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

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by alansplace

My first reaction to SouthernSun's post was to ignore her because she was trolling. But being the curious person that I am, I found and read her other posts since her recent arrival on MobileReads. There was no trolling going on in any of these posts. Then eschwartz posted his snarky reply to SouthernSun and I decided that I needed to comment. I'll counter with this:

All fourteen of the Dresden Files novels that I've read have been quite able to stand on their own without any real need to lean on any previous novel. However, since there is an overall story arc to the series reading a single novel does necessarily mean that there are nuances that a reader misses out on. In my opinion this doesn't detract from the readibility of the individual novel.

My thoughts as concerning SouthernSun's question are:

Sure, you could do that, but only you can decide if it's worth the effort to do so. If it were me, I'd simply give up on the series in question as I read for my personal enjoyment and if I'm not enjoying what I'm reading I would simply stop reading it and try reading something else. After all there's a whole lot of material to choose from.

Enjoy!

I personally can't stand the thought of having big gaps in the story arc -- even though they "can" be read standalone, the hints at stuff that I'm missing would drive me crazy. If I really can't handle the first few, maybe I shouldn't be reading any of them.

Maybe it's just me. After all, I researched the chronological order of several series published out of order before reading them -- in a somewhat pedantic fashion. (love that word!) Clearly I am just a purist when it comes to chronological series integrity, so feel free to ignore me if that's just not your style.

On the other hand,

You have been . . . . WARNED!!

[speakingtohe]

I agree with Alansplace and CWatkinsNash, that if you don't enjoy them don't read them. I found the first books okay and the 3rd downright annoying. But I had been given an omnibus a bit later on in the series so I carried on at a snails pace of about a book every two months. And they did get better IMO.

I see nothing wrong with jumping ahead, although I like to read things in order where possible. Before ebooks it wasn't always possible, especially when borrowing from the library a lot, and we all survived.

I started the Dresden files because I really liked the short stories I read, and AFAIK they were well along in the series and reading them first ruined nothing for me. So you should just do as you please, I know I would.

Helen

[alansplace]

Quoted from jim-butcher.com

Jul 17, 2013 - Jim’s SDCC Schedule

We announced Jim’s schedule for San Diego Comic Con a few weeks ago, but here’s a reminder, with a couple tweaks!

San Diego Comic Con 2013
San Diego, CA
July 17-21

Thursday, July 18:

4-5pm: Individual Signing in the Autograph Area, Table AA07

Saturday, July 20:

10-11am: Urban Fantasy: Myth and Magic in the City, Room 7AB

11:30 AM—12:30 PM: Group Autographing Session in the Autograph Area, Table AA09.

[eschwartz]

Skin Game release date:

138 DAYS!

And Chosen will be out in

29 DAYS!

[alansplace]

Jul 10, 2013

A clip of a Harry Dresden and Murphy from The Dresden Files Fan Filming.

[steven522]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

Unfortunately, she just didn't like the first half of the first book.

Personally, if you are going to have someone jump into the Dresden series cold, I would maybe start them out with the second book, Fool Moon.

I always felt that Storm Front was really a throw-away that Jim was using to just work out his ideas and style to see how things go. Fool Moon was basically just a re-hash of the same inter-character relations with a better story line. (Drug-dealing warlock or marauding werewolves; who wouldn't enjoy the latter?)

In fact until some recent occurrences in the series that focused attention back to the side characters and the situation in the first book, it could be easily read out-of-place as a catch-up between other books once you're really into the series.

[AlbertaCowboy]

One of my all time favorites ever was from "Cold Days". As soon as I read it, I thought, yup, not only is that Harry, but man, it applies to EVERYTHING!

"The only good thing about having your back to the wall is that it makes it really easy to choose which way you’re going to go."

[MsLydgate]

[cut the long list of Dresden Files quotes]

I don't understand. Where's "Polka will never die"?

[alansplace]

Jul 18, 2008

Hey I was in the pokemon mood today and also the book is Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher, check it out!!

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Quoting GoodReads Favorite Dresden Files Quotes - message 169: by Zeenat - Jul 09, 2013 03:15pm

"We are not going to die."

Butters stared up at me, pale, his eyes terrified. "We're not?"

"No. And do you know why?" He shook his head. "Because Thomas is too pretty to die. And because I'm too stubborn to die." I hauled on the shirt even harder. "And most of all because tomorrow is Oktoberfest, Butters, and polka will never die.”
—Jim Butcher, Dead Beat

One that I like a lot!

[alansplace]

Mickey Mouse woke me up, my alarm jangling noisily. I wanted to smack the clock for waking me up, but I reigned in the impulse. I'm not against a little creative violence, but you have to draw the line somewhere. I wouldn't sleep in the same room with a person who would smack Mickey Mouse. - Death Masks

[Dhevi]

Eagerly awaiting Skin Games. I was floored by Cold Days, and jusr how much it kept piling on to Harry's already messed up day.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Dhevi

Eagerly awaiting Skin Games. I was floored by Cold Days, and jusr how much it kept piling on to Harry's already messed up day.

Welcome to The Dresden Files Thread, Dhevi! Yeah, you're one of quite a few of us who really liked Cold Days and are also anxiously awaiting the release of Skin Game.

[Dhevi]

What I'm really hoping for is either to see more Sanya (if only to hear Marsters in the audiobooks "Tiny... but fierce." lol , Ebenezer McCoy, McAnnaly (obviously), and backstory for Harry's mother. So much that I am dying to have more of.

[Dhevi]

Question for all the Dresdenites: What was your LEAST favorite entry in the series?

I have to go with White Knight. I can't quite pin down why, at least not just yet. I may have to re-read it, but I couldn't bring myself to care much for the story and felt detached from it.