Book Log #38: White Night, by Jim Butcher

[annathepiper]

I was sadly, sadly remiss in getting jimbutcher's White Night read in a timely fashion--it's been a complicated year, what can I say--but now that I've finally finished it, I am happy to report that the Dresden Files continue to be solidly entertaining.

It's still a little weird to me to read about an older, wiser Harry; the early books made such an impact on me that that image of him is still very strong in my head. And, of course, it was reinforced by the sadly short-lived TV show. On the other hand, it is satisfying to have an older, wiser Harry in the current books. Any series that runs on past a few books really needs to have long-term character development to hold a reader's interest, and in this, Butcher really shines. Though at the same time, some fundamentals of Harry's character remain constant, like oh, say, the snark. Three words, ladies and gentlemen: BOWLING! FOR! VAMPIRES!

This far into the series I suppose it's inevitable that any given novel will pretty much involve mostly familiar characters. But this time around, we had enough appearances of non-regularly-recurring characters that I kept having quite a bit of deja vu. A character we haven't seen since Storm Front shows up as important to this plot, in addition to several more regularly appearing folks. Lots of followup to previously established plotlines occurs, interwoven with the new story.

Which, not surprisingly, is a problem designed to hit Harry right in the chivalry: women practitioners of magic are getting killed. As per usual, things start with a bang as Harry and Murphy begin to investigate, and they build up to a satisfyingly explosive finale. In this particular book's case, quite literally. ;) Four well-deserved stars.

Comments

[kieri.livejournal.com]

You do know he's got the next one out already, don't you? :) Small Favors, it's called. Quite good, as per usual with him.

I'm sure you've got loads of other books on your 'To Read' shelf, but if you're in the mood for new stuff and don't mind a bit of SF mixed with your kickass female protagonists, I recommend Linnea Sinclair and Ann Aguirre -- Sinclair leans a bit more romantic, Aguirre leans a bit more kickass. Both good, though. :)

Take it easy! :D

[annathepiper]

Oh sure, I'm well aware Small Favor is out already. It's just that I'm a year behind reading Butcher now that he's gone hardback. *^_^*;;

Way ahead of you on both Linnea Sinclair and Ann Aguirre, both of whom I have already read. I intend to read more of both.

[poodlgrl.livejournal.com]

I really need to go back to the beginning and read them all again.

[annathepiper]

That sounds like a great deal of fun. I will have to do that myself at some point. :)

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

Are you reading LJ user eeknight's Vampire Earth series?

Great stuff.

[annathepiper]

I am not! Thanks for the recommendation. (Though I'm not sure how fast I'll get to them--I'm trying to see if I can get more judicious about my book-buying habits, and I want to read through more of my backlog before I buy more books. However, now I have a library card!)

small favors

[lomax-lamat.livejournal.com]

I love the books and have the audio books as well. If you're gong to be at dragon con this year, james marsters who did the reading for the audio books will be at the con. Last time I was there I had him autograph my copy of storm front/ This time I plan on taking my copy of fool moon. have you heard the books? their great!

http://www.buzzymultimedia.com/storm-front-audiobook-by-jim-butcher.html (http://www.buzzymultimedia.com/storm-front-audiobook-by-jim-butcher.html)

Re: small favors

[annathepiper]

Won't be at Dragon*Con, I fear, but yay for getting James Marsters' autograph anyway. :)

I've got the first audiobook he did for the Dresden Files, yeah. I've considered getting the others, but it's got to wait until I get more pocket change! I've also been waffling about it because the last time I looked, they weren't selling them as downloads, just as CDs; I'd prefer downloads if possible.

Re: small favors

[lomax-lamat.livejournal.com]

I know, but the company can't afford to do a download only format. the mp3 format is only like 30 bucks and i like to buy through buzzy. they were the folks who started the audio book thing for the dresden files and have always made a good product.

Re: small favors

[annathepiper]

Oh, I don't dispute the quality of the product; I do quite like the Storm Front audiobook. :)

However, it'd be interesting to compare the cost of a download-only option vs. a set of physical CDs. I'm not convinced that the company would have to spend more on the former. Sure, with a download system you'd have to go through the initial expense of setting up a secure system by which the material could be purchased. But I'd have to see some numbers to see how that would compare to the cost of creating physical CDs and their packaging, not to mention shipping them out to customers.

It's definitely a doable thing, though. For example, the filker Tom Smith sells downloadable MP3s and full albums, via a system that allows users to pay by PayPal and then emails them a secure link to download the material. I've bought two of his albums that way. :)

Re: small favors

[amoracchius.livejournal.com]

Look at me bopping into any conversation to do with Jim Butcher and Harry Dresden :) With a handle like Amoracchius it's almost inevitable.

Hi Anna-I think what your missing is the cost of production. For a small company like Buzzy Multimedia to pay for an actor like James Marsters to put in something like 40 hours in the studio (even James can't read a 10 hour book in one take ), pay for studio time, then the inevitable edit you are talking about a small fortune. To just begin to make even part of that back, well you can't do it by downloads. If you are a big company like Penguin with a giant distribution system you can make the money back in giant retail stores and when you have made back the initial outlay then downloads become like cream and sugar in your coffee. So if the $30 for the CD MP3 edition is too steep, why not ask your local library to carry them. I'm disabled and the first ones I listened to were loans from my library. Then I put them on my wish list and got them ALL for Christmas. Santa loves me :)

Re: small favors

[annathepiper]

Hee, good handle. :)

Ooh, good point about the cost of just paying Marsters. I don't know how much his people are charging for the service, but I'm sure it can't be cheap.

For the record, though, I'm not suggesting that Buzzy should do downloads only; I was more thinking, in addition to the physical CDs. If they were able to spare the initial expense of setting up the secure download system, then they could bring in extra customers that wouldn't otherwise be able to buy the audiobook. But that, of course, depends on whether they can spare the extra expense of setting up the download system. It can't be too terribly difficult to set up a simple one--see previous example, Tom Smith the filker, filkertom. He's one guy, and he's successfully set up a secure download system by which he can sell his music. Jonathan Coulton does it, too, as do other independent artists. Who, I daresay, don't have much more money to spare than Buzzy Multimedia; filkers, after all, aren't swimming in money either. ;)

Though, I grant, they don't have to pay James Marsters either. Like I said--that's a very good point. :)

As for my library, actually, they're already carrying the Small Favor audiobook, I noted. I found that out when I looked it up on their online system to reserve the hardback for my checkout. But thanks for the suggestion!

Re: small favors

[lomax-lamat.livejournal.com]

I don't know all that tech stuff, but if you were so inclined, i suppose the info could be forwarded onto the company. btw - I love that picture of you. did you do the drawing yourself or was some sort of program used?

L.

Re: small favors

[annathepiper]

I did not draw it! I made it on the Yahoo Avatars site; anybody can use it if they have a Yahoo account. It lives here.

I should indeed probably drop the company at least a question about whether they'll ever consider a download-only option for purchasing audiobooks. Thanks for the nudge!