Gregory’s Comments (group member since Feb 17, 2010)

Gregory’s comments from the All Things Jim Butcher group.

Our own moderator and columnist Justin has written an interesting question regarding magic systems in fantasy novels.

Sparked some very interesting thoughts, have a read and post your comments on his website for a chance to win free books.

Feel free to write discussion here too.

Thoughtful Thursday: Do You Believe in Magic… Systems?

Watched this the other day. There's actually a second part where Butcher interviews Rothfuss.

Voted for Jim! Codex Alera!

Erato wrote: "If it is their work, they will sign it. :) However...there is usually a book limit at a signing event..."

True, but my experience with JB has been awesome. Last year when he came to Seattle for the Changes tour he signed ALL of my books. I brought over 20 of them (Dresden and Alera) in a giant suitcase and waited until the end of his signings. With no problem he took out his pen and signed each book!

I think I mentioned this before in another thread, but this could be a plot point to give more importance to Bob. I don't remember the details (so one of the researchers here can find the info hint hint) but I seem to remember that Bob was imprisoned as a spirit in the first place because he was tampering with the power to raise the dead.

So if Harry is dead, then Bob (part of the spirit world) could not only be his method of communication to everyone else, but also serve as a means to "come back" to the living.

Just thinking out loud though... I leave the true storytelling to Butcher.

Water.

Healing, emotion/mind reading, distance communication, and doesn't water fury also allow for shape-shifting? Isn't that how Max impersonated the High Lord back in the second book?

Also, if near any body of water I'd say water fury is epic in battle :)

The Three Investigators are older books, written in the 1960s and 70s. Alfred Hitchcock was a developer and even character in many of the books. They are wholesome, no swearing or adult themes, just good natured mysteries that the trio of boys solve. (Once again, much like the Hardy Boys). I was in 4th grade when I was introduced to these books, and I devoured them eagerly. As a typical adventure novel series, I highly recommend them to be read aloud, the suspense and intrigue certainly captured my full attention back then.

As for Brent Weeks, I was surprised I liked the Night Angel so much. I usually tend to find the work of debut authors to be rough in the beginning, but Weeks threw off my assumption and created such a unique realm and set of "powers" within characters that I was captivated. The main character's development was superb, and the supporting characters were also extremely well done. I understand it that one of the supporting characters was so popular that Weeks has since written a prequel to this series about him. I plan on picking it up!

I'll continue with my list, once again in no particular order.

1)The Hobbit: Or There and Back Again - I first read this in graphic novel form when I was 6 years old. Been in love ever since.
2)Where the Red Fern Grows - This is actually my favorite piece of fiction; went out and won an auction for an original First Edition hardcover. The ending makes me cry every time.
3)Pride and Prejudice - I'm a bit of a romantic, and it doesn't get any better than this classic.
4)The Lord of the Rings - Um, most epic tale of adventure ever?
5)The Three Investigators Series - Read a few of these when I was a little kid, and have since collected them all. It's like Hardy Boys adventures.
6)The Night Angel Trilogy - Best new trilogy I have read in a while, the characters are so complicated and amazing.
7)Jack Reacher Series - This violent series is a fantastic break from the fantasy realm, and for thrillers you can't beat Jack Reacher!
8)Pendragon Series - Started this series nine years ago, then spent each year awaiting the next installment to conclusion. Quite a fantastic ride for a Young Adult series.
9)Ender's Game - Yes, just yes.
10)The Chronicles of Prydain Boxed Set - This has a special memory for me, before I could fully read complicated stories myself my mother would read books to me. This series was especially wonderful, as no story captured my attention quite like this. I reread the series twice later in life, and understood more of the plot each time.

Dana wrote: "Since I'm guessing internal power is more based on your soul and character, I would think not, but it is still a consideration I think...."

Interesting point, and even more so given that Harry controls Soul Fire, a power which I'm not aware of any other Wizard being able to weild. Would this affect Harry's potential damage for a Death curse given that he already is able to use his "soul" to power other spells?

Dana wrote: "Although I think men understand the minds of dogs better than women."

That's because we share the same life motto: Eat, Sleep, Play

Dana wrote: "The last I heard him mention was a science fiction series called US Marshalls. 200 years in the future and people live off planet. They have ceeded from Earth and made what they call the United Systems. The Marshalls are the only ones who know about aliens. He said it is like men In Black crossed with X-men, on the moon, 200 years in the future.

..."

I attended a book signing for Changes last year where he specifically mentioned this US Marshalls. He said he's been wanting to write a space opera for a while.

