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

[Tarana]

Originally Posted by alansplace

When the July release date of Peace Talks was announced I paused my re-reading of The Dresden Files series at 16% into Cold Days. I'm going to start re-reading Cold Days all over again tomorrow to be then followed by a re-read, of course, of Skin Game. Enjoy!

Should be finishing Cold Days tomorrow. I think I'll put off Skin Game until near the end of the month so that I can move in fresh to the new book. I keep changing my mind. Now.. later... Now...later.. I kindof want to listen to one of those free Charles Dicken's books on Echo.

[alansplace]

There's a lot of fun stuff this week, including Chapter Two of Peace Talks, additional book discounts, and a fun new contest, but first, a long-awaited message from James Marsters! Preorder Peace Talks and Battle Ground in audiobook through Penguin Random House.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Should be finishing Cold Days tomorrow. I think I'll put off Skin Game until near the end of the month so that I can move in fresh to the new book. I keep changing my mind. Now.. later... Now...later.. I kindof want to listen to one of those free Charles Dicken's books on Echo.

I've restarted my rereading of Cold Days and am so far up to 47%!

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Should be finishing Cold Days tomorrow. I think I'll put off Skin Game until near the end of the month so that I can move in fresh to the new book. I keep changing my mind. Now.. later... Now...later.. I kindof want to listen to one of those free Charles Dicken's books on Echo.

Just wait until Battle Ground is out, then start re-reading Skin Game, and you can slide right into two new books.

[alansplace]

This week, we have Chapter Three of Peace Talks and the next phase of our Prediction Bingo challenge. And while we’re super excited to show off the templates fans have submitted, we know last week’s cliffhanger means you’re going to beeline for the new material, so here it is first!

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by alansplace

This week, we have Chapter Three of Peace Talks and the next phase of our Prediction Bingo challenge. And while we’re super excited to show off the templates fans have submitted, we know last week’s cliffhanger means you’re going to beeline for the new material, so here it is first!

No thanks, I will wait. Last year I read the first chapter, not going to read two and three. Not when I can wait a few weeks and don't have to stop. Debating if I should wait for Battle Ground.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

No thanks, I will wait. Last year I read the first chapter, not going to read two and three. Not when I can wait a few weeks and don't have to stop. Debating if I should wait for Battle Ground.

I'm absolutely waiting for Battle Ground. The timing feels decidedly like "cliffhanger here," and I could not be less interested in that nonsense. In fact...well, we'll see. A long time ago I made a vow not to buy any more books from any publisher (trade or Indy) that cliffhangs me. It's a rude, greedy tactic and I don't care for it.

Hitch

[Rich_D]

I'm setting my expectations pretty low for both books and will get them from the library first. If they're better than I expect, then I'll buy them.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Rich_D

I'm setting my expectations pretty low for both books and will get them from the library first. If they're better than I expect, then I'll buy them.

Why, because it's been so long since the last one?

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I'm absolutely waiting for Battle Ground. The timing feels decidedly like "cliffhanger here," and I could not be less interested in that nonsense. In fact...well, we'll see. A long time ago I made a vow not to buy any more books from any publisher (trade or Indy) that cliffhangs me. It's a rude, greedy tactic and I don't care for it.

Hitch

I guess it could be cliff hanger. I was thinking more in terms of unresolved plot points as opposed to a real cliff hanger. Of course, it's also possible there were business reasons for the quick release of Battle Ground, for example, the publisher had a hole in their release schedule that month. September is a big month for books. The trailers don't scream cliff hanger to me.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I guess it could be cliff hanger. I was thinking more in terms of unresolved plot points as opposed to a real cliff hanger. Of course, it's also possible there were business reasons for the quick release of Battle Ground, for example, the publisher had a hole in their release schedule that month. September is a big month for books. The trailers don't scream cliff hanger to me.

