Jim Butcher Discussion

[Kathy]

It cracked me up as well. Cold Days may have been chilly reading, but it did have its funny moments.

[Zeenat]

I'm already on my reread of turncoat. I haven't been sleeping well so I have been reading, but I didn't want to read anything new cause that would require too much brain LOL.

So in White Night (view spoiler)[ Lash disappeared. did she really disappear? I think she did. I don't think she's the voice that appears in that other book in that pivotal scene (hide spoiler)]

[Zeenat]

ha ha I love bob

“It’s an aesthetic choice,” Bob said loftily. “As a gender, women exist on a plane far beyond men when it comes to the artistic appreciation of their external beauty.”
“And they have boobs,” I said.
“And they have boobs!” Bob agreed with a leer.

I know what happens at the end of this book. But even before all of that (view spoiler)[ I don't trust Anastasia. I thinks he's going to leak to people about Thomas. For the "good of the council" type thing. I don't like her. She's self righteous. and they have such a boring relationship! (hide spoiler)]

[Zeenat]

Another question, about Molly and Thomas (view spoiler)[ when does Molly find out Thomas is Harry's brother? did they have one of those big discussions, or is it just assumed? I can't for the life of me remember (hide spoiler)]

[Zeenat]

OMG, Harry has a FAQ tumblr page... I think it was created as part of the LARP stuff.

http://harriedwizard.tumblr.com/archive

[Mello ❣ Illium ✮Harry✮ ☀Myrnin☀ Torin]

I'm gonna have to follow that page.

(view spoiler)[I also think that Anastasia will leak about Thomas one of these days. Especially after it was discovered that her feelings towards Harry hadn't been genuine. She found out a lot of stuff about his personal life during that time they were together. Somehow, that relationship with Thomas will come out and if she isn't the one to leak it, I'll be surprised. Hell, Harry knows that Ebenezar is his grandfather now and he still won't tell him about Thomas. I'll totally not forgive her if she snitches.

As far as Molly finding out, I believe she just put it together and Harry told her to keep her mouth shut about it. Molly's always been pretty smart. She just observed and figured it out. (hide spoiler)]

[Zeenat]

reading Changes, and I got to the part where they are discussing who is who from LOTR... That was hilarious especially when:

“What about Karrin?” Sanya asked.
“What— for Gimli?” Thomas mused. “She is fairly—”
“Finish that sentence, Raith, and we throw down,” said Murphy in a calm, level voice.
“Tough,” Thomas said, his expression aggrieved. “I was going to say ‘tough.’ ”

[Zeenat]

I just finished changes. That was such a great book. Favorite. I just realized something. Susan (view spoiler)[ had to die. There was never a real closure between harry and her. They were both still in love with each other, even though Harry tried to move on. Now that she is dead and the first 11 book arch is over, Harry can move on. Not with Molly. Murphy for sure (hide spoiler)]

Think this means anything? (view spoiler)[ Right after he kills the red court he says I don’t remember what happened when the ritual went off. There’s a blank spot in my head about two minutes wide. We know Molly took his memory about planning his murder. Lash was in his head for awhile but supposedly, not any more. Then there is the parasite. You think one of these took the memory of those two minutes.

I'm wondering if Uriel did? (hide spoiler)]

[Mello ❣ Illium ✮Harry✮ ☀Myrnin☀ Torin]

Good question.

(view spoiler)[It would make sense if that's where the parasite showed up, but how did it get there? I think that if Uriel did it, wouldn't it have been revealed in Ghost Story? Granted, Uriel didn't tell him he had a parasite, either. Demonreach had to do that. So who knows? I'd forgotten about those two minutes that he can't remember.

And yeah, Susan did have to die. Harry never got over her and vice versa. She just up and left and avoided him for all of those years. That was a powerful scene, though. (hide spoiler)]

[Llaph]

lol zeenat
I love his nerd reffrences.

[Zeenat]

I'm so depressed... I'm done with my reread. No new dresden files, no new KC book, no new hollows... :::sigh:::

Okay I have some thughts and questions on the last couple of books but I'll be back with them.

[Zeenat]

Claire, what are your most recent thoughts? I especially am curious about your thoughts on Molly...

Oh and the nickleheads apparently show up every 5th book, so they will be in the next one!

[Mello ❣ Illium ✮Harry✮ ☀Myrnin☀ Torin]

Zeenat wrote: "I'm so depressed... I'm done with my reread. No new dresden files, no new KC book, no new hollows... :::sigh:::

Okay I have some thughts and questions on the last couple of books but I'll be back ..."

This is why I've decided to try out audiobooks and this series is my first test. I got Storm Front the other day.

[Zeenat]

Does James Marsters read the whole series?

