adore Murph, I do. I'll admit it, I kinda want her and Harry together. If he was gonna get with anyone, I kinda would like it to be her. On the other hand, I'm totally down with male/female awesome, loyal platonic friendship so…*shrug* Guess I could go either way on the issue. Regardless, she kicks some SERIOUS ass. And her description always reminds me of one of my best friends.

Billy and the Alphas amuse me, and they can be terribly sweet. Haven't seen 'em as much in the last few books, hope they come back.

Michael and his family are sweet, and I wasn't sure how I was feeling about Molly, but was liking her by the end of the ninth.

Mouse is just…awesome!

Ramirez (other than making constantly quote B5 bloopers every time I see his name) has totally totally won my heart. And the virgin thing. Hi-LAR-ri-ous. So perfect.

Harry's relationship with Ebenezer is sweet, want to see more with that.

Marcone…err, is he an ally? Who knows? But I'm rather fond of him, and all of his interactions with Harry. The whole thing with giving Harry platinum membership to his club *killed* me.

Another thing that killed my. T-Rex! OMG, I was dying. It was when Harry looked up and I was like, no. NO, tell me he's not going to…oh, oh he is. Oh Harry.

Also, I love that Harry has his own grave. And the "doing the right thing" is just too perfect.

Okay, enough with the squeeing, on to the speculation.

Is Cowl on the council, the senior council even? I almost wanna say it's the Merlin, but that strikes me as too obvious.

Also, the stuff with Mab, is she truly loopy, or being played…or playing everyone. I mean, she is the faiery queen, anything's possible.

And is Lash fully gone, or do remnants of her still remain to help Harry along? Will be curious to see.

And what IS up with Harry's mommy. Wonder when will get the answer on that one.

And there was more, but I’m blanking now and Farscape is calling. But overall, just gotta say, I LOVE these books. Squee!

Comments

[naye]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!! *bounces around like a ferret on speed* So much yes!! Oh, I'm so glad you liked them as much as I thought you would! And - yes, HARRY! Oh, Harry. Poor, poor Harry. His life kind of SUCKS, wouldn't you say? But then he goes and does the best of it, and does the right thing, and he gets people to help him through, and I LOVE him for that. Love the books for giving that to him, and there are several times a book I just squee with joy at all of the cute and awesome and friendship and, oh, Harry. ^_______^ Really. Harry. Aw. ♥

Harry's such an awesome character. I love where he's ended up by the end of the ninth book; not just with allies, but how he's developed, and how his role has changed.

Oh, and Thomas! They're such CUTE brothers! They go all serious about their brother-bond as soon as they confirm it, even though they grew up apart, and even when they're out of touch there's always the trust and the caring there. (Thomas following Harry around to protect him!! Harry saving him from Lord Raith! Room mates for two years! Awwwwwwwww!)

And Ramirez. I HOWLED with laughter when the "virgin" thing came up, and since that moment, he's looked like a Latino Marcus in my head. It's a weird image, but very pretty. ♥ (I want him and Molly to get together, if only because it would annoy Harry a whole lot, especially if either of them decided to TMI him. Which you know they would do. Especially Ramirez owes him big time for all those jokes at the end of the ninth book...!)

DUDE. DINOSAUR. The riding a dinosaur zombie down central Chicago was just one of the coolest things EVER. I love how visual the books feel to me, how I can really SEE all these fantastic, larger-than-life scenes in front of me. Harry and Ramirez on Sue. So special. ♥

On to the plot! In a second comment, because LJ hates me.

[zsms.livejournal.com]

Lol. I haven't read the end of this, because I just picked up the first couple of Dresden books after seeing you mention them :b. Thank's for the b-day wishes and I hope you get over the cold soon! *Hugs*

[sholio]

Hi! You don't know me, but I wandered over here from xparrot's LJ and I wanted to join in the Dresden squee. *squees* I just recently got done reading all 9 of the books, and now I'm just eagerly awaiting the next one.

It took me awhile to get into the books, because what really draws me into a series is the characters' affection for each other, and Harry was just so *isolated* in the early books. I'm not really fond of the "lone hero" archetype due to the whole, well, "lone" thing. *g* But that made it all the more fantastic when his natural altruism leads to him slowly but surely collecting this group of people who are as willing to die for him as he is for them. And the way that he wins people over -- Charity, even Lasciel for cryin' out loud ... he's such a good person (but in a flawed, non-cloying way) that rather than being subverted by the demon, HE subverted HER.

I just love all the characters, and rather than attaching myself specifically to one of the character relationships in the series (which is my usual thing), I adore most of the relationships in Harry's life. In fact, the only character that I *don't* love is Elaine -- I can't quite put my finger on what it is about her that annoys me so, because most of the female characters in the books are really well written, but I just can't get into her. I feel like she'd be so much better as an abstract ideal (the idealized first girlfriend, the one who got away) than as an actual *character*. In short, I don't want her to DIE or anything, but I wish she'd stayed off-camera. Having so much of her in Book 9 drove me nuts, in part because there were so many h/c moments, and then it would be h/c with ELAINE ... my very least favorite of Harry's allies. *sigh* All that potential -- wasted!

*laughs* But that's only one small quibble in what is really a very awesome series. I haven't been able to get into the TV show, not so much because it's different from the books (which I can deal with), but because it's lacking nearly everything that drew me into the books -- the warmth and affection between the characters, the complicated plots and fantastically complex world. The books, though ... the next one can't come out soon enough for me.

[talitha78.livejournal.com]

Just stopping by to wish you Happy Birthday!