|
Summer Knight (The Dresden Files #4)
by Jim Butcher - 4/5
Jim Butcher is a delightfully expert author and also a frustrating one for me as well. His finales, broken over in large segments over each book, hinder his books from being perfect 5 stars rated ones. I can only speak for myself, but I think the closer one's approaching the end of any Dresden story, the more haphazard and clunky the showdowns turn out to be. Partly this is because the stakes are upped so much that it's stretching the sense of disbelief how the far from witless-and-limitless Harry Dresden survives the hammer blows that are dealt to his person. Also, it's difficult to come up with a whole new arena or battlefield in each book (so far) without being repetitious.
What I like about JB's books are the ease and economy by which he quietly goes about creating his world and fleshing out his characters. Literary or long winded non fiction writers should take note of his style of writing. Sub stories within the book are brought to life so easily, you might think this writing malarkey is within the reach of anyone. Some hints here and there, the presence of a photo album or so, a short silence here and there do the trick. This is what many writers and movie directors think they cannot afford to do. Some think that not tarrying enough is the wrong thing to do. Others just want to move to the next lieu of action. The author here knows how to let his scenes breathe. When Harry Dresden tells someone he's been looking for her "...for years. Years." you believe him. When a small time troll or pixie aligns himself against and with Dresden respectively you buy that.
And the dialog, oh my. You really think that this world is peopled with a huge number of persons, mortal or not, most of them with their own voice. The writer is one of the few males who can craft an interesting and subtle female character. Karrin Murphy is easily one of the best supporting characters I've ever come across. To me she's far better than the unlikely Hermione of J.K. Rowling. Now I must address my growing feeling that this series will not garner a perfect score with me. The prolonged battle scenes are there, in each book. Clearly many fans of the series enjoy these set pieces. I must be missing something. But if Harry Dresden can rescue his damsel and his friends without being ridiculously spared dying then I'd appreciate that. Or if the build up is so good that it transcends the book's faults, then I can see myself giving a future Dresden 'file' 5 stars. But if such a book never materializes, then so be it. At least I'm getting a huge bang for my buck. Let Summer Knight be the harbinger of good times with the Dresden files.
|