Tag Archives: JIm Butcher

The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher – a Review

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The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher – a Review

 

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Description:
For centuries the Cinder Spires have safeguarded humanity, rising far above the deadly surface world. Within their halls, aristocratic houses rule, developing scientific marvels and building fleets of airships for defense and trade.

Now, the Spires hover on the brink of open war.

Everyone knows it’s coming. The guns of the great airship fleets that control the skies between the last bastions of humanity will soon speak in anger, and Spire Albion stands alone against the overwhelming might of Spire Aurora’s Armada and its new secret weapon–one capable of destroying the populations of entire Spires.

A trading summit at Spire Olympia provides an opportunity for the Spirearch, Lord Albion, to secure alliances that will shape the outcomes of the war, and to that end he dispatches privateer Captain Francis Madison Grimm and the crew of the AMS Predator to bolster the Spirearch’s diplomatic agents.

It will take daring, skill, and no small amount of showmanship to convince the world to stand with Spire Albion–assuming that it is not already too late.

 

 

Review:

The Olympian Affaire by Jim Butcher is the 2nd book in his The Cinder Spires series.  Refresher: This series has a steam punk background in a different fantasy world, with aristocrats, magic, technology, ships and people who have some powers. For centuries the Cinder Spires have safeguarded humanity, rising far above the deadly surface world, with a war on the horizon.

The first half of the book was a slow burn, especially being 650 pages, with the story dragging early on. The story starts off with a villain from the previous book (Cavendish), who has become very powerful, ready to destroy humanity.  Tuscarora, Spire Aurora is using Cavendish’s secret weapon to destroy the populations of the entire Spires.

With the possibility of war, Lord Abion (Spirearch) calls Captain Grimm and his crew to bring the AMS Predator to help stop the expected attacks from Aurora.  It was great to get to see all of our heroes from the first book; Grimm, Gwen, Bridget, Benedict, Rowl (prince cat), Master Ferus, Miss Folly, as well as Bayard and Abigail and our adorable Fenli (kitten).

In the second half of the story, things change drastically. What follows is a wild adventure that will put each of our heroes in dangerous death-defying situations, with the evil Cavendish able to control a creature (mistmaw) to destroy humans & ships.  There was so much action throughout, holding our breaths if they will survive.  Captain Grim, Gwen and crew were willing to put their lives on the line to find a way to stop Cavendish in her evil destructions. Grimm also had to step up to save Bayard (his boss and friend) in a duel.

Once again, I really enjoyed seeing the Predator ship, always coming through, and loved how all the crew members were always on the side of their captain.  Most of all, I loved both Rowl and Fenli who added so much humor and fun: with them always being spunky and sure of themselves.  I did love Rowl’s arrogance, though he loved Bridget and swore to always protect her: and Fenli, though a kitten, was equally wonderful, with him eventually bonding with Benedict. Both are marvelous additions to this series.

The Olympian Affaire was another very good fantasy steampunk adventure. After the slow start, the last half of the book was wild and very exciting, with most of our heroes in danger till the end.  Though Captain Grimm is the lead character, the major secondary characters were all great; and the villains were evil. With the war still on the horizon, there is a slight cliff-hanger at the end.  The Olympian Affaire was very well written by Jim Butcher, and I look forward to the next book in this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Battle Ground by Jim Butcher – a Review

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Battle Ground by Jim Butcher – a Review

 

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Description:
Harry has faced terrible odds before. He has a long history of fighting enemies above his weight class. The Red Court of vampires. The fallen angels of the Order of the Blackened Denarius. The Outsiders.

But this time it’s different. A being more powerful and dangerous on an order of magnitude beyond what the world has seen in a millennium is coming. And she’s bringing an army. The Last Titan has declared war on the city of Chicago, and has come to subjugate humanity, obliterating any who stand in her way.

Harry’s mission is simple but impossible: Save the city by killing a Titan. And the attempt will change Harry’s life, Chicago, and the mortal world forever.

 

 

Review:

Battle Ground by Jim Butcher is the 17th book in his excellent urban fantasy The Dresden Files series.  I have read a few of the books in this series, since most of Butcher’s books are huge, it is hard to catch up; especially since its been a number of years having passed without a new addition of The Dresden files, though in July Peace Talks was released giving fans two Dresden File book in one year.  Even though I did not read Peace Talks, I had no problem as I loved Battle Ground; which was an amazing nonstop action filled adventure from start to finish.

