The Jim Butcher Files: Dresden . Codex Alera . Cinder Spires & More

[alansplace]

[AlbertaCowboy]

Well, I'm afraid to say that I have abandoned The Aeronaut's Windlass. I just couldn't get into it, finding the dialogue stilted and the characters and settings unlikeable, in my own opinion. Maybe I'll try again when I am in a different frame of mind and mood. I found the Furies to be similar at first, and when I went back again, I thoroughly enjoyed them.
On the plus side, I am very much enjoying Rivers of London. Having read quite a few British cop procedurals, I really enjoy the slang and cop talk coupled with the wizarding aspects.

[Toxaris]

Originally Posted by alansplace

From a recent Jim Butcher interview:

Q: You swore to never do two series at the same time again. Why are you doing it again?

A: The answer is alimony.

Yeah, I read that and made me wonder. Wasn't his ex-wife a writer as well with her own income? Wouldn't that be deducted from the alimony? Also, they didn't have children did they?

[Toxaris]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

Well, I'm afraid to say that I have abandoned The Aeronaut's Windlass. I just couldn't get into it, finding the dialogue stilted and the characters and settings unlikeable, in my own opinion. Maybe I'll try again when I am in a different frame of mind and mood. I found the Furies to be similar at first, and when I went back again, I thoroughly enjoyed them.
On the plus side, I am very much enjoying Rivers of London. Having read quite a few British cop procedurals, I really enjoy the slang and cop talk coupled with the wizarding aspects.

The Furies didn't really do it for me. I read them, but find them mediocre, especially compared to his other books. The Aeronaut's Windlass took a little time to get into, but not that long. There were some characters I really didn't like and I ended up caring for them.
I like, but not enjoyed, Rivers of London. However, currently I am reading Moon over Soho (Peter Grant part 2) and I enjoy it much, much more!

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

Well, I'm afraid to say that I have abandoned The Aeronaut's Windlass. I just couldn't get into it, finding the dialogue stilted and the characters and settings unlikeable, in my own opinion. Maybe I'll try again when I am in a different frame of mind and mood. I found the Furies to be similar at first, and when I went back again, I thoroughly enjoyed them.
On the plus side, I am very much enjoying Rivers of London. Having read quite a few British cop procedurals, I really enjoy the slang and cop talk coupled with the wizarding aspects.

That is too bad. Dialogue is pretty important in Aeronaut's Windlass more than the action, IMO. It does feel a bit dated, but that probably comes from the genre. What I really loved about it is how the spoken words usually got the character in deeper trouble. Either by backing it up by action, or by being rewarded with a even worse response.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

Well, I'm afraid to say that I have abandoned The Aeronaut's Windlass. I just couldn't get into it, finding the dialogue stilted and the characters and settings unlikeable, in my own opinion. Maybe I'll try again when I am in a different frame of mind and mood. I found the Furies to be similar at first, and when I went back again, I thoroughly enjoyed them.
On the plus side, I am very much enjoying Rivers of London. Having read quite a few British cop procedurals, I really enjoy the slang and cop talk coupled with the wizarding aspects.

I think that if you can get through about chapter 8 in The Aeronaut's Windlass that it might be clear sailing for you through the rest of the book. Glad to hear you're enjoying Rivers of London.

Originally Posted by Toxaris

The Furies didn't really do it for me. I read them, but find them mediocre, especially compared to his other books. The Aeronaut's Windlass took a little time to get into, but not that long. There were some characters I really didn't like and I ended up caring for them.
I like, but not enjoyed, Rivers of London. However, currently I am reading Moon over Soho (Peter Grant part 2) and I enjoy it much, much more!

Glad to hear you're enjoying Moon over Soho.

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

That is too bad. Dialogue is pretty important in Aeronaut's Windlass more than the action, IMO. It does feel a bit dated, but that probably comes from the genre. What I really loved about it is how the spoken words usually got the character in deeper trouble. Either by backing it up by action, or by being rewarded with a even worse response.

Interesting observations and thoughts!

[alansplace]

[Toxaris]

I love it that he really interacts with his fans.

[alansplace]

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Toxaris

Yeah, I read that and made me wonder. Wasn't his ex-wife a writer as well with her own income? Wouldn't that be deducted from the alimony? Also, they didn't have children did they?

They'd dated in high school and I believe were considered to be high school sweethearts. She became an engineer (don't know her exact education) and after their marriage she was the primary breadwinner throughout Jim's college and until he was making enough as a writer to become the primary. During this time they raised a son who is now in college. Shannon had decided that she wanted to be a writer too, so Jim coached her and she became a successful author. So why the alimony, I have no idea! Maybe she's not as successful as he is? (the above may be inaccurate as I've not really researched it)

[Apache]

Or it may be the fact that she supported him while he learned his craft.
Apache

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Apache

Or it may be the fact that she supported him while he learned his craft.
Apache

Yep, maybe that also.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by alansplace

[alansplace]

..
The future Mrs. Butcher portraying Leanansidhe. (click to embiggen)

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by alansplace

..
The future Mrs. Butcher portraying Leanansidhe. (click to embiggen)

Didn't know Kitty was an artist. Thought she was doing dressup stuff only. That is a nice piece of art.

The one nitpick I have with this is the puppies teeth. A dobie is scary enough when it shows teeth, no need to make them less functional. The canines are curved and parallel for a reason - so that they exactly follow the motion of snapping the jaws shut. Kitty's interpretation just looks scarily deformed to me, not scarily dangerous.