[Zeenat]

about the parasite (view spoiler)[ In Cold Days, the parasite was involved in the first 4 books. But I think it was involved in all the books. Take for instance in Blood Rites, maybe that's one of the things that's wrong with Thomas and Lara's dad. They said he was acting crazier and crazier right? (hide spoiler)]

I've been thinking about the ambiguous bad guys, specifically Lara and Lea... Do you think they are really all that "bad"?

[Mello ❣ Illium ✮Harry✮ ☀Myrnin☀ Torin]

He does except for Ghost Story. He comes back for Cold Days.

[Zeenat]

Yeah I remember people saying they threw a fit when he wasn't reading anymore... lol

[Mello ❣ Illium ✮Harry✮ ☀Myrnin☀ Torin]

yeah, I'd heard that, too. He came back, though. I hope to find some time to listen this week. I listened to chapter 1 on Saturday just to see if it would be something that I could handle and I liked it.

[Claire]

Okay, so I've finally gotten around to posting my thoughts.

I just finished book 10 a few days ago, and my only thoughts toward the end were (view spoiler)[ No! Not Michael!!! I absolutely loved his quiet faith and total badassery. I'm wondering who Dresden will end up giving the sword to. I don't see him taking one up any time soon. (hide spoiler)]

About Molly: (view spoiler)[ I'm not entirely sympathetic to Dresden's "she's only a child!" argument, probably because Molly's only 2 years younger than me. Molly's 17, probably only a few months away from being an adult and definitely old enough to know better. I was wickedly pissed at her, at first. But I don't think she deserved to die, so I'm glad she got a second chance. I respect her for getting her shit together and learning to trust/listen to Dresden. (hide spoiler)]

I'm super interested to see how Mab and the Fallen will play off one another in the plot.

[Zeenat]

Molly (view spoiler)[ I actually think the "she's only a child" is more of a perspective thing. In their minds, Harry is only a child, so a 17 year old is definitely a child to them. But I actually don't blame Molly, because she really was trying to make the situation better and had no idea how magic worked or what the laws were. If she was trying to hurt someone, even in a "mean girls" way, then I'd be mad. (hide spoiler)]

[Zeenat]

"Harry" answered my question on his tumblr site:

Anonymous asked: Can Lara and rest of the White Court be more like Thomas if they wanted to? As in, be less of a monster? Or is Thomas special because of your mom?

Pretty sure Thomas is special because he’s Thomas. He chooses to be what he is, just like the others choose to be different. They’re able to see things like he does, but I’m not holding my breath.

Dresden

[Claire]

Is the tumblr sight a role player or is it run by Butcher?

[Zeenat]

I think it's a role player, but not a random one, the harry dresden role player in all things they do in the rpg.

[Claire]

Interesting

I wonder what Jb thinks, or if he even knows about it

[Kathy]

I'm sure he's got a Google Alert going for anytime his name, etc., pops up.

[Zeenat]

yeah JB does because the rpg is run by his people. and JB's twitter gets messages to and from harry, molly, thomas... etc.

[Zeenat]

oooh I just found my perfect Murphy. Maggie Lawson. She's a bit tall, but she's got that girl next door and cop thing down:

http://i2.listal.com/image/2719753/93...

[Claire]

@ Zeenat Hahah that's so cool!

It's always good to see authors positively involved in their fandom

[Zeenat]

For those of you who like steampunk:

http://www.jim-butcher.com/posts/2013...

[Claire]

Reading book 12

Holy shit

(view spoiler)[ HE HAS A CHILD?! (hide spoiler)]

[Zeenat]

Yeah, Changes (view spoiler)[ I didn't read the book description, so it surprised the hell out of me! (hide spoiler)]

[Claire]

I am so shocked!

Jim Butcher never fails to surprise me

[Claire]

Do you guys think there's any hope for (view spoiler)[ Thomas, after what happened to him? I'm not entirely convinced that he's become the bad guy. (hide spoiler)]

[Zeenat]

I don't think (view spoiler)[ he became bad, he just went back to "eating human and fully". Even Lara doesn't like to kill "kines" (although she clearly feels less bad about it). I think also harry is learning that just because he has to feed his hunger, doesn't mean he's bad. (hide spoiler)]

[Claire]

"There is, I think, humor here which
does not translate well from English into sanity." - Sanya

I love these books.

And about Thomas (view spoiler)[ I just remember that soulgaze where his mother hinted that the fight with the demon was important (hide spoiler)]

[Zeenat]

Quick Question... Both Carlos and Molly are virgins right? and age appropriate to each other (unlike harry and molly, ick)?

[Llaph]

dingdingding
I honestly think they would mix well together. She wont take his shit and he is not always a laid back hombre.

