The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Peace Talks First book that made Dresdenverse feel smaller -Spoilers
huangjimmy108:
--- Quote from: gawime on August 21, 2020, 03:43:05 AM ---Every book in the series so far helped expand the world building, at times in small ways. New antagonists; new knowledge; added characters all helped grow the Dresdenverse. Peace Talks in my mind is the first book in the entire series that bent that trajectory. I’m speaking of the Accords meeting. The Accords are supposed to be something that spans the entire supernatural world. But who do we see at chez Marcone’s? The same cast of characters we’ve always seen. That’s it? A half dozen or so powers? Where’s everyone else?
Peace talks is a deeply flawed novel...perhaps the worst in the series so far. A lot can be forgiven. But I’m not sure I can overlook taking an axe to the world building that’s been done up to now.
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For one thing, the accords members we saw in PT are those who are involve in the fomorian conflict. This is the peace talks to end the war between the establish powers against the currently agressive fomor. Those powers who are not bordering on the sea or large body of water probably won't attend the meeting. They don't have any business there. I also suspect that the fomorian do not provoke all powers bordering their domain, nor do I believe that the fomorian has control over all of the sea. There must be other powers down there, Poseidon for example. In fact, Ghost story did told us that fomorians only provoke those that do not have champions of their own to defend them.
So what we saw in PT are those that is involve in the conflict, which not nescesarily all members of the accords. Nor does the member of the Unceli accords represents the entire supernatural powers upon planet earth, not to mentioned the powers of the NN.
Areas like mainland China and India probably is not involve in this conflict, which is probably why we haven't see the Hindu gods just yet. From this we can see that most of the fomorian conflict happens in American continent which make sense because the power vacume cause by the destruction of the red court which is the spark of this conflict is based in south america. Maybe the red court have other bases and branches in europe, africa and Asia, but I think those should be minor. It explain why Marcone can host the talks, because Chicago is indeed in the conflicted zone.
JumpyDragon:
--- Quote ---But who do we see at chez Marcone’s? The same cast of characters we’ve always seen. That’s it? A half dozen or so powers? Where’s everyone else?
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If the people of the Accords are anything like the the White Council, it very could be that those not in attendance are not there because they don't want to be. How long did it take Harry to finally go to a Council meeting? He had been a wizard for years and the council meeting in SK was his first one as a full status wizard. Like Mac having his pub used as neutral ground, my guess is that a lot of the Accorded people use it for protection. As far as we know, the Nickleheads are signatories of the Accords, but was not in attendance. I'm sure Harry and Marcone would have had apoplexies with good "saint" Nic there.
Mira:
--- Quote ---I don't think Peace Talks will ever be a fully enjoyable read by itself. Unlike other Dresden Files novels; specifically Ghost Story and Fool Moon, both of which have often been placed on the top of least favorite Dresden Files novels lists, it doesn't tell a complete story. For that reason it will always fall short for a large swath of readers.
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On the reread it feels like Jim didn't know where he wanted to go with the story. Biggest example is Rudolph and Bradley showing up at Murphy's house to question her about the bank break in and Harvey's death from Skin Game, what was the point of that? Unless in the end if she isn't killed they suddenly arrest Murphy for murder or something like that. Suddenly Eb is acting weird, the whole Senior Council is out to get Harry yet again, this time without even a hearing like he got in Summer Knight. Then the whole thing with Thomas which is frankly a distraction from the Peace Talks. I guess I am disappointed because I was expecting more infighting and politicking, which we didn't get. At the end of Peace Talks we are just as clueless about why Thomas attacked as we were in the beginning. Though on the reread it is easier to pick up upon the fact that Thomas was uptight about something and it was more than Justine's pregnancy. I wouldn't be shocked if the Fomor or one of their allies conned Thomas into believing if he pulled this off they could keep Justine from dying or something like that.
One also comes away with the fact that if Harry had known the power he has on the island aside from knowing everything thing that happens on it, Shaggy wouldn't have had a chance against him back in Turn Coat.
Yuillegan:
I agree the actual Peace Talks were a bit underwhelming in terms of both number of guests and variety of factions and faces.
While I also agree that the Peace Talks had some issues, from what I have heard from someone with an early release copy a lot of the issues are resolved.
Unfortunately, nothing solves the slightly rushed feeling of the books - particularly relating to spelling and grammar mistakes and some inconsistencies.
In saying all that, I very much enjoyed Peace Talks as a novel. I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if the wait between it and Battle Ground was longer (like a year) and I would have been furious if it were any more than that. Peace Talks isn't the beginning of opening up the Dresdenverse (that's more like Changes), but it is where the pace really starts to pick up. We are given plenty of good information and we start to see the Files grow in scale.
We have had hints about how big the series is going to get but it will be fascinating to see how Jim does it (hopefully).
I am reserving my full judgement until after Battle Ground is released, at any rate.
Mira:
--- Quote from: Yuillegan on September 19, 2020, 05:19:17 AM ---I agree the actual Peace Talks were a bit underwhelming in terms of both number of guests and variety of factions and faces.
While I also agree that the Peace Talks had some issues, from what I have heard from someone with an early release copy a lot of the issues are resolved.
Unfortunately, nothing solves the slightly rushed feeling of the books - particularly relating to spelling and grammar mistakes and some inconsistencies.
In saying all that, I very much enjoyed Peace Talks as a novel. I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if the wait between it and Battle Ground was longer (like a year) and I would have been furious if it were any more than that. Peace Talks isn't the beginning of opening up the Dresdenverse (that's more like Changes), but it is where the pace really starts to pick up. We are given plenty of good information and we start to see the Files grow in scale.
We have had hints about how big the series is going to get but it will be fascinating to see how Jim does it (hopefully).
I am reserving my full judgement until after Battle Ground is released, at any rate.
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I am not saying I didn't enjoy Peace Talks, but the careful second reading are bringing a lot of WTF moments. Harry asks a few important questions about why this is happening, even taken aback a bit by Justine's first reaction, "Does Lara know?" However the questions are not followed up on. The timing of the assassination attempt after his "interview" and marching orders from Mab to grant Lara her two last favors. What was the first favor she granted? I cannot help but think given Molly's reaction to Lara in chapter three of Battleground that somehow the two are related. I just hope that Battleground answers a lot of these questions and isn't just a lot of smoke and fury. Or season six of Game of Thrones revisited.
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