What bothers me is that they are so close together, the two releases. Peace Talks and Battle Ground. Makes me feel as though the publisher took one look at the "finished" ms for PT, saw a cliffhanger and thought "uh, oh, his fans will burn him at the stake after all these years for this BS," and immediately slated BG right behind it. CAVEAT: That is all totally my imagination; I do NOT have inside info on him or his books with that publisher, let me be clear.

I had an interesting experience, the last time I re-read a Dresden. It's the one that opens with Harry doing parkour through the island and I guess I realized that I'd lost the plot, so to speak...and I wasn't sure I really cared any longer. Somewhere along the way, from a series I truly loved, I disengaged. Not sure where it happened, but that sort of "what's happening" feeling and the ridiculous duration of the drought...I've found a LOT of other urban fantasy writers, in those years that have continued to deliver. {shrug}

So...I'll wait, at the very least, for BG and I might even wait and buy both in DT used.

Hitch

[Tarana]

Finished Skin Game and now Brief Cases. I didn't enjoy the stories in Brief Cases as a whole as much as I did Side Jobs, but still glad to listen to them. I don't have Working for Bigfoot at this time. It's on my wishlist. I'll get it the next time they have some $5 add on for something. I'm also thinking that Peace Talks will be a cliffhanger for Battle Ground. So, not sure if I will delay the read on that or not. So, now, a short book and then on to Shannara again.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Hitch

What bothers me is that they are so close together, the two releases. Peace Talks and Battle Ground. Makes me feel as though the publisher took one look at the "finished" ms for PT, saw a cliffhanger and thought "uh, oh, his fans will burn him at the stake after all these years for this BS," and immediately slated BG right behind it. CAVEAT: That is all totally my imagination; I do NOT have inside info on him or his books with that publisher, let me be clear.

I had an interesting experience, the last time I re-read a Dresden. It's the one that opens with Harry doing parkour through the island and I guess I realized that I'd lost the plot, so to speak...and I wasn't sure I really cared any longer. Somewhere along the way, from a series I truly loved, I disengaged. Not sure where it happened, but that sort of "what's happening" feeling and the ridiculous duration of the drought...I've found a LOT of other urban fantasy writers, in those years that have continued to deliver. {shrug}

So...I'll wait, at the very least, for BG and I might even wait and buy both in DT used.

Hitch

I know what you mean about losing the story thread. I decided to start at the beginning and work my way through. I just finished White Night. I figure I should be more or less all the way through in a couple of weeks or so.

My problem is that I really haven't found all that many authors who deliver. A number that I think are readable, but really only a couple that I think are consistently very good. Maybe they are out there and I haven't discovered them yet, or maybe I just have hard to please taste.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I know what you mean about losing the story thread. I decided to start at the beginning and work my way through. I just finished White Night. I figure I should be more or less all the way through in a couple of weeks or so.

My problem is that I really haven't found all that many authors who deliver. A number that I think are readable, but really only a couple that I think are consistently very good. Maybe they are out there and I haven't discovered them yet, or maybe I just have hard to please taste.

I don't necessarily disagree. In terms of trade-pubbed authors, versus Indy...the indy authors will frequently deliver a readable book, but the depth is less than in a trade-pubbed book. For example, no mirrored subplots to give you that extra bit of theme and all that. There are some, though, that give a "good read," and at least, they deliver the damn books, ya know?

Hitch'

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I don't necessarily disagree. In terms of trade-pubbed authors, versus Indy...the indy authors will frequently deliver a readable book, but the depth is less than in a trade-pubbed book. For example, no mirrored subplots to give you that extra bit of theme and all that. There are some, though, that give a "good read," and at least, they deliver the damn books, ya know?

Hitch'

I know what you mean. The quality authors like Mercedes Lackey, who manage the churn out 4 or 5 quality books a year consistently for 30+ years are quite rare. I don't like all her books, but she's still putting out some pretty solid books. Most of the ones that I've really liked seem to have a period of about 10-15 years when they do their best work, then they slow down. If Butcher is back on track, then I'm good with it.