Dreseden Rocks, Small favor is just as good as the rest of the books.
Has anyone read any of his Codex Alera Books? I think they are equal to his Dresden works.
No fine control, especially with fire. He'd end up with scalding hot water that would end up burning him. Plus the lack of regular romantic...engagements has left him used to cold showers.
Small Favor Spoiler Alert:
Unfortunately it seems that everyone around him gets screwed over so it's hard for him to get close to anyone. Maybe he should take advantage of the facilities Marcone offered him ;)
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I still wonder why Harry doesn't use his magic to heat water for a shower.
No fine control, especially with fire. He'd end up with scalding hot water that would end up burning him. Plus the lack of regular romantic...engagements has left him used to cold showers.
This subject came up on the Jim Butcher forum as well. The best explanation that I have come across is the "No fine control, especially with fire." from this board.
This subject came up on the Jim Butcher forum as well. The best explanation that I have come across is the "No fine control, especially with fire." from this board.
I still wonder why Harry doesn't use his magic to heat water for a shower.
No fine control, especially with fire. He'd end up with scalding hot water that would end up burning him. Plus the lack of regular romantic...engagements has left him used to cold showers.
Couldn't he have one pipe of super-hot water, another pipe of cold water, and then combine them until they are comfortable?
Kind of like regular old plumbing?
Harry is one of my favorite narrators (after Kinsey Milhone and Vlad Taltos).
This subject came up on the Jim Butcher forum as well. The best explanation that I have come across is the "No fine control, especially with fire." from this board.
Personally, I think it's a philisophical/ moral thing. Harry just doesn't use his powers directly for convenience purposes. I suppose the brownies that stock his fridge and fill it with ice could also heat up a tub of water for him every night but that would be different. But in general Harry does a ton of mundane things that he could easily do with his powers but he doesn't.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 6
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I still wonder why Harry doesn't use his magic to heat water for a shower.
Lack of fine control with his evoocations. I think he even mentioned something to that effect once. He could likely pull it off now, though, given his "little ball of sunshine" trick.
Edit: I see folks beat me to the punch :)
This subject came up on the Jim Butcher forum as well. The best explanation that I have come across is the "No fine control, especially with fire." from this board.Personally, I think it's a philisophical/ moral thing. Harry just doesn't use his powers directly for convenience purposes. I suppose the brownies that stock his fridge and fill it with ice could also heat up a tub of water for him every night but that would be different. But in general Harry does a ton of mundane things that he could easily do with his powers but he doesn't.
I lean towards your view as well.
Of course, if he can create 'little chicago' he could certainly build a wizard hot water heater. Plus, at this point in history, all the wizards that lived before him should have solved the no hot water problem by now. I say this tongue in cheek of course. :-)
Cold showers are just part of Harry's metaphorical existence.
I'm reading the newest one now, and he used the Crown Royal bag he keeps his gaming dice as a magical container! A wizard who plays D&D! Hahahaha!!!!
Has anyone read any of his Codex Alera Books? I think they are equal to his Dresden works.
I have the first one, but haven't read it yet. I've been leaning heavily toward self-contained single volume books. Even though Dresden is a series, you can read any of them individually as a self-contained story.
Between waiting for the last WoT and waiting for GRRM to get his next book out, I've grown weary of getting into a series before all of the books have been published :)
**EDIT: A plus for Steven Erikson, because his individual books are self-contained as well**
I have the first one, but haven't read it yet. I've been leaning heavily toward self-contained single volume books. Even though Dresden is a series, you can read any of them individually as a self-contained story.
Has anyone read any of his Codex Alera Books? I think they are equal to his Dresden works.
Well the first Codex Alera book works quite well as a stand alone. I'm not sure how well some of the later books would work on their own. Each book in the series has a definitive ending so it's not a series that leaves you hanging the way Wheel of Time did. In any case, only 2 more books, one in November, then you can buy them all and read it as one giant work :)
The early Dresden Books work well stand alone but they work better when read in sequence. Also, the later books in the Dresden series lean heavily on the earlier books and the events in them don't have near the impact if you haven't read the earlier books.
