Does anyone come here?

There are a lot of members but not a lot of chatter...so I was just wondering who actually comes here.

I respond when I see messages in talk - but I seldom visit any group page specifically.

Is there anything you want to chatter about?

Ive just re-read upto Proven Guilty which is as far as is available where I am....

I'm still looking for any feedback on the Codex alera series.

I haven't read his Codex Alera series yet. I've loved the Dresden Files so much that I don't want to be disappointed. Which happened to me with David Eddings The Belgariad & Mallorean series were awesome...none of his other books/series have been all that good.

I'm also for any chatter about the Dresden series. I've read all the books that our out to date and there is just so many potential discussions available.

"I've read all the books that our out"
Which changes depending on the publisher's geographic release schedule. But as you seem to be in the US I guess you've read white night that I won't get my hands on till next year sometime.....
So avoiding spoilers from White Night is Harry going to turn to God? or will the a devil get him below Lasciel or another? Or worst of all will Jim Butcher stop writing the series with the issue still in doubt?

I suspect the last option.

Yes I am in the US....so I've read all the books including White Night. Which was good, but not as good as Proven Guilty.

So moving away from WN....

First off - don't even think that Jim Butcher will stop writing the series!!! That's a horrible thought! Horrible.

I don't know if Harry will ever fully turn to God, although I don't think that he is against Him as he once was. I think that through the course of the books - and through his friendship with the Carpenters - that he has a better understanding of what God is doing.

I also don't think that Harry will turn to the dark side. He is too strong for that. I mean just look at how well he's been doing in avoiding the temptaion of Lasciel? Even in her shadow form she is powerful and probably would have corrupted a lesser being by now.

I think that Harry has some sort of higher purpose. Perhaps in the end he will find God and take up Shiro's sword. Although I think that might be too much for him....to be a Warden and to have one of the Swords. So, I think that he'll run into someone eventually who its destined for.

I met Jim during his recent tour promoting White Night. He's planning about 20 "case" books plus an Apocalyptic Trilogy so the Dresden Files should be with us for at least another thirteen years or so. Word is that the next three have already been purchased by the publisher.

Stitch

Hi ~ I recently heard about The Dresden Files and am really looking forward to reading the series. If anyone happens to have a list starting with the first one that they wouldn't mind posting so I know which one I should start with, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Here's the list:

Storm Front, Book 1
Fool Moon, Book 2
Grave Peril, Book 3
Summer Knight, Book 4
Death Masks, Book 5
Blood Rites, Book 6
Dead Beat, 7th book
Proven Guilty, 8th book
White Night, 9th book

For some reason, after "Book 6," they are not numbered, at least on the paperbacks. They just say "A Novel of the Dresden Files."

(A bit of a problem with the touchstones - wrong author for Dead Beat, and Fool Moon not identified. I guess 7 out of 9 is ok.)

There is also a recent Dresden Files thread over on FantasyFans.

I think Murphy is going to get the sword, just a theory!

Good theory, Katissima! That goes along with when Harry, using his Sight, saw her as an avenging angel. (I don't remember which book that's in.)

Thanks, MaggieO! That helps a lot! I have almost all of them on hold at the two libraries I belong to but will definitely start with Storm Front (I assume it makes a diff). :)

Storeetllr - I think it does help to read them in order. Each book can stand alone, and Butcher always refers back to incidents in previous books to keep the reader up to date, as well as to explain aspects of Harry's world to new readers. But when I started to read one out of order because I couldn't find the intervening book, I realized I'd missed important elements of the story. I had to stop, find the previous book and read it, then continue once I understood what had happened. Some readers don't mind reading a series out of order, and at times I don't mind, either. I've become so immersed in these books, though, and so interested in the characters, I feel that I don't want to miss anything.

I am curious as to where Jim is going with Murph's avenging angel (when Harry looks at her with Sight) it's been mentioned a few times in a couple of books which is likely to inidicate there is a specific plot line developing. I'm not sure she'll get the sword though, that seems a little too obvious.

I just finished my first Harry Dresden book last night and am really looking forward to reading more of them!!

I also want to see the television series. I hope they put it out on DVD soon :-)

I just joined librarything.com & have just now noticed this group.

I get a big kick out of the Harry series. I was a little disappointed in the sci fi channel's adaptation. I thought the guy who plays Harry was well cast, but they changed around the features of some of the main characters & got rid of Harry's Volkswagen...

Glen Cook has a noir PI set in a completely different universe that seems like Harry's long lost bro.

Welcome to LibraryThing, roygg9!

