Ghost Story by Jim ButcherBOTTOM LINE: Unlucky #13 for Butcher/Dresden Files? This was the first novel of the series that hasn't completely grabbed me by the throat from the get-go and MADE me read desperately to the end. Or, perhaps, it's just that the author has slowly become more subtle in his effects....? I'm of at least two minds about this novel.
True, I couldn't easily put it down until I'd finished, but my feeling for, terror for, Harry Dresden's plight (and the fates of those he loves) was strangely muted all through this book, and that made me uncomfortable. See, Harry has changed a great deal along the way of this long series, and I'm not so sure I like the way things are progressing. He started out a brash, young adult, (but adolescent in behavior) a lippy wanna-be-hard-nosed-detective with an infectious sense of humor, a ton of guts, and a sense of honor that I appreciated and understood. And I fell in love, completely and utterly in love with the character, the fantastical setting/universe as it grew up around him, and the people/creatures who inhabited it. And, yes, those characteristics are still present in this novel, but somehow things/his plight didn't seem as acutely desperate to me as it has in the earlier novels. I guess his death in the previous book changed him AND me in many subtle ways...
Butcher is still being coy about whether or not Harry has actually, *finally*, completely died and can never come back to "our" world, leaving devoted readers in a very complicated emotional situation. He's been slowly growing Harry up, making him more and more admirable, and now seems to have deliberately disconnected him - and us - from many of the human connections that used to make this series so compelling. Gawd, I'm so confused about this novel! When I finished it I was angry - angry at Harry's ending situation, and not a little because I'd known that was where the plot was heading, and dismayed as things unfolded that way. I wanted Harry to be OK! at the end of this novel; the previous novel had ended on a superb cliffhanger that was expertly gauged and calibrated, and I wanted A Resolution!! in this one. And didn't get it.
Aha!. *That*'s what's been bothering me. This is a place-holder of a novel, an in-depth examination of a few, very particular aspects of Dresden's universe. And as such, it's superbly done, detailed, interesting, well-paced, and with a really neat plot. Harry's dilemma (he's a ghost) is amusing at times, annoying much of the time, and scary sometimes. But. I absolutely HATE being strung along like Butcher has been doing lately. The earlier novels were complete in and of themselves, and while the interactions of the plot lines always left lots of unfinished bits, the main thrust of each story was complete within that novel, thus satisfying and completely entertaining. And as Butcher slowly developed that universe each book became richer and deeper and more complex - and I loved that! But along with that, each story seemed to leave more and more tendrils reaching into the next story, although his touch used to be very subtle, pulling the reader along gently.
Novel #12, CHANGES, sledgehammered this reader into finishing - it was a simply glorious thrill-ride with a stunner of an ending. But with that ending Butcher not only changed many of the rules afficionados of the series have enjoyed, including Harry's persona, he also seems to have changed his own connection to/with the readers, distancing not only Harry, but himself, from those fans. Number 13, GHOST STORY, takes us further along that road. Like many series readers, I hate big changes in a beloved character! And while Harry's final predicament in this novel and the hook at the end is nicely, gently foreshadowed in several earlier books (and *is* interesting), it is just not satisfying.
So. Why such a reaction from me? Obviously, Butcher has become a superb writer - he's played on my (and likely most of his fans') heartstrings perfectly, and kept our interest, nay, our affection, for many years. And with these latest novels he's extended the reach of Harry and his universe, and shows promise of doing even more in the future (we're likely going to see a lot more Faerie...). And I've loved watching Harry's friends deal with everything that's been happening, plus even the painful bits (and the potentially sappy ones as well) were very carefully, beautifully written. So, why am I dissatisfied?
I WANTED A RESOLUTION, DAMMIT!!!!
According to things he's written and other folks supposedly in-the-know, Butcher had a difficult time working his way though this book. Making such a major change in your main character's world-view must be as wrenching for the author as for the character(s) and readers, and I wasn't at all surprised to learn that he'd had problems with making this novel go where he wanted it to go. But I sincerely hope that the next book won't be many years in the coming. I want/NEED to know what happens next... and that's the true bottom line, ain't it?
Damn, The Man can *write*!
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