Harry Dresen, our Wizard hero, is star of this series.  Harry is the Winter Knight, beholden to Mab, who is the Queen of Air and Darkness. We knew something big was on horizon when Peace Talks ended, and Battle Ground begins immediately after, with a ultra-powerful Titan, Ethniu, is on her way to destroy Chicago and all humanity. Ethniu is filled with hatred of humans and Mab, and will stop at nothing to cause utter chaos and destruction to all of Chicago with her creatures and army of thousands. From the immediate start, Harry was attacked by some of those creatures, and manages to survive with the help of Lara, Molly and Murphy. But this is only the beginning, as the battle to come is epic, and constant, with death defying situations having us holding our breaths so often, we were exhausted by the time this book ended. 

I loved that in Battle Ground we get to see just so many of the regulars we have come to know, such as Murphy, Mab, Lara, Molly, Marcone, Butters, Sanya, Michael, Sarissa, River, Titiana, with a few surprises along the way. Mab was amazing in this story, as her faith in Harry excels, and she pulls her team together to help fight what is a desperate attempt to survive.  Poor Harry, each time he was able to stop one thing, so much more kept coming. Battle Ground was one of the most exciting books I have read this year, and I have read a few.  No surprise, as Jim Butcher is such a terrific writer.  There is so much action throughout the book, you don’t have a moment to blink.  Just when you think …whew, he got through that one, damned if you are not hit again, and again and again. 

This is a difficult review to write, as everything that happens is a spoiler.  Harry is phenomenal, and he suffers badly, but like the energizer battery, he keeps going.  I cannot say the last half of the book was wild, crazy, mind-boggling; since the entire book was nonstop action all the way to the end.  Amazing ride… If you have not read The Dresden Files, it is time to do so.  Harry Dresden is one of the best heroes, and it is hard pressed to find a writer such as Jim Butcher, who can keep this story fresh, and the hero still awesome.  Battle Ground is a must read.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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The Aeronaut’s Windlass – The Cinder Spires by Jim Butcher – Review & Giveaway

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The Aeronaut’s Windlass – The Cinder Spires by Jim Butcher – Review & Giveaway

 

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Description:
Since time immemorial, the Spires have sheltered humanity, towering for miles over the mist-shrouded surface of the world. Within their halls, aristocratic houses have ruled for generations, developing scientific marvels, fostering trade alliances, and building fleets of airships to keep the peace.

Captain Grimm commands the merchant ship, Predator. Fiercely loyal to Spire Albion, he has taken their side in the cold war with Spire Aurora, disrupting the enemy’s shipping lines by attacking their cargo vessels. But when the Predator is severely damaged in combat, leaving captain and crew grounded, Grimm is offered a proposition from the Spirearch of Albion—to join a team of agents on a vital mission in exchange for fully restoring Predator to its fighting glory.

And even as Grimm undertakes this dangerous task, he will learn that the conflict between the Spires is merely a premonition of things to come. Humanity’s ancient enemy, silent for more than ten thousand years, has begun to stir once more. And death will follow in its wake…

 

Review

The Aeronaut’s Windlass by Jim Butcher is the first book in his The Cinder Spires series. I was not sure of what to expect when I decided to read this new series by Jim Butcher, as I am a fan of his Dresden series. This was a bit different with a steam punk background in a different fantasy world, with aristocrats, magic, technology, ships and people who have some powers.

Early on we meet the leading characters who will all play a big role in the story.  Captain Grimm, of Spire Albion, is the Captain of the ship Predator, which despite it being an older ship, is one of the most successful.  In the midst of an attack, Predator holds its own, until Spire Aurora sends in a battleship that will damage Predator, as they limp home.  We are in the middle of war between the two Spires, which is now escalating even more.

In another area, we meet Gwen Lancaster, of the Lancaster Vatterys.  Gwen is determined to join the Spire Guard, and leaves home to do what she was expected to do.  Gwen meets up with her cousin Benedict, a seasoned warrior, who will help her.  Gwen is tough, and speaks her mind, even if it turns off others.  Benedict is the opposite and he has no qualms teasing  Gwen about her abrasive nature.

Next we meet, Bridget Targwen, who is forced by her father to go out and join the guard, as it is what she has to do when you reach a certain age.   My favorite character is Rowl, a blueblood cat from his own tribe.  Rowl loves Bridget, who can speak cat language; he stays with her to protect her. 

All of them are commissioned by the SpireArch of Albion to help find out how Aurora is finding out Albion information, and who the leak is.  They will work with together, and have been assigned to work with Master Ferus, an Etherialist  and his apprentice, Folly.  Both Ferus and Folly seem somewhat mad, especially in the language; but they have so much power, seeing things in the future.  I did like Ferus, but Folly, who needed her Ethereal crystals, to keep her mind clear. 

