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

[BuyMore]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Jury Duty, eh?

HARRY HAS TO BLOW UP THE COURTHOUSE FENDING OFF MONSTERS WHO CONTROL THE LAW!!!

That's a good one.

[CWatkinsNash]

So I think I'm going to start reading the Codex Alera series later this year. Or, at least, reading the first one and see how it goes. It's not the sort of thing I'd usually read. If it wasn't by Jim, I probably wouldn't look twice. But it is. And I love Jim. And Jim's hair.

Jim's hair would want me to read it, I think.

Yes.

But first, the next Kate Daniels book comes out the day after my birthday, according to the Amazon page. I may or may not pre-order. I'll decide this weekend.

[AlbertaCowboy]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

So I think I'm going to start reading the Codex Alera series later this year. Or, at least, reading the first one and see how it goes. It's not the sort of thing I'd usually read. If it wasn't by Jim, I probably wouldn't look twice. But it is. And I love Jim. And Jim's hair.

Jim's hair would want me to read it, I think.

Yes.

But first, the next Kate Daniels book comes out the day after my birthday, according to the Amazon page. I may or may not pre-order. I'll decide this weekend.

Make sure you at least finish the first book in the Codex if you think you might give up on the series. I loved the whole series, but thought that the first one was difficult to understand, almost as if you were supposed to have read a primer on the geography, history and various magics and Furies before beginning the story. Once you get into it though, it's a good swords and sandals type fantasy read.
Tavi is no Harry, but he's got his moments.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

So I think I'm going to start reading the Codex Alera series later this year. Or, at least, reading the first one and see how it goes. It's not the sort of thing I'd usually read. If it wasn't by Jim, I probably wouldn't look twice. But it is. And I love Jim. And Jim's hair.

Jim's hair would want me to read it, I think.

Yes.

But first, the next Kate Daniels book comes out the day after my birthday, according to the Amazon page. I may or may not pre-order. I'll decide this weekend.

I abandoned reading the Kate Daniels series the middle of Magic Rises. I'd lost interest in the characters and the story line as well as reacting negatively to what I perceived as highly gratuitous violence.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by BuyMore

That's a good one.

Probably vampires, since we have evidence that they control the police. Maybe Mavra is back and trying to get Harry arrested so he's easy meat.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

Make sure you at least finish the first book in the Codex if you think you might give up on the series. I loved the whole series, but thought that the first one was difficult to understand, almost as if you were supposed to have read a primer on the geography, history and various magics and Furies before beginning the story. Once you get into it though, it's a good swords and sandals type fantasy read.
Tavi is no Harry, but he's got his moments.

If you finish the first book you won't give up on the series. The books keep getting better as they go. I neither like Pokemon nor Roman Legion, but Jim puts them together so nicely ...

Great series.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

If you finish the first book you won't give up on the series. The books keep getting better as they go. I neither like Pokemon nor Roman Legion, but Jim puts them together so nicely ...

Great series.

I read -- and finished -- the first book.

Someday I may even decide to try the second.

Although clearly he must've been doing something right or else no one would read it... still doesn't mean it grabbed my interest.

There are lots of books out there, and lots of good books out there, and STILL, not everyone likes any particular book. Just because Codex Alera "gets better as they go" doesn't exempt it from that rule.

[Toxaris]

I read the Codex Alera and although I read a lot of Fantasy and SF and absolutely love the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera did not do much for me. I read the series, but it is not even close to the Dresden Files when it comes to storytelling in my opinion. The main story was not bad, but I did not like his writing style in the series.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

So I think I'm going to start reading the Codex Alera series later this year. Or, at least, reading the first one and see how it goes. It's not the sort of thing I'd usually read. If it wasn't by Jim, I probably wouldn't look twice. But it is. And I love Jim. And Jim's hair.

Jim's hair would want me to read it, I think.

Yes.

But first, the next Kate Daniels book comes out the day after my birthday, according to the Amazon page. I may or may not pre-order. I'll decide this weekend.

I loved Codex and would happily be reading more of those books if he was writing them. I dropped Dresden a while back (I know, I know, I know, wrong topic for me) but loved Codex. There is so much more that he could do with it.

The first book is by far the slowest of the books, mainly because he is setting up a new world. The rest of the books move very nicely and are highly entertaining.

ETA: I just looked at the new Amazon Manage your content page and sorted oldest to newest just to see what my first book was. Captains Fury:Codex Alera Book 4. heheheh

So my first ebook purchase was Codex Alera. Awesome

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I read -- and finished -- the first book.

Someday I may even decide to try the second.

Although clearly he must've been doing something right or else no one would read it... still doesn't mean it grabbed my interest.

There are lots of books out there, and lots of good books out there, and STILL, not everyone likes any particular book. Just because Codex Alera "gets better as they go" doesn't exempt it from that rule.

Right. Should have said if you finish and liked it, then the others will be even better.

Different writing style than Harry? Of course, first person and third person. Different universe. And still they have similarities - e.g. having a underdog super hero. Or how family trees are set up, or how they are slowly revealed and are meaningful. And the need to know attitude - Jim Butcher does not give out information that is not important. Most of it will become meaningful later on. If it doesn't come back later it is not important enough to tell.

Look at Dresden Files: we are in book 15 now, and he is still explaining rules of the universe. It is not just the story that is progressing but the readers understanding of the world.

[alansplace]

Now I'm going to begin my second re-read of Skin Game.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Now I'm going to begin my second re-read of Skin Game.

Good, pay attention on how Harry answers the questions. Some he answers truthfully and some the exact opposite of what he meant.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Good, pay attention on how Harry answers the questions. Some he answers truthfully and some the exact opposite of what he meant.

[BuyMore]

Originally Posted by alansplace

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Fine, don't do it. Except the little kink of: Don't think about a purple elephant. Even if you don't want to, you will pay attention to it - just to tell me later you did not.


Good thing you are using the actual reading this time and not Listening. The audio version may be good, but might make you miss some snarks.