Jim Butcher

[estepheia]

Just found this interview with Jim Butcher, the author of the Harry Dresden series.

He seems like a really nice guy. It seems that the second book of the series will be read by James Marsters again. So now I'm hoping the audiobook will be available at Vulkon - that would save me postage and duty. I liked Storm Front a lot. JM really has a nice reading voice.

Comments

[writteninstars.livejournal.com]

I love his reading voice. So smooth and sexy and he goes for the "voices". Here's hoping it'll be ready by Vulkon.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

::reads interview::

I like his musical tastes.

I don't know if that means I'll like his books, but for some reason it helps.

Oh, and his favorite Dean Koonts book is The Watchers! That's my favorite too.

Hah! he's a buffy fan! Knew I'd like him.

(Though to be honest, I see the Dresden Files as a really well-done anime cartoon when picturing them in my mind. I have the whole opening title sequence done in my head, but since I can't draw a stick man without using tracing paper, I doubt I'll ever get to really see it.)

BWAHAHAHAHAHAA! That would be a perfect anime storyline. I'd love to watch it. Then JM could do the voice-actng for that, too.

Hm... Will Smith of James Marsters? Tough choice, as I think they'd both be charming. But I'll go with JM, celebrity loyalty and all.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Hm... Will Smith of James Marsters? Tough choice, as I think they'd both be charming. But I'll go with JM, celebrity loyalty and all.

Just to add, when I think about that it's cool that he has those two people in mind, because so many movies are written with the pre-set assumption that the character will be white or black and that affects the casting... it's cool if he imagines his own character could be played either way. Though, I haven't read the books, so I imagine he does describe the character one way or another.

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Outwardly, the character of Harry Dresden is white but more dark than say Spike, but he does wear a duster and he has a hard boiled detective voice. I thought JM did a really good job and he will now forever be the one I see when thinking of Harry.
Harry's looks aren't described in great detail because as the hero he's supposed to be a canvas on which the reader can project himself, so I don't think Harry's hair-color is of any great importance to Jim Butcher. I think the vibe is more important and I think JM would be the perfect actor to play Harry. *Sigh*

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Oh, and his favorite Dean Koonts book is The Watchers! That's my favorite too.
I never read that one, but the other book he mentions, Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold is *my* absolute favorite!
Good taste.

He said in another interview that when he found out JM was going to read his book he did a happy dance through the living room. JB has a very endearing fangeek-streak.

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

JB has a very endearing fangeek-streak.

I've read some quotes by him someone had up somwhere about Buffy, and I felt the fellow fan-geek luv. I always like it when I find out that writers I like also watch the same show that I do. Like when Stephen King wrote that XF episode. That was cool. And the stuff Neil Gaimon talks about is cool fannish stuff too, sometimes.

Funny thing is, I haven't read JB's books yet (waiting for my library to get the audio version!), but I already know from stuff I've read that I'm going to like the author. Just hope the book is good! But how can it not be-- JM's northern california accent makes me melt almost as much as the fake Brit one. Makes me all jazzed to think that there's boys like a young JM growing up in towns near me. I was actually surprised the first time I heard JM speak... I knew the accent was fake, but I was still surprised to realize he sounded like the boys I go to school with, and that's just fucking cool, from a fangirl P.O.V.

I've never read Mirror Dance, what is it about?

Mirror Dance

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Lois McMaster Bujold has written a longish Space Opera series, the Barrayar series.

The main hero of the series, Miles Vorkosigan, is a hyperactive general/politician's son who has a crippling desease - his bones break all the time. He comes from a militarist culture and is shunned as a mutant, but the sheer size of his personality and his ability to improvise and lie between his teeth quickly put him into more and more influential positions.

As it happens, a clone, Mark, was made before Miles was born, by enemies of his father. These people meant Mark replace Miles. Every physical damage Miles suffered was dealt to Mark as well. When Miles and his parents find Mark, the clone has been emotionally and physically damaged by his makers. Even so, Mark becomes Miles's twin brother.

Mirror Dance is about how Mark tries to impersonate Miles to persue his own personal agenda, a crusade against cloners. Mark gets captured by people who hate Miles. Meanwhile Miles tries everything to get his brother away from his torturers...

It's a thick book. The characters are fascinating. I personally loved all the parts that had to do with poor Mark. I like all the books of the series, but Mirror Dance often left me gasping. It's brutal, dark and angsty, but also funny.
I admire the author for her ability to combine dark and light. She is also good at plotting.
I whole-heartedly recommend the whole series.