"Eric" was originally an illustrated book and the pictures were the meat, so reading the only-words version leaves it a bit dry and empty. The same will happen with "The last hero" (book 27).
Ha, my version of Eric has the name "Faust" and it's crossed and says Eric instead. this gives you the idea of what the book is about. It's a fun and quick read to show how Rincewind got out from the place he got in at the end of Sourcery.
Murphy please read Side Jobs after Changes and Briefcases after after Skin Game, before you start Peace Talks. There are some references in Peace Talks that make so much more sense if you have read those short story collections. Glad you are enjoying the series.
Highly recommend. Some stories are fluff, some can hit as hard as the books. Both collections have short stories that are scattered throughout the timeline. By at least book 10 Butcher starts dropping references to these into the novels but most are "blink & you miss". The prefaces to each story says when it is set (or check a wiki) if you want to do chronological order.
Love your Dresden recaps, such a great fun series with some flaws You are getting real close to books where it will be hard to recap and avoid spoilers
"This thing happened... you know the thing and, wow.... but then the other thing and I was like NO WAY! But just wow I wasn't ready for when, well you know!"
The ARC between Harry and Charity over the course of the series is absolutely heartbreakingly wholesome... and this book was where it first transitioned from 'they just don't get along' to something with nuance and complexity.
God I can't wait for you to read Changes!! So exciting. If I could suggest for that one at least (or all Dresdens frankly) it could be really cool to record your spoiler discussion as you go along reading it. The ride is so wild, it would be so good to see your spoiler-reactions in more real time and it's fresh!
Speaking to the Ick moments. As a guy I don't like them either. But my grandfather had a really good saying that I think applies here. "You can't help where your mind goes, but you can help how long it stays there." With this being first person and us literally reading his thoughts we forget that those thoughts took longer to read than it did for him to think them. So I'm not defending them per se just maybe offering something some people may not have actively thought about while reading them. Also the fact that he is emotionally stunted because of the traumas of his past cannot be forgotten either. In some ways he's still a teenager and in others a frightened little boy. There is a lot more to unpack with Dresden when you really think about the toll his relatively short life has seen.
Sorry my dog made me hit send before I was done lol. I have really been enjoying your recaps of Dresden. I've been through the series so many times it's such a breath of fresh air to hear from others who are going through the first time. It never gets stale or old, but not knowing is such a rush that it's fun to watch someone else go through those same feelings. We all can't wait till you get to a certain part of the series but every single book has something amazing in it that the journey is just as great as the wait. Dresden is to me as Gentlemen Bastards is to you. So very hard to top.
Yeeeah, Eric wasn't the most memorable book. I probably would've loved it if I was more interested in classic literature it was lampooning, but the Rincewind novels are generally just something you read to taste the larger Discworld setting. Definitely worth it for the worldbuilding in hindsight though, made me appreciate the other novels more!
I always hold my breath when people read this book because of the ick moments. Glad it hasn't turned you off. Every time I get asked who my favorite character is I say the whole Carpenter family ❤.
Enjoying your excitement and recaps of the Dresden Files, and it makes me want to re-read the series. Knowing what's ahead for you, I can't WAIT for you to catch up. You'll be bouncing off the walls, screaming along with Harry as the plot unfolds.
I'm listening to the audiobooks again. I'm up to Peace Talks, only a few minutes until that really interesting conversation in the gym with the very tall friend happens.
I'm rereading right now as my take a break from heavier series read. I originally read up to Skin Game but was forgetting some of the earlier stuff so that is why the reread before getting caught up. Just finished Summer Knight in my reread.
Discworld #11 Reaper Man was probably my favourite to read out of the first 15 or so. It also reminded me most of Douglas Adams - maybe something to look forward to :) Also, #10 Moving Pictures has its delightful moments. I didn't finish that one because it seemed like so many of the jokes and pop culture references went over my head. But everyone will have their own experience, and many Pratchett fans loved that book.
Hey, that's me! Proven Guilty was the book that proved a big turning point for my relationship with Dresden. Although some of the stuff with Molly made me deeply uncomfortable, it was such a huge step up over Blood Rites and really got me into the series.
To me, this book was all about Harry's conversation in the car with Michael near the end. I love their relationship. They're so different in so many ways, but their relationship actually becomes even stronger as a result of it. And what Harry ends up needing to talk to him about most isn't magic, or fighting monsters, or even Molly, but the emotional toll that's been building up for several books now. It's actually what Michael tried to bring up to Harry all the way back during Grave Peril, but he wasn't ready to hear it back then. He is now, and Michael gives him exactly what he needs.
Given where the new character dynamic that begins in Proven Guilty goes, its what i view as the beginning of one of the quality spikes in DF. Also, Charity Carpenter might be scary on the outside but once you're in, youre in *for life* and its one of the reasons i love her character and her dynamic with Harry
I'm surprised you didn't like the smaller scale plot of Proven Guilty. I loved it right from the start. Especially the Splatter!!! convention. And yet again, we see CONSEQUENCES. Butcher does not pretend things have not happened once he's finished with them. It does not get all neatly tied up with a bow.
