[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on Oct 13 2008, 11:51 AM, said:

I plan to pick up Backup when I can get my hands on it, and Blood Lite (another anthology with a Dresden short story in it) comes out soon as well.

Butcher's being rather prolific with his short stories lately. He seems to be in one or two anthologies a year for two years now. I'm hoping he'll eventually do a collection of just his own short works.


- Abyss, selective.ish.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on Oct 22 2008, 12:52 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on Oct 13 2008, 11:51 AM, said:

I plan to pick up Backup when I can get my hands on it, and Blood Lite (another anthology with a Dresden short story in it) comes out soon as well.

Butcher's being rather prolific with his short stories lately. He seems to be in one or two anthologies a year for two years now. I'm hoping he'll eventually do a collection of just his own short works.


- Abyss, selective.ish.

Agreed, I think a collection of his short fiction would be very welcome on my shelf.

[Falco]

Read Small Favor recently, nicely ratcheted up the story line tension again I thought.

From what I picked up from the Little Chicago thing, Harry reckoned someone who knew him really, really well and could get through his wards to fix it unannounced did it. Immediately spelled out McCoy, and there was that nice reconciliation scene right after.

I know Butcher keeps hinting Murphy with the sword, but I don't particularly wanna see it. Doesn't strike me as the holy warrior type. Charity with Michael's sword? More likely. Didn't even notice the lack of fire magic all through the book, which was quite clever.

[Obdigore]

Falco, on Oct 27 2008, 11:15 PM, said:

Read Small Favor recently, nicely ratcheted up the story line tension again I thought.

From what I picked up from the Little Chicago thing, Harry reckoned someone who knew him really, really well and could get through his wards to fix it unannounced did it. Immediately spelled out McCoy, and there was that nice reconciliation scene right after.

I know Butcher keeps hinting Murphy with the sword, but I don't particularly wanna see it. Doesn't strike me as the holy warrior type. Charity with Michael's sword? More likely. Didn't even notice the lack of fire magic all through the book, which was quite clever.

Errr...

Spoiler

I thought Lasciel fixed Little Chicago (the one in Harry's head) and that Mab took his blasting wand, although I didn't notice that he wasn't using fire magic as well until it was mentioned

[Falco]

Obdigore, on Oct 29 2008, 04:10 AM, said:

Falco, on Oct 27 2008, 11:15 PM, said:

Read Small Favor recently, nicely ratcheted up the story line tension again I thought.

From what I picked up from the Little Chicago thing, Harry reckoned someone who knew him really, really well and could get through his wards to fix it unannounced did it. Immediately spelled out McCoy, and there was that nice reconciliation scene right after.

I know Butcher keeps hinting Murphy with the sword, but I don't particularly wanna see it. Doesn't strike me as the holy warrior type. Charity with Michael's sword? More likely. Didn't even notice the lack of fire magic all through the book, which was quite clever.

Errr...

Spoiler

I thought Lasciel fixed Little Chicago (the one in Harry's head) and that Mab took his blasting wand, although I didn't notice that he wasn't using fire magic as well until it was mentioned

Look the Lash theory is fair enough, its just McCoy sprang to my mind first. Of course Mab messed with his mind.

[QuickTidal]

Falco, on Oct 28 2008, 12:16 PM, said:

Obdigore, on Oct 29 2008, 04:10 AM, said:

Falco, on Oct 27 2008, 11:15 PM, said:

Read Small Favor recently, nicely ratcheted up the story line tension again I thought.

From what I picked up from the Little Chicago thing, Harry reckoned someone who knew him really, really well and could get through his wards to fix it unannounced did it. Immediately spelled out McCoy, and there was that nice reconciliation scene right after.

I know Butcher keeps hinting Murphy with the sword, but I don't particularly wanna see it. Doesn't strike me as the holy warrior type. Charity with Michael's sword? More likely. Didn't even notice the lack of fire magic all through the book, which was quite clever.

Errr...

Spoiler

I thought Lasciel fixed Little Chicago (the one in Harry's head) and that Mab took his blasting wand, although I didn't notice that he wasn't using fire magic as well until it was mentioned

Look the Lash theory is fair enough, its just McCoy sprang to my mind first. Of course Mab messed with his mind.

Both McCoy AND Lash jumped into my head actually.....so I feel a number of people could have done it.

[Imperial Historian]

Ok you guys have made me think now, I thought it was really, really, really heavily implied that it was god/one of his minions that did it, with the whole trying to save one of the knights of the cross's folks, and the coincidences that faith magic is known for it just seemed to fit. Much more than someone sneaking in fixing it, then sneaking back in and unfixing it. Lash was petrified of the consequences of using it so I don't think she did it.

[Falco]

No one thinks Harry spent the book hating on McCoy for the Blackstaff stuff, then after this reconciled with him? That's basically what drove me to that theory.

[Aptorian]

Lash couldn't do anything outside of Harry's head so she didn't fix it. McCoy doesn't know Little CHicago exists as far as we know.

