Dresden Files/Codex of Alera

[John]

This is a Jim butcher thread. Either series is up for talking about.

I found Dresden to be easy, quick reads. Kinda like going to the movie full of special effects, action and witty humor but not exactly a masterpiece that will be taught in film schools throughout the ages. It has likeable characters, save the day heroism, and some smart ass quirks that make the Harry Dresden somewhat like a superhero similar to Spiderman....except a wizard.

I just read the first book in the Codex of Alera series Butcher rights, and basically it feels like Avatar the last airbender but cooler. More magically and tactical in execution with many characters you love and love to hate.

If you haven't tried them out, Codex of Alera series is more fantasy in a fantasy setting while Dresden series is more fantasy in a city streets/noir style.

[Wolfie]

Quick spoiler: The Codex Alera Series is Pokemon meets Ancient Rome. Literally.

I love the Codex Alera Series.. although I called the main "secret" about halfway through the second book. Tavian's growth is awesome, despite his disadvantages.

My fiance is a huge fan of the Dresden files, which I stopped reading after a while. Didn't have the money to pick up the books and he wasn't sharing

[klikclack]

Haven't really tried The Codex Alera series yet but the Dresden Files is pretty up there on my list of favorites.

[John]

I am now halfway through the second book of the Codex Alera series and I think I like it better than Dresden. I think it's because I get more aggravated when the protagonists just can't seem to catch a break than with dresden. It's probably because the chapters change who's perspective you're following while Dresden tends to be an all Harry all the time event.

Its fun for sure!

[Wolfie]

for some reason, I now have a burning desire to go find my Codex Alera books again...

The real question is: Do I read them now and forego finishing the Dr. Who episodes on Netflix.. or finish Dr. Who first?

[John]

Maybe just take the Alera books for when you aren't near your T.V.? I know you can netflix with most mobile devices. I'm using a kindle for the 2nd book right now and discovered that I don't much like having a battery on my reading experience.

[Arydra]

So, you are trying to say that the Codex of Alera is worth the money to buy? I keep looking at it as I loved Dresden, but I never knew if it was worth it. Anyone else think that the Codex of Alera is worth it? Because I would hate to throw money at something I will not enjoy.

[Wolfie]

Its on my re-read list, and not many books or series make it that far.

[Arydra]

Well then I guess I better head out to good ol' Barns and Nobles and pick up the first book and give it a read- through.

As if my list of books to read was not already long enough... I feel like joining this forum might just bankrupt me by adding to that list... (not as bad as it sounds. I am just a poor college student, it would be easy for me to run out of money. Might as well spend it on something I am going to enjoy.)

[Wolfie]

So I got back through books 1 & 2, only to realize that the only other book of the series at my house is #5. My fiance has the other three and is in no hurry to find them for me.

[John]

My wife is pissed because I'm blowing through them and just ordering the next on the kindle the minute I finish. Codex vs Checking Account hahaha

[Wolfie]

My wife is pissed because I'm blowing through them and just ordering the next on the kindle the minute I finish. Codex vs Checking Account hahaha

So worth it though

which one you on now?

[UPDATE] I now have all my books. I'm a happy wolf

[John]

I'm finishing the Epilogue to Princep's Fury....then downloading the First Lord's Fury!

[Just Karen]

Dresden's a lot more convoluted and epic than many people give it credit for; it's more episodic (in that every book is almost completely self-contained), but the threads between the books tying everything together for the entire series (which will be *23 books* long after they're done) are a marvel to behold - and we're only catching some things now, similar to Thunt's callback to the 38 ways to kill with a thumb from way back in the start of the Goblins comic. That's almost as long as the Riftwar books (as a whole), Xanth, Valdemar and a few other long-running single-author series... except that it's almost entirely internally consistent (an issue many authors run into trouble with), is following (so far) a single generation of people (that is, the main characters of book 1 are mostly the same main characters as book 14 and probably the same as book 23), while most or all of the others are broken into smaller sub-series (Last Herald-Mage, Serpentwar, or just plain standalone novels). That's impressive. I doubt any one book will be considered high art, but the love and care put into crafting the world SHOULD be.

[John]

The only issue with Dresden is that I finish em so quick, so when the next comes out and it references something from say book 3....I have to go back and reread it to remember some of the finer details. Not helpful when I donate most of my books to school libraries and the like when I finish.

[Unlucky-for-Some]

Reading Dresden at the moment - for the first time and am enjoying it a lot. I didn't even know he had another series, Something to keep an eye out for

[kohlerikson]

Just finished a Codex Alera reread, and I'm getting ready to go back through Dresden in preparation for whenever the next one come out (December, I think). Both are great and deserve permanent places on anybody's bookshelves/e-readers.

[knightwalkr]

I didnt like how Alera ended over all. I perfered Tavi in the begining over the end of the series.

on that note the same with dresden. I like harry being the ant going against the boot all the time. I really hope he doesnt get to the point where he is more boot than ant.

[Gryphonic]

For the people asking if they should buy a book unread: are there no libraries in nearby towns? Buying new books can get expensive, and you may not like them after all. And for Dresden Files in particular, the overall tone and skill of the first book is very different from, say, Changes or Cold Days. Fortunately, when read in order it's a smooth transition, but going from later books back to the beginning is kinda jarring.
Anyway, find a used bookstore at least. If you haven't read anything of a series before, better to spend $3-4 to find out if you like it.

Longer post/edit when I'm more awake and have time to think.

[Wolfie]

I didnt like how Alera ended over all. I perfered Tavi in the begining over the end of the series.

I liked his transition from the backwoods farm boy who doesn't think he'll amount to anything to a man comfortable in his own skin and with his own power. I want to see if Butcher is going to write another series finishing up the fight and taking back Canim.

[Gryphonic]

I haven't heard so, but that's not definitive. Certainly in the epilogue to book 5 they're discovered a (gross) way to reclaim land covered by the croach. For pride's sake the Canim may go back someday. Ah, found where Tavi says it'll happen eventually, but that's in-character, not the author's promise.

► Show Spoiler

There's only 1 vordqueen left over there now, and she can't reproduce another. Perhaps it would be best for the realm for the Canim to head back over as soon as they're ready, because they're testy neighbors, and very dangerous. The Alerans barely held their own with furycrafting on their side, and now the Canim themselves....Was that really a good idea, Tavi?

Favorite characters: Varg and Fidelias

On that note the same with dresden. I like harry being the ant going against the boot all the time. I really hope he doesnt get to the point where he is more boot than ant.

Not so far, no. He's a much more powerful ant than he used to be, but he keeps running into bigger boots. In raw power, he's increased a lot, but at the end of the day he's struggling through largely through his usual combination of wit, assists from friends (and frenemies), and occasional dumb luck. And as the Gatekeeper cheerfully just pointed out (Cold Days), Harry's reaching the heavyweight division, as far as mortals go....and that means that there's not many allies capable of helping him anymore when everything goes pear-shaped. In gaming terms, mortals have a limit to how far they can 'level up' in that world, but the monsters don't, and Harry has a gift for pissing off all the wrong people.

[Reads_Books]

I'm currently devouring the Dresden series. I'm reading Dead Beat, but I own the books up to Small Favor, thanks to some good luck at the local Used Bookstore chain.

The more I read, the more I wish that the television series had survived longer than one season. I am finally starting to get used to the idea of Murphy as a tiny blonde, but I admit that I actually like the TV Bob better. Also, I was really disappointed that the silver pentacle inherited from Harry's mom was replaced on TV with what was essentially a shield bracelet, because "Pentagrams are bad, M'Kay".