I'm not sure I want to see the TV series - I looked it up on IMDB and it just doesn't look right. Plus the comments it has received there are mostly negative.

Joss Whedon should have done the TV series!

I don't think Joss Whedon would be good at doing anyone else's work other than Joss Whedon. The changes that they made aren't what bothered me about the series. What I think hurts the series is that the episodes were pretty shallow. It felt like an early 90s tv show. Nothing deep or pushy about it. People like shows like Lost and Battlestar Galactica and Firefly and Buffy for a reason. They were sharp, witty, deep (as in complicated story lines...not metaphysically *grin*) etc. Jim Butcher's writing has all those qualities. He is as unique as Joss Whedon, but the show was a pale imitation of his work. Still there were a couple of episodes that I liked okay; some of the episodes really stunk. All the same, I have great hope that if it gets renewed they might surprise us in season 2 and do something really great!

#10
It's Grave Peril (I just finished reading it) where Harry sees Murphy as the avenging angel with sword in hand.=)

#12
I know what you mean. I've already finished the 3rd book and ready to start the 4th! Ack, I can't put these books down!lol. I wish the publisher would have kept the numbering system though. It would really help those that dont' know about the books from accidently picking up a book out of order.

#15 & 16
I first heard about the books from the sci-fi tv series. But I never watched the show because I love to read and I figure that eventually I'd pick up the books and start reading. I hate when they mess up on adapting books to tv or flim. So I'm not sure if I want to watch the series. I'd rather my imagination come up with how the world of Harry Dresden should look like, not how other people think it should be like. Does that make sense?

I just finished the last Dresden book yesterday, White Night, and now I'm pining for book 10. Does anyone know when the next one is expected to be published?

White Night was so good. I can't believe that these books continue to get better. I love the way that the Dresden-world is evolving. I expected that each book would just focus on some new sort of beastie that Harry has to defeat with the help of his friends. But instead, each book reveals new alliances and enemies, which develop as a result of what has happened in previous books. I think that's how Jim Butcher has us all committed to these books - we have to keep reading to see what happens because Ramirez meets Elaine, we have to know where the obvious love between Harry and Karrin is going, if anywhere, we need to find out who becomes worthy of Shiro's sword, how Thomas is earning his living, and if he is ever reunited with Justine. There seem to be no end of narrative threads to take an interest in. Does Butters become more involved with Harry's work (what a great character!)? What deeds are in store for the werewolves? What's the deal with Harry's Sidhe godmother? What is Mac's backstory?

Once you're immersed in Harry's world, everyday life is pretty uneventful (or at least I hope your lives are uneventful, compared with his!) I haven't been so absorbed into a fictional world since I read some of Neil Gaiman's Sandman.

Better stop now before I start giving away things.

MaggieO,
So White Night is really good? How often does Butcher churn out each book? Every year? Every other year? Since White Night came out a few months ago, I'd guess the next book comes out sometime next year (I hope!). The way I've been going through each book, I'll be done in no time.lol.

I think that the next book is due out sometime next year.

I too liked white night...although its not my favorite of the series. WN does offer lots of good background information though which was nice to get. But annoying too since it wasn't enough!

#19....if you read White Night then you should know how Thomas makes his living. I throughly enjoyed learning that bit of info. =)

>22 Irisheyz77: Yes, of course I know how Thomas makes his living (an ingenious solution, I thought!) But some of the people reading this thread haven't read White Night yet. I was just trying to give examples of some questions that could arise as a reader works her way through the different books in the series, without giving too much away.

It's going to be a long wait to 2008 for the next book!

Oh oh! No spoilers please! I want to be surprised.=)

booklover - nothing has been spolied. Don't worry. =)

LOL. I've had the misfortunate of reading posts on another thread (different forum) and coming across spoilers in the middle of reading and go, "ACK! Nooooo!"=) As long as there's warning of spoilers ahead I'm good.

I'm trying very hard to phrase things carefully so I don't ruin someone's reading experience. (Looks to me like others of you who have read the books are doing this also.) It's difficult, though, because I'm so interested in these books and I don't know anyone else I can talk to about them. (Hooray for LT!)

But I promise to warn of spoilers in big letters if I think I'm about to reveal anything. Or we could perhaps have a clearly marked SPOILER thread for those who have finished reading particular books. For example, we could have a thread called: SPOILERS for Dead Beat ! ! And anyone who has finished reading it can then complain or admire as much as they want to with others who have already finished the book. Of course, it'd be up to you not to look at it, booklover79 :) !