I would love a separate Dresden Tier list. I'd also like to see if some of the novels change position on your list as you go deeper. I found that once some of the "side" characters got more fleshed out any novel with them in it was instantly higher ranked for me internally.
To ease the inner Book Dragon need to horde, what I did with Discworld was once I read through the full series (thanks to the Libby app and the library) I started ordering the nicer hardcovers of my favorite arcs. So far it’s the Watch and Death, and I got the Witches for my wife for her birthday.
Charity is that GOAT cookie recipe that your grandma only shares with her closest, making it all so much more special. Definitely the most underrated character in the series
We're getting closer to one of my favourite stretches of Discworld books! Reaper Man, Witches Abroad, Small Gods, Lords and Ladies, and Men at Arms are all huge favourites. 😄
Proven Guilty is absolutely a book that shines on re-read. Because you see so many hints of what happens and why in it. A tendency of Butcher is after a "Wham" book (like Dead Beat or Changes), is to pull back and do something more character focused. To explore the fallout, as it were. These books tend to be received as a "meh" at the time. But grow massively in importance later. The TVTropes that applies is: Midnight on the Firing Line (the 1st Babylon 5 episode).
Yeah unfortunately for me Moving Pictures is both long and not great compared to Eric which is short and not great. But these are two of my least favorite (with Pyramids) and Reaper Man is much much much much much more enjoyable
Make sure you read the anthology books of the Dresden Files. They bring a lot of great little stories that really expand on some of the side characters.
Oh. Proven Guilty takes the series in an interesting direction. And yes! Charity is the GOAT. I loved getting her perspective on Harry. And I think he did a good job showing Charity's strength and her value as a wife and mother. I thought that was nicely done.
Proven Guilty is one of those personal favorites of mine it really starts to expand the world and overarching story, as well as introducing us to such an important character for the remainder of the series. The ending court scene is such a great payoff due to how well Butcher has built these characters over the course of 8 books.
Proven Guilty isn't one of my favourites, but it has some of my favourite moments in the entire series, especially the one near the end with a certain Knight of the Cross.
Watching the first half of your review of Proven Guilty I was 100% sure you would love the second half and that is very fair. The first half of the book is ok, but it’s great because you think it’s a whodunit and once you find out whodunnit the book turns hard.
Check out the Illustrated Eric at some point, if only to flick through, it's the slimmest book because it was written with the illustrations in mind. Much maligned but still fun.
Pratchett chronologically is the best way! Plenty of little nods in the later books Have been going digital for yonks now, way more practical. Proven Guilty is excellent! Lot of set up for the next books! And yes, Mrs Carpenter is totally Awesome!!!!!
I think Proven Guilty does hit harder on reread, and I found myself paying more attention to the beginning and ending scenes in the warehouse and the themes around guilt/punishment/redemption. I can’t wait for your eventual Dresden tier list once you’re done!
This makes me want to tackle a full Discworld read (read many, out of order, over many years) and tackle Dresden (only read the first book, years ago)! And props for filming out in that bitter and beautiful winter weather. Loved the kitty walking through snow footage. :o)
Yeah, Eric is one of the more "Wait that exists? Oh right..." books in the series. But on the plus side, all you have left is Moving Pictures, which is kind of the last of the 'old' style of Discworld books, then you into Reaper Man and...... ohhh that's gonna be a good one. For Dresden, yeah Proven Guilty is probably the single book in the series the benefits the most from a reread, especially once you get further in and can notice all the little things going on in the background and what they actually mean.
I'll be interested to see what she makes of Reaper Man. For me it's the weakest of all the books because of the Wizards storyline - it's annoying, hasn't aged well as satire on consumerism, and detracts from the wonderful Death storyline. For me, Small Gods is where the series really hits full pace, and from that book on it really doesn't let up until the embuggerance creeps in.
@@robh_uk for me Reaper Man is faaar from one the weakest books even if Pratchett did subsequently says if he had to do it again it would be two separate books, the Death half is just too good and I think the consumerism angle works well enough.
@@wolervine Wow thanks wolervine, I didn't know he'd actually *said* that. Sadly, I completely agree with him. But it's all opinions in the end isn't it? (having re-read the series, I've come to the conclusion I like the Ridcully led faculty of Wizards, but only in small doses; the books where they're a big presence tend to grate at some point)
The Dresden books are consistently solid throughout the series. I can't even really point to my favorite Dresden books. They're all pretty consistently solid.