Harry seemed very worried/impressed that someone went through all his wards without triggering any, knew that Little C was there in the first place, and repaired the magical construct like they knew exactly what to do. All of these things were impossible, so the hand of god so far seems the most likely source, you know... allknowning deity and all.

[Abyss]

I would have disagreed with the God theory except that given events in Small Favor it's entirely possible and even intriguing. I wonder if on the reread other divine-intervention moment will pop up.

- Abyss, amen.

[Falco]

As point of pedantry, it might've been Uriel, instead of God per se.


As a sidenote, is anyone else getting uncomfortable with all this overtly Christian mythology taking centre stage now?

[Aptorian]

I never doubted that it would get all "christian apocalypse" at some time. It was obvious after proven guilty that something was afoot.

I'm just hoping we get to see a dragon let loose and some Elder Gods while they're at it. Oh, the calamity!

[Obdigore]

Aptorian, on Oct 30 2008, 02:32 AM, said:

I never doubted that it would get all "christian apocalypse" at some time. It was obvious after proven guilty that something was afoot.

I'm just hoping we get to see a dragon let loose and some Elder Gods while they're at it. Oh, the calamity!

The end of the Dresden Files, as written by Steven Erikson.
OH YES!

Anyway, I wouldn't be suprised if we didn't see some other religions come in at some point

[Aptorian]

The idea of a thousand sleeping gods in india really peaked my interest.

This deal with Monoc industries and Valkeries has me hoping Thor or Odin shows up for a scene of awesome at some time.

[polishgenius]

It wouldn't be surprising at all if the series ended on a note as mad as anything Erikson has conjured up so far... I mean, the ending is being called the apocalyptic trilogy.

[Abyss]

A key element to the books has been this crazy conflict between magic factions happening without the world in general knowing about it.

I suspect that in the end Butcher won't depart from that, but within the scope of it, he's managed to pull of some seriously mad crazy stuff.

I don't have a problem with the god elements, since once Michael, a Knight of the Cross complete with sword made fomr a nail at the Crucifixion (insert Monty Python joke here) was introduced in book 3 it was clear that God was a factor. And Harry has actually been commenting on his relationship with God or lack thereof right thru the series. Lashiel is one of the original fallen angels, so its not like these elements haven't been present for a while. No reason they shouldn't play as much of a role as the fae, vamps and wizards.

- Abyss, not a god but plays on on tv...

[Obdigore]

Abyss, on Oct 30 2008, 01:49 PM, said:

A key element to the books has been this crazy conflict between magic factions happening without the world in general knowing about it.

I suspect that in the end Butcher won't depart from that, but within the scope of it, he's managed to pull of some seriously mad crazy stuff.

I don't have a problem with the god elements, since once Michael, a Knight of the Cross complete with sword made fomr a nail at the Crucifixion (insert Monty Python joke here) was introduced in book 3 it was clear that God was a factor. And Harry has actually been commenting on his relationship with God or lack thereof right thru the series. Lashiel is one of the original fallen angels, so its not like these elements haven't been present for a while. No reason they shouldn't play as much of a role as the fae, vamps and wizards.

- Abyss, not a god but plays on on tv...

I have a feeling that nearing the end of the series the world in general will be made aware of something - I would imagine that is the 'apocalyptic trilogy' conclusion.

I like how the god elements are presented, especially ... (I'm horrible with names, the russian Knight that dosen't believe in god). As I said, Norse religions or other religions should pop up - the one where the women were being hunted, one of them was a wiccan/pagan with powers.

As for Apt, the Valkyrie thing, that was Gard in a Chopper, and I was of the opinion that the Chopper was called Valkyrie, not that Gard was an actual Valkyrie.

[Aptorian]

Obdigore, on Oct 30 2008, 09:24 PM, said:

As for Apt, the Valkyrie thing, that was Gard in a Chopper, and I was of the opinion that the Chopper was called Valkyrie, not that Gard was an actual Valkyrie.

Really? I thought she was some kind of supernatural thingy? I thought she saw

Spoiler

Michael/Harry's death

coming and that's what Hary reacted on.

Would also explain her endurance. Her employer being a norse god

[vaiski]

Aptorian, on Oct 30 2008, 10:34 PM, said:

Obdigore, on Oct 30 2008, 09:24 PM, said:

As for Apt, the Valkyrie thing, that was Gard in a Chopper, and I was of the opinion that the Chopper was called Valkyrie, not that Gard was an actual Valkyrie.

Really? I thought she was some kind of supernatural thingy? I thought she saw

Spoiler

Michael/Harry's death

coming and that's what Hary reacted on.

Would also explain her endurance. Her employer being a norse god

Regarding Gard (spoilers for short story Heorot):

Spoiler

Gard is an actual Valkyrie, as well as a Geat (ie, of the same tribe than Beowulf) Also, it's implied that she might be a daughter of Odin. Her real name is Sigrun.

This post has been edited by vaiski: 30 October 2008 - 08:53 PM

[Falco]

Where can I find these Butcher short stories?

I've only read the one set before the series where he finds a missing girl, and has a partner.