Yes, and six years was way too long a time lapse between books, especially when Peace Talks takes place with in months of Skin Game, intangibles get lost.
Indeed. But then well that's not part of a story, and we can expect of Jim to keep tabs on what happened when even when he needs to take bigger skip.
The Sword broke because Murphy who claimed to know better than Harry about the Swords, who self proclaimed herself custodian, who was an absolute hypocrite when it came to the use of the Sword of Faith, that is why it got broken. Remember what Michael says, it isn't about the Sword, it is about the hand that wields it. That is what Nic read and played off of to get it broken. Trying to save Harry's life is a nice excuse, except Harry's life really was never in danger. Deep down after the fact in her hospital bed, Murphy had to have realized that as well. Yet in Peace Talks and Battle Ground, except for a little physical discomfort, Murphy talks like and acts like nothing had happened to her mentally/emotionally. And it had, in spades, Nic damaged a hell of a lot more than her body. Yet we see nothing about that.
Oh, yes I agree. Another field that should be delved more deeply. Especially considering Murphy's Catholicism (even if it seems mostly a pretext to avoid unwanted advances from valkyries).
That is an excellent point. Murphy’s death takes Murphy’s psychological recovery off the table. I also don’t understand the purpose of introducing Murphy’s dad as a speaking character... after he died... and then taking Murphy off the table.
And we have WOJ claiming Collin was murdered.
cause with Murphy sticking around in limbo(a form of it anyway) she has time to go visit her dad in limbo and find out the truth of his death?
Murphy's spirit/soul cannot leave Valhalla for next few centuries.
And yes, WWW, every time that the weight of the sword is mentioned I was intrigued. I have 0 experience with swords but it seems that fighting with essentially a handle in your hand, no weight for the blade, would be a difficult task. Yet, once you get used to it, it is be very convenient, as you don't need to pass a strength check to wield it, you don't get tired, and can be very fast. All very useful for the not so strong adventurer. But still, I wouldn't think that the skills needed to fight with such a weapon should take more than a month. As I said before, I am willing to cut JB some slack as the sword itself could be helping.
And we're too believe utter sword-noob Butters never even accidentally cut himself while making wild waving around with the Sword?
Come on. Yes I agree for someone very well trained with it - it could work - but not after so short times, swords as we see in Battle Ground help a bit with probability but fencing is in knights hands.
Also RIP to all 9 of 10 of little Jedi padawans who cut their heads of in early stages of training
But the bit I didn’t like the most was that scene with Sigrun and Harry where Jim , in my hopefully wrong opinion, kind of berated readers who wouldn’t be happy with murphy’s fate it reminded me a bit too much of LKH for comfort.
What's LKH?
Yeah this scene was bit in your face, to the point when I begun to doubt whether Murphy as Einherjaren was not just Butcher's saying "look how cool she was".
With ivy my main meaning wasn’t that he hadn’t tried to get hold of her at the party but that he hadn’t been in contact with her in general since perhaps her last in person book appearance other then his call for help I am basing that on
Now let's remember Butcher did a lot for last few books to keeping Dresden in contact - first he is dead for about half a year, then he is training in Arctis Tor, then Mab locks his for 16 months on Demonreach (and I'm kinda still angry after all this shit he allows it, and let's himself be tricked - but it was convinient for Butcher as Harry locked up - means his relationships are frozen, and God forbids any relationship stuff happens between books).
Some hint maybe of camping trips with him and the other Wardens, but did that continue after Carlos was injured?
Carlos was injured after Cold Days, so there was like no chance. Dresden was stuck on Demonreach.
Really he was back in mortal world for 4 months, probably he have not return to Warden duties.
I mean Council should call for him just as he re-emerged after Skin Game - to interrogate him after you know missing for 3 years, not performing Warden duties, letting his warlock apprentice run around alone, and hey remember Doom of Damocles Dresden. Really there should be some action between WC and Dresden before PT.
Heroic monster, or monsterous hero.
There's nothing monstrous about Dresden and I'm tired pretending him becoming a monster is any serious risk.
It is entirely possible that a significant portion of why I currently don't like Harry is that he isn't different now, after all that he has been through, ie no growth. The author has resorted back to the default traits of his primary character. Mind you, I'm attempting to cook down several hours of in depth conversation into a small paragraph.
Well generally I disagree about this narcissism claim. Dresden is arrogant, but he is also full of self-doubt, self-fear maybe even loathing, he feels guilty about things are not even his guilt, and is willing to really risk his head for others. Whole point of narcissism is that you lack guilt, you lack empathy, you lack any serious self-introspection. Normal human being will have show narcisstic traits from time to time, but point of narcisstic disorder is - you're like that all the time, and that's all you are. Which Dresden clearly isn't - even if in many aspects he is terribly immature.
That saying I agree about lack of serious growth of character. I'll say even more - other characters have this problem as well.
This is curse of formula - books in DF are like tightly written episodes of TV-series. But there is lot of time between them - that episodes of TV series lacks.
So for story that spans like 20 seasons, we ultimately gets character development worthy of maybe a season.
Now of course it seems Butcher also reaches out conlusion that's why he decided to write slow psychological Dresden Files (dammit if he'd mature just one book earlier we could get Murphy's aftermatch before killing her, dammit).
Pretty much this. I don't see how anyone can see Harry as a narcissist. Harry's problem with empathy might be the opposite of a lacking.
Harry really should have made enough money to live a good distance from anyone else or moved somewhere where that wouldn't be too expensive.
But that would not be urban fantasy if Dresden was living 60 miles from city in some old farm.
Even though it would be more suitable for his position.
Then until certain moment - his presence was not beacon for problems on his own.
As I said, the other people had to have been aware, no one tried to force him out. Who knows they might even have told him they didn't mind. We really don't know how rough a neighborhood he lived in, it might be bad enough that even living with a wizard in the building isn't seen as all that dangerous.
but that's not the point - point is what Harry should do - and I mean he should do something other than wait for another attack.
but he is sort of creature of habit as Murphy noticed.
and he won't tolerate bullies
so his stubborness is yes greater than his love for his neighbour
not a narcissism for me, but certainly some flaw