This series is amazing! I'm so glad that you're reading it, because it's like I'm rereading it with you!! If you do a reread, it might be worth checking out the audiobook because this series is narrated by James Marsters from Buffy (you probs know). He does an amazing job as Harry
I'm glad to see you liked Proven Guilty by the end, it's one of my favorites in the series (although I agree that the "ick" is at its worst). Anything with the Carpenters in a major role is bound to end up being great.
I'm sure some folks have mentioned it before, but since you're getting close to Book 12 (Changes) - I'd recommend NOT reading Book 13 immediately after Changes. I'd go to the short story collection, Side Jobs. All of the stories in there take place from before Storm Front to the time IMMEDIATELY after Changes. Moving on to Book 13 after you finish Side Jobs. That's how I read/listen to the series now. YMMV, of course 8)
inb4 the : "So i bought the complete set of discworld collectors editions" video :) . I am soooo excited to see what you think of the books going forwards
I get the memory thing with digital content. I have made attempts to use the scroll bars at the bottom of ereaders in the same way I can flip to pages in a book. That takes some effort and requires knowing each reader's scroll feature. Also, knowing where page one is and the final page, what is 25%, 50%, 75% helps me move through a digital book in a manner that is somewhat similar to physical books. Bookmarking is an interesting added feature (assuming you do not have 500 book marks or have a prohibition against marking your physical books) in ereaders. I've used that to try and get a sense of my place within a digital book. I'm less likely to highlight or make notes because I would rather retain those thoughts, as I do when reading a paper book. It has taken a lot of consistent effort to read in a digital only format and level up past my Gen-X paper skill tree. I still prefer paper books, but I like being able to read on the screen with some focus now too.
I have been following your videos for well over a year and was heart broken when you said you had no interest reading the Dresden Files. And when I saw you were going to start reading them, I got excited. I love these books. I am about to restart the series, hopefully, maybe. I am glad you are enjoying these. They. Get. Better. Cheerio!
Cant wait for you to get to Going Postal: Brandon Sanderson rated it his best book of the year. I strongly recommend the Dresden audio as well. Even if you’ve never really done much audio, the format just transitions really well, and James Marsters does an AMAZING job, especially in Changes. I’d suggest don’t reread Dresden, instead relisten!
I think there's actually a point to the "ick" stuff in _Proven Guilty:_ specifically, that there is no virtue without temptation. The teenaged character(s) in question _have to be_ old enough (17 or 18 - there is a mild retcon with Molly's age, IIRC she's at least a year or so older here than she should have been based on her previous appearance in the books), and attractive enough, to turn Harry's head, because if Harry isn't tempted to do wrong then it isn't really meaningful if he does right.
I'm looking forward to your next Dresden Files book. White Night, I think? Checking, and yes. The next Dresden book is White Night. Lots of cool scenes and stuff that only shows up multiple books down the line. So, pretty much exactly like all the other books in the series, but I guess it depends on who your favourite supporting character is.
I feel like Discworld would be a good palate cleanser series for me. Something to read and in between some heavier books. I’m currently reading The Secret History. The writing is great but I’m not sure how I feel about it yet.
@@swordfish1929 I’m planning on reading Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson next, which is supposed to be heartwarming so it’ll be a good palate cleanser. I’m only 150 pages into SH and I know it’s just going to get heavier.
Please please do a more thorough breakdown of the Dresden book “Changes,” when you get there. Break it into multiple reviews while you’re at multiple stages of the book! I’ve also heard great things about that particular audiobook!
"It could be awesome. It could be a disaster." This is Dresden. It's going to be both at the same time, lol. Charity fan? Time to get yourself a warhammer, a blonde wig and some chainmail. And probably some platform shoes. She's really tall.
Glad to see the appreciation growing for Charity. You haven't gotten there yet but she has my absolute favorite line of dialogue in the series. Literally made me cry.
Hi Merphy! Since you’re reading Discworld digitally, I thought you should know that there is a Humble Bundle going on right now and you can get the books for really cheap if you don’t have them all yet. It’s not all of the books, but I think it is most of them. So you can check that out if that helps.
I've never even read Eric or the next one, Moving Pictures, although I hear Moving Pictures is quite good? But after that, the books start amping up the quality, becoming more the Terry Pratchett we know and love. If you're not fond of Rincewind (neither am I), i don't think you'll lose anything by skipping his novels. You can come back to them later if you want.
Not only are your shelves full, ones even crooked. ;) Nothing wrong with hyping up libraries, so have at it! Do you ever think you'll do a shelf purge? I know, it's horrible to consider.
I agree that proven guilty is better on rereads. Also I think it's a bit of a shame to read discworld digitally because the footnotes are harder to access
I thought you'd enjoy the end of Proven Guilty. It had Harry's first Wise Move from the ol' knucklehead. If I'm reading right the move you're alluding to, it'll be both awesome and a catastrophe, alternately. Sidenote: Butcher did D&D sheets for all characters, and Harry's dump stat was his Wis, Which explains SO. MUCH. About him and his thoughts... Worth mentioning: I think the second clip wasn't the one intended for this video. It was a lot of airplanes/ helicopters without any commentary. Seemed out of place. You might want to look into it.