Between waiting for the last WoT and waiting for GRRM to get his next book out, I've grown weary of getting into a series before all of the books have been published :)
I gave up on the Wheel of Time around book 9, they just got too long and cumbersome. Now that Jordan has passed on it will be interesting to see how well Brandon Sanderson finishes the series.
As I said above, Codex Alera does not leave you hanging between books, in fact several of the books are years apart. None of this crap where you have one of the main characters kidnapped then end the book.
I gave up on the Wheel of Time around book 9, they just got too long and cumbersome. Now that Jordan has passed on it will be interesting to see how well Brandon Sanderson finishes the series.
The last book in WoT was quite good. Best on in a while (the prequel was good too). Sanderson is a good writer, so it will be interesting to see how the last one comes out.
I'll have to check out Codex Alera (soon as I finish the Erikson book I am currently on).
I gave up on the Wheel of Time around book 9, they just got too long and cumbersome. Now that Jordan has passed on it will be interesting to see how well Brandon Sanderson finishes the series.
The last book in WoT was quite good. Best on in a while (the prequel was good too). Sanderson is a good writer, so it will be interesting to see how the last one comes out.
I'll have to check out Codex Alera (soon as I finish the Erikson book I am currently on).
Love Butcher's Dresden books. Great fun.
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Between waiting for the last WoT and waiting for GRRM to get his next book out, I've grown weary of getting into a series before all of the books have been published :)
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Trick to it Steerpike is to get into about a dozen series, then a book in a series you are following is always coming out soon!
I have to admit, I was thrown for quite a loop over the development of Molly. Who'd a thunk..
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Of course, if he can create 'little chicago' he could certainly build a wizard hot water heater. Plus, at this point in history, all the wizards that lived before him should have solved the no hot water problem by now. I say this tongue in cheek of course. :-)Cold showers are just part of Harry's metaphorical existence.
Not the same thing - Harry is very good at divinations, not so good at subtle evocations.
As far as other wizards, it's been very clear in the series that no two wizards do things the same way. So I think hot water is something each wizard would need to solve in a way that was compatible with their own style.
Of course, if he can create 'little chicago' he could certainly build a wizard hot water heater. Plus, at this point in history, all the wizards that lived before him should have solved the no hot water problem by now. I say this tongue in cheek of course. :-)Cold showers are just part of Harry's metaphorical existence.
Not the same thing - Harry is very good at divinations, not so good at subtle evocations.
As far as other wizards, it's been very clear in the series that no two wizards do things the same way. So I think hot water is something each wizard would need to solve in a way that was compatible with their own style.
I was really hoping for something better.
I just heard they are going to make "Storm Front" into a comic . In addition to the current comic 'Welcome to the Jungle'. Nice.
I just heard they are going to make "Storm Front" into a comic . In addition to the current comic 'Welcome to the Jungle'. Nice.
There's a full-page ad in the back of the 4th (and last) issue of Welcome to the Jungle, which says that Storm Front is due out on October.
I liked the 4-part Welcome to the Jungle, and I look forward to seeing Storm Front in comic book form.
One of Butcher's strengths in writing is his detail in describing scenes... the way people stand, look at each other, how a room is set up, etc, and it translates very well into graphic novel form.
You should be able to pick up the four issues of Welcome to the Jungle at a store or on-line, or wait for it to come out compiled in graphic novel form.
I still wonder why Harry doesn't use his magic to heat water for a shower.
Potential side effects for one, okay they're aren't as technological as modern stuff, but what if he can't regulate how warm it becomes or something gives after all is he a plumber?
There's a potential horde of things that can go wrong but then maybe he does but not during any book written so far or in the tv series unless there's some deleted scenes yet to be revealed?
Well, I bought this series; tried to read it several times; just cannot get into it.
Dreseden Rocks, Small favor is just as good as the rest of the books.
Has anyone read any of his Codex Alera Books? I think they are equal to his Dresden works.
Well, I bought this series; tried to read it several times; just cannot get into it.
In what ways does it miss, that you can't get into it?
I have not ready any of them yet.
