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

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

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.

Kitty is a cosplayer, actress, costume designer and seamstress. She created the costume and posed wearing it.

[alansplace]

[mewmartigan]

So if I were to jump into the world of Jim Butcher should I go with Dresden or Codex Alera? Cinder Spires looks good but I will wait for a few more books first.

As for the other two, I like fantasy better than urban fantasy although Dresden is obviously much more popular. I am leaning towards Codex Alera but wanted some opinions.
sidenote: not happy about the publisher pricing of his ebooks at amazon...ebooks that are several years old and cost more than the paperbacks is not cool

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by mewmartigan

So if I were to jump into the world of Jim Butcher should I go with Dresden or Codex Alera? Cinder Spires looks good but I will wait for a few more books first.

As for the other two, I like fantasy better than urban fantasy although Dresden is obviously much more popular. I am leaning towards Codex Alera but wanted some opinions.
sidenote: not happy about the publisher pricing of his ebooks at amazon...ebooks that are several years old and cost more than the paperbacks is not cool

Logically, of course, you're correct. But if you could possibly elaborate on what it is about 'Fantasy' that makes you like it "better than" 'Urban Fantasy' then more relevant opinions can be formulated by the folks who respond to your request.

[alansplace]

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[Toxaris]

Originally Posted by mewmartigan

So if I were to jump into the world of Jim Butcher should I go with Dresden or Codex Alera? Cinder Spires looks good but I will wait for a few more books first.

As for the other two, I like fantasy better than urban fantasy although Dresden is obviously much more popular. I am leaning towards Codex Alera but wanted some opinions.
sidenote: not happy about the publisher pricing of his ebooks at amazon...ebooks that are several years old and cost more than the paperbacks is not cool

Difficult to say. I personally enjoy his Dresden Files much more than his Codex Alera. That being said, the first three Dresden novels are not his best, he was still learning his trade. They are good, but not his best. It would be a shame to discard the series after the first two/three books alone.

Now, I do like Fantasy a lot and I don't really mind the differences. There is one type I don't particularly care about and that is the Young Adult Fantasy (although there are also good books there). In case of the Dresden Files the Urban setting makes it more interesting in my mind.

[mewmartigan]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Logically, of course, you're correct. But if you could possibly elaborate on what it is about 'Fantasy' that makes you like it "better than" 'Urban Fantasy' then more relevant opinions can be formulated by the folks who respond to your request.

I guess when it comes to fantasy vs urban fantasy, I like the idea of a made up world and landscape instead of magical elements next to modern day cars and litter in the streets of Chicago or new York where people still fly Delta.

EDIT: having said that, I will read urban fantasy. I would consider Sanderson's Reckoners series urban fantasy and I liked it.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Toxaris

Difficult to say. I personally enjoy his Dresden Files much more than his Codex Alera. That being said, the first three Dresden novels are not his best, he was still learning his trade. They are good, but not his best. It would be a shame to discard the series after the first two/three books alone.

Now, I do like Fantasy a lot and I don't really mind the differences. There is one type I don't particularly care about and that is the Young Adult Fantasy (although there are also good books there). In case of the Dresden Files the Urban setting makes it more interesting in my mind.

Originally Posted by mewmartigan

I guess when it comes to fantasy vs urban fantasy, I like the idea of a made up world and landscape instead of magical elements next to modern day cars and litter in the streets of Chicago or new York where people still fly Delta.

EDIT: having said that, I will read urban fantasy. I would consider Sanderson's Reckoners series urban fantasy and I liked it.

I personally don't like to mention that some readers think that 'the first three Dresden novels are not his best' unless that person has begun reading the series and are saying that they are not having a reading experience that they're happy with. Why do I feel this way? It's because I liked the series from the very beginning and so do a lot of other people. So I don't like planting that thought in a person as it might cause them to read the books with an implanted negative bias or not read them at all (or skip the first 3 books).

Anyway, be aware that Butcher's 'Dresdenverse' not only includes modern day Chicago (that's just where Dresden lives most of the time). It also includes a place called The Nevernever where Fairies rule and all sorts of supernatural creatures live. There's even a place near Chicago called Demonreach that contains (and hides) a supernatural prison.

I guess you've probably already concluded that I'd recommend that you choose The Dresden Files.

[alansplace]

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by alansplace

I guess you've probably already concluded that I'd recommend that you choose The Dresden Files.

You cannot discount the world building both in Codex Alera and Cinder Spires. Well except maybe Cinder Spires when you are not in a boat, you are in the city - does that make it qualify as urban fantasy? But nothing is anything borrowed from our modern day - unlike the Dresdenverse that utilizes real modern day cities slightly modified.

Personally I like Dresden best, but Codex Alera is a really good choice for fantasy lovers. It has this one huge advantage over the other two series in that it is finished. Plus Dresden is always from Harry's perspective - pretty intense if you are not used to how Jim writes. The other series are exactly the same (writing wise, IMO), but you have different characters to follow which breakes it up a little.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by alansplace

I guess you've probably already concluded that I'd recommend that you choose The Dresden Files.

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

You cannot discount the world building both in Codex Alexa and Cinder Spires. Well except maybe Cinder Spires when you are not in a boat, you are in the city - does that make it qualify as urban fantasy? But nothing is anything borrowed from our modern day - unlike the Dresdenverse that utilizes real modern day cities slightly modified.

Personally I like Dresden best, but Codex Alexa is a really good choice for fantasy lovers. It has this one huge advantage over the other two series in that it is finished. Plus Dresden is always from Harry's perspective - pretty intense if you are not used to how Jim writes. The other series are exactly the same (writing wise, IMO), but you have different characters to follow which breakes it up a little.

Nope, Cinder Spires is in the Steampunk genre not Urban Fantasy. Personally, I enjoyed Codex Alera (not Alexa ) so much that I read all 6 books back-to-back, one-after-the-other. I could do so, since the series had been completed when I began reading it. But I still like The Dresden Files the best of Jim's work. In fact, it is my favorite series of the 21st century, at least so far. Dead Beat is my favorite 21st century book. Jim Butcher is my favorite 21st century author.

[mewmartigan]

Originally Posted by alansplace

I guess you've probably already concluded that I'd recommend that you choose The Dresden Files.

Haha, I always knew your recommendation would be The Dresden Files. I gathered over time that you have a slight affinity for it


I will probably end up reading both series anyway, but I appreciate the input from everyone. Picking a new book to read is both exciting and frustrating

[Toxaris]

Originally Posted by mewmartigan

I guess when it comes to fantasy vs urban fantasy, I like the idea of a made up world and landscape instead of magical elements next to modern day cars and litter in the streets of Chicago or new York where people still fly Delta.

EDIT: having said that, I will read urban fantasy. I would consider Sanderson's Reckoners series urban fantasy and I liked it.

I love the Reckoners serie!

[Tarana]

My bookclub will be doing Jim Butcher's Aeronaut's Windlass next month. I have resisted this book because I really don't like steampunk, but willing to give it a shot. Has anybody listened to the audiobook version of this? Does the reader work well for you with this story?

Haven't listened to Codex Alera although I have the first 3 audiobooks (yeah, what's up with that? I am SO behind!).

[alansplace]

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