What follows is an interesting, and early on confusing adventure that will put them very much in danger, especially as the war escalates.  Once we get the feel of the story, it becomes very exciting, with each of them finding themselves right in the middle of death defying situations.   They will discover an evil that will threaten their world as they know it.  The main villain, Cavendish, is a counter part of Ferus, but her powers are used to kill others mentally, as well as creating evil beings.  I liked all the characters created by Butcher, and found myself becoming totally into this story in the last half.  Many times throughout the adventure, we thought some of our heroes would die. 

Butcher does a wonderful job explaining the naval battles between Predator, other ships and those from Aurora.  We could feel the men on Predator doing what they could to salvage the ship against the attacks.  Very well done.  As I said before, Rowl was  a great addition, especially when he had to get other cat tribes to help save Bridget and the others from those violent beings.  After a slow start, which is to be expected when starting a new world, and trying to introduce the main characters; the story line picked up full speed ahead, with a wild exciting finish.  I look forward to what comes next in this series by Jim Butcher.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Giveaway

Jim’s publisher is offering a paper copy of The Aeronaut’s Windlass to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE Jim Butcher on Facebook

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

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8. Giveaway open to USA only

9.. Giveaway runs from July 7 to July 11, 2016

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John Paul Pfeiffer-Interview with the Model

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John Paul Pfeiffer-Interview with the Model

The Reading Cafe recently featured Jim Butcher’s THE DRESDEN FILES series of novels and we would like to introduce you to the cover model: JOHN PAUL PFEIFFER

TRC: Hi John Paul and welcome to The Reading Café. We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

John Paul: HI Sandy. My pleasure to be here… Im originally from Upstate New York. I lived half my pre 20 life in the Adirondacks in a place called Brantingham and the other half in Rotterdam New York which is a suburb of Schenectady.

I went to a year of Prep School at Trinity Pawling Prep and then went to St Lawrence university to study Biology where I had was on a football Scholarship. I also Wrestled and during the summer played Semi Pro Baseball as well as Raced BMX Bikes. Just before my senior year of college I broke my leg racing bikes and I was out of sports the rest of the year. This gave me time to focus on other things which led me to begin a modeling career in Toronto since my school was about 2 hours away from there. After Graduating I moved to NY and modeled internationally for the next 10 years. I then started Commence Quest and ModelsApartments.com. Commence Quest is a model management company and ModelsApartments.com is a company where we house a large number of models for all the agencies in New York.



TRC: Your bio states that you are a champion BMX competitor. How did you become interested in BMX racing? Are you still active in the racing community?

John Paul: When I was 10 years old my neighbor and best friend Bob Iovinella was racing BMX bikes. He was like my big Brother. Everything he did I wanted to do.. He influenced me to begin to race as well. From there the love of racing just never left me. I stopped racing after breaking my leg and during the time I was pursuing modeling for the 10 years. I then started back up in 2004 and have no plans to stop again anytime soon.

In BMX there are two bicycle classes. Cruiser and 20”. Cruiser is a larger mountain bike size bike with 24” wheels. 20” is the standard BMX bike with 20” wheels. Before 2012 there were also two different US sanctions. NBL and ABA. In 2012 there is not only one called USABMX. You can check out the site at www.usabmx.com

In 2007 and 2008 I was 2 time NBL national champion on Cruiser. 2007 I was UCI world #6 on Cruiser in Victoria Canada. In 2011 I was #1 in the NBL standings on Cruiser going into the National Championships and I broke my collar bone 3 week before the race. 2 months later I was able to recover and race the ABA National Championships and take National #4 on Cruiser and #5 on 20”. In May 2012 I took UCI world # 6 on Cruiser in Birmingham England and in one week from now I leave to Tulsa OK for the USABMX National Championships. Right now I go into the race ranked 3rd on 20” and 2nd on Cruiser. Very attainable with a good race to have two national titles. Ive been busy training the past several months for this race.

TRC: We were first introduced to you through your various cover images especially with Jim Butcher’s DRESDEN FILES series of novels. Do you know how many covers of the DRESDEN FILES your image appears?


John Paul: I Believe its 15 of them… Here you can see the link to them… Im not sure if this is all of them…Its possible I may have done a couple more…
http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden

TRC: Would you please tell us how you got started in the modeling industry?

