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annathepiperNow that the Dresden Files TV series has started up, it was with particular glee that I dived into the latest of the Dresden Files paperbacks to be released--Proven Guilty, which is Book Eight of the series. Reading it, I was quite struck by several ideas I'd gotten into my head about how Harry is and how he does things, things that didn't actually match what's in the books--and things which, having read them in Jim's actual words, make me feel honorbound to retract some of my griping about the last TV episode.
For example--the thing with Harry and a gun, which had felt so wrong to me watching "Hair of the Dog"? Retracted. Hugely retracted. 'Cause in Proven Guilty, Harry's totally toting around a .44. I stand quite corrected. ;)
Between watching the show, reading Jim's words, and listening to the episodes of the Butcher Block podcast, I was also struck with one of the concepts brought up during the podcast episodes--which is to say that while the cosmetic details between books and show may be noticeably different, in the opinion of the podcast host at any rate the essential character of the books remains intact in the show. Now that I've had a fresh new dose of Mr. Butcher's words, I find myself solidly on board with that.
But lest this post wind up being more about the TV show than about the books, let me note that as always, the latest installment of the book series delivers a highly enjoyable read. This time around we get treated with a huge heaping helping of pop culture references (especially in regards to horror movies), Jim demonstrating that he's very familiar indeed with how fandom conventions work, some followup on several loose ends from previous novels, some advancement on the relationship front with Harry (all sorts of relationships, familial and romantic and friendship), some very interesting changes in Harry's overall status as a wizard, and some large hints dropped about Big Evil Things to Come. It didn't have the huge roll-on-the-floor-laughing beautiful moment in the big climax that the previous book did, but there was definitely a great deal to mull over, and a great deal to look forward to with the next installment!
If you haven't started the series yet, this is totally, totally not the place to start. If you have, and haven't gotten around to this one yet, read Proven Guilty as soon as possible. Lots of fun awaits! Four stars.
For example--the thing with Harry and a gun, which had felt so wrong to me watching "Hair of the Dog"? Retracted. Hugely retracted. 'Cause in Proven Guilty, Harry's totally toting around a .44. I stand quite corrected. ;)
Between watching the show, reading Jim's words, and listening to the episodes of the Butcher Block podcast, I was also struck with one of the concepts brought up during the podcast episodes--which is to say that while the cosmetic details between books and show may be noticeably different, in the opinion of the podcast host at any rate the essential character of the books remains intact in the show. Now that I've had a fresh new dose of Mr. Butcher's words, I find myself solidly on board with that.
But lest this post wind up being more about the TV show than about the books, let me note that as always, the latest installment of the book series delivers a highly enjoyable read. This time around we get treated with a huge heaping helping of pop culture references (especially in regards to horror movies), Jim demonstrating that he's very familiar indeed with how fandom conventions work, some followup on several loose ends from previous novels, some advancement on the relationship front with Harry (all sorts of relationships, familial and romantic and friendship), some very interesting changes in Harry's overall status as a wizard, and some large hints dropped about Big Evil Things to Come. It didn't have the huge roll-on-the-floor-laughing beautiful moment in the big climax that the previous book did, but there was definitely a great deal to mull over, and a great deal to look forward to with the next installment!
If you haven't started the series yet, this is totally, totally not the place to start. If you have, and haven't gotten around to this one yet, read Proven Guilty as soon as possible. Lots of fun awaits! Four stars.