Thanks Earl, I think that settles it. The death curse must not only be with forethought and concentration, but must also be spoken aloud to be effective.

So this is why Harry died at the end of Changes without his Death curse firing, solving Phogbound's question 30 threadposts ago Lol

I seem to remember some hinting that Harry's mother was somehow connected to Demonreach, both hinted at by Gatekeeper and Harry's grandad, Black Staff.

In truth, I think there is some serious mojo with Harry's mom and her past, something the Council is afraid Harry could tap into.

Mike wrote: "I was under the impression that it had to be consciously thrown and/or aimed, that's why Kincaid said that the way to kill Dresden was to shoot him with a sniper rifle from far away. I don't think..."

Bingo, that's exactly what I remember too.

You are correct Chompa, Butcher has stated that the Dresden Files will be 20 normal books, plus a 3 book apocalyptic finale.

Not quite sure what you mean though about being misinformed. I don't know anything about the next book besides what the Amazon description says:

When we last left the mighty wizard detective Harry Dresden, he wasn't doing well. In fact, he had been murdered by an unknown assassin.

But being dead doesn't stop him when his friends are in danger. Except now he has nobody, and no magic to help him. And there are also several dark spirits roaming the Chicago shadows who owe Harry some payback of their own.

To save his friends-and his own soul-Harry will have to pull off the ultimate trick without any magic...

Considering that Harry is dead in the next book, I think we'll all definitely want a full, well rounded story at optimum competition.

No deus ex machina please. ;)

Strange enough for me, Dresden is really the only urban fantasy I like. If you check out my bookshelves, nearly all my other books are fantasy, high fantasy, or thriller.

Although I hate to say it, the Twilight series has made an impact on the urban fantasy area. There are too many (imo) series now that have vampire romance, or werewolf romance, etc plotlines woven into the story. That's the kind of pandering that I don't enjoy reading, and the kind of stories that more people are associating with urban fantasy.

What a great question! Yes, Changes is definitely a profound book for the series, on that I think everyone agrees.

As for what other books are pivotal, I can't really pick out one in particular. Each story has a multitude of subplots which intertwine and weave throughout the books. I attended a signing of Jim Butcher's where he was asked how he has come to create such a complex and intriguing world where so many ideas build off one another for content. In his response, he said it helps to have a roadmap of the entire plan first. This is how Jim already knows the series will be 20 normal books, with a 3 book Apocalypse trilogy. He already knows the end of each story, and thus how they connect to each other. Having that vast amount of forethought adds amazing worth to his writings, as he can plant seeds of story early on and let it develop slowly until fruition.

As a reader I adore this about Jim’s pieces, it adds an almost sense of realism to the stories, seeing how each action or cause has an equal effect sometime later in the plot. There is no deus ex machina here.

Agreed on all counts. Aftermath was interesting, but sad. Over the course of the last dozen books I've grown to actually like the characters more than is normal, so when Murphy or Dresden struggle part of me is empathetic.

As for Murphy taking up Fidelacchius, that is a given. Once she first weilded it during the fight against the Denarians that was too perfect. However, wasn't there a subplot in there that the weilders of the holy swords had to be descended from royalty? Michael is descended from Charlemagne, Sanya is a tribal prince from his homeland, and Shiro was an actual king. Doesn't this mean that Murphy must be royalty as well?

Also, yes James Marsters is amazing. Been a fan of his since Buffy. :)

So I was having a bit of fun and decided to expand on my speculative plot for Ghost Story. This is the closest I'll ever get to writing fanfic.

Harry Dresden is dead.

And things were going so well. Harry Dresden, the wizard who just obliterated the entire Red Court of vampires, was shot through the heart and drowned in the icy waters of Lake Michigan. By all accounts Harry's story should be over, but his unusual knowledge of power and defiant nature yeilded an unexpected result. Harry is now a ghost.

Coming to terms with his new situation, Harry faces unknown territory, and discovers new horrors only seen from the other side. Utilizing the information only found in the world of the dead, Harry learns that his death was an assassination by the Black Council, and now they are targeting Harry friends.

The only way Harry can save them is by doing the impossible and returning from the dead.

All his gathered information points to only one person with the knowledge of resurrection, a dark wizard who has himself been dead 1200 years. Normally it would be little trouble to locate a spirit of such power, but there is a problem. This sorcerer's spirit was imprisoned for all eternity and held captive in the mortal world, thus severing all contact from other dead. Against all odds Harry must discover a way to find this spirit.

Somehow, Harry must reach Bob.