The Dresden Files

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by Andy_T

Also, it is refreshing to read a book set in Moscow, and written by a Russian, for a change. Lukyanenko is actually a "heavyweight" of the Russian Fantasy and Science Fiction literary landscape with more than 40 books to his name. Unfortunately, only few of these have been translated to English, a few more to German. Night watch was also made into a movie.

Best regards,
Andy

That sounds interesting. Have to check that out. And if it is not in English, just gonna have to get the German version. Better try some other German books first, and see if that still works to read for me.

[Andy_T]

DuckieTigger,

the "Night Watch" series is available in English translation. I only read it in English, but the movie was also dubbed in German (and I guess is availablei in Russian with subtitles).

But there are some other books by Lukyanenko - some of them more books for young adults - that have not been translated to English, but at least to German. I was actually hoping for more of his books to be translated to English after the success of the "Night Watch" series and the movie, but so far have not seen anything else.

Best regards,
Andy

[Pookeysgirl]

Originally Posted by Andy_T

Has anybody here read Sergeij Lukyanenko's "Night Watch" quadrilogy?

I read that some time ago and would highly advise it. It is about Anton Gorodetskij, a young wizard from Moscow who is a member of the "Night Watch", an executive body of "white" wizards who make sure that during the nighttime no black magic users overstep the boundaries of the accord between light and dark. Simultaneously, during the day, the "Day Watch", their dark counterparts, make sure that the fragile equilibrium is not disturbed.

Of course, there is a lot of scheming and breaking of rules that makes the books interesting.

As a young - and not very powerful - wizard, Anton is unfortunately (fortunately for the plot, however) quite often out of his league when battling werewolves, vampires and centuries-old warlocks, also both the enemy and his own bosses sometimes use him as an unwitting pawn. So not boring, and not as "smug" as Jim Butchers writing, where you always know that Harry has at least one more hidden ace up his sleeve.

I really must read those books again (old, dusty, boring dead tree books) and check if I still like them as much as I did when I read them first. I promise, however, that there is not much "chick-lit" in those :-)

Also, it is refreshing to read a book set in Moscow, and written by a Russian, for a change. Lukyanenko is actually a "heavyweight" of the Russian Fantasy and Science Fiction literary landscape with more than 40 books to his name. Unfortunately, only few of these have been translated to English, a few more to German. Night watch was also made into a movie.

Best regards,
Andy

I agree. It's a great series. I would highly recommend them even though I haven't read the 4th book yet. I have the first 3 in paperback and want to re-buy them all as ebooks before reading the 4th. It's been a long time since I read them.

[Andy_T]

Even better: There's a fifth book "New Watch" now (already out in Russian) that will be available in English by May of this year.

[Pookeysgirl]

Originally Posted by Andy_T

Even better: There's a fifth book "New Watch" now (already out in Russian) that will be available in English by May of this year.

Dang it, I really need to catch up! Thanks for letting me know

[alansplace]

We've been going a little bit of-topic lately and I, for one, am happy about it. Sharing other simlar books and series to The Dresden Files seems to be a good idea to me. So with that in mind and in that spirit, I decided to post this interview. Let me know if you think it's okay or not okay to do so in the future.

Quoted from Harper Voyager.

January 7, 2013

It’s no secret we are very excited about EVER AFTER, the latest Hollows novel by Kim Harrison (Jan 22, 2013). Kim Harrison was kind enough to answer some questions for us! Enjoy… and remember, DON’T PANIC!



Q: First off, the book title is EVER AFTER, but that’s somewhat misleading… hence why you keep telling readers, “Don’t Panic!” Rachel’s not riding off into the sunset… not before she deals with her personal demons, right?

A: I have been assuring readers for months now that EVER AFTER is not the last book in the series despite the fairytale ending sound to it. We’ve got two more after this one before I reach the ending I’ve been working for and Rachel, Ivy, Jenks, and perhaps even Al get their happy ending. But yes, there are a few unexpected issues that have cropped up in these last two books as I delve deeper into the source of magic.

Like most of the books in the series, EVER AFTER is a play on a Clint Eastwood move, in this case, HEREAFTER. I think it’s especially fitting since much of the story line revolves around the possible destruction of the ever-after, a secondary reality in the mythology of the series.

Q: Speaking of Douglas Adams (and please don’t throw your towel at me)—you are a great fan of his work. How has his writing influenced yours?

A: I love Douglas Adam’s work, yes! His titles were some of the few that I bought as hard cover when all my disposable income went for books. I couldn’t wait. I like using humor to make my characters more identifiable, and I figure if I can’t laugh while Rachel figures out how to save the world, I’m not doing it right.

Q: Rachel’s romance. It’s the question you play hardest-to-get on, but the aspect of the books that readers ask you most about. Will Rachel get her own happily-ever-after?

A: Will Rachel find her happy ever-after? Oh yes, very much so, but I always caution readers that it might not be the traditional happily ever after they expect with the white-picket fence, two kids, and a ring on her finger. Rachel is the girl next door, but she is anything but traditional, and her happy-ever-after will reflect that. My idea of a happy-ever-after has always been when the protagonist comes to understand her flaws and has learned how to work with them, becoming happy with who she is and learning what she needs to go confidently forward. In a way, Rachel has had this for a long time. She simply had to recognize it and accept that she is deserving of happiness.

Q: With Trent?

A: Oh, that would be telling! I have a lot of readers who are angry at me for exploring the chance that Rachel might find her happy ending with Ivy and then seemingly abandon that for Trent, but I’ve been having too much fun with Trent, seeing him grow and change, using him as a foil for Rachel to grow and change as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the Ivy and Rachel story line that dominated the early and middle section of the Hollows story arc. Ivy grew. Her choices became smarter, and I could not ruin the growth she underwent simply to throw more obstacles at Rachel. I don’t want to say who Rachel ends up with because I have a tendency to change things up to the copy edit, but I will say I’ve seen Ivy’s ending. It is beautiful, sensitive, and feels really, really good to me.

