[Traveller]

Aptorian, on 15 July 2020 - 07:09 AM, said:

I forgot what happened to Bob. I forgot why Maggie is living with Harry. I forgot what happened to Molly. I have no idea what happened to the Carpenters. What on earth happened to Murphy? When did they fight Nicodemas?

Yep.. these things. They did the heist, things went sour, I kind of forget quite how though.. I remember evil Bob but not the resolution. Probably should have reread the last one first.

[champ]

Quick fire answers up to the start of Peace Talks...

Aptorian, on 15 July 2020 - 07:09 AM, said:

I forgot what happened to Bob.

Bob is currently in the possession of Butters, we see Butters using Bob's powers in Skin Game where he turns his skateboard into a jet powered one and he lasso's street posts and items to fling himself around corners plus other shenanigans.

Harry is pissed that Butters is using Bob in the open but Butters says he has had no choice since Harry abandoned them and no one was there to defend the rest of Chicago. Harry is worried Bob will fall into the wrong hands... interestingly Nicodemas notices Bob and is now aware of him... calls him an important detail...

Aptorian, on 15 July 2020 - 07:09 AM, said:

I forgot why Maggie is living with Harry.

Harry grew up and decided to finally become a dad in Skin Game, he goes to the Carpenters and runs into Maggie where they have a chat and he reads her a bedtime story which is where he decides that he wants to look after her himself.

Aptorian, on 15 July 2020 - 07:09 AM, said:

I forgot what happened to Molly.

She became the Lady of Winter in Cold Days. Maeve becomes infected by Nemesis and Mab's endgame is to have Maeve die and transfer her powers to Sarissa who Mab was training to replace Maeve. In the end Maeve kills Lily, the Lady of Summer and Lily's mantle transfers to Sarissa instead. Maeve thinks she won't now be killed because Mab cannot afford to have the mantle go into a random but Maeve gets popped and her mantle goes into Molly who was hiding near by under a cloak.

Aptorian, on 15 July 2020 - 07:09 AM, said:

I have no idea what happened to the Carpenters.

The Carpenters are all groovy, Michael came out of retirement for a while in Skin Game after Nicodemas fucked up Murphy and Harry needed someone to watch his back...

Aptorian, on 15 July 2020 - 07:09 AM, said:

What on earth happened to Murphy? When did they fight Nicodemas?

Skin Game - Dresden asked Murphy to watch his back during the heist. Shit does down before the heist and Harry/Murphy and Nicodemas/Genoskwa get into it outside of the Carpenters house. Nicodemas takes Murphy apart. This is also where Fidelacchius gets broken with Murphy attacking an unarmed Nicodemas at the time... and at the end Butters turns Fidelacchius into a lightsaber.

This post has been edited by champ: 15 July 2020 - 10:18 AM

[Aptorian]

The words you write ring a distant bell.

[Skywalker]

Uh, hullo. I'll be honest - I came back to the forums after A WHILE to read Abyss' thread I has finished Skin Game though, and I is buzzed and needed to vent So here's a spoiler free review (with a spoilery question and a crazy theory for those who've read up to the end):

The first thing you have to know about this book is, if you're a Dresden fan, you absolutely have to read Side Jobs and Brief Cases (the short story collections) if you have not done that yet. The second thing you have to know is this is definitely part 1 of 2 and you should be glad part 2 is coming out in September! This book isn't a cliffhanger so much as it is a staging area; the payoff will come in Battle Ground (and beyond).

The book this most reminds me of is Dust of Dreams in that a big bad has shown up upending the rules of the world established thus far, and this while a number of threads remain unresolved from the pre-big bad times.

In fact that's my one complaint/ concern with this book. As Dresden himself says at one point, there's just too much going on! I'm worried how many balls are in the air now, and of course in true Dresden fashion, every chapter seems to add to that constellation.

To wit, the 'A plot' is the titular 'Peace Talks' and the B plot is family issues (let's call it 'The Problem of Thomas') but neither reaches a conclusion. Meanwhile a number of tantalizing new mysteries are set up (Stars and Stones!) and there's at least three new mysteries introduced. I'm definitely re-reading this before the September release of Battle Ground, because of course I read it in a hurry and may have missed things. What I'm saying is I am reserving judgment because this is very much part 1 of 2. Ergo 4 stars

Now my spoilery question for the brilliance of the Malazan hive mind - be warned, this is from the climactic chapters

Spoiler

there's almost certainly hints in here about the identity of Mab before she got the Mantle, right? I didn't dwell on it much because there was epic $hit going down in the meantime, and she'd just been acquainted with some walls. Someone from Arthurian legend I reckon. possibly Guinevere? Did anyone else figure that one out?