I feel seen with your comment about your shelves being full Merphy! I’ve always wondered what booktubers do with all those books and like there’s something wrong with me for not having more room for books! lol
If you're just reading Eric you're missing out a bit. The original version is illustrated and nifty. But you're about to slam into the golden age of discworld stuff so I'm excited for you.
Agreed, Eric never blew my socks off. Enjoyable but certainly not peak Pratchett. Close though. So close you are, to getting into what makes Discworld, DISCWORLD! 🎉
Interesting that the US version of the book just says 'Eric' on the cover. Not sure about later editions, but my Josh Kirby illustrated cover reads '' -Faust- Eric "
You will get the Discworld at the end in some kind of collection. I predict it. 😁The emporium awaits you. Did you see what you can get from Pratchett’s shop?😈 That Dresden book… it’s really funny how Jim Butcher tries to apply his description to women here. 😂 It’s kinda ridiculous.
Are you going to listen to the audiobooks. I know you are enjoying them by reading but I really think you'll like them even better with the audio. James Marsters does such an amazing job. By the way the library has them in audio.
Eric is on my nightstand now. I've been slacking if you already caught up to me. 😵 I definitely started to appreciate Charity as well. She's gotta deal with so much.
I'm trying to go digital with my books currently because I am overflowing with physical books. I love physical books but honestly I need space more. So unless a book becomes a new favorite, I am going to stick to digital books for now.
Push through the next three(ish) Discworld Books after 'Eric' and then after that you've got *20+* books which are very good, very, very good or absolute masterpieces. You're sooo close to reaching the point at which Discworld becomes consistently brilliant Pratchett at his best ('Small Gods' onwards imo).
I love the next 3, witches abroad has one of the best granny punch lines, moving pictures has a very good selection of CMoT dibbler momets, and reaper man has the single best death quote!
@@itaykerensm1629 Yeah, "push through" was too negative of me. But I think it does take a real step up from 'Small Gods' (a bonafide masterpiece) onwards.
so didn't see it in previous comments, so if i'm duplicating my bad, but noticed when you showed Eric's cover you may have missed one of the "jokes" of the setup from other covers, in which the full title is Eric (but handwritten over a crossed out Faust)
Merphy, since the comment section and patreon members have opened your mind to absurdist fiction, have you considered reading much Kurt Vonnegut? He’s my favorite author, and I think you would love his sense of humor!
I think this depends on the platform and effort put in by the publisher. I know I've come across quite a few ebooks that don't have page numbers on my Kindle.
Small Gods, from which you are a way off yet, is the first Discworld book that I thought was a genuinely great story. Although, as others have said, you won't go far wrong with the upcoming Witches and Death books.
Ah i had such a hard time with Proven Guilty. It was readable and engaging, but the *ick* bits were way too much for me, and i found it to be completely discombobulated. It had all the things I dislike in Dresden, paired with all the things I do like in even measure. Leaves me torn! Cant wait until your spoiler review!😅
"Eric" was originally an illustrated book and the pictures were the meat, so reading the only-words version leaves it a bit dry and empty. The same will happen with "The last hero" (book 27).
The Carpenter family as a whole has got to be one of my favourite... groupings of side-characters ever.
Mine too 🤜 ✨
Ha, my version of Eric has the name "Faust" and it's crossed and says Eric instead. this gives you the idea of what the book is about. It's a fun and quick read to show how Rincewind got out from the place he got in at the end of Sourcery.
Murphy please read Side Jobs after Changes and Briefcases after after Skin Game, before you start Peace Talks. There are some references in Peace Talks that make so much more sense if you have read those short story collections. Glad you are enjoying the series.
Agreed.
100% agree. The side stories are great.
Highly recommend. Some stories are fluff, some can hit as hard as the books. Both collections have short stories that are scattered throughout the timeline. By at least book 10 Butcher starts dropping references to these into the novels but most are "blink & you miss". The prefaces to each story says when it is set (or check a wiki) if you want to do chronological order.
I agree 👍
Love your Dresden recaps, such a great fun series with some flaws
You are getting real close to books where it will be hard to recap and avoid spoilers
"This thing happened... you know the thing and, wow.... but then the other thing and I was like NO WAY! But just wow I wasn't ready for when, well you know!"
The ARC between Harry and Charity over the course of the series is absolutely heartbreakingly wholesome... and this book was where it first transitioned from 'they just don't get along' to something with nuance and complexity.
God I can't wait for you to read Changes!! So exciting. If I could suggest for that one at least (or all Dresdens frankly) it could be really cool to record your spoiler discussion as you go along reading it. The ride is so wild, it would be so good to see your spoiler-reactions in more real time and it's fresh!