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Well, I bought this series; tried to read it several times; just cannot get into it.
Has anyone read any of his Codex Alera Books? I think they are equal to his Dresden works.
When I handed the first one over to my wife, I had to tell her, "It's gonna start slow. You have to stick with it. The last half of the book makes it worth the wait, though."
By about the middle of the book, she was shooting me dirty looks over the top of the book, and a couple times even said, "Why did you want me to read this again?"
And then she got past the halfway mark. And kept going. And suddenly couldn't put it down. And made me go buy all the rest of them for her (I'd checked them out from the library before buying her the first book in paperback). Now she spends more time counting down till the next one arrives than I do.
Let's get something clear right up front.
I'm not Harry Dresden.
Harry's a wizard. A genuine, honest-to-goodness wizard. He's Gandalf on crack and an IV of Red Bull, with a big leather coat and a .44 revolver in his pocket. He'll spit in the eye of gods and demons alike if he thinks it needs to be done, and to hell with the consequences--and yet somehow my little brother manages to remain a decent human being.
I'll be damned if I know how.
But then, I'll be damned regardless.
My name is Thomas Raith, and I'm a monster.So begins "Backup," a twelve thousand word novelette set in Jim Butcher s ultra-popular Dresden Files series. This time Harry's in trouble he knows nothing about, and it's up to his big brother Thomas to track him down and solve those little life-threatening difficulties without his little brother even noticing.
Sounds.... Interesting. I like Thomas a lot, this book was sort of a surprise for me.
When I handed the first one over to my wife, I had to tell her, "It's gonna start slow. You have to stick with it. The last half of the book makes it worth the wait, though."
This sounds about right... I also feel that the entire series gets more compelling as you get further into it. Sort of like the series gains more and more momentum and traction as it goes.
I still wonder why Harry doesn't use his magic to heat water for a shower.
No fine control, especially with fire. He'd end up with scalding hot water that would end up burning him. Plus the lack of regular romantic...engagements has left him used to cold showers.
No, you still don't understand my point. He can make magic items.
Just got "Small Favor"!! I've been waiting for the paper back for 17 years.
All right, my curiosity is piqued. I'll check out the first one and give the Dresden books a whirl.
All right, my curiosity is piqued. I'll check out the first one and give the Dresden books a whirl.
I hope you like it. I was very pleasantly surprised when I started reading the books. I came late to the party and only found out about them after the tv series starting airing on SPACE (Canada's version of Sci-fi channel). I saw some sort of by-line similar to "Harry Potter solves crimes!" and thought "oh god no", but the tv show was pretty good, and when I saw Jim Butcher listed as the author of the books, checked them out and blew me away. Another example of a book outshining any other media interpretation.
Not to sound smug about it, but Butcher is a gamer. I like it when one of ours makes good.
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I got the DVD set for xmas and the comics I've been picking up. Good stuff all around. Bumed the TV show got canceled. I'm looking forward to getting the RPG when it comes out, mostly for a source book and to read.
Have y'all read the other Dresden stories in Mean Streets and the other one... (please hold going to go look it up)
Many Bloody Returns it's called.
Found a list of his short stories on his website. Never looked at it before... yay fro the interwebs!
http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/
http://www.jim-butcher.com/store/?ptype=Short+Stories
Now I've got me some books to hunt down.
Also a couple of the stories are free on the site... go read 'em.
I've also listened to the audio books. James Marsters does a good job.
I still wonder why Harry doesn't use his magic to heat water for a shower.
No fine control, especially with fire. He'd end up with scalding hot water that would end up burning him. Plus the lack of regular romantic...engagements has left him used to cold showers.
No, you still don't understand my point. He can make magic items.
Ooh now that is a point perhaps its because he has that sword of damocles over him thats due to his new apprentice?
Perhaps an unspoken rules against making magical showers?But that is a good point though.
well, you really need to understand Harry's personality; he is very self abusive; he is very much into self denial to reign in his desires; sure he could make water hot using several different technique; but personal comfort isnt part of his personality; hehe just look at his place, it is all utility, function oriented, very little beauty.
