Peace Talks - possible spoilers - you have been warned

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Rich_D

Was the starborn reference in one of the other books? I don't recall it, but I haven't read them in a while.

Star Born was referred, but I think this was the first time it we were actually told what it meant.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Star Born was referred, but I think this was the first time it we were actually told what it meant.

Also, Harry does starborn stuff without knowing any better, right from the beginning when he banished He Who Walks Behind that Justin summoned to kill him. Except that time it was a lucky accident.

[pwalker8]

Finished up Battleground. Since the title of the thread says spoilers, I'll assume that also applies for Battleground.

All in all, I thought that Battleground was a very good book, like a lot of basically two part books, the first was the set up and the second was the payoff. Fairly obviously, this sets up the series to go off in a somewhat different direction. From that standpoint there a similarities between this one and Changes.

I'll put spoiler around the next part

Spoiler:

Obviously killing off Murphy, the engagement to Laura, the fact that Justine was taken over by a watcher and the upcoming battle between Dresden and the White Council are the big changes that point to the new direction of the story arc. The revelation about Marcone is another big change.

One piece of speculation I would make is that there will be a break in the White Council and a group of wizards will join Dresden in his new abode, otherwise, why would he need the Castle? We will see.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

All in all, I thought that Battleground was a very good book, like a lot of basically two part books, the first was the set up and the second was the payoff.

Thank you. In your opinion, is Peace Talks and Battleground together a complete book when compared to the previous ones in the series? As in case finished, big story arc progressed, but wide open. Has the editing improved a little bit from Peace Talks?

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Thank you. In your opinion, is Peace Talks and Battleground together a complete book when compared to the previous ones in the series? As in case finished, big story arc progressed, but wide open. Has the editing improved a little bit from Peace Talks?

Yes, I think it best to think of them as one long book, thus them getting published with in 2 months of each other.

I never really noticed the editing issues in Peace Talks. It has to be really bad for me to notice. My brain just fills in what it should have been without me really noticing.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Yes, I think it best to think of them as one long book, thus them getting published with in 2 months of each other.

I never really noticed the editing issues in Peace Talks. It has to be really bad for me to notice. My brain just fills in what it should have been without me really noticing.

I will treat them as one long book instead of two short ones. As for the editing, other than abruptly ending, Peace Talks had a good flow to me, but frequently typos and grammatical errors snuck in that I don't recall as badly from older books. If you didn't notice, possibly I was too critical.

[basschick]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Thank you. In your opinion, is Peace Talks and Battleground together a complete book when compared to the previous ones in the series? As in case finished, big story arc progressed, but wide open. Has the editing improved a little bit from Peace Talks?

the thing is, they're pretty long each for half a book. it worked out well for me. but i wouldn't read battleground first. on the other hand, i couldn't read changes after ghost story, either.

peace talks and battle ground i'd say do conclude but have opened doors for more changes within the large arc.

[pwalker8]

So, no one else read these books and wanted to comment on them?

[cc_in_oh]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

So, no one else read these books and wanted to comment on them?

I have it on hold - should get to it next month...

[Gandulf]

Seems to me Butcher Jim has not really but the series to bed, but left it open to create a follow up series.

[Dazrin]

He's said for a long time that he has a 20 (21?) book arc planned out for this, so it doesn't surprise me that the series doesn't feel completed.

I'm not sure if his number has increased by 1 with Battle Ground or if this was always intended though.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

He's said for a long time that he has a 20 (21?) book arc planned out for this, so it doesn't surprise me that the series doesn't feel completed.

I'm not sure if his number has increased by 1 with Battle Ground or if this was always intended though.

I get the impression that Peace Talks/Battle Ground was intended to be one book. Assuming it doesn't expand more, that implies 3 or 4 more books in the series. To a certain extent, he's running into the Superman syndrome, i.e. as Dresden becomes much more powerful, he requires much more powerful enemies.

IMPO, the series feels like it's approaching a wrap up. Most of the on going story lines seem to be wrapped up - Murphy for example. We still have the outsiders as the main issue. With a few other issues that I think get wrapped before the outsiders - i.e. the Winter Court, the White Council, his brother, his daughter and the 3rd knight.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Gandulf

Seems to me Butcher Jim has not really but the series to bed, but left it open to create a follow up series.

I wouldn't be shocked if he has stories set in the same universe. I think a lot depends on how the other series goes, i.e. does the Cinder Spires series sell or not. If I recall correctly, he's under contract for 3 books in that series.

The other thing to consider is that he's been writing for 20 years and is almost 50. A lot of writers slow down a lot after 20 years or so, especially if they are pretty successful and don't need the money.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I get the impression that Peace Talks/Battle Ground was intended to be one book. Assuming it doesn't expand more, that implies 3 or 4 more books in the series. To a certain extent, he's running into the Superman syndrome, i.e. as Dresden becomes much more powerful, he requires much more powerful enemies.

That has been true ever since the first book. Harry has always been dealing with too strong opponents, and it is usually small versions of something much bigger. Storm Front is mini Changes as the same bloodline curse is used. Dead Beat will be a mini finale with his death curse "die alone." Doesn't necessarily mean we will see him die, but that there won't be anyone left he cares about. While gathering power he will need to get a few goodies yet. Unfortunately also means more deaths coming. There is no way he won't end up with the Blackstaff being the Blackstaff, but that would probably only work through Ebenezar's death.

[pwalker8]

Just started listening to Peace Talks as an audiobook. James Marsters is once again the one, true narrator for the Dresden Files. One aspect of audiobooks is that it's difficult to go into scan mode when things are a bit slow. Peace Talks with the whole "wow, it's so great to be a dad" stuff and the somewhat unexplained confrontation between McCoy and Dresden starts a bit slow. Some of it I suspect was a set up for the break between Dresden and the White Council, but I think that it's also a set up for something to come as Dresden consolidates power from the White Vampires, Winter Court and lesser magical talents. We are still waiting for that 3rd Knight of the Sword.