Arctic Light

- My fandom stocking is up! I love Fandom Stocking so much; it's such a delightful, no-pressure fest. (And they're still taking signups, if you're interested!) I've been having so much trouble writing lately that this is clearly not going to be one of those years when I try to put something in the stocking of everyone I know, but since I haven't really been doing holiday fic exchanges the last few years, this is where most of my fic-gifting efforts take place.

Books:

- Stranger by Rachel Manija Brown and Sherwood Smith is really fun, especially if you're more into the community-building aspect of post-apocalypse scenarios than the destruction aspects (which I am). There's a large ensemble cast and an overall hopeful, "most people are basically good at heart" vibe. One of the things I liked about the book is that for the most part, even the really unpleasant people in the group (the bigots, the snobs) are still fundamentally decent and willing to come through in a crisis; it's not a case of ~everyone who doesn't get along with the main characters is EEEEEVIL~, which I really appreciated. There's also a general sense that, while the book (being YA) is primarily focused on the teenagers, the adults have a really interesting backstory that I want to know more about! I'm looking forward to the sequel.

- Dresden Files: War Cry - Graphic novel which came in my Amazon order yesterday, and turned out to be an unexpected delight because I somehow missed that it's written by Jim Butcher and is therefore actual canon (it takes place between Dead Beat and Proven Guilty). And as well as featuring the Wardens, so we get to see the comics versions of Luccio and Ramirez, it's FULL OF THOMAS. Thomas and Harry snarking at each other, saving each other's lives, etc ... in case that's, you know, an enticement for anyone. :> You get quite a lot of Thomas's POV in this, too, which is something that's lacking in the novels since they're all in Harry's viewpoint. The cover art for War Cry #5 (the graphic novel is a collection of 5 single issues) is also Relevant To My Interests. Sadly this is not an actual scene from the comic. But it is still nifty.

In general I kinda can't get over how much Butcher obviously loves writing Harry and Thomas, and how fanficcy his side stories with those two tend to be. (Still not over the birthday story. NEVER OVER THE BIRTHDAY STORY.) War Cry also includes a scene where ( Cut for spoiler, which is also span-texted out )

Something I was also thinking about, Dresden Files-related, is that the part of the series from approximately Blood Rites to just before Turn Coat is where my heart is anchored in that series. I don't know if it's just because that was the general time period when I started reading so I imprinted on it, and it's not that there haven't been plenty of things I've enjoyed in the books since then, but that's "my" Dresden Files, and it was really nice to have another story from that era.

I finally read Captain Vorpatril's Alliance, which means I am all caught up on recent Vorkosigan books! Who wants to talk about it with me? :D

(In non-Bujold news - hey Dresden Files people, LOOK WHAT'S AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER! I'm not looking forward to the next Dresden book as avidly as the last couple because of ~~Cold Days spoilers~~, but I'll still be waiting for that pre-order to drop in the mail, you betcha.)

Oh, I've been forgetting to mention this, but the usual pre-release chapters of the new Dresden book are coming out on Jim Butcher's website! There are two chapters up already. :D :D :D

My spoilery thoughts:

( Under the cut )

100 Things: 100 favorite scenes from anything (books, movies, TV, fanfic, etc)

Scene #5: "Families stay, Harry" from Dresden Files book 11 book 10 actually *facepalm*

Aaah, Dresden Files. I know so many people who've tried to read the series and quit in the first couple of books, usually complaining that they're poorly written and cliche and sexist. And ... it's not like it isn't true! But I have to struggle with my obsessed-fan tendency to wail, "But ... but it gets so much better later on! Give it a chance!"

I know these books aren't going to be for everyone. But they really do get better later on, not just in terms of picking up richness and layers and depth as a series, but also giving depth and agency to a lot of the characters who didn't have all that much to begin with, particularly the female characters. One of the things that makes me love the series is the way that a lot of its characters start out as little more than interesting/amusing ideas or one-note cliches and slowly turn into full-fledged, living, breathing people when you aren't looking. I love to be surprised in that particular way.

And one of the stellar examples of that is what happens to Charity in the course of the series.

Charity is introduced as a gigantic cliche, and a fairly sexist cliche at that. She is Michael's nagging wife. Her main role in the first few books is to take care of Michael's large brood of children and harangue Harry for making her husband stay out late.

But then Book 8 (Proven Guilty) happens.

( Spoilers for books 8 and 10 )

I am hooooome and have a to-do list as long as my arm, so what am I doing instead? Reading the latest Dresden Files chapter (and the last preview chapter before the book comes out on the 26th - though apparently there will be early copies available at the San Diego Comicon, for those of you in the area!).

( Under cut, spoiler spoiler )

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Chapter 2 of Ghost Story is up at Jim Butcher's website! ( Spoilers spoil! (but not much) )

This entry is also posted at http://friendshipper.dreamwidth.org/352671.html with comments.

The first chapter of Ghost Story is available on Penguin Books' website!

WHO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT?

(Obviously spoilers through "Changes" abound. Also, Jim Butcher's website has the schedule for the release of the rest of the chapters leading up to the book coming out in July, although Chapter 2 won't be out until JUNE. *wibbles*)

( Spoilers for Ghost Story chapter 1 )

This entry is also posted at http://friendshipper.dreamwidth.org/316689.html with comments.