As some of you may have noticed, I'm a fan of Jim Butcher's. The avatar's not a hint or anything ;-). He releases a book twice a year; spring for the Dresden Files series, and winter for the Codex Alera series, and amazingly enough, it never gets old or tiring, and each series is improving and becoming more enthralling. In December, book 4 of the Codex Alera series, Captain's Fury, releases. And in April of '08, book 10 (may they never end) of the Dresden Series comes out, entitled Small Favors. Now, I know there are Dresden fans, but has anyone else read his Codex series yet?

I haven't had the chance to read anything else by him, but I'm on the 5th book of the Dresden Files. My favorite so far was Summer Knight but I did like Grave Peril too (Oh I love Michael... I'm a Paladin kind of girl).

So many other people seem to like the Vampire books more though. I guess vamps are 'in'.

Yeah, Michael's definitely a cool guy. I like the way his character sort of represents relgion in Harry's world of vampires, werewolves, and ghouls, and that Michael deals with things in an understanding, rather than a "You're a blasphemer!", kind of way.

I hope he doesn't do what Steven Brust, Orson Scott Card and so many before him did... and that's decide on a new storytelling method within the same series.

Want to experiment? Do it with a new book. Brust totally fvcked up by doing some bizarre drunken third-person narrative with his latest books. I loved Vlad, Morrolan and everyone. Now? I can't stomach what he's done.

Where am I going with this? Well, I LOVED the first two Alera books, but the last one was different. Way too heavy on the expanded war scenes and excessive narration. At least he didn't change the characters. Tavi, et al. are still awesome.

It's entirely possible that he needed to go that direction seeing as how the country was being invaded and that the excessive narration was needed to explain and build the tension of the war and the decisions necessary.

I'll end now by saying that I totally love the lead character, Tavi, of the Alera books. His powers haven't yet shown themselves -- those who've read book 3 understand why. And as such, he's gone creative way outside the box, like the whole air elemental "trick" to destroy an entire army. FVCKING AWESOME!

Since he won't forget the outside-the-box thinking that has "accidentally" saved the lands multiple times and somehow promoted him to an important position within the empire... he'll be a massive force to reckon with once his powers "develop".

I'm looking forward anxiously to book 4. I'll probably take the day off of work to read the book


SIDE NOTE: Want to be a writer? Do what Butcher did... he wrote THREE FULL BOOKS before trying to get published. When people in the biz heard he had three books ready to roll, they took him seriously. The guy rocks.

Yes, man-crush. And?

On Monday, August 20th 2007 5:49 pm, nishikaze wrote:

I haven't had the chance to read anything else by him, but I'm on the 5th book ....

ooh! you're in the middle of the meat of the stories!

Michael and his family play a bigger role than I had expected. I won't ruin anything, but will simply say that if you like him... keep reading

I agree, it's going to be fun to see where Tavi goes given how things are changing for him now. He's always been level-headed though; I'm excited to see how others react to the new situation.

And I can't wait for more Dresden too, because if I recall correctly, they still haven't taken care of that sword issue lingering in the air. In fact, I need to go re-read the book, because I shouldn't have to strain that hard to remember what happened in it.

I didn't mind or notice the change in narration of the third, because I'm still slightly uncomfortable with the book shifting perspective each chapter. I mean, everyone's cool and all, but it's so disheartening to get to a tense part, and then be thrust somewhere else all of a sudden. I've found myself trying to blitz through a chapter just to get back to where Tavi left off, which I don't think is Butcher's goal by any means. Not that I don't love the books mind you, but the style's just . . . not how I'm used to reading.

I hear what you're saying about changing a series though. I'm in the middle of the MYTHadventures series right now (on book 9: M.Y.T.H. Inc. In Action), and books 7 and 9 gave me a shock. They're not written from the perspective of the main character, unlike every other book in the series. It by no means ruins the series, and if nothing else, it's probably fun for the author to write from the perspectives of these other colorful characters he's created; especially since the series is from the first person perspective. But it still is an odd change; everything feels so much more comfortable when you switch back to the "I'"s being from the perspectvie of Skeeve (the main character).