Speaking to the Ick moments. As a guy I don't like them either. But my grandfather had a really good saying that I think applies here. "You can't help where your mind goes, but you can help how long it stays there." With this being first person and us literally reading his thoughts we forget that those thoughts took longer to read than it did for him to think them. So I'm not defending them per se just maybe offering something some people may not have actively thought about while reading them. Also the fact that he is emotionally stunted because of the traumas of his past cannot be forgotten either. In some ways he's still a teenager and in others a frightened little boy. There is a lot more to unpack with Dresden when you really think about the toll his relatively short life has seen.
Sorry my dog made me hit send before I was done lol.
I have really been enjoying your recaps of Dresden. I've been through the series so many times it's such a breath of fresh air to hear from others who are going through the first time. It never gets stale or old, but not knowing is such a rush that it's fun to watch someone else go through those same feelings.
We all can't wait till you get to a certain part of the series but every single book has something amazing in it that the journey is just as great as the wait.
Dresden is to me as Gentlemen Bastards is to you. So very hard to top.
Yeeeah, Eric wasn't the most memorable book. I probably would've loved it if I was more interested in classic literature it was lampooning, but the Rincewind novels are generally just something you read to taste the larger Discworld setting. Definitely worth it for the worldbuilding in hindsight though, made me appreciate the other novels more!
13:35 "Could be awesome. Could be a catastrophe." That’s what Harry thinks about most of his own plans. 😂
I always hold my breath when people read this book because of the ick moments. Glad it hasn't turned you off. Every time I get asked who my favorite character is I say the whole Carpenter family ❤.
Enjoying your excitement and recaps of the Dresden Files, and it makes me want to re-read the series. Knowing what's ahead for you, I can't WAIT for you to catch up. You'll be bouncing off the walls, screaming along with Harry as the plot unfolds.
I'm listening to the audiobooks again. I'm up to Peace Talks, only a few minutes until that really interesting conversation in the gym with the very tall friend happens.
I'm rereading right now as my take a break from heavier series read. I originally read up to Skin Game but was forgetting some of the earlier stuff so that is why the reread before getting caught up. Just finished Summer Knight in my reread.
Discworld #11 Reaper Man was probably my favourite to read out of the first 15 or so. It also reminded me most of Douglas Adams - maybe something to look forward to :)
Also, #10 Moving Pictures has its delightful moments. I didn't finish that one because it seemed like so many of the jokes and pop culture references went over my head. But everyone will have their own experience, and many Pratchett fans loved that book.
Hey, that's me!
Proven Guilty was the book that proved a big turning point for my relationship with Dresden. Although some of the stuff with Molly made me deeply uncomfortable, it was such a huge step up over Blood Rites and really got me into the series.
To me, this book was all about Harry's conversation in the car with Michael near the end. I love their relationship. They're so different in so many ways, but their relationship actually becomes even stronger as a result of it. And what Harry ends up needing to talk to him about most isn't magic, or fighting monsters, or even Molly, but the emotional toll that's been building up for several books now. It's actually what Michael tried to bring up to Harry all the way back during Grave Peril, but he wasn't ready to hear it back then. He is now, and Michael gives him exactly what he needs.
Given where the new character dynamic that begins in Proven Guilty goes, its what i view as the beginning of one of the quality spikes in DF. Also, Charity Carpenter might be scary on the outside but once you're in, youre in *for life* and its one of the reasons i love her character and her dynamic with Harry
I'm surprised you didn't like the smaller scale plot of Proven Guilty. I loved it right from the start. Especially the Splatter!!! convention. And yet again, we see CONSEQUENCES. Butcher does not pretend things have not happened once he's finished with them. It does not get all neatly tied up with a bow.
I would love a separate Dresden Tier list. I'd also like to see if some of the novels change position on your list as you go deeper. I found that once some of the "side" characters got more fleshed out any novel with them in it was instantly higher ranked for me internally.
To ease the inner Book Dragon need to horde, what I did with Discworld was once I read through the full series (thanks to the Libby app and the library) I started ordering the nicer hardcovers of my favorite arcs. So far it’s the Watch and Death, and I got the Witches for my wife for her birthday.
Charity is that GOAT cookie recipe that your grandma only shares with her closest, making it all so much more special. Definitely the most underrated character in the series
Oh man. You are almost to the start of the big arc in the Dresden Files and it gets out of control.
We're getting closer to one of my favourite stretches of Discworld books! Reaper Man, Witches Abroad, Small Gods, Lords and Ladies, and Men at Arms are all huge favourites. 😄
Proven Guilty is absolutely a book that shines on re-read. Because you see so many hints of what happens and why in it.
A tendency of Butcher is after a "Wham" book (like Dead Beat or Changes), is to pull back and do something more character focused. To explore the fallout, as it were.
These books tend to be received as a "meh" at the time. But grow massively in importance later. The TVTropes that applies is: Midnight on the Firing Line (the 1st Babylon 5 episode).