John Paul: My time was almost always consumed with athletics up until I broke my leg… During this time It forced me to find something else to focus on. I had been approached previously about modeling by scouts but never thought anything of it till this time. I had not had any strong direction for what I wanted to do after graduating so modeling sounded to me like a great alternative to actually having to go get a job. Lol.. At this time it was the period of the supermodel still so it was a job where you heard about all the money and great things that were associated with becoming a model. Seemed to good to not at least try… So after Graduating I moved to NY and jumped into the business head first.

TRC: There is a stigma in the cover model industry especially as it pertains to romance covers. The romance novel industry has dramatically increased in popularity over the past few years. Do you think the cover illustrations and ‘hero depictions’ have pushed the industry in such a way, that the reader’s imaginations can be fueled by the representation on the cover?

John Paul: From the perspective of most fashion models I feel that the romance novel covers have had a negative connotation to them as well. First reason being that they are on the opposite end of fashion for the most part. The business is 100% image based so once the “image” of a model is put out there it can then harm the future potential of their work if seen by the decision makers. For a Fashion model its typically not beneficial to have very commercial Image. So for that reason most fashion models usually shy away from doing the covers. With the economy changing for the worst as well as the popularity and amt of work available in doing covers I think this opened up a lot more models to do them whom normally may not have done them before.

To answer your question I do feel that the images on the covers do fuel the imagination of the reader. One example to back that up would be… An ex girlfriend once told me before we were dating that she read a book that I was on the cover of and she imagined me as the character. Shortly later we were an item… It must have been a good book..…

TRC:  😉

TRC: Would you please tell us about COMMENCE QUEST?


Click HERE to access COMMENCE QUEST


John Paul: Commence Quest is a Model Management company. Not to be confused with an Agency. As a Management company we scout, develop and place models with Agencies. We try to find models with top potential and try to help them utilize that potential to their full extent by making a plan for their career and guiding them in the right direction. Most of the time this includes traveling so we organize all travel plans, placements and details. An important aspect is also that we make sure the models are treated well, promoted strongly and are getting work by their agencies. We also help with making sure they are paid on time and problem solving any issues that may arise. The best part of the job is that it cost our models nothing for our service. We are paid a % of the agencies commission as their mother agent.

TRC: What was behind your decision to start COMMENCE QUEST?

John Paul: I had been helping all my friends with getting agencies at the last few years of my career. I had also met a photographer whom was also a Top NY scout. We collaborated briefly to form COMMENCE QUEST. It seemed like a natural progression for me and It also felt very wasteful to not utilize the past 10 years experience after I discontinued modeling myself. So I put my connections and experience to good use in deciding to form Commence Quest.

TRC: At present how many models do you represent or promote in the industry?

John Paul: The past year we have really tried to keep a higher standard of our models. So the number of models has gone down a lot and I feel its better to have higher quality models and focus on them than have a lot of models whom may not be as strong or doing as well.

Right now we have 19 girls and 9 guys.

TRC: Would you please tell us about your favorite experience in the modeling industry?

John Paul: One of the best jobs I feel that I had was while I was in Tokyo. I was booked for a Kool Cigarette campaign and they wanted a strong swimmer. I grew up in the water so I was fortunately booked for it after doing a casting in a swimming pool. We flew to Tinian and Saipan where I spend 4 days basically jumping into the crystal clear waters all day. In between breaks I would snorkel and check out the amazing coral reefs and aquatic life. In School I was a Bio major and my intentions were to get into Marine Biology. My love of Marine life was the main influence so this job was amazing to me.

TRC: What have been some of the challenges and difficulties you have faced in the modeling industry?

John Paul: Some of the most challenging aspects of modeling is trying to get jobs and not let failure affect you. It’s a very competitive business which is now oversaturated with models and less work than ever. Trying to find a way to make yourself right for as many clients as possible is always a challenge. There really is no set “if you do this then you will get that” like you can find in most jobs. If you go to School for something and study and do well you can get this or that job. There can be a set process of preparation for most jobs.

In modeling no matter how prepared or right you think you are for a client they may not like your hair, the pants you were wearing that day, your personality, or that you have blue eyes. They were looking for someone taller than you, shorter than you, your too skinny, your too big, your too edgy, your too commercial. Its just the decision makers opinion and sometimes they can be even be in a bad mood when you see them. It can be frustrating when you spend 2 hours and money to go see a client and they just flip thru your book without even looking at you. There’s really no rhyme or reason sometimes and luck can at time play a big part. The only thing you can do is to try and stay positive and not let criticism or failure affect you and keep moving onward. Perseverance I find is one of the most necessary qualities needed to be a successful model.

