Sci-Fi/Fantasy - The Dresden Files #2 - Page 5

**Cryostar** · 04-26-2008, 09:17 PM

Nice!

dukesmom · 04-27-2008, 04:01 PM

My friend has the book but didn't mention the dedication. I'll have to ask her about it tomorrow. I'm betting she skipped over it and went straight to the story.

***Raonaild*** · 05-03-2008, 09:04 AM

I know Jim Butcher participates in the forums at his site, as he used to participate in the site's mailing list before the forums were created. If you ever had burning questions about the series and you wanted an answer straight from the horse's mouth, you can ask him there. I know he's taken requests for previous books, where you could suggest which previous characters or groups would make an appearance in the book.

Not that I'm advertising other forums or anything, but I have more respect for famous people who try to connect with their fans like that.

***Chris*** · 05-04-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukesmom (View Post)

My friend has the book but didn't mention the dedication. I'll have to ask her about it tomorrow. I'm betting she skipped over it and went straight to the story.

I suppose that unless you're active at a forum, it wouldn't mean much to you.

Rachel - yes, it is nice when celebrities show appreciation for their fans.

Small Favor was a good read. The ending was a bit of a surprise, and definitely left the door open for another book.

eoghann · 05-04-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (View Post)

Small Favor was a good read. The ending was a bit of a surprise, and definitely left the door open for another book.

From various things I read, I think that there are quite a few more books still planned. I've always thought the Dresden series reads like a season from TV show. So this would be the mid-season point.

dukesmom · 05-04-2008, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (View Post)

I suppose that unless you're active at a forum, it wouldn't mean much to you.

She does read message boards and blogs though I'm not sure if she participates in them. When I asked her about the dedication last week she said she did notice it. She also finished the book and it's now in my possession. As soon as I finish My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon (I've already gotten past the Dresden short story), I'll get to Small Favor.

***Chris*** · 05-09-2008, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eoghann (View Post)

From various things I read, I think that there are quite a few more books still planned.

Apparently Jim Butcher plans 23 in total.

dukesmom - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did when you get to it.

dukesmom · 05-11-2008, 09:48 PM

23 books total? Wow. Any particular reason for that number? I remember reading that Sue Grafton, author of the alphabet series featuring private eye Kinsey Milhone, regretted using the alphabet because it meant there would have to be 26 books.

I'm sure I'll enjoy Small Favor. It wasn't the closest book when I finished my previous book so I'm reading something else at the moment but it's a quick read and I should be done tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest.

eoghann · 05-12-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukesmom (View Post)

23 books total? Wow. Any particular reason for that number?

American TV seasons traditionally have 22-24 episodes. It's probably coincidence but it does fit my feeling that the whole book series is written like a tv series.

I think I saw somewhere that he envisages it as 20 stand alone books and then a three part endcap that would resolve all that arc stuff he's building up.

dukesmom · 05-13-2008, 11:12 PM

Morgan (Conrad Coates) was on Reaper tonight as a demon. He had little horns and some kind of strange beard-thingy.

***Chris*** · 06-05-2008, 03:29 PM

at 'strange beard-thingy'

Quote:

Originally Posted by eoghann (View Post)

I think I saw somewhere that he envisages it as 20 stand alone books and then a three part endcap that would resolve all that arc stuff he's building up.

I noticed that they stopped numbering the books. Not sure that it makes much sense. I suppose the individual novels do stand on their own, but he's definitely building on previous events so they'd make more sense if you knew the history.

***Raonaild*** · 06-05-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eoghann (View Post)

I think I saw somewhere that he envisages it as 20 stand alone books and then a three part endcap that would resolve all that arc stuff he's building up.

I remember hearing something to this effect on the Butcher Block podcast a year or two ago. That's a very long run though, since he releases one book per year.

I don't get why they're not numbering the books either. They're not that stand-alone, most of the later books are hard to understand without some knowledge of the earlier books. And even though the story is told within a single book, there are lots of overlapping elements between books.

I finally picked up Small Favor last week, though I'm not sure when I'll be able to read it, my stack of unread books is getting pretty high right now.

dukesmom · 06-05-2008, 10:07 PM

FWIW, although the newer books don't have numbers on their covers, when you look them up online their order in the series is stated (at least, it was at the sites I checked). I know I've come across other series that don't make it obvious which book comes first so I always check original publish dates and/or any book listing on one of the pages before the title page. The danger of the book listing is that they are not always in order, or at least, not always ascending.

***Chris*** · 06-30-2008, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukesmom (View Post)

I always check original publish dates and/or any book listing on one of the pages before the title page. The danger of the book listing is that they are not always in order, or at least, not always ascending.

I've done that too.

If I'm going to start a series, I want to start at the beginning, not half way through.

Has anybody else read Small Favor yet?

eoghann · 07-01-2008, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris (View Post)

I've done that too.

If I'm going to start a series, I want to start at the beginning, not half way through.

Has anybody else read Small Favor yet?

I have, I'm a big fan of the series. On the surface this one seems to conclude a number (certainly not all) of the ongoing plotlines. However, from interviews I've heard, that may be a little deceptive.

Basically if you liked the last couple of books you'll enjoy this one.