[Abyss]

I only just noticed there's a new urban fantasy anthology out called Dark and Stormy Knights. It's yet another collection of poor to mediocre stories by authors i don't care about with a token Butcher Dresden-verse story as a selling point. (as a complete aside Butcher's wife Shannon has a story in there, but i don't know if it falls into the mediocre-to-poor category).

The story is called Even Hand. It's Marcone's POV.

I just read the first three pages and GODSDAMMIT i'm actually tempted to buy the frikkin thing just for that. Seriously. Three pages and it's perfect Marcone. Crap.

On the bright side, i'm now only 18th in line for it at the library [/sarcasm].

- Abyss, clearly has a problem.

[Stalker]

That is a problem. I'd go for buying the anthology, I did it before with the MEAN STREETS anthology, which was meh except for Butcher.
This is Marcone, which is awesome, may be worth buying the whole thing.

or.... you could eat the brains of the other 17 people and get it first.

[Coco with marshmallows]

How long till the anthology of Dresden-verse short stories is released again?

[Abyss]

Stalker, on 22 July 2010 - 07:31 PM, said:

That is a problem. I'd go for buying the anthology, I did it before with the MEAN STREETS anthology, which was meh except for Butcher.
This is Marcone, which is awesome, may be worth buying the whole thing.
or.... you could eat the brains of the other 17 people and get it first.

I have library/read every single anthology that has had a Dresden story in it to date and i state with complete confidence that I was relieved not to have spent money on any of them. MEAN STREETS was the best of the lot because it only had four stories and aside from the Dresdencrack, one of the stories was half-decent.

So it's off to hack the library intranet for 17 other names i go. Or just the first one.

Cocoreturns, on 22 July 2010 - 09:13 PM, said:

How long till the anthology of Dresden-verse short stories is released again?

Nov of this year. Pre-ordered it a few weeks ago.

[champ]

is there any particular short story worth a read?

btw anyone seen The Sorcerers Apprentice? Balthazar could be Harry Dresden looks wise, i reckons they definately read some Dresden books before making that movie!

[Abyss]

champooon, on 26 July 2010 - 01:25 PM, said:

is there any particular short story worth a read?
...

THE WARRIOR is absolutely worthwhile. The rest so far are fun but non-essential.

Tho i totally enjoyed the Thomas story in BACKUP.

[Abyss]

Library'd the anthology - read the first page or so and he's in FINE form. Very psyched.

[Tattersail_]

Abyss, on 08 October 2010 - 02:47 PM, said:

Library'd the anthology - read the first page or so and he's in FINE form. Very psyched.

I was going to ask how you can afford to buy all your books, you seem to read so many and yet I have my answer. The Library. What time does your Library open til? Ours close before we get home from work, and are not open on the weekends so therefore I can never join a library as I would never have time to check in and out!

[Abyss]

Tattersail, on 08 October 2010 - 03:13 PM, said:

Abyss, on 08 October 2010 - 02:47 PM, said:

Library'd the anthology - read the first page or so and he's in FINE form. Very psyched.

I was going to ask how you can afford to buy all your books, you seem to read so many and yet I have my answer. The Library. What time does your Library open til? Ours close before we get home from work, and are not open on the weekends so therefore I can never join a library as I would never have time to check in and out!

I'm independently wealthy due to a successful pyramid scheme blackmail racket self-whoring self-whoring internet site lucrative career in animated panda pr0n imports .... always watching for 2nd hand stuff and i travel a fair bit with time to browse. Plus friends who are genre fans.

The library is glorious - open late'ish, huge inter-library system, multiple branches near work and home, complete internet catalog and reserve system, e-books, e-audio books even... .

I did have to wait a while for this one tho'. But i am a patient genrevore. And the vast majority of anthologies are wastes of money loaded with mediocre stories by authors i don't like and awful stories by authors i've never heard of, made tempting by one, maybe/rarely two stories by someone of Butcher's caliber.


NOTICE OF THREADSPLIT - the off topic discussion was drifting so i sent it off to it's own thread...
http://forum.malazan...showtopic=19861

[Abyss]

Just read it.
It's BRILLIANT.

Seriously, Butcher is in such great form writing Marcone he could do a series.
The story is about 40 pages and it contains so much Marcone awesomeness, plus bits about a bunch of other characters i have to block to rave about...
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
MASSIVE HOLY FUCK SPOILERS
I WILL BE SPOILING THE BIG TWIST
SPOILERS
YOU HAVE BEEN SPOILERS WARNED SPOILERS
SERIOUSLY SPOILERS

Spoiler

LAST CHANCE I'M WARNING YOU
SERIOUSLY

Spoiler

and in the end it's all about Harry.

Fuck.
Marcone. Marcone is SCARED of Dresden. Ok, scared is a strong word, but the scope of what he's got in place suggests more than simply a healthy respect...

Marcone has an entire defence plan based around defending himself against Dresden.
A defence plan that can conviently take out a major non-human warlock.

Fuck.

Some great bits here - Loved the interrogation scene at the start. Nice to see Justine again. Nice to see Lara playing manipulative bitch-vampire and Marcone still getting the better of her.
Hendricks is WRITING HIS THESIS???


But that last bit... that last bit... "They were there to kill Harry Dresden." He's gathering as many resources as possible against the day he has to test himself against Dresden. Oh FUCK.

Severely cool story. Great action. Great pay off.

Loved it. Find/read it if you can.

Can't say much about the rest of the anthology but EVEN HAND is brilliant.

[champ]

just had to go and find it with your recommendation, just read it and loved it, absolutely cracking for a short story...

couple of bits that made me chuckle and the last page - woah! just adds to any looming future confrontation!

edit

oh and the short stories book - Side Jobs - is released 26th October here in the UK

This post has been edited by champooon: 10 October 2010 - 09:51 AM

[Chance]

Very minor side jobs spoiler more of a teaser...

Spoiler

Marcone appears in aftermath too showing his true self

This post has been edited by Chance: 10 October 2010 - 11:12 AM