Picked up Stormfront today and read about 60 or 70 pages while doing my laundry. I enjoy it already; good tone and pacing, enough going on to keep you interested without getting confused.
Where would I get book recommendations without the Paizo messageboards?
Is it out yet?
May 27th.
One thing I really appreciate about Butcher, aside from his fantastic writing, is that he really behaves like an approacheable and humble person. It's always fun watching videos of his seminars at conventions. He's also a big fan of Pathfinder.
Well done, Adam. :) I hope to meet him one day, although even if I do, it'd probably only at some book signing event.
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I have to admit, I was thrown for quite a loop over the development of Molly. Who'd a thunk..
...That this post would be applicable again a few years later?
Quite excited to see what Butcher has in store for us in a few weeks. :)
Quite excited to see what Butcher has in store for us in a few weeks. :)
Oh yes - got my copy on pre-order through amazon right now. I'm much more excited about this one than I was about Cold Days. Not that Cold Days was bad or anything it just seemed a little stale and formulaic compared to the 3 books prior.
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Well, it was a "and now let's get back into the fray" book, which after Ghost Story was going to be of course a bit more standard. Though I think that the stakes are now much higher than they were ever before and there were plenty of "Oh, crap!" moments in the book.
Nonetheless, looking forward to the return of the Denarians and Michael. Ohhh, the possibilities....
Only sixteen days left until the release of Skin Game. I've been looking forward to this one for a long time, but I have a weird feeling that there's going to be a major death or tragedy in this one. I've got no evidence to back it up, but it's a strange feeling that has been growing on me all through the re-reading of the series I did lately.
You've been watching too much Game of Thrones.
Already preordered from B&N and set to ship to my doorstep as soon as it's available.
Same here, except it will download to my Nook immediately (I hope).
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Was a sale on Amazon yesterday, and I used the chance to get my hands on Summer Knight and Death Masks. I've been going slow on this series because it was not avilable on Kindle when I started reading it, and getting books overseas seems like such an ordeal when there's an easy electronic alternative. Now, though, given how shot the books are, I can start making serious progress in the series.
Gotta say that Grave Peril was kinda bad, though. I hope later books are more like the first two (with tight, tense crime plots rather than a jumble of waaaay over the top action scenes).
Was a sale on Amazon yesterday, and I used the chance to get my hands on Summer Knight and Death Masks. I've been going slow on this series because it was not avilable on Kindle when I started reading it, and getting books overseas seems like such an ordeal when there's an easy electronic alternative. Now, though, given how shot the books are, I can start making serious progress in the series.
Gotta say that Grave Peril was kinda bad, though. I hope later books are more like the first two (with tight, tense crime plots rather than a jumble of waaaay over the top action scenes).
You, uh, may be in for some disappointment there. From memory, things from book 3 on just kept getting crazier and crazier. I haven't read the last few though.
Was a sale on Amazon yesterday, and I used the chance to get my hands on Summer Knight and Death Masks. I've been going slow on this series because it was not avilable on Kindle when I started reading it, and getting books overseas seems like such an ordeal when there's an easy electronic alternative. Now, though, given how shot the books are, I can start making serious progress in the series.
Gotta say that Grave Peril was kinda bad, though. I hope later books are more like the first two (with tight, tense crime plots rather than a jumble of waaaay over the top action scenes).
Hmm. The investigative aspects are downplayed in the later books, but not to the series' detriment. It shifts in tone, as all of the plots from the earlier books' mysteries start feeding into each other, new information is revealed, etc.
The whole SERIES basically becomes one giant mystery, with each individual book having plots within plots and Harry getting swept up into them and nearly killed each time (until he starts kicking it up a notch and using his magic more creatively and intelligently).
Also, frsrs, don't even lie. You loved Grave Peril. It had a wizard riding a zombie t-rex to fight necromancers. You can't not love that.
Though on a more serious note yeah, other than that it was one of the weaker books to an extent. But it introduced some important concepts and a character (Butters).
Though I think he showed up once before, but Grave Peril was definitely the book that elevated him from extra.