Good Guys Kindle Edition

I have two books that I want to post on and this is one. There are authors that instantly move to the top of the Nightstand pile – no matter what I’m reading. Their books are always in my shopping cart, I track the release date and I purchase and download them as soon as they’re released. I feel that way about Jim Butcher and his “Dresden Files” books.Steven Brust is another and it’s primarily because of his Vlad Taltos novels. It’s a mammoth series that I’ve been reading since the first book – “Jhereg” – came out in 1987. There are 15 novels in the Taltos series with at least 2 more coming as well as 5 titles in a prequel series called the Khaavren Romances – inspired by Dumas’ d’Artagnan romances. I can’t recommend these books highly enough. They’re tight, witty, complex and very, very fun. Vlad is one of those characters who’s aged really well. He’s a little slower, a lot wiser and not quite as cocky today as he was in 1987 when he first appeared in “Jhereg” but he’s every bit as lovable. I don’t know how anyone couldn’t enjoy this character or these books.I saw “The Good Guys” pop up on Amazon about 6 months ago and it went straight into my Shopping Cart. It was released the same day as “A Call To Vengeance” and I worked my way through both in pretty short order. I’ve already posted on “A Call To Vengeance” and can honestly say that I’m glad I read it first. I saved the best of the two for last and ended New Release Week on a slightly higher note. I can’t tell whether Brust plans to turn this into a new series but he’s certainly left himself room to do so. While I hope he does, I have to say that I’d prefer him to get back to Vlad and finish his story before returning to the world he’s created in “The Good Guys”.Don’t get me wrong. I really enjoyed this book. It’s just that Brust will never write another book that I won’t -as I’m reading – compare to his Taltos series. Those books are – and always will be – special to me – mainly because of his main character. Vlad Taltos is one of my literary heroes. I have a 30 year relationship with him and he’s NEVER, EVER, EVER let me down. Brust made the mistake of getting it all right for me with his first series and I don’t think he’ll ever be able to get over that bar. The only time he’s ever gotten close is with his Taltos prequel series – “The Khaavren Romances”.So – the problem for me here is that it’s a good book – it’s just not quite as good as what he’s written for me in the past. He certainly grabs your attention from the very first page. He doles out information about his primary characters and the organization for which they work in a measured way that holds you and compels you to read on. He teases you with ambiguities about the relationship and politics between the two magical societies in a very skillful way. Brust makes you want to finish this one from the very first page.Ultimately, the problem has to do with the main character in “The Good Guys”. Donovan is a very hard-boiled, self-contained private investigator working for one of the two magical societies existing in our world – the Foundation. He’s competent and confident and capable and worth cheering for. He’s committed to his team but he’s almost too willing to put them in harm’s way. He’s not a killer but ultimately proves himself to be all too willing to dispense remorseless, terminal justice. He has an endearing disdain for the bureaucracy that he serves but it becomes so pronounced that it calls into question where his loyalties lie – if he has any at all – or his reasons for serving at all. He just didn’t engage me and worm his way into my heart in the same way that Vlad has. I found very little beyond his professionalism and skill to admire. Short to long – he’s all nails – displaying very little humanity.Vlad on the other hand, while he’s an assassin and a mob enforcer – not normally the type of calling most of us would associate with a rich and warm and appealing personality – is all human – something made even more tangible to readers by the fact that he’s one of the few human characters in this enormous 30 year cast of characters. He’s defined not by his profession but by his love of food and friends and family and his relationship with his Jhereg familiar (who in many ways is actually the most enjoyable character in the 15 books that currently make up this series) – his loyalty and his sense of humor and his chaotic way of always finding the correct answer to seemingly intractable problems. I live for new Taltos novels in the same way that I live for new Harry Dresden novels – they give me the precious chance to spend another day or two with Vlad.My last word on this – if this is your first Brust novel – you’ll probably enjoy it far more than I did – largely because you won’t be measuring it against a 30 year literary love affair.

After reading many books by Brust that were good but not great, I have become accustomed to the sardonic banter of the assassin Vlad Taltos, and the scholarly drool of the academic Paarfi. Frankly Brust himself is a mediocre author, rather a mad scientist, who has likely invented interdimensional travel and purchased and plagiarized fully cross referenced naratives from his characters and gods (and from Robert Hunter). How else might one explain the complete cross referencing of dozens of novels released over 30+ years?? Who would have guessed that Brust could ever find a new voice?? Good Guys is such a new voice, distinct from Vlad or Paarfi and surprisingly, I liked it a lot! My own favorite Brust novels are Cowboy Feng's Bar and Grille, Dzhur (who doesn't relish a great meal?), Dragon, Orca, Jhereg and Yendi, but if you, gentle reader, have liked anything whatsoever by Brust I think you will like Good Guys! Mr Brust, if you are reading this I encourage you to provide a suggested ORDER in which to read your numerous excellent, or merely good, books! Also please, a directory of local cafes serving fine klava!

...but a ripping yarn. [trying to avoid spoilers] This isn’t Vlad Taltos, and yet it is. A detective novel of sorts. Setting is hidden magic in the present day. Good guys and the other team. Being good doesn’t pay very well. The other team does better. But the people who are dying are members of the other team. Chasing a killer of bad people is somewhat morally ambiguous, and this story exists in this space.Story flows chronologically (more or less) but with multiple points of view, and this works better than it usually does, I often find that approach very offputting and find myself wanting to skip chapters to avoid certain characters, but not here. Only occasionally do two characters experience the same event. It works.The exposition of the world flows naturally from the story, as I have come to expect from Brust.This was a more satisfying story for me than the incrementalists books. I see some reviewers don’t think this lives up to the Taltos books, but I’m pretty happy with it. I think it was a good buy.

I have read a large chunk of Brust’s Vlad Taltos books, as well as several others. I have enjoyed all of them. Brust’s books always have: readable prose with standout details, consistent and believable world-building, tight and swift-moving, twisty plotting, and good characterization. Good Guys has all of these. It also is set in a more familiar modern world. And I love its clearly-drawn characters! Yes, even Becker! And the mention of a suspect whose office contained a full shelf of Anthony Price books sent me running to investigate this hitherto-unknown-to-me writer. The first book of his Dr. Audley series tells me this was probably a big favor! Thank you, Mr. Brust!Aside from that, I would LOVE to see more of our snarky, self-aware protagonist, Donovan, and any or all of the other characters in further adventures...I have to return to add that this book is rich enough, and such enjoyable reading, that I have already picked it up again, and - meaning to just look at one paragraph - been drawn right back in to re-read the entire book!

I was pleasantly surprised with this mystery story because I am not a huge fan of magic. But Brust does us the courtesy of making magic hard to learn and do. Like anything worth while. I also like his writing style with a little bit of snark hidden amongst the bits.

Very good book. A little over the top about how the protagonist views being black in the US, but otherwise a very good novel.

Another bullseye from Steven Brust!Didn’t pause reading until the end. Definitely worth it!Will please both old and new readers.

I like Steven Brust's writing, and some of his standalone books are, in my opinion, among his best. This one, however, will need a good bit of digesting and at least one reread before I can form a final judgement. The concept - tell a story from two - or more -sides, each with a case for being the "good guys" - is an interesting one, and well done. Is it desirable to conclude who is "right"? That is the question I am still considering Another reread, or two, may be needed; which perhaps justifies a fourth star. Read it and reach your own conclusion.