RE: Sword. I don't believe anything has been decided yet. I think it's still sitting in Dresden's closet or wherever. I suspect part of the reason is Dresden has been given another sword (the warden sword, that is) that's taking priority.

As for MYTH, I believe that Robert Asprin (the primary author) has been ill and only overseeing the writing and not that closely. It seems the last few books haven't been nearly that complex or humourous.

The last MYTH book I read had them solving a crime in a shopping mall. Seemed way beneath the MYTH team.

They were teen novels (say, for 15 yo?), but now, they seem more like for (10yo). I only act 10yo, I think more like 15 I hope Asprin gets well. And speaking of which, I really enjoyed the first couple Phule's Company books, but like MYTH, i think someone else is writing them.

On Monday, August 20th 2007 9:12 pm, LordOpie wrote:

RE: Sword. I don't believe anything has been decided yet. I think it's still sitting in Dresden's closet or wherever. I suspect part of the reason is Dresden has been given another sword (the warden sword, that is) that's taking priority.

Yeah, I think he'd left it in his umbrella stand or something. I could have sworn the Wardens hadn't given him a sword though; part of the reason many think it may be him that finally carries it, like Merlin did.

On Monday, August 20th 2007 9:23 pm, Siesser wrote:

On Monday, August 20th 2007 9:12 pm, LordOpie wrote: RE: Sword. I don't believe anything has been decided yet. I think it's still sitting in Dresden's closet or wherever. I suspect part of the reason is Dresden has been given another sword (the warden sword, that is) that's taking priority. Yeah, I think he'd left it in his umbrella stand or something. I could have sworn the Wardens hadn't given him a sword though; part of the reason many think it may be him that finally carries it, like Merlin did.

oops, yeah, The wardens didn't give him a sword, but I think that's mostly cuz the sword maker is sick or out of commission somehow. Or am I confusing the TV show with the books now?

Either way, he doesn't know how to use a sword, correct?

On Monday, August 20th 2007 8:13 pm, LordOpie wrote:

On Monday, August 20th 2007 5:49 pm, nishikaze wrote: I haven't had the chance to read anything else by him, but I'm on the 5th book .... ooh! you're in the middle of the meat of the stories! Michael and his family play a bigger role than I had expected. I won't ruin anything, but will simply say that if you like him... keep reading

I know his daughter becomes Harry's apprentice and the real reason Charity hates Harry.

And I have a theory about who inherits Shiro's sword... (By the way, it's sitting in a pace of honor on his mantle.)

I'm probably wrong though.

Did I mention Murphy kicks ass?

Finished Death Masks... on to Blood Rites.

Just finished Blood Rites... In a day.

Murphy rocks. And I like Thomas more now.

I definitely like the direction things went with Thomas. He's a great character and balancing act. As for Murphy, it took forever, but I eventually did start liking her. Just takes me awhile to get past character types that ask for help and recieve it, but don't trust/act ungrateful.

On Thursday, August 23rd 2007 11:37 pm, Siesser wrote:

I definitely like the direction things went with Thomas. He's a great character and balancing act. As for Murphy, it took forever, but I eventually did start liking her. Just takes me awhile to get past character types that ask for help and recieve it, but don't trust/act ungrateful.

Actually I understood Murphy and I liked her from the very beginning. Murphy sees things in Black and White. She is the avenging angel, the protector of the innocent. But she's also been hurt pretty badly (2 divorces will do that to you) which makes it difficult for her to trust. Add to the fact one of the only people she allowed in lied to her, well that just shut her down.

Not to mention that it didn't take Murphy long, after Harry stopped lying to her, for her to forgive him. Now when he asks, she does, and does well. Their friendship is stronger then ever and will only grow stronger.

x-post, but deserved



So I'm going to do something I almost never do... buy a book!

yeah, I know!

I <3 library

but they take upwards of a month to get a new release. Normally, I can wait, but I needs my fix... so off I go to buy Jim Butcher's new book, "Captain's Fury."

(already read the first four chapters from his website)

Yeah, I'm going to head in and pick up my copy after I finish re-reading Cursor's Fury. Be sure to let us know how you like it!