I love hearing our thoughts on Dresden. You''ll want to start looking the the novellas fairly soon.
Faust/Eric was a neat book but the art is what stands out. I hope when you get to the last hero, you have access to the art. It’s amazing.
I think unlike Eric it's rare if not impossible to find without the artwork.
You’re almost back at the great Discworld novels, don’t give up!!
Yeah unfortunately for me Moving Pictures is both long and not great compared to Eric which is short and not great. But these are two of my least favorite (with Pyramids) and Reaper Man is much much much much much more enjoyable
Make sure you read the anthology books of the Dresden Files. They bring a lot of great little stories that really expand on some of the side characters.
Oh. Proven Guilty takes the series in an interesting direction. And yes! Charity is the GOAT. I loved getting her perspective on Harry. And I think he did a good job showing Charity's strength and her value as a wife and mother. I thought that was nicely done.
Proven Guilty is one of those personal favorites of mine it really starts to expand the world and overarching story, as well as introducing us to such an important character for the remainder of the series. The ending court scene is such a great payoff due to how well Butcher has built these characters over the course of 8 books.
Proven Guilty isn't one of my favourites, but it has some of my favourite moments in the entire series, especially the one near the end with a certain Knight of the Cross.
At this point I am convinced Rincewind is the only one who gets shit done in the Unseen University.
Well, him and Stibbons.
Watching the first half of your review of Proven Guilty I was 100% sure you would love the second half and that is very fair. The first half of the book is ok, but it’s great because you think it’s a whodunit and once you find out whodunnit the book turns hard.
Check out the Illustrated Eric at some point, if only to flick through, it's the slimmest book because it was written with the illustrations in mind.
Much maligned but still fun.
I've really got to learn to stop editing my grammar after a Merphy heart... because then the heart goes away once edited. 😭😂
Pratchett chronologically is the best way! Plenty of little nods in the later books
Have been going digital for yonks now, way more practical.
Proven Guilty is excellent! Lot of set up for the next books!
And yes, Mrs Carpenter is totally Awesome!!!!!
I think Proven Guilty does hit harder on reread, and I found myself paying more attention to the beginning and ending scenes in the warehouse and the themes around guilt/punishment/redemption. I can’t wait for your eventual Dresden tier list once you’re done!
Honestly rereading the entire series is a must
This makes me want to tackle a full Discworld read (read many, out of order, over many years) and tackle Dresden (only read the first book, years ago)! And props for filming out in that bitter and beautiful winter weather. Loved the kitty walking through snow footage. :o)
Yeah, Eric is one of the more "Wait that exists? Oh right..." books in the series. But on the plus side, all you have left is Moving Pictures, which is kind of the last of the 'old' style of Discworld books, then you into Reaper Man and...... ohhh that's gonna be a good one.
For Dresden, yeah Proven Guilty is probably the single book in the series the benefits the most from a reread, especially once you get further in and can notice all the little things going on in the background and what they actually mean.
As a former projectionist... Moving Pictures rules😂😊
I'll be interested to see what she makes of Reaper Man. For me it's the weakest of all the books because of the Wizards storyline - it's annoying, hasn't aged well as satire on consumerism, and detracts from the wonderful Death storyline.
For me, Small Gods is where the series really hits full pace, and from that book on it really doesn't let up until the embuggerance creeps in.
@@robh_uk for me Reaper Man is faaar from one the weakest books even if Pratchett did subsequently says if he had to do it again it would be two separate books, the Death half is just too good and I think the consumerism angle works well enough.
@@robh_uk i think Making Money is the book where the embuggerance gets more noticeable, things just become more long-winded.
@@wolervine Wow thanks wolervine, I didn't know he'd actually *said* that. Sadly, I completely agree with him. But it's all opinions in the end isn't it?
(having re-read the series, I've come to the conclusion I like the Ridcully led faculty of Wizards, but only in small doses; the books where they're a big presence tend to grate at some point)
The Dresden books are consistently solid throughout the series.
I can't even really point to my favorite Dresden books. They're all pretty consistently solid.
This series is amazing! I'm so glad that you're reading it, because it's like I'm rereading it with you!! If you do a reread, it might be worth checking out the audiobook because this series is narrated by James Marsters from Buffy (you probs know). He does an amazing job as Harry
Rincewind is pretty much one of my favourites after the Luggage and the Patrician.
I'm glad to see you liked Proven Guilty by the end, it's one of my favorites in the series (although I agree that the "ick" is at its worst). Anything with the Carpenters in a major role is bound to end up being great.
Yay, more Dresden! Molly is probably my favorite character in the series although in this particular book Charity is awesome.