That sounds like a good idea. I just started reading Death Masks so I still have a while yet. I will try to hurry up so you can have someone else to discuss with.lol=)

Anyways, I love Harry's curse words. Well not sure if they are curse words. But I think it's cute when he starts yelling "Hell's bells" or "Stars and stones" when he is frustrated or irritated or mad. I also find it funny when he gets so expasperated with modern technology! You know, when he describes when things just go ka-poot when he comes around.lol. Oh, and I love his sense of humor when he's around the bad guys. He starts joking and being funny in bad situations and the bad guys just don't get it and wonder what the heck is wrong with him!=)

Like MaggieO I try to phrase things in a way that won't give anything away in a thread like this one. For I know that I would hate to be spoiled on something in this series. Half the fun is trying to figure everything out after all...and in watching Harry and the gang all evolve as they move through the books.

As you've all probably already seen I began some threads for the various books in the series. Hopefully this will help in people avoilding being spoiled. Plus it helped me avoid doing some reading for a class I'm taking. =)

Any ideas for other threads to have?

Next book out April 2008. Seems like such a long time to wait!

Woohoo. Though we're a very small group, we're listed as one of the most active groups at the moment. =)

That is good news. Especially since for the longest time no one came here. It was a very sad and lonely group.

Perhaps with it being on the most active list we can atract more people to become fans of Jim Butcher. =)

I would think there'd be more Jim Butcher fans out there. People don't know what they're missing out on.

They more certainly do not. I recommend this series to everyone. Because there is something in this series for everyone. =)

reading_fox I posted this on another page but thought maybe you might want to hear about the Codex Alera Series here.

I, unlike most Jim Butcher fans it seems, have not read his Dresden Files books. They were recommended to me, but instead I picked up Furies of Calderon.

I love this series. Many Dresden fans seem not to and complain that they are not like Butchers other books. Well yeah!! It is a different series with different characters and even a different world. I have been told that the Dresden books are full of sarcasm whereas Codex Alera is not. I don't really care. I am a head over heals in love with this series.

There are three books out so far:
Furies of Calderon,
Academ's Fury,
and Cursors Fury.

Butcher has been signed for three more, and Captain's Fury comes out on Dec. 4th 2007. I cannot wait.

These books weave a wonderful and unique world with characters that your never quite sure about and never feel false or flat. The traditional take on magic is not used here, but instead people gain their "powers" from a manifestation of different elemental powers in the form of furies. The world is dependent on furies in their everyday life, to cook, heal, travel, hunt, build, fight, etc.

The main character is the only known Aleran to be considered furyless and it would be the equivalent of being born without both your legs in our world. He is looked down upon and considered a freak. He must use his mind and his drive to rise in the world and prove himself. You want him to succeed, you want him to win at everything, and you can’t help but cheer for him all along.

He is supported by a wide range of characters that really brings home the idea that no one and nothing is truely right or wrong, black or white. The "bad guy" you can't help but like and understand what he's doing. Some of the "good guys" you don't necessarily like and wonder if they are all that "good." I like that your are constantly re-evaluating your opinion of the characters involved through these books.

I've said a lot. I hope you give them a try and enjoy them as much as I have and will continue to do.

Thanks Cursors that's a glowing review. I'll add them to the ever growing list of things I have to read!

As soon as I finish the Dresden series, it's my plan to go on to the Codex Alera series. I really like the way Butcher writes.

Thanks very much for the review, Cursors. I have been pining for the next Dresden book (when is it expected, fellow Dresden fans?), and though I bought the first Codex Alera book it hasn't made it to my teetering TBR pile yet. Now I will move it closer to the top of the queue.

I understand the whole "yet to be read" list, mine seems to never get smaller. It doesn't help that I like to re-read books, so I often feel it's one step forward and three back.

I hope you do get to this series and let me say that each book is better than the last. Jim Butcher has an amazing way of building his story in a way that you never feel like your "starting over" at the beginning of each book, but more that there was just a really long wait between chapters.

Anyone else out there actually read the Codex Series?

Thanks for the great review Cursors....like reading_fox and maggie I've had the first book of the codex alera series in my tbr pile but haven't really done much with it. I think that part of me has been worried that it won't be as good as the Dresden files and so I'll become a little disappointed in the writing of Jim Butcher.

The Dresden Files has that same style...of slowly building on a stroy and you don't feel as if you 'start over' with each new book.

I've recently switched jobs and will soon be taking the train into the city again...and with that comes more time for reading! I can't wait....I think that's part of why I took the new job. Forget more $ or better opportunties...its all about trying to find more time to read. So I think that I'll dig out my Codex Alera book and start to read that. After reading Cursors review I don't think that I'll be disappointed in the least.