Q: You’ve said, in book 13, every character will experience a happy ending, if not a happily-ever-after. You’re getting closer and closer… and EVER AFTER did take some dark twists. Everyone still going to be okay when the end draws near?

A: I’ve long told readers that my goal is a happy ending for everyone. I probably should have said my goal is a happy ending for everyone who survives. EVER AFTER ups the stakes for the last couple of books. No one is safe. But then again, there are a few characters I would celebrate if they met their end.

Q: Readers have often asked you about Rachel and Ivy…but it finally seems like Ivy has met her match…care to comment?

A: Ivy is one of my absolute favorite characters in the Hollows. She has evolved and grown, almost leaving the series twice as she learns to love herself and accept that her needs are not wrong. A character that balanced and confident isn’t as much fun to watch as one who’s still struggling, but the introduction of a new character has sparked a new story line that involves Ivy, and I hope we see this thread continue to the last book.

Q: Do you have titles in place for books 12 and 13 that you’d like to share with us?

A: I have titles for the last couple of books, but I’m reluctant to share them just yet as my editor isn’t keen on the one I want for book twelve and we still need to find one we both like and can get past marketing. Book thirteen won’t hit the shelves until 2015. We’ve had a title for that for a long time, but it’s far too early to share just yet. I will say that I’m sticking to tradition, and as long as Clint Eastwood keeps making movies, I will keep using his titles.

Q: And – here’s what everyone wants to know: we read Into the Woods, and saw you embarking upon some interesting new directions. After the last page is turned on The Hollows, where do you go next?

A: Into the Woods gave me a rare opportunity to play in depth with a several new ideas, developing not just story lines but real characters, worlds, and magic mythologies. It turned out to be somewhat of a double-edged sword since the stories that made it to the page are more like prequels to the series that I might be developing. It’s a great way to work out the kinks in the magic system and organize the world, but large chunks are missing from what I would eventually work with, entire characters and motivations that are really what get me to the keyboard every morning.

I work quite far ahead of the printing schedule with the rough draft for the last Hollows book sitting safely in my cabinet already, but even so, it’s too early to tell if I’m going to continue on with the “Spider Silk” and shade my work toward horror, or if I will follow “Grace” and her more military feel, or perhaps “Pet Shop Boys,” where I go all out and let my imagination go nuts and just have fun. Lately I’ve been teasing my editor with hints of an as yet unshared manuscript of something completely different, something that captured my attention last year to such a degree that threw out my beloved plots and outlines and just wrote it by the seat of my pants. It’s fast, smart, and plays with a few ideas that have been haunting me for the last ten years as my writing skills have been playing catch-up with my ambitions. I think it’s time for Peri. We’ll see.

[Nyssa]

So book #13 will be the end. Now I have to choose if I want to keep reading now, or "stockpile" like I am with Sookie and wait until the end. Decisions, decisions...

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

So book #13 will be the end. Now I have to choose if I want to keep reading now, or "stockpile" like I am with Sookie and wait until the end. Decisions, decisions...

Oh quit complaining!

On another note, glad to see ya'. I finally shook you out of the haystack. Now what do we need to do to wake up Christa?

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Oh quit complaining!

On another note, glad to see ya'. I finally shook you out of the haystack. Now what do we need to do to wake up Christa?

[treadlightly]

Re The Hollows:
I'm looking forward to Ever After. The witch-demon-elf history is an interesting storyline, and my favourite of the series. Luckily, the ebook showed up as reservable in my library's Overdrive this morning and I am first in line!

[alansplace]

Boy, did I ever get a long series of chuckles from this one

[bizzybody]

Good fanfilm! +10 for being done in my home State.

[alansplace]

Several of you interested me in the Iron Druid series whan it's newest book's release coincided with Cold Days' release date. So I picked up the first one, Hounded, ,and put it on my TBR list. I've just begun it and right now I'm ready to start chapter 5 and instead, I'm considering abandoning it.

I don't like Atticus at all. But I do love the locale. However I don't think an unlikeable protagonist and a familiar and appreciated locale is enough to keep my intrest (keep? I'm not yet interested!).

What m I missing, if anything?

[Abtacha]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Several of you interested me in the Iron Druid series whan it's newest book's release coincided with Cold Days' release date. So I picked up the first one, Hounded, ,and put it on my TBR list. I've just begun it and right now I'm ready to start chapter 5 and instead, I'm considering abandoning it.

I don't like Atticus at all. But I do love the locale. However I don't think an unlikeable protagonist and a familiar and appreciated locale is enough to keep my intrest (keep? I'm not yet interested!).

What m I missing, if anything?

Not sure if you're missing anything, but I do remember that I found Atticus a bit Mary Sue-ish at first. It certainly took some time for me to really get into the book, though I don't think I ever wanted to quit. And I really started to like Atticus along the way, especially in combination with Oberon.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Abtacha

Not sure if you're missing anything, but I do remember that I found Atticus a bit Mary Sue-ish at first. It certainly took some time for me to really get into the book, though I don't think I ever wanted to quit. And I really started to like Atticus along the way, especially in combination with Oberon.

Mary Sue-ish? Er....I hate to have to ask, but what does that mean? I like Harry Dresden, Rachel Morgan, Mercy Thompson and others in the genre because they care about people. But this guy Atticus says:

“Aye, but they are unlikely to provide you much sport.” I was not about to defend them or beg for a stay of execution; the best I could do was imply that they were not worth the trouble.

That's just not very admirable in a supposed protagonist.