[Zeenat]

I think they would, too. I think he is fun enough for her to satisfy her wild side, but at the same time he can reel her in. They already have a pretty established friendship/professional realtionship off screen (at least that's what i get). In Ghost Story (view spoiler)[ when she was the rag lady, he purposefully "couldn't find her", but I bet he did find her and tried to talk to her. (hide spoiler)] Molly's novella, that took place sometime between changes and cold days, is bound to be good, and bound to have some Warden Ramirez (or as he calls himself, warden sexypants).

[Enjee, Founder]

Is Lord Raith (Thomas's father) the Lord of the Incubi in the Dresden world?

[Zeenat]

Yes--the White court is the incubi/sucubbi vampires, and he is the King of the White Court.

[Claire]

'Kay so, I just finished Ghost Story and i can't say it was my favorite.

(view spoiler)[ I HATED that Harry was stuck as a ghost. I get that it would have been too cliche for him to just bounce back after something like that, and it definitely added an element of mystery to the book. but I still missed Harry bounding around, kicking ass seven ways to Sunday.

I wasn't a big fan of what JB did with Molly, either, but I guess it was sort of unavoidable. I really hope she gets more straightened out in Cold Days. It seems like she's getting really powerful.

Also, I'm guessing that it was pretty significant that Demonreach was the one to keep Harry alive on the island.
(hide spoiler)]

I'm also really not a fan of the Molly/Harry pairing, no matter how hard Molly pushes. Dresden watched her grow up, he's friends with her father. It'd be weird.

I'm reading Cold Days and I'm curious. (view spoiler)[ I'm wondering if Harry is going to finish out the book as Mab's knight, and if the power will have already changed him permanently. I'm wondering if we'll get a hint that Harry may have found a way out.

All I want is for Harry to go see Murphy. I've definitely warmed up to her after those first few books.

Right now I'm about to read about how the Island is apparently about to blow. I'm curious! (hide spoiler)]

[Zeenat]

Ghost Story (view spoiler)[ a lot of people didn't really enjoy that book either. It wasn't my favorite. I don't mind what happened with Molly. It makes sense considering cold days... you'll see. (hide spoiler)]

I don't understand molly and harry shippers... Not only is it weird, but it seems like it was set up early on for Harry and Murphy... Even when susan was in the picture, I kinda saw harry and murphy being each other's end game... but with 10ish books left... anything can happen!

As for cold days... Keep reading! :)

[Claire]

'Kay so, I finished Cold Days.

Molly and Harry are weird. Which is why I don't understand (view spoiler)[ why JB seems to have set Harry up to end up with Molly in the long run. Hell, Murphy pointed Harry in that direction. I don't like it! (hide spoiler)]

About Molly (view spoiler)[ Molly's training by Lea makes more sense now, but Molly's strange behavior during Ghost Story doesn't. I totally wasn't expecting her to become the Winter Lady. There has to be a reason JB did that, besides setting her up with Dresden. What do you guys think? (hide spoiler)]

About the Outsiders (view spoiler)[ Confused! Was Mother Summer saying the only reason Summer and Winter existed was for Winter to battle the Outsiders and Summer to check winter, period? I don't quite understand. Sometimes JB drops hints I miss completely.

That's a serious battle going on at those Outer Gates. I guess Rashid's mysteriousness makes more sense now. But where does Harry come in??

I still don't get why the Outsiders want in so bad. (hide spoiler)]

Again, Harry and Murphy. (view spoiler)[ AGH. Just AGH. I can't decide how I feel about them. It's infuriating.

Do you think Harry will ever have a role in his daughter's life/will we see Maggie in the story? I don't know if I actually want to see her or not. (hide spoiler)]

Not too sure I'm digging Harry's newest residence. Everything still feels very transient. Hopefully the next book sees Harry rebuilding his life.

[Zeenat]

Molly (view spoiler)[ being the Winter Lady... I don't know what his purpose is really. Because there is no way out as far as I can see. I think there might be a way for a winter knight to exit, but I don't see the same option for winter lady.

Her strange behavior in Ghost Story was because Harry put her in the awful position of being an "acomplice" to Harry's "murder". She had to live with the fact that she helped him die, couldn't tell anyone, and he was her crush, and one could even say best friend. That's a lot for a person to take in.

I HATE the Molly/Harry potential... She is all wrong for him, besides being young. But I think their relationship is kinda a red herring... I still think the end game is harry and murphy. (hide spoiler)]

harry/murphy (view spoiler)[ Yeah I wanted to bang my head against the wall after they AGAIN decided to stay friends or whatever. I am hoping her "I need to think about it" will be figured out by the next book". Or Harry and Molly will get together, but i think they will break up or molly will die... and then Murphy will realize she needs to be part of this... (hide spoiler)]

Outsiders (view spoiler)[ that's exactly what she was saying. I think he alluded mother winter/summer being the same person, but yeah winter was there to battle the outsiders, and summer was there to battle winter. All to save humanity, I suppose... Outsiders are monsters who want to eat our world... that's my best guess. (hide spoiler)]

White Council traitor (view spoiler)[ I am still wondering if Rashid is good or bad. I want to know who the white council traitor is. But Merlin seems to obvious, and it isn't Mccoy... Maybe the asian girl? or Warden Liberty? (hide spoiler)]

Maggie (view spoiler)[ yeah we'll see her. Harry won't stay away from her forever. He's gonna be a father to her, and a good one. He has to realize that her life is in danger anyways, and she needs him more than she needs to be "more safe"... if that makes sense... (hide spoiler)]

Everything does feel transient. It's almost like changes, ghost story, cold days, is one HUGE book. I want harry to have a home, get bob back, get together with Murphy... lol I have quite a wishlist!

