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

[Tarana]

Originally Posted by cc_in_oh

I suppose Dresden is his cash cow so I can't blame him for milking it to the max but personally I think CS has the potential to really put him on the map. In a way it might be better that he's put it aside until he can give it the attention it deserves.

Yes, but you know how it is. If you catch the wave early, you either ride or fall off. CS was great, but steampunk is no longer on the rise.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Yes, but you know how it is. If you catch the wave early, you either ride or fall off. CS was great, but steampunk is no longer on the rise.

Well, I love Steampunk, on the rise or not (and not twerky romance novels disguised as steampunk....grumble), but after his other series, which I did not love, I didn't want to bother. Some of you seem to like it, though, yes? Cinder Spires, I mean?

I suspect I'll wait until there are at least two. Fool me once, shame on you...

Hitch

[bizzybody]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Well, I love Steampunk, on the rise or not (and not twerky romance novels disguised as steampunk....grumble), but after his other series, which I did not love, I didn't want to bother. Some of you seem to like it, though, yes? Cinder Spires, I mean?

I suspect I'll wait until there are at least two. Fool me once, shame on you...

Hitch

Joseph R. Lallo's "Free Wrench" series might satisfy any itch you have for steampunk. It's set on some other world and has elements that are rather like very early SciFi, especially what the airships use for lifting gas and fuel. Some time prior to the start of the series there was an accident at the only source of the "ichor" from which the lifting gas and various other stuff is made. The well caught fire and spewed out a purplish gas called "fug". The fug covered nearly the entire world, except for one high volcanic caldera containing a very large lake and an island. The fug killed most life, plant and animal, and mutated what it didn't, including humans. The mutated humans, known as "fuggers" live down in the fug yet maintain a chokehold on the technology allowed to the normal humans living within the caldera. Fuggers can breathe normal air for a long time without any ill effects, even after extended exposure it will make them uncomfortable but won't kill them. The reverse? Not so much. Death in short order or (not yet explored) possibly become a fugger. The fuggers are the only source for airship lifting gas, fuel, most medical supplies and other essentials. The fuggers also maintain a monopoly on airship repairs and *they always know if a normal human makes any unauthorized repairs*. Airships that come into port with unauthorized repairs get heavy fines or other punishments. One thing the fuggers do NOT control is a special metal found only on the island in the middle of the caldera. It's commonly made into wide coil springs (like giant watch springs) where it can be wound up very tightly to store a considerable amount of mechanical power. The Calderans use it to power vehicles and some other machinery. The fuggers are always willing to trade for it.

The protagonist is Nita, a young woman who works in the island's steam plant. The island Calderans are mostly artists. Nita's family was not happy she went into engineering and mechanics. Her mother has fallen ill and only the fuggers have a cure. She signs on with the crew of the run-down airship "Wind Breaker" and sets off on her quest to obtain it.

[Hitch]

Thanks--I'll look into it. MUCH appreciated!

Hitch

[cc_in_oh]

I'll have to check that out too - see if my libraries have it.

I like Dresden but it's gotten way too open-ended for my taste. Alera wasn't great but I liked the way it was structured. CS was more of a fun read for me, especially given that first-in-series books usually don't impress me much (except Wheel of Time of course).

[alansplace]

Peace Talks is here, and Battle Ground is only a month away!

[alansplace]

Four weeks to go until the apocalyptic conclusion this summer’s epic Dresden Duology!

[alansplace]

Sample Chapters of Battle Ground

Read Chapters 1 and 2 exclusively at Tor! You won’t want to miss these. They’re all the fandom is going to be able to talk about until the book comes out. Or until we post Chapter 3 in a future Drop.

[bizzybody]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Sample Chapters of Battle Ground

Read Chapters 1 and 2 exclusively at Tor! You won’t want to miss these. They’re all the fandom is going to be able to talk about until the book comes out. Or until we post Chapter 3 in a future Drop.

Nope! Not gonna read a teaser! You can't make me!

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Sample Chapters of Battle Ground

Read Chapters 1 and 2 exclusively at Tor! You won’t want to miss these. They’re all the fandom is going to be able to talk about until the book comes out. Or until we post Chapter 3 in a future Drop.

Interesting. My body wash right now is Old Spice Krakengärd, how fitting.

The one thing that is weird is the formatting of compound words with a small dash in there. I hope the book will not look like that.

[alansplace]

Days until the release

[alansplace]

Twenty Years of Harry Dresden | Comic-Con@Home 2020

[Tarana]

FWIW, the new Audible pre-order special (get $5 credit) includes Battle Ground. Read the info and make sure that you have opted in for ads before selecting. If you already preordered, I'd cancel the preorder and then redo it. Does not include trial subscriptions.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Tarana

FWIW, the new Audible pre-order special (get $5 credit) includes Battle Ground. Read the info and make sure that you have opted in for ads before selecting. If you already preordered, I'd cancel the preorder and then redo it. Does not include trial subscriptions.

Opt in for ads? Good lord, you couldn't pay me to listen to an audiobook with ads.

[haertig]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Opt in for ads? Good lord, you couldn't pay me to listen to an audiobook with ads.

So funny. So true.