TRC: Nudity in the modeling industry can be very controversial. Photographs can range from sensual and sexual to bordering on pornographic. What advice would you give to young and up and coming models in the industry about nude photography?

John Paul: My constant advise to all my models is not to do nudity. Very very rarely is it beneficial for their career I find. There are certain exceptions where if its for a big photographer or Major Campaign and it could be good for their image or career. Examples would be Calvin Klein, etc.. Most of these times its done tastefully. If this is the case I always make sure that the model knows that they should feel comfortable at all times and if that’s not the case then they should not do it. There are of course some photographers that we don’t let our models shoot with. Part of our job as agents is to make sure our models are protected and safe.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

John Paul: Right now my time is focused between Commence Quest, Models Apartment and Racing. This is usually what 95% of my day consists of.

Im scouting a great new model today from France who should be arriving in NY early December. We are working on acquiring more apartments in Manahattan for the Models Apartments and im training daily for racing.

 

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – Sushi

Favorite Dessert – Tiramisu

Favorite TV Show – When not watching MMA – Tosh.O or Daily Show,

Favorite Movie – Zoolander of course..

TRC: Are you able to ‘turn left’? 😉

Last Movie You Saw – Heartbreaker ( French film)

Dark or Milk Chocolate – Milk

Favorite model of car – Porsche Panamera Turbo

Last vacation destination – Montauk

Describe you ideal date – keeping it simple… More about the company than where we are….

TRC: Thank you John Paul for taking the time to answer our questions. You have some amazing cover images. Congratulation on all of your success. We wish you all the best with Commence Quest.

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An Interview with Jim Butcher

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An Interview with Jim Butcher

 

The Reading Cafe is thrilled to have the fantastic Jim Butcher as our guest today. Jim is here today to discuss his highly anticipated new release Cold Days, which will be released next Tuesday, November 27th. Cold Days is Jim’s 14th novel in his fabulous The Dresden Files.

Without further ado, let’s talk to Jim.

 

 

Hi Jim.  Thank you taking the time to answer our questions.  THE READING CAFÉ and its’ members are looking forward to our interview with you. Since we have posted your bio, we will skip the usual question of telling us about yourself. 

TRC: With Cold Days about to be released on November 27th, and being the 14th book in your popular Dresden Files series, can you tell us how you came up with the idea of Harry Dresden, a Wizard PI, and the entire world building of this series?

Jim: The Dresden Files started life as a class project in my Writing a Genre Fiction Novel class.  In point of fact, it was my attempt to prove to my writing teacher how wrong she was about all this structured, story-craft nonsense she was trying to teach me about.  You see, I knew about these things because I had a bachelor’s degree in English Literature with an emphasis in Creative Writing–whereas she merely had a master’s in journalism (and had published forty novels).  So to prove her wrong, I set out to do absolutely everything she said exactly the way she said it–to be her good little writing monkey and show her exactly what horrible things resulted from such a restrictive, cookie-cutter approach to writing would create

And I wrote the first book of the Dresden Files.

Which showed her.  Hah.

TRC:  Though fans want this series to go on forever, you have discussed ending this series somewhere near 25 books, ending with an epic trilogy.  Is this still your plan, what timeframe are we talking about, and how will you feel when this series comes to end?

Jim: That is still my plan.  Stories don’t go on forever.  They have a beginning, they have a middle, and they have an end.  The Dresden Files is a great big story, but it’s a story, and I’ve had an ending in mind since the first book.  Which is a really great thing because it means that I know where things are going.  I can plant things early that pay off in the future.  I can control the tension and the pace to best effect.  Having an end is /good/ for a story.  Having an indefinitely ongoing tale… to me, it’s like comparing a single performance of an Ode To Joy to a nine-hour round of “One Million Bottles of Beer on the Wall.” 🙂

TRC:  Cold Days is to be released in a few days…November 27th.  Can you please tell us the premise of this story?

Jim: Harry Dresden, having been mostly dead all day, wakes up to find out that he hasn’t managed to weasel out of his bargain with Queen Mab after all.  Now he’s stuck being the Huntsman to her Maleficent, a role known as the Winter Knight.  And she has a fairly simple first job in mind for him–Hi, Harry, nice to see you on your feet again, now be a good Knight and go murder an immortal and be sure to make it stick.  No problem, right?  And that’s just the first part of a day that gets catastrophically worse as it goes on.  The consequences of Dresden’s choices are arising to haunt him–and they’re not just things that have happened to /him/.  His friends have been impacted too.  So how do you keep faith with the mother of all wicked faeries (who will /kill/ you if you don’t), and with your friends (who might /die/ if you don’t), /and/ do the impossible, all while trying to hang on to your conscience, your identity–your soul?

