All Things Jim Butcher discussion

Has anyone else read the Furies series? I could hardly put them down.

Eileen

This series reminds me a lot of the Belgariad series by David Eddings - both very well written. Do you think the next book will be "First Lords' Fury"?

Eileen

Do you think the Vord Queen has a "link" to Tavi as Kitai does?

If the Vord Queens share one mind, why didn't the others change when the one in Alera did?

Eileen

is anyone currently reading this series? I am on Chapter 10 on his first book. Kinda getting boring.. Not exciting as Terry Goodkind's book.

Keep reading... The Codex Alera series is absolutely superb. A truly excellent series.

Alright, I will do. It getting better now, haha.. I'm curious how Tavi and Amara will handle against Fidelias. I just can't believe why Fidelias is a teacher and want to kill his student...

It will all become clear later on in the series( yes i know i hate it when people say stuff like that as well...)

the best series i've read so far, great charaters and good pace make them so easy to read. i'm on First Lord's Fury now, will fiinsh it tonight me thinks.

Its one of the best series I've read, I'm on Princep's Fury at the moment. I can't wait to get First Lord's Fury.

I LOVE codex alera. I think tho its like Avatar: Last airbender meets James Cameron's Avatar meets Lord of the Rings all balled up to fashinon a political systenm like that of the Roman empire---BUT BETTER :D

At a con Jim Butcher described Codex Alera as: The Roman empire meets Pokemon.

I saw that interview with Jim! I loved the story about the bet on those two aspects and how he wove them together. I laughed and laughed when he talked about thinking, "Brutus, I choose you!"

Isn't it great how some of the best stories came from someone's Tuesday night pranks? :)

I am in love with the Codex Alera series. I will have to read them again. Tavi and I need to hang out some more before I can go outside in the real world.

I also love this series. Interesting, Dresden & Alera is so very different, my hunny likes Alera & LOVES Dresdent, I'm in LOVE with both. I play MMORPGs online and think the Alera verse would be ideal for a MMO. It has all the classic elements. I know Jim Butcher is into gaming...it would be fabulous, that's all I'm saying. ;)

I helped my english teacher from last year act out the rest of julius caesar to her class a couple of days ago and it made me miss alera dearly XD

I read the Codex Alera before I had even heard of The Dresden Files (backwards, I know) and I loved it!






POSSIBLE SPOILERS!







Eileena: I think that you can draw a connection to The Belgariad on the basis that both Garion and Tavi don't know their true identies at first and that they both have strong relationships with their "Aunts" who are both powerful women but I think that's where the comparison stops. What other links do you see?

Jeff: Roman Empire meets Pokemon made me laugh so much!

Savannah: I agree with your comparison to The Last Airbender but why James Cameron's Avatar?

I can't decide who my favourite character was as Jim Butcher is pretty good at creating characters who are both strong but not superpowerful and annoying. In fact, Tavi's lack of furycrafting is what makes his story so exciting and his victories that much more satisfying (and I'm sure many of you will agree). What makes me even happier is that Jim Butcher is able to create female characters who are strong-willed, capable and intelligent without making then overbearing harpies or sluts.

Who is you favourite character?

yep, read them. I preferred the Dresden Files - the first Codex Alera book, in particular, was just too much standard fantasy fiction for me: I've read plenty (too many?) others along the same lines.

The Vord Queens mental link is like the bugger queens link in the Ender's Game books. But the series themselves are very different.

I could not get into the first one. I may try again at some point.

Mary wrote: "I could not get into the first one. I may try again at some point."

I stopped reading it the first time also. But i am now to Captains Furie and they keep getting better. Give it another try, or try listening to them. I can get through book faster by listening.

Seone, I also read the Codex Alera before the Dresden files.

Mary, I thought Furies was just okay, but the books get increasingly better as the series progresses

Mary wrote: "I could not get into the first one. I may try again at some point."

I, too, had a bit of a time getting into the first book. I took me a couple of tries before I finally stuck with it and got into the story. However, if you can make it through the first one (it does improve) the rest of the series, especially the later books when Tavi is older, are fantastic.

I think part of it is that Jim Butcher totally changed gears with the two series, especially in the first book. We go from a mature, gritty, sarcastic, somewhat dark hero in a modern concrete jungle to a--let's face it--somewhat whinny teenage country bumpkin in the middle of a new world. It's a totally 360.

