 Fantasy: June 04, 2014 Issue [#6358] |
  Fantasy
This week: Jim Butcher Edited by: Robert Waltz  
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Evil isn’t the real threat to the world. Stupid is just as destructive as Evil, maybe more so, and it’s a hell of a lot more common. What we really need is a crusade against Stupid. That might actually make a difference.
― Jim Butcher
Laugh whenever you can. Keeps you from killing yourself when things are bad. That and vodka.
― Jim Butcher
Of course Evil's afoot. If it had switched to the metric system it'd be up to a meter by now.
― Jim Butcher |
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So last week, right after Memorial Day, I received the latest installment in Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files" series, and a few hours later, I finished it. Consequently, I'm here continuing my series on "Authors whose work makes me despair of my own writing talents."
Hey, at least I'm honest about it, unlike critics.
Many of you are already invested in Butcher's stories. For the rest of you, Harry Dresden is a wizard, he lives in Chicago, and he battles evils that make my ex look like... like something almost less evil.
Now, I have to admit, when I read the first book in the series, Storm Front, I wasn't overwhelmed. I say this because my friends were gushing about the series, and it was only on their recommendation that kept me reading.
By book 3, I was hooked. And after about halfway through Dead Beat, the seventh book in the series, I realized that I was witnessing true literary greatness. Those of you who have read these books know the scene I'm talking about. I won't spoil it for everyone else.
And hey, for those of you who prefer more traditional fantasy to urban fantasy, there's his Chronicles of Alera series, which is high fantasy at its finest - and which he wrote on a dare. I've written short stories on a dare before, but Alera spans six really thick books.
To make matters even more interesting, there's a steampunk series coming out soon.
Butcher's writing combines elements of action, science fiction, fantasy, detective, comedy, and more, and the Dresden files, at least, is rife with nerdy in-jokes for fans of other forms of entertainment.
It's worth a read, but like I said, you may have to give it more than one book; early novels can be a little rough around the edges.
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Last time, in "Fantasy Newsletter (May 7, 2014)" , I deviated from my usual format to present a fictional tale about someone obsessed with an online game.
Mummsy  : You forgot the one about your friends worrying you'd had another heart attack because they hadn't heard from you in so long. 
That guy in the editorial wasn't me. Well, not entirely. Well, kind of.
Elle - on hiatus  : Some of the comments you received for your previous newsletter reminded me of a game we used to play a lot called ADOM (Ancient Domains of Mystery). It's free to download, and the most interesting thing when you first encounter it is that it has virtually no graphics. It doesn't show you anything, you need to use your imagination. Despite being unbelievably old-school, my young kids love it. It really harks back to those Dungeons and Dragons days. PS. In all the years I played it, I never 'finished' it. It's not as simple as it appears - there are multiple quests that start simple (so new players can have the satisfaction of completing a quest!) and become progressively more complex, and every decision affects how the game plays out. Oh, and when you die? You have to start again. No save points. Mwah ha ha! Definitely worth your while.
One of my favorite games of all time is Nethack. Hopelessly primitive now - it's turn-based, and the maps and objects are all ASCII characters - I still go back to it between FRPGs. Like ADOM, death means a restart, but most of the dungeon is randomly generated so you really do get a different game each time.
The Run-on King PDG Member  : I learned about addicting games early on in my life. I had to set myself some rules to live by. Gaming rule #1. You must work to pay the bills feed your self and be able to play online.
#2. Family and work come first, then you can play your game.
#3. Spend time with wife and family. If you do then they are more inclined to help you level up and even figure out tricks and strategies to help you out.
#4. The family that plays together stays together. You should have invited your girl friend over and got her addicted to the game now you both would have a common interest.
Good ideas, all of them. Of course, the editorial was a fictionalized account, a cautionary tale as it were. Still, in the online game I play, I know several couples who game together.
Elfin Dragon-finally published  : Wow, I've heard of people getting so wrapped up in MMORGs they lose touch with reality. Growing up, my folks were always telling us to either read a book or go outside to play because we'd had enough video games for one day. And that was when Pong and Donkey Kong were all the rage! For some reason, I still like my games on the consoles. I do have Wizard 101 that I like to play now and again, but it's just not the same as my Parasite Eve, or Devil May Cry. And I may just put aside only a few hours for those. I've yet to finish them. Oh, well. As, I've told others, those 500 or so games are my retirement. 
See, this is why I'd be a horrible parent. I'd tell the kids to go play outside so I could play my RPG in peace.
brom21 : I love fantasy games. I’m at the end of Lord of The Rings: War in The North. As surprising as seems, I’ve never played the granddaddy of all fantasy games World of Warcraft. For me games can really distract from my writing and WDC reacted things. They are so much fun though! Anyway this letter struck a chord with me. Thanks!
I never played WoW either, because at the time I couldn't afford to get immersed in an online game. Things are different now.
And that's it for me for this month. Until next time,
DREAM ON!!! |
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