jcfiala

So, I've never read any of the Dresden Files books. The TV show was on a year or so ago, but I'm not really a TV watcher, so I let it slip by. However, the author, Jim Butcher, is going to be one of the Guests of Honor at this year's Mile Hi Con, and so I figured I really should give it a try, as several people I like seem to think it's pretty good.

But what's the deal? I'm reading this first novel, and not to give away any spoilers, but everything that happens to poor Harry is the equivalent of him walking up to a someone, saying hello, and getting kneed in the balls in return. Goes to one job? Something bad happens. Goes to another job? Something bad happens. The only time anything good of any measure happens to this guy is when he manages to just barely stop someone from actually killing him. And then something *else* bad happens to make up for it.

I can't read this thing anymore. He's just rushed to the side of someone to save them from a supposed threat - which is real and greater than expected - and in return this person does something *else* bad to him while he's in the midst of saving them. If I hadn't been riding on the bus, I would have tossed it across the room. If the bus had been emptier, I might have still considered it.

Is it worth continuing? I mean, I guess he's not going to end up dead, as there's a pile of sequels to this book. But I kind of would like the guy to die so he doesn't have to put up with all this crap anymore. It'd be one thing, I guess, if the events were presented as being funny, if I felt that the guy maybe deserved some of the shit that's flying his way - but he doesn't. Not that he's got much more character than a doormat so far, but would it have killed Butcher to allow something nice to happen for a change? Just one?

So, instead, I'm reading Dirk Gently.