One of the hardest things I think when getting into a new fantasy series that is set in its own world, is getting to know the landscape and how believeable the author can make it.

Fortunately, though, Jim Butcher is a master and a half!

It gets better! I promise. Once Tavi does a little growing up, he's a lot more likeable!

Molly wrote: "Mary wrote: "One of the hardest things I think when getting into a new fantasy series that is set in its own world, is getting to know the landscape and how believeable the author can make it."

Codex Alera Spoilers: (view spoiler)[ For all intents and purposes this statement is 100% correct, an I agree with you, however it did make me think of a question that may have been addressed somewhere else in this group (I'm too lazy to look). That question being:

IS the Codex Alera set "in it's own world" My impression from some of the references in the series is that it MAY be a future version of Earth. It's been sooooo long since I read these that my memory is a little fuzzy, but I seem to remember a section where Tavi assists in the testing of some kind of siege device (a catapult maybe?) that some "crazy" guy had re-engineered from historical accounts.

Anyone else have thoughts on this? (hide spoiler)]

I started these on audio, and I've found that having a good reader can make all the difference in getting started with a series (Kate Reading does the Codex Alera audio books, and she's wonderful). The farther I got in this series, the more I had to dive into actual book in between road trips and work commutes-it does get better and better as it progresses, definitely worth sticking with.

I have a question about Tavi's Aunt Isana.

Spoiler alert!










I have to listen to vol. 1 again (I agree Kate Reading is wonderful) but I remember Isana whining about how she has never been attractive to men. Then a couple of volumes later we find out that during the course of her life, TWO of the empire's most eligible batchelors have been madly in love with her. I don't mind an author misleading me, or pointing me in the wrong direction, but this goes way beyond that. Is there a reasonable explanation for this that I have missed?

How far into the series are you?

I'm about half-way through the last volume -- First Lord's Fury.

Furies is an awesome series. Totally different than his Dresden but both are excellent in their genres

I got the Jim Butcher Spider Man book recently, used. Now to read it too, but it looks like his Spidey has a lot in common with Dresden, which is a comment I saw somewhere and is what inspired me to buy it.

I just recently read this series. I loved it. I loved the furies. Reminded me of Avatar : The Last Airbender lol, only the characters weren't Asain. Great books with great characters and interesting plotline. Also some very interesting creatures like the Cord, Canim and the Marat. It was very addicting and couldn't put it down.

Vord not Cord

I have just about finished book one, and I'd have to say it's a well constructed book. A little predictable at times, Is that a bad thing. I don't think so I find it a little refreshing. As a first time Butcher reader. I will finish this book left feeling satisfied. As for the Furies I find the magic without it's limitations. I would like to read on in the series to see what other magic is in store for this series. The plot is also definately progressing. I'm looking forward the next books.

Just finished the series again, 3rd reading, I think. I like the series, not as much as Dresden but for a first series it is great.

The first book is the slowest it reall gets going in the rest . I love this series. Dresden is better but its a good second

I read this series first, found Dresden after and while I do like Dresden better, this series should not be missed. I love that in every book the world gets a little bigger, a little deeper, and a little scarier.

Dixie wrote: "I got the Jim Butcher Spider Man book recently, used. Now to read it too, but it looks like his Spidey has a lot in common with Dresden, which is a comment I saw somewhere and is what inspired me ..."

Dresden is a Superhero when you cut away all the trappings.

He does have a lot in common with Spidey, Darkest Hours is a good book!

I'm reading the Codex Alera books for like, the seventh time now- really love them because the characters are so complex-
Is it worth it to read the Dresden Files? I like just about everything i read, but am so far not too thrilled to start the Dresden books...
Help! :)

Well, in common with Alera, the main character (Dresden vs Tavi) grows and matures in the series, although Dresden starts as an adult. The first one is okay, the second better; I think the 7th (Dead Beat) is my personal fav. I also enjoy that they are set in Chicago, as we live there. If you like typical fantasy (vampires, werewolves, faires etc.), you may like it crossed with P.I. noir style. I think they are a real hoot. Hope this helps.

Deadbeat is where the series really takes off , love that book . I guilty of re readin the Codex right now my self.