The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers

Inconsistent characters & storytelling

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sayyadina:
I've noticed some really frustrating inconsistencies with both how Jim writes and the characters themselves in both Peace Talks and Battle Ground. There really aren't any words for how upsetting this is, since Dresden Files was my last fandom standing.

It seems he has left off with a lot of the normal description and world building, leaving most of the story to dialogue. Feels really jarring and hard to follow at times.

Then all of the character don't seem like themselves. I've been in a massive reread so I know how these characters act. There are moments where it happens like a real Dresden Files book and everyone is in character. Then things seem off. There's one moment where a character says stuff that another character should be saying. How in the heck did this get past the betas and editors? Assuming the betas and editors are compenent and Jim's not surrounded by yes men who won't tell him when he's lost the plot.

It also doesn't feel like there's been enough build up to what the Fomor are. Makes it hard to get into the story. Plus how it seems like 90% of the story seems to happen off screen...though that could be helped with more exposition.

I get that his life was chaos and he was experimenting with these books. I know all too well how stuff can happen that totally disrupts everything. I was just hoping for a Dresden Files book where the characters, including Harry, were in character. I understand the problems with his publisher. I was willing to forgive all this until I got to this one part where one charcter is speaking another character's dialogue.

I wanted to like this. With everyting going on, I needed this to be enjoyable. Instead its just something else that's screwed up and gone. Really don't see how the series recovers from this. Its been a fun ride and I'm grateful for 15 good books. Looks like it just ends with Skin Game and I need to find a new series to enjoy.

Yuillegan:
Sounds like you're pretty upset about it, and that's fair. Everyone reacts their own way.

The writing changes massively over the series, because Jim was only 25 or so when he started the series. He just wasn't as good a writer back then. He has obviously also grown and changed as a person over the last 20 years, as people do. And while some core things remain the same, they also refine too.

So reading the earlier series definitely feels different because it's written by a rather different Jim. And that's why sometimes the tone and feel is different. At least that's my take.

Personally, I am rather happy with the changes by and large. Some of Jim's earlier writing was a bit more immature and a bit less well done. But I am not particularly upset about that, as the guy was just doing his best at it at the time. Which is still a lot better than a lot of people out there. And certainly better than anything I have ever written. So you know, I try not to judge too harshly.

I get that there are issues. And I do feel there were some slightly jarring moments. But, he did have a particularly difficult writing period. And to me, he still produced the most interesting and exciting books to date. Sure, they are not the most humorous. But the series has evolved beyond gumshoe wizard goes around Chicago. And that's the nature of long series. If he didn't develop it at all, it would be Poirot or Morse or something. And even they have development, to a point. I think people would give up in droves because their would be not enough exploration and natural expansion and growth.

My advice, if I can be that bold, is just take a beat. Maybe you've just moved on from the series. Maybe you can always reread you're favourites. But I think hanging in for the long haul will be rewarding, if you're prepared to just appreciate it for what it is. Don't lose hope. Jim always delivers eventually imo.

Mpol:
I felt these changes in PT to some characters but not in BG.

Lara had a long game to play and her scenes in BG felt like herself. She needed Harry in PT to gain her goals. Her persona was polite but she too liked Harry after the events of TC more it seems. I need to reread the series to see how her actions in PT truly felt.

Eb and Carlos were the big ones for me. Both I can rationalise to a point. But their energy felt off. I feel Nemesis is running wild in the council and has one or both of them. Eb felt more in character. Carlos has his reasons.

Justine is explained at the end.

Who else did you feel felt out of whack? There was a lot going on in this book.

SerScot:
Eb and Carlos (who I have loved in past books) really felt “off”.

Mira:


I think this is what happens when six years passes between books.  Life has happened, he is writing other books, times have changed very rapidly..  So while yeah, while originally all of it has come from his mind, after six years he might have to go back and reread what he himself wrote least he lose the essence of the characters we know and love.  I think that is why some of the characters seem off and some of the subplots out of left field.

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