What are your thoughts on the parasite?

[Claire]

Yeah, I basically want things back to the way they were before Changes. I want Harry in his little apartment with Mister and Mouse and Bob! Which is unrealistic, because if everything stayed the same it's possible that the series would get boring, and no one wants that.

About Harry's love life (view spoiler)[ I don't think that Harry/Molly will become a reality, but Murphy made a good point when she mentioned how even as wizards Molly & Dresden would live longer than her. I agree that Harry/Murphy will be JB's end game...but he might make us beg for it depending on how long the series runs.

I don't see Molly dying as she's still a big part of Harry's life. We only saw Susan leave after they'd be broken up. I don't know, I really like Molly and I don't want her to die. (hide spoiler)]

Maggie: (view spoiler)[ You're right, we can't expect Harry to stay away forever. Eventually the compulsion to be with his little girl is going to overtake the fear that he'll fuck up her life. Too many people already know she exists, so it's not like Harry's presence will be a sudden tip-off. It'll be interesting to see how a child affects his adventures (hide spoiler)]

White Council: (view spoiler)[ I get the feeling that the Merlin isn't as clueless as he seems. I don't think Rashid is the bad guy. I don't know enough about Liberty to say anything, and I don't think it's Injun Joe or Ebenezar. Which leaves Ancient Mai and I think someone else I'm forgetting. It seems like Butcher put the White Council on the back burner, given how little contact Harry will have with them. (hide spoiler)]

Parasite (view spoiler)[ I have no idea what the parasite is. I'm hoping Butcher isn't going to come up with something too ridiculous. I'm already not crazy about the whole "aliens are constantly trying to take over the world" plot as it is.

Here's what I don't understand: Harry had started getting headaches before Demonreach made the bargain to save his life. Which, to me, indicates that the parasite was already there. So, basically, I'm clueless. (hide spoiler)]

Harry's Dark side: (view spoiler)[ I don't think we'll see evil Harry. I think he's going to figure out a way to beat the influence of the Winter Knight's mantle, or escape it altogether. Harry didn't succumb to the influence of the Fallen; I'm sure he can resist Faerie. I hope. (hide spoiler)]

[Zeenat]

This is my theory on the parasite... (view spoiler)[ I think there are two different entities in harry, or in other people. There is the regular parasite that is working through people. And then there is Lash. I think when Lash and the two harry's were talking, that second harry was the parasite. I think that parasite was ALWAYS there... (hide spoiler)]

[Claire]

Clarification: (view spoiler)[ Are you saying that Lash is still around. or that there are two separate entities in Harry right now, or that 1 entity is that Nemisis thing and the other lives in Harry's brain? (hide spoiler)]

And oooh, good theory! (view spoiler)[ It's possible that other Harry was really the parasite. But wouldn't Harry notice that something was amiss under such close scrutiny? I'm trying to remember, when did Harry's headaches start? (hide spoiler)]

[Zeenat]

I don't know if (view spoiler)[ lash is still around. I do think the headaches started with Lash, but Harry is injured so many times, who knows? But there was the voice in harry's head that told him to kill himself. who was that? Probably a fallen, probably some version of Lash. But I don't think that person is the same as the parasite. So the question is--does harry have the parsite in him or not?

I think that is some "big secret"... that harry will discover later on. This parasite has been in him for a LONG time... The other harry, the parasite that helped mab and demonreach save his life... it could be that the parasite was the onen whispering in his head, but that doesn't seem to fit. (hide spoiler)]

[Claire]

True, that voice was suspicious. (view spoiler)[ but given that Lasciel's shadow saved Harry, I don't think that's what whispered. Lasciel is still trapped in the coin. Maybe it was just one of the other Fallen that held a grudge? Deirdre being all pissy at the death of her father? Also, aren't we due for another encounter with the Fallen at some point?

Maybe we'll find out the Black council, Nemesis, and the Fallen are all part of some giant conspiracy. (hide spoiler)]

[Zeenat]

We we already know (view spoiler)[ nemesis has it's hand in every cookie jar, from the vamps to the council, to fairy.

Nicodemus and crew show up ever 5 books, so the next one will have them on their :) (hide spoiler)]