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

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Apache

Since he was first, by a about 20 years, shouldn't it be that the series by Aaronovich reminds you of Simon Hawke's series?
Apache

Yea, true enough. But, I suspect that Simon Hawke isn't quite as well known these days. I have a few things to say about Hawke, but since is the Butcher thread, I'll put those comments in the backlist thread.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Toxaris

Rivers of London. I recommend the series, but don't judge it on the first book.

Yup, good thing you told me that. I would not have stuck it out, past the first one, but I'm in the 3rd now, and it's worth reading. Not quite perfectly my vibe, but close 'nuff. (He nearly lost me on the idea of sacrificing the dog instead of the calculators....)

Hitch

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Yup, good thing you told me that. I would not have stuck it out, past the first one, but I'm in the 3rd now, and it's worth reading. Not quite perfectly my vibe, but close 'nuff. (He nearly lost me on the idea of sacrificing the dog instead of the calculators....)

Hitch

I think that was suppose to be humor. He does have a fairly warped sense of humor that I rather like.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I think that was suppose to be humor. He does have a fairly warped sense of humor that I rather like.

I debated on that. I re-read it. I just couldn't quite decide if it was black humor or not. There was a line, in that rumination, that made me think it wasn't. I'm now in the 3rd book, so...I must have liked it well enough to continue, although, truth be told, the last few years, I've had increasing difficulty finding authors that I like and for that matter, TV/Movies that I like too, so perhaps I'm just becoming too curmudgeonly.

Hitch

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I debated on that. I re-read it. I just couldn't quite decide if it was black humor or not. There was a line, in that rumination, that made me think it wasn't. I'm now in the 3rd book, so...I must have liked it well enough to continue, although, truth be told, the last few years, I've had increasing difficulty finding authors that I like and for that matter, TV/Movies that I like too, so perhaps I'm just becoming too curmudgeonly.

Hitch

It is probably your job. I would imagine the majority of books that go through your shop are not worth reading to you. Plus the books that are edited to lower standard than what you are doing at work instantly sets off your desire to jump in and fix it.

Just saying, if I was making hotdogs at work, I probably wouldn't want to eat them anymore.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

It is probably your job. I would imagine the majority of books that go through your shop are not worth reading to you. Plus the books that are edited to lower standard than what you are doing at work instantly sets off your desire to jump in and fix it.

Just saying, if I was making hotdogs at work, I probably wouldn't want to eat them anymore.

It's funny you say that; I've often commented, the last decade, that I read less now than I did before I got into the book biz. Which is bizarre, if you think about it. And by reading less, I mean...for pleasure, for my own enjoyment, rather than non-fic how-to do this or that, or to learn sumpin'. I'm always having to learn some new whatever--e.g., how to manipulate Joomla to do this on my website, or how to use some other piece of software (like Help & Manual, for example) that I didn't use before. And of course, I read non-fic on world events and all that crap.

And honestly, I try to stay away from our clients' books, by and large, because I don't want my view of them...tainted, I guess. I mean, I already have to be charming and all that, but it's harder if I think that what they've written has escaped, not been released, y'know?

But for just...enjoyment? Nope, I hardly get to do that. I went on a binge recently, reading a YA-ish series (which surprised me, being YA and not adult reading, but....), but then I became annoyed at the author and stopped reading that one. Now I'm plowing through Rivers of London, and so far, in the 3rd, he's managing to hold my interest. We'll see!

Hitch

[alansplace]

Why’s Peace Talks Taking So Long?
Personal problems/life events spanning the past several years gummed up the works for a while. Fortunately, things are back on an even keel! For the last several months, he’s been cranking out chapters with blazing speed, under the guidance of his new canine buddy Bru and his wife Kitty’s four majestic cats.

As of April 25th, 2019, the current draft of the novel is up to chapter 60. Progress! We don’t have a release date yet, but we’ll update this page, send out a newsletter, and tweet it to the high heavens the moment we do!

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by Hitch

It's funny you say that; I've often commented, the last decade, that I read less now than I did before I got into the book biz.

Sometimes random thoughts come to my mind that make sense. A lot of times not. That was one rare lucky occurence.

But for just...enjoyment? Nope, I hardly get to do that. I went on a binge recently, reading a YA-ish series (which surprised me, being YA and not adult reading, but....), but then I became annoyed at the author and stopped reading that one. Now I'm plowing through Rivers of London, and so far, in the 3rd, he's managing to hold my interest. We'll see!

Hitch

I have come to find out that YA is not really FOR young adults, but having young adults act. It does not give the author the much overused ex-seal-ex-cop-super-hero. Because they are just kids, still. If I would read books with people my age, it would be depressing midlife crisis. Don't need that, thank you very much.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Chapter 60 and not done? Peace Talks is going to be a longer book or shorter chapters. The first 15 books had 42.7 chapters on average, the most in Cold Days with 53. I am okay with a longer book if it gets done sometime...

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Chapter 60 and not done? Peace Talks is going to be a longer book or shorter chapters. The first 15 books had 42.7 chapters on average, the most in Cold Days with 53. I am okay with a longer book if it gets done sometime...

To me, draft implies that the basic frame work of the book is done and they are doing edits. Those edits could be minor or major. I'm not sure how much Jim Butcher tends to revise after he does the first draft, nor do we know which draft this is.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

To me, draft implies that the basic frame work of the book is done and they are doing edits. Those edits could be minor or major. I'm not sure how much Jim Butcher tends to revise after he does the first draft, nor do we know which draft this is.

What is this then:

For the last several months, he’s been cranking out chapters with blazing speed, under the guidance of his new canine buddy Bru and his wife Kitty’s four majestic cats.

Sounds more like he has 60 chapters done. If he still writes the way he did the first 15 books, then there is no detailed outline for each book. Just a few major events that have been plotted out rough since he started the series. And he may have already finished those. How to get from one event to the next he makes up as he goes. Once the whole book is done, it starts going to the edit phase.

I doubt after they let him write The Aeronaut's Windlass in the length it is, that they will make him cut out chapters he already wrote to make the book smaller.

[alansplace]

I just finished a re-read of Storm Front and began re-reading Fool Moon in order to accomplish a re-read of The Dresden Files in anticipation of the release of Peace Talks!

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by alansplace

I just finished a re-read of Storm Front and began re-reading Fool Moon in order to accomplish a re-read of The Dresden Files in anticipation of the release of Peace Talks!

Just take your time. Otherwise you may end up rereading it again.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by alansplace

I just finished a re-read of Storm Front and began re-reading Fool Moon in order to accomplish a re-read of The Dresden Files in anticipation of the release of Peace Talks!

I need another read of his tomes like a hole in my head. This is what comes of spreading oneself so thin as an author. I know that some of you like that Codex Alera/whatever series he's written, but I am decidedly NOT a fan, so I wish he'd get his ass in gear.

Hitch

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I need another read of his tomes like a hole in my head. This is what comes of spreading oneself so thin as an author. I know that some of you like that Codex Alera/whatever series he's written, but I am decidedly NOT a fan, so I wish he'd get his ass in gear.

Hitch

What exactly do you mean by "spreading thin"? I agree he should start writing faster again. When he wrote Codex Alera books inbetween Dresden Files books, he ended up writing faster. The same, unfortunately, cannot be said for his new flying ship series. Sure, he had unfortunate family events, but he needs to snap out of them eventually. I will not be convinced unless he at leasts puts out a novel a year again, preferably two like he did while writing Codex Alera.