Also I have one crazy theory for early-ish in the book:

Spoiler

Thomas was not trying to say "Justine" when Dresden shushed him right after the assassination attempt. What if he was saying "Justin". as in freaking DuMorne?

[Abyss]

SKIN GAME and earlier spoilers.

Bob, is also with Butters because he is highly influenced by his owner and Winter Knight Harry was a risk of bad influence. Ghost Story and Skin Game, I think. Am curious if this comes up with the new knowledge spirit from Harry's head post Skin Game.

Molly, has been Winter Maiden for some time now. You should really read BRIEF CASES.

Murphy, kicked Nicodamus' butt in Skin Game, but then he 'surrendered', she tried to take him out and Fidstabby was broken for being misused. Then Nic beat the crap out of her.

The Carpenters, are just fine and have angelic bodyguards. Maggie's with Harry because he's her father.

[amphibian]

A minor bit of clarification - Nicodemas broke Murphy's limbs in ways that has caused permanent damage and a long recovery period. He was intending to torture her and Dresden, which somewhat succeeded.

[Chance]

Skywalker, on 15 July 2020 - 01:10 PM, said:

Spoiler

there's almost certainly hints in here about the identity of Mab before she got the Mantle, right? I didn't dwell on it much because there was epic $hit going down in the meantime, and she'd just been acquainted with some walls. Someone from Arthurian legend I reckon. possibly Guinevere? Did anyone else figure that one out?

Spoiler

I'd go for Morgana once the apperentice of Merlin for symetry with Molly in so many ways. At the same time if I remember right they say she came with the conqueror which would make her a french/normand person possibly not associated with arthuric mythos thought that is also implied.

Skywalker, on 15 July 2020 - 01:10 PM, said:

Also I have one crazy theory for early-ish in the book:

Spoiler

Thomas was not trying to say "Justine" when Dresden shushed him right after the assassination attempt. What if he was saying "Justin". as in freaking DuMorne?

That would just be rather awesome but also problematic.

This post has been edited by Chance: 15 July 2020 - 06:24 PM

[Aptorian]

It's the weekend and I finally have some time to read Peace Talks.

I'm on p. 112. Somebody answer me this:

Spoiler

Why doesn't Ebenezer know that Thomas is his grandson? Is there a good reason why Dresden is keeping it from him? I hate drama based on exclusion of information. Dresden has had at least three chances to tell Ebenezar now.

Also what's what's with the inclusion of this Star Born bullshit and Ebenezar keeping it to himself? Does the series reeeally need a chosen one plot element now 16 books in? What's next? Ebenezar is descended from Jesus and Dresden is the second coming of wizard Jesus?

Edit: and while we're at it, what's up with the ice mantle not healing Dresden from injuries? Bullshit superpower.

This post has been edited by Aptorian: 24 July 2020 - 01:19 PM

[Aptorian]

Oh for ducks sake why doesn't Dresden share info with Butters. I'd forgotten Butcher/Dresden's chivalry secrecy bullshit where he doesn't inform people because he thinks that's somehow protecting them.

[Chance]

Any spoilers in the answers are mostly for earlier books I think.

Aptorian, on 24 July 2020 - 01:09 PM, said:

Spoiler

Why doesn't Ebenezer know that Thomas is his grandson? Is there a good reason why Dresden is keeping it from him? I hate drama based on exclusion of information. Dresden has had at least three chances to tell Ebenezar now.

Yes it doesn't really make that much sense, he should have been told years ago but the inbook rational is probably.

Spoiler

Ebenezer has a thing for hating vampires, especially white court vampires either for his daughters death but it is implied that there is more to it.

Aptorian, on 24 July 2020 - 01:09 PM, said:

Spoiler

Also what's what's with the inclusion of this Star Born bullshit and Ebenezar keeping it to himself? Does the series reeeally need a chosen one plot element now 16 books in? What's next? Ebenezar is descended from Jesus and Dresden is the second coming of wizard Jesus?

