The Jim Butcher Files: Dresden . Codex Alera . Cinder Spires & More

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I tried Dead Witch Walking and never really could get into it.

Simon Green? I know the writer, but don't recognize what you mean. Is he known for tossing books out not quite finished in order to stay on schedule?

At least Butcher can say "At least I'm not Rothfuss!" eight years and counting with no 3rd book in sight.

Simon Green, author of the Nightside series, amongst others--while an author that I really enjoy--pisses me off no end because he writes his series, they seem to be going great guns, and then he just...guillotines them. Ends them abruptly or lamely, with no going back. Kills off MCs, etc. I had hoped that Nightside would continue on for a while (although, with what he'd done with the protag's arc, not sure how it could have), and his other series, the Golden Torc dudes, but nah. And his last book, which was a standalone, just sucked. And ended like he wrapped it up in 3 pages, rather than at least 4 chapters that it needed.

Originally Posted by Luffy

I thought I was in a minority regarding Kim Harrison. I could not go past the 6th book or so.

NOPE, that was about it for me, too. I thought it was a shame, too, but once she started down that path, all I could think was "oh, no, she's Laurell K. Hamilton'ing this series" and I just stopped dead. I didn't want to watch another series tank like that. If I want porn, I can flip on Cinemax.

Hitch

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Simon Green, author of the Nightside series, amongst others--while an author that I really enjoy--pisses me off no end because he writes his series, they seem to be going great guns, and then he just...guillotines them. Ends them abruptly or lamely, with no going back. Kills off MCs, etc.

...
Hitch

Ah, I see, the flip side of the neverending series.

I feel the same way about Michael Stackpole. He's written several books where I thought it was going really well, then had an ending where I wanted to throw the book against the wall. It's like a great joke that has an incredibly lame punch line.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Ah, I see, the flip side of the neverending series.

I feel the same way about Michael Stackpole. He's written several books where I thought it was going really well, then had an ending where I wanted to throw the book against the wall. It's like a great joke that has an incredibly lame punch line.

I know, right? It's just...wrong. I feel like we should call that Reichenbach-Falls-ing a series. "Oh, yeah, screw it, I'm tired of writing this character/arc/whatever and so, omg, here are 10 empty pages, let's end this sucker."

That's how it feels. It's just...infuriating. His last one, Shadows Fall, had this massively entertaining premise. Basically, that people and characters from fiction, myth, religion, et al who had been brought to life via belief needed a place to retire to, when the populace stopped believing in them. Whether old Gods, or action-adventure characters, fables, you-name-it, they all end up at this town. This "place" had started out as a mere mention in his Nightside series, which was fine, and then, he writes this standalone.

Fantastically entertaining and then, sort of like the absurdity of that Batman v. Superman movie, where they decide

Spoiler:

to make peace and live (kinda) happily ever after, just 'cuz they both have Moms named Martha,

and the whole ending abruptly shifts, the protagonist does something, and voila, in seriously, like 2 pages. It's as though the second act took up to the last two pages of the book, and the third act was that two pages. Absolutely infuriating.

In several of his other series, he just (do NOT read if you haven't read his various series!!!!)

Spoiler:

whacked 'em. Killed them off.

Talk about tooth-grinding.

Anyway...I get it. The author doesn't "owe" me anything. Basically, they owe us one good read, for our dollars. They aren't obligated to continue a series, etc. But daaaayam, when people invest in a series, it's not just a dollar investment; obviously, they're investing in the characters as well. Is it too much to ask for at least a complete, competently-done ending, when that time comes?

Hitch

[sqdancer]

Wasn't Shadows Fall from years ago?

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by sqdancer

Wasn't Shadows Fall from years ago?

In paperback, 2005. What's the question?

Hitch

[sqdancer]

Originally Posted by Hitch

In paperback, 2005. What's the question?

Hitch

Sorry, just confused. Probably because it's past my bedtime, but I somehow I was reading it as though you were saying it was his last book.

But if you're open to questions, what did you think of "Night Fall"?

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by sqdancer

Sorry, just confused. Probably because it's past my bedtime, but I somehow I was reading it as though you were saying it was his last book.

Sorry, in re-reading my post, I see what you mean. I guess I meant, "last" as in, hell, dunno. I guess my brain misfired.

But if you're open to questions, what did you think of "Night Fall"?

I think I ended up hating it. I just can't see that "wrapped this up in the last 3 pages of the book" stuff working in those fantastic worlds he created. It's...it's neat, but not credible, I guess, is the way I look at it. I can't see Taylor and Suzie fitting in with the Droods; the inverse is more credible than that scenario. That's another one of those "tie it off in a knot too-quick endings" that I was talking about. God knows, it's better than the end to the Ghostfinders series, or Hawk/Hunter, OR the end to the Deathstalkers (don't get me started....), but still.

I guess I simply don't like the way he ends things. It always feels abrupt and rushed to me. Obviously, I like the guy's work, for relatively quick reads; loved the Nightside series a lot. Really liked the Droods. (Loved the damn bear and the goat, too, who seemed to make it into every single series, afaik...altho I don't think I've seen them in the Ishmael Joneses yet...). It's a bit like a fix. One series ends, I find or he starts a new one, and I start reading again and I never learn that at some point in time, my supply will be cut-off and I'll start jonesing.

I'm reading the latest Ishmael Jones, as it happens, now.

I'm also smoked about how his publisher has jacked up prices on his Kindle versions. Over $14, for a Kindle version? I had started buying these in dt, 2nd-hand when that crap started but I just wrapped up something else and wanted a quick bit of entertainment, so I treated myself to it. Nonetheless, even though I'm a maker of eBooks--that's LOT for a short eBook, IMHO. The dt book isn't even 200 pages, for crying out loud.

Hitch

[Dazrin]

So, I just came across this...

https://mobile.twitter.com/longshota...648715264?s=21

Finished the finale of Peace Talks this morning.

Just the wrap-up chapter to go.

News regarding pub dates as I get it.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

So, I just came across this...

https://mobile.twitter.com/longshota...648715264?s=21

Awesome. Only the wrap up chapter to be done, huh? That is shop talk for creating a horrible mean cliffhanger for Mirror Mirror. Maybe we should be nice to him now.

[alansplace]

Check this out!!!

[alansplace]

Check this out!!! (a new post)

[alansplace]

Check this out here!!!

[alansplace]

Check this new news out here!!!

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Check this new news out here!!!

Not very surprise-y.

Hitch

[Dazrin]

Better news today...

From Jim Butcher @longshotauthor:

T
H
E

E
N
D

I love typing that.

https://twitter.com/longshotauthor/s...673069569?s=20

Peace Talks is officially "finished" and on its way to beta readers then editing. He says release date "soon."