Maggie - I think that the next Dresden book (Small Favors) is due out in April 2008. So plenty of time to catch up on his other series. ;-)

@Cursors - Have you read any of Butcher's Dresden Files books yet?

Irish. I have not read any of the Dresden Files books yet. I was turned off from reading them by everyone who had read them putting down the Codex Alera books. They're different series, different worlds, and I was frustrated that these Dresden readers seemed to be missing this major point.

I did go and read the first two chapters on Butcher's site, and have now added the series to the list of books waiting to be read/bought.

I do have one question that I know is a spoiler question but I'm curious if Dresden ever gets off his "probation" that I found mentioned in the first two chapters and in later discussions on the books. I didn't want to go searching for fear of finding out other stuff, but I was curious if he ever has to stop worrying about stepping out of line because of his "probation." Thanks

rather than post a spoiler on this fairly open thread, I've left you a comment.

Thanks reading_fox. I left you a response via comment. ^_^

Cursors....I don't think that you'll regret picking up the Dresdon Books. They are a good series. Totally different world from Alera but no less enjoyable.

If I didn't know better I'd swear that the two series were written by two different people! Anyone who might not think that Butcher is a good writer should check out both series....any author that can change his writting style like that deserves awards for he's got skillz. lol

His wife is now an author as well...she writes romance but she learned lots from proofreading and editing Jim's books...might have to check her out at some point. Just to see how much (if anything) of JB is in her writing as well.

Not to be too off-topic, but I met Jim Butcher a couple of times at recent signings and... the guy is hilarious. He put on a show for us, making everyone laugh (in a Harry Dresden kind of way) while answering some questions, evading others and keeping us entertained. He also took the time to talk with each reader while signing. Jim actually signed ALL my books... I was ecstatic, to say the least.

This thread doesn't really have a real topic anymore...tis just a general meeting place for people to pop in and chat. =)

That's really cool that you've met JB and that he is so cool. Hopefully one day he'll come to my area at a time that I can meet him. It definitely sounds like its worth it.

>44 Irisheyz77: Do you know what his wife's name is? I read lots of romance and would be curious to check out some of her work.

Jenson - His wife is Shannon Butcher. If you go to JB's website (www.jim-butcher.com) there is a link to her page through his.

Thanks!

Hello all. It's been a while since people asked about the Codex Alera series and since I responded. I was curious if anyone had started the series and what they might have thought.

And if none of you have started . . . what's stopping you? This series is amazing!! lol.

I haven't yet, but only because I want to finish the Dresden Files series first.

Just stopping by to say hello. I'm eagerly awaiting the next Dresden book. The first book in the Codex Alera series is in my TBR stack, but I've been distracted by other books. Maybe soon it'll jump into my hands and demand to be read . . . .

I started it based on reviews by CursorsFury and I have to second her comment that its amazing.

Storeetllr - this series is so much better than Dresden. I never thought I'd say that but once you hit book 2 of Codex Alera the mindblowing brilliance of it is hard to deny.

MaggieO - I highly recommend that you move Furies of Calderon up in your queue...and then run out and buy Academ's Fury and Cursor's Fury because you will want to read them after starting the series.

As with most series Furies is the weakest in the lot but it is still a great read. The others are just amazing. At this moment I am looking past the next Dresden book to December for the the next Codex Alera book - and I haven't even read the 4th book yet. (its my reward for making it through an early reviewer book that's giving me trouble)

But to all who haven't started Codex Alera....RUN...don't walk to your nearest bookseller and buy up all the books in the series...then put them on the top of your TBR pile. You won't regret it. Soon you'll be like me and say, Harry who?

Wow, Irisheyz77, I am amazed that you think this series is better than Harry! That is a strong recommendation indeed. I guess I'd better reorganize (no, that can't be the right word, since it was never organized to begin with) my reading queue.

Double wow! Hard to believe, Irish, but I'll take your word for it.

If it's better than Dresden, then I have simply got to read it!

I wouldn't have thought it either and that is part of why I held off reading the series. I mean how can anything top Harry Dresden? But then you meet a young boy named Tavi and you get to watch him grow....both mentally and physically. Surviving and thriving in a world that considers him to be a freak. Each book just gets better. I was blown away by Cursor's Fury. I still like Harry....but I like Tavi better. I am eager to hear more of his story than Harry's. Definately check it out. I don't think that you'll be disappointed.

Well, you won't be as long as you like more traditional fantasy. =)