Apparently, it’s helpful to shoot your mouth off a lot.

Links to Pre-order Cold Days:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository/ Books a Million

TRC:  Besides working on your next Dresden Files book, are you working on anything new?  Do you have any thoughts as to what you would like to write after the Dresden Files ends, and would it be Fantasy or Paranormal? 

Jim: I like having a non-Dresden project to do in between Dresden Files books.  Harry’s a great guy, but having him live in your head full time induces a lot of random twitching, and it’s nice to evict him for a while so that I can torment all new imaginary people.  Currently, my alternate group of imaginary people exist in a quasi-Victorian steampunk series of novels currently called “The Cinder Spires.”  It’s sort of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen meets Sherlock meets Hornblower, and it’s been ridiculously fun to write.  I hope to have it finished by the end of the year, so that I can plunge into the new Dresden fresh in 2013.

I mean, you know.  Assuming the Mayan apocalypse fizzles.

TRC:  With two writers in the family, how do you and Shannon handle the pressures of a deadline, especially if the timing is the same for both of you? 

Jim: We manipulate time.

Shannon does her most productive work in the morning and early afternoon.  I do /my/ best work between midnight and dawn.  So when the writing pressure is on, my usual day is to wake up noonish, or a few hours after, right about when she’s finishing her work for the day.  We spend the rest of the afternoon handling errands or whatever, hang out together in the evening, and then once she goes to bed, I get to work.  Neither of us interferes with the other’s work at all, because we’re busy being asleep, and we still get to hang out together.

I do feel bad for our dog, though.  He’s determined to be snuggling the feet of whoever is writing.  It is apparently his sacred duty.  So after a deadline-pressure week or two, there’s a lot of little snores drifting up from our feet while we work.

Thanks again Jim for being with us today.  We have enjoyed having you here, and we wish you good luck with Cold Days.  We look forward to having you come back and visit us again in the future.  

If you want to learn more about Jim, you can find him at the following links:

Website: http://www.jim-butcher.com/
Twitter:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

REMINDER:  Like Jim’s covers?  We have an interview with the Cover Model on Sunday November 25, 2012-John Paul Pfeiffer aka Harry Dresden!  Drop by and check out John Paul’s interview.

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Cold Days by Jim Butcher – a Review

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Cold Days by Jim Butcher – a Review

 

Cold Days by Jim Butcher is the 14th book in his fantastic urban fantasy series, The Dresden Files.  For those of you who are not familiar with this bestselling series, it revolves around Harry Dresden, a Private Investigator, who uses magic and is a wizard.

Cold Days begins after Ghost Story left off, as Harry wakes up being taken care of by a young beautiful woman, Sarissa, who seemed somewhat nervous and meek.  Harry knew he was in Mab’s place, and once he begins to regain some strength, Mab puts him through the ringer for the next few weeks, testing him with every type of death defying attempts at his life.  This was her version of therapy for Harry, ensuring that the Winter Knight was ready and able to perform his duties. 

Harry is still Harry, and though he is beholden to the Queen of Air & Darkness, he still was determined to stay in control, and not become the monster that was the previous Winter Knight.  When she feels he is ready, Mab gives him his first order, to kill someone.  This is an early review, so I will attempt to give you my thoughts and basic description of the story, but no spoilers. 

Cold Days is one of the most exciting books I have read this year.  It doesn’t surprise me, as Jim Butcher is such a terrific writer.  There is so much action throughout the book, you don’t have a moment to blink.  Just when you think …whew, he got through that one, damned if you are not hit again, and again and again. 

We all know from previous books that Harry is a glutton for punishment, and Cold Days is no different.  He suffers through a lot, and yet nothing stops Harry.  Being the Winter Knight is not easy for Harry, as the powers at times causes him to fight off bad thoughts, but he manages to safely keep his control, until he needs those powers to save himself.

The wonderful thing about Cold Days, is that so many of Butcher’s fabulous recurring characters play a major part in this book.  His friends/family, such as Thomas, Molly, Murphy, Butters, Mouse are there to help, as well as being put into constant danger.  We do hear a lot about Maggie, his daughter, though she really is not part of this story.  Then there are the Faeries, who also play such a big role in this story, from Mab, the Winter Queen; Maeve, the Winter Lady; Lily, the Summer Lady; Fix, the Summer Knight, and many others, including the Sihde redcap, monsters, and other forces to be reckon with that Harry will have to face often to save the world.  One of the best exciting and fun part was the Wild Hunt, which Harry became a part of.

