Turn Coat...it's here, I'm reading and---

[gategrrl]

and damn, it's good. Just what I expected from Jim Butcher.

More later. Right now, I'm licking it up, page by page.

Comments

[nialla]

You know the backstory about the creation of Bob? I don't want to bore you with it if you've already heard the tale.

I think Jim's trying to continually shake things up instead of going through the same routine every book like so many series do, where there's no real progression in plot or characterization.

This book just completely reset the playing field, gave us a new rule book with large portions redacted, plus revealed hints of mystery in the backstory that could completely shift our thinking all over again.

I repeat: Utter. Bastard.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

What's the backstory? I don't think I've heard it.

He succeeds in shaking things up and mixing the characters around. And it does keep the books from getting boring and completely formulaic.

I'll have to reread for the hints in backstory, though. My memory is a sieve.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Er, do you mean in the book, or in real life? (about Bob) The book's story of Bob I know.

[nialla]

In real life. The creation of Bob was sort of a smartass student's way of tweaking his college writing teacher and her advice to not have "talking heads" spouting facts.

It's often a sign of lazy writing to have a character tell everything instead of showing it develop within the storyline. ::cough::Stargate::cough::

So of course Jim gets it in his brain to write a character that's literally a talking head, designed to do nothing but dole out information.

My memory is often a sieve on details, but sometimes discussion will spark a thought where I can recall something I'd forgotten, or see things in a different light. It's one reason I like to read other's reviews of tv shows -- they probably saw something I missed, or remembered something from a previous episode I'd forgotten.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Oh! Okay, an infodumper joke--I get that. :-D

[nialla]

It's rare that an author can create a talking head that works, but to make one that's a fan favorite is probably icing on a certain writing student's cake. *g*