I'm sure some folks have mentioned it before, but since you're getting close to Book 12 (Changes) - I'd recommend NOT reading Book 13 immediately after Changes. I'd go to the short story collection, Side Jobs. All of the stories in there take place from before Storm Front to the time IMMEDIATELY after Changes. Moving on to Book 13 after you finish Side Jobs. That's how I read/listen to the series now. YMMV, of course 8)
inb4 the : "So i bought the complete set of discworld collectors editions" video :) . I am soooo excited to see what you think of the books going forwards
You doing these two, and Temeraire, is so weird and awesome. Some of my favourite books and you are reading them all at the same time!
I hope Murph eventually reads the short stories in-between the novels. Day Off is my favourite short story of the lot
Discworld and Dresden in one vlog? ❤🎉 That's awesome sauce!
Proven guilty is definitely my favorite of all the Dresden books. You are in for a treat in these next books 😁
Really enjoying your Dresden recaps and reviews, looking forward to the next one.
I get the memory thing with digital content. I have made attempts to use the scroll bars at the bottom of ereaders in the same way I can flip to pages in a book. That takes some effort and requires knowing each reader's scroll feature. Also, knowing where page one is and the final page, what is 25%, 50%, 75% helps me move through a digital book in a manner that is somewhat similar to physical books. Bookmarking is an interesting added feature (assuming you do not have 500 book marks or have a prohibition against marking your physical books) in ereaders. I've used that to try and get a sense of my place within a digital book. I'm less likely to highlight or make notes because I would rather retain those thoughts, as I do when reading a paper book. It has taken a lot of consistent effort to read in a digital only format and level up past my Gen-X paper skill tree. I still prefer paper books, but I like being able to read on the screen with some focus now too.
I felt like Merphy was a weather person standing in that field, great video as always!
I have been following your videos for well over a year and was heart broken when you said you had no interest reading the Dresden Files. And when I saw you were going to start reading them, I got excited. I love these books. I am about to restart the series, hopefully, maybe. I am glad you are enjoying these. They. Get. Better. Cheerio!
Cant wait for you to get to Going Postal: Brandon Sanderson rated it his best book of the year. I strongly recommend the Dresden audio as well. Even if you’ve never really done much audio, the format just transitions really well, and James Marsters does an AMAZING job, especially in Changes. I’d suggest don’t reread Dresden, instead relisten!
I think there's actually a point to the "ick" stuff in _Proven Guilty:_ specifically, that there is no virtue without temptation. The teenaged character(s) in question _have to be_ old enough (17 or 18 - there is a mild retcon with Molly's age, IIRC she's at least a year or so older here than she should have been based on her previous appearance in the books), and attractive enough, to turn Harry's head, because if Harry isn't tempted to do wrong then it isn't really meaningful if he does right.
Mouse is just the GOAT! Who's a good dog??
I'm looking forward to your next Dresden Files book. White Night, I think? Checking, and yes. The next Dresden book is White Night. Lots of cool scenes and stuff that only shows up multiple books down the line. So, pretty much exactly like all the other books in the series, but I guess it depends on who your favourite supporting character is.
I feel like Discworld would be a good palate cleanser series for me. Something to read and in between some heavier books. I’m currently reading The Secret History. The writing is great but I’m not sure how I feel about it yet.
I felt like that while reading Secret History and I definitely needed some discworld afterwards
@@swordfish1929 I’m planning on reading Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson next, which is supposed to be heartwarming so it’ll be a good palate cleanser. I’m only 150 pages into SH and I know it’s just going to get heavier.
SPOILER DISCUSSION FOR DRESDEN PLZZZ WE LOVE IT
yay
Please please do a more thorough breakdown of the Dresden book “Changes,” when you get there. Break it into multiple reviews while you’re at multiple stages of the book! I’ve also heard great things about that particular audiobook!
I enjoy listening to you about your books and it inspired me to read more ❤❤❤
"It could be awesome. It could be a disaster."
This is Dresden. It's going to be both at the same time, lol.
Charity fan? Time to get yourself a warhammer, a blonde wig and some chainmail. And probably some platform shoes. She's really tall.
Glad to see the appreciation growing for Charity. You haven't gotten there yet but she has my absolute favorite line of dialogue in the series. Literally made me cry.
Gorgeous backdrop, love the snowy trees
the snow has been so beautiful the last few days. Kids have loved it too
Hi Merphy! Since you’re reading Discworld digitally, I thought you should know that there is a Humble Bundle going on right now and you can get the books for really cheap if you don’t have them all yet. It’s not all of the books, but I think it is most of them. So you can check that out if that helps.
I've never even read Eric or the next one, Moving Pictures, although I hear Moving Pictures is quite good? But after that, the books start amping up the quality, becoming more the Terry Pratchett we know and love.
If you're not fond of Rincewind (neither am I), i don't think you'll lose anything by skipping his novels. You can come back to them later if you want.
Dresden and discworld are a perfect pairing... and at one point Dresden quotes discworld
Not only are your shelves full, ones even crooked. ;)
Nothing wrong with hyping up libraries, so have at it!