Its been going on for a while actually at least back to Ghost Stories (where we see him defeating his first outsider as a tenager in a memory) but yepp its a chosen one plot kinda. What is really new is that Ebenezar knows more then we thought anyone knew about it. All the old powers seem to know all about it but not telling "young" Dresden much about it because they are mysterious types.

Spoiler

Yes Ebenezar is descende from wizard jesus (aka Merlin) at least spiritualy through apperentice and master bounds according to Turn Coat. There is also possibly implications that it is a familial bound as well. It is very likely that Dresden is Merlin mk2.

Aptorian, on 24 July 2020 - 01:09 PM, said:

Edit: and while we're at it, what's up with the ice mantle not healing Dresden from injuries? Bullshit superpower.

The mantle has plot based powers it takes great steps towards not being to convinient Kinda feels like bullshit sometimes.

This post has been edited by Chance: 24 July 2020 - 01:38 PM

[D'rek]

Chance, on 24 July 2020 - 01:34 PM, said:

Any spoilers in the answers are mostly for earlier books I think.

Aptorian, on 24 July 2020 - 01:09 PM, said:

Spoiler

Why doesn't Ebenezer know that Thomas is his grandson? Is there a good reason why Dresden is keeping it from him? I hate drama based on exclusion of information. Dresden has had at least three chances to tell Ebenezar now.

Yes it doesn't really make that much sense, he should have been told years ago but the inbook rational is probably.

Spoiler

Ebenezer has a thing for hating vampires, especially white court vampires either for his daughters death but it is implied that there is more to it.

Ebenezer apparently didn't even know that Dresden's mom had been boinking the White King at all. I guess it was too awkward for Dresden to be the one to tell his grandpa about his mom's sex life.

Chance, on 24 July 2020 - 01:34 PM, said:

Aptorian, on 24 July 2020 - 01:09 PM, said:

Edit: and while we're at it, what's up with the ice mantle not healing Dresden from injuries? Bullshit superpower.

The mantle has plot based powers it takes great steps towards not being to convinient Kinda feels like bullshit sometimes.

Like everything else. Action scenes and what constitutes an injury or a threat in this series are consistently inconsistent.

[amphibian]

Spoiler

Ebenezar and Maggie the First being very distant from each other has been a thing since they were introduced. Him not knowing much of what Maggie did fits everything previous. Ebenezar also doesn't know much of what Dresden does despite raising him until the Justin DuMorne times. Recurring character pattern is a recurring character pattern.

This post has been edited by amphibian: 24 July 2020 - 04:47 PM

[Aptorian]

MODGOD EDIT THIS IS THE SPOILER FREE THREAD.
ARR. GRR.


I feel like Butcher jumps through hoops to explain Dresden logic.

This post has been edited by Abyss: 24 August 2020 - 04:55 AM

[amphibian]

We are in the spoiler free discussion thread, I deleted a post and modified another.

[D'rek]

amphibian, on 24 July 2020 - 08:03 PM, said:

We are in the spoiler free discussion thread, I deleted a post and modified another.

Oops me too

[Slow Ben]

Just a heads up. Butcher did an AMA over on Reddit, pretty good stuff.

Someone asked him questions about dragons and his response was “I’m going to hold off in dragon info until we get the dragon book.”

The fucking what now?!?!

[Abyss]

Accident negrep, sorry, will correct tomorrow.
Also,
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH DRAGON BOOK DRESDENCRACK AAAAAAAAAAAA

[Aptorian]

What I e just calls it that? DRAGON BOOK

[Tattersail_]

Murphy is 100 going to be a Valkyrie

[Abyss]

Abyss, on 16 September 2020 - 04:10 AM, said:

pat5150, on 15 September 2020 - 02:34 PM, said:

In Canada only, you can download every single Dresden Files installment, even the Battle Ground pre-order, for only 2.99$ each on Kindle​​​​​​​.

Salt-Man Z, on 16 September 2020 - 01:50 AM, said:

pat5150, on 15 September 2020 - 02:34 PM, said:

In Canada only, you can download every single Dresden Files installment, even the Battle Ground pre-order, for only 2.99$ each on Kindle​​​​​​​.

DAY-UM

Amazon.com too... $2.69

crosspost fyi. INSANE Dresden ebook sale.