Yes Harry must find a way to save the world from evil, as he discovers on his island a catastrophe waiting to happen, that will destroy everything. He tries to find out who is behind this, but almost at every turn things seem to be stacked against him, as he is faced with constant mayhem, creatures, and enemies who will stop at nothing to kill Harry. They just keep coming and coming at him, and as we read, we too are out of breath. Jim Butcher does such a fantastic job of keeping you on your toes, as throughout the book there are so many twists, so many puzzles, and just when you think Harry has it figured out, boom the game changes again.

I can’t even tell you much more, as everything that happens is a spoiler.  Just that Harry is phenomenal, and he suffers badly, but like the energizer battery, he keeps going.  But I will say, the ending of this book was mind-boggling, a shock fest, and it left me wanting to go back to the beginning (515 pages) to start again, just to enjoy it all over again.  Cold Days is one of the best books I have read this year, and I have read some very good ones.  If you have not read The Dresden Files, it is time to do so.  There is no better hero then Harry Dresden, and it is hard pressed to find a writer such as Jim Butcher, who can keep this story fresh, and the hero still awesome.   Cold Days is a must read, and with that shocking climax, I will be hard-pressed to wait a year for the next book.    

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by publisher

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Jim Butcher – Biography – Bibliography

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Jim Butcher – Biography – Bibliography

Biography

Jim Butcher is a martial arts enthusiast with fifteen years of experience in various styles including Ryukyu Kempo, Tae Kwon Do, Gojo Shorei Ryu, and a sprinkling of Kung Fu. He is a skilled rider and has worked as a summer camp horse wrangler and performed in front of large audiences in both drill riding and stunt riding exhibitions.

Jim enjoys fencing, singing, bad science fiction movies and live-action gaming. He lives in Missouri with his wife, son, and a vicious guard dog.
Jim goes by the moniker Longshot in a number of online locales. He came by this name in the early 1990′s when he decided he would become a published author. Usually only 3 in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only 1 in 10 make enough money to call it a living. The sale of a second series was the breakthrough that let him beat the long odds against attaining a career as a novelist.

All the same, he refuses to change his nickname.

 

Bibliography

The Dresden Files

1          Storm Front  – Release Date: April, 2000     

2          Fool Moon  – Release Date: January, 2001

3          Grave Peril – Release Date:  September, 2001

4          Summer Knight  – Release Date: September, 2002           

5          Death Masks – Release Date: August, 2003

6          Blood Rites – Release Date: August, 2004

7          Dead Beat – Release Date: May, 2005 

8          Proven Guilty – Release Date: May,  2006

9          White Night – Release Date: April, 2007

10        Small Favor – Release Date:  April, 2008  

11        Turn Coat – Release Date: April, 2009  

12        Changes  – Release Date: April, 2010  

13        Ghost Story – Release Date: July, 2011   

14        Cold Days  – Release Date:  November, 2012    

 

Dresden Files Omnibus Bibliography

1–3      Wizard for Hire           2005 March – Storm Front, Fool Moon & Grave Peril

4 & 5   Wizard by Trade         2006 March – Summer Knight & Death Masks

6 & 7   Wizard at Large          2006 October – Blood Rites & Dead Beat

8 & 9   Wizard Under Fire      2007 May – Proven Guilty & White Night

Side Jobs      October, 2010        Ten short stories

   “Restoration of Faith” (Harry Dresden short story)

    “Vignette” (Harry Dresden vignette)

    “Something Borrowed” (Harry Dresden short story), published in My Big Fat      Supernatural Wedding (October 3, 2006)

    “It’s My Birthday Too” (Harry Dresden short story), published in Many Bloody             Returns (September 4, 2007)

    “Heorot” (Harry Dresden short story), published in My Big Fat Supernatural      Honeymoon (December 26, 2007)

    “Day Off” (Harry Dresden short story), published in Blood Lite (October 21, 2008)

    “Backup  (Harry Dresden novelette, illustrated by Mike Mignola), published by             Subterranean Press (October 31, 2008)

    “The Warrior”, published in Mean Streets (January 6, 2009)
    “Last Call”, published in Strange Brew (July 7, 2009)
    “Love Hurts” — from Songs of Love and Death, edited by George R. R. Martin and                 Gardner Dozois (Released November 16th, 2010.)