Do you ever think you'll do a shelf purge? I know, it's horrible to consider.
The planes are so cool!!!
Thanks for the awesome interludes Merphy...
There's currently a Humble Bundle for almost every Discworld ebook so that would be a great way to get the series without spending much.
I agree that proven guilty is better on rereads.
Also I think it's a bit of a shame to read discworld digitally because the footnotes are harder to access
I thought you'd enjoy the end of Proven Guilty. It had Harry's first Wise Move from the ol' knucklehead. If I'm reading right the move you're alluding to, it'll be both awesome and a catastrophe, alternately.
Sidenote: Butcher did D&D sheets for all characters, and Harry's dump stat was his Wis, Which explains SO. MUCH. About him and his thoughts...
Worth mentioning: I think the second clip wasn't the one intended for this video. It was a lot of airplanes/ helicopters without any commentary. Seemed out of place. You might want to look into it.
I feel seen with your comment about your shelves being full Merphy! I’ve always wondered what booktubers do with all those books and like there’s something wrong with me for not having more room for books! lol
Im here for Dresden 👍 I started Lies of Locke Lamora and Im only 109 pages in, but loving it.
If you're just reading Eric you're missing out a bit. The original version is illustrated and nifty.
But you're about to slam into the golden age of discworld stuff so I'm excited for you.
Agreed, Eric never blew my socks off. Enjoyable but certainly not peak Pratchett. Close though. So close you are, to getting into what makes Discworld, DISCWORLD! 🎉
Interesting that the US version of the book just says 'Eric' on the cover. Not sure about later editions, but my Josh Kirby illustrated cover reads '' -Faust- Eric "
More discworld discussions please.
The Colour of Magic was so good. And the Dresden Files are excellent. Also, my 9 boxes (banker size boxes) of TBR feel your pain :D
You will get the Discworld at the end in some kind of collection. I predict it. 😁The emporium awaits you. Did you see what you can get from Pratchett’s shop?😈
That Dresden book… it’s really funny how Jim Butcher tries to apply his description to women here. 😂 It’s kinda ridiculous.
Yes more Dresden 🎉
Are you going to listen to the audiobooks. I know you are enjoying them by reading but I really think you'll like them even better with the audio. James Marsters does such an amazing job. By the way the library has them in audio.
She does a combination of both
Ah, the snow interludes have begun
Eric is on my nightstand now. I've been slacking if you already caught up to me. 😵
I definitely started to appreciate Charity as well. She's gotta deal with so much.
I can relate, I feel much the same way about Eric (and Rincewind in general). Some good stuff, but it's not one of The Great Discworld Books.
I'm trying to go digital with my books currently because I am overflowing with physical books. I love physical books but honestly I need space more. So unless a book becomes a new favorite, I am going to stick to digital books for now.
Push through the next three(ish) Discworld Books after 'Eric' and then after that you've got *20+* books which are very good, very, very good or absolute masterpieces. You're sooo close to reaching the point at which Discworld becomes consistently brilliant Pratchett at his best ('Small Gods' onwards imo).
I love the next 3, witches abroad has one of the best granny punch lines, moving pictures has a very good selection of CMoT dibbler momets, and reaper man has the single best death quote!
@@itaykerensm1629 Yeah, "push through" was too negative of me. But I think it does take a real step up from 'Small Gods' (a bonafide masterpiece) onwards.
so didn't see it in previous comments, so if i'm duplicating my bad, but noticed when you showed Eric's cover you may have missed one of the "jokes" of the setup from other covers, in which the full title is Eric (but handwritten over a crossed out Faust)
Tier list looks legit to me
Humble bundle has all but 2 of Pratchett s books for 18
Merphy, since the comment section and patreon members have opened your mind to absurdist fiction, have you considered reading much Kurt Vonnegut? He’s my favorite author, and I think you would love his sense of humor!
You can look at page count on digital books too.
I think this depends on the platform and effort put in by the publisher. I know I've come across quite a few ebooks that don't have page numbers on my Kindle.
@@lordshavron Oooohh, you could be right. I must look at % more than the page count, as I've never really noticed this problem.
Small Gods, from which you are a way off yet, is the first Discworld book that I thought was a genuinely great story. Although, as others have said, you won't go far wrong with the upcoming Witches and Death books.
Non spoiler Dresden theory, Harry will time travel to the events of Proven Guilty
Ah i had such a hard time with Proven Guilty. It was readable and engaging, but the *ick* bits were way too much for me, and i found it to be completely discombobulated. It had all the things I dislike in Dresden, paired with all the things I do like in even measure. Leaves me torn! Cant wait until your spoiler review!😅
I read almost everything digitally and then only purchase physical books if they are favorites
The Rincewind books are... Fine. They're fine.
Eric is Faust… well… it has a theme too.
5 months to go!
Charity is the Steris of the Dresden Files