    “Aftermath — post-Changes novelette from Murphy’s POV, EXCLUSIVE to this       anthology!

Short Stories (to be added to next Side Jobs sequel)

“Even Hand”, published in Dark and Stormy Knights (July 20, 2010)

“Curses”, published in Naked City (July 5, 2011)

“Bigfoot on Campus”, published in Hex Appeal (June 5, 2012)

“AAAA Wizardry” – Dresden Files RPG, published by Evil Hat

“I Was A Teenage Bigfoot” -Blood Lite 3: Aftertaste, edited by Kevin J. Anderson.
            Released 5/29/2012

“B is for Bigfoot” – Under My Hat: Tales From the Cauldron, edited by Jonathan Strahan. Released 8/28/2012

“Bombshells” – Molly-POV novella from Dangerous Women, edited by George R. R.       Martin and Gardner Duzois.- Release date TBA.

 

Codex Alera
1          Furies of Calderon – Release Date: October, 2004         

2          Academ’s Fury – Release Date: July, 2005    

3          Cursor’s Fury  – Release Date: December, 2006      

4          Captain’s Fury – Release Date: December, 2007      

5          Princeps’ Fury  – Release Date:December, 2008      

6          First Lord’s Fury – Release Date: November, 2009

Other

The Darkest Hours – Release Date:June, 2006

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The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher – a Synopsis

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The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher – a Synopsis

Storm Front – Book 1 –  released 4/2000
Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he’s the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things — and most of them don’t play well with humans. That’s where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a — well, whatever.

There’s just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry’s seeing dollar signs. But where there’s black magic, there’s a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry’s name. And that’s when things start to get… interesting.

Magic. It can get a guy killed.

Fool Moon- Book 2 – released 1/2001
Business has been slow. Okay, business has been dead. And not even of the undead variety. You would think Chicago would have a little more action for the only professional wizard in the phone book. But lately, Harry Dresden hasn’t been able to dredge up any kind of work—magical or mundane.

But just when it looks like he can’t afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise.

A brutally mutilated corpse. Strange-looking paw prints. A full moon. Take three guesses—and the first two don’t count..

Grave Peril – Book 3 – released 9/2001
Harry Dresden’s faced some pretty terrifying foes during his career. Giant scorpions. Oversexed vampires. Psychotic werewolves. It comes with the territory when you’re the only professional wizard in the Chicago area phone book.

But in all Harry’s years of supernatural sleuthing, he’s never faced anything like this: the spirit world’s gone postal. All over Chicago, ghosts are causing trouble — and not just of the door-slamming, boo-shouting variety. These ghosts are tormented, violent, and deadly. Someone — or something — is purposely stirring them up to wreak unearthly havoc.

But why? And why do so many of the victims have ties to Harry? If Harry doesn’t figure it out soon, he could wind up a ghost himself….

Summer Knight – Book 4 – released 9/2002
Ever since his girlfriend left town to deal with her newly acquired taste for blood, Harry Dresden has been down and out in Chicago. He can’t pay his rent. He’s alienating his friends. He can’t even recall the last time he took a shower.

The only professional wizard in the phone book has become a desperate man.

And just when it seems things can’t get any worse, in saunters the Winter Queen of Faerie. She has an offer Harry can’t refuse if he wants to free himself of the supernatural hold his faerie godmother has over him — and hopefully end his run of bad luck. All he has to do is find out who murdered the Summer Queen’s right-hand man, the Summer Knight, and clear the Winter Queen’s name.

It seems simple enough, but Harry knows better than to get caught in the middle of faerie politics. Until he finds out that the fate of the entire world rests on his solving this case.

No pressure or anything…

Death Masks – Book 5 – released 8/2003
Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only practicing professional wizard, should be happy that business is pretty good for a change. But now he’s getting more than he bargained for.

A duel with the Red Court of Vampires’ champion, who must kill Harry to end the war between vampires and wizards…

Professional hit men using Harry for target practice…

The missing Shroud of Turin…

A handless and headless corpse the Chicago police need identified…

Not to mention the return of Harry’s ex-girlfriend Susan, who’s still struggling with her semivampiric nature. And who seems to have a new man in her life.

Some days, it just doesn’t pay to get out of bed. No matter how much you’re charging.

Blood Rites – Book 6 – released 8/2004
For Harry Dresden, there have been worse assignments than going undercover on the set of an adult film. Still, there’s something more troubling than usual about his newest case. The film’s producer believes he’s the target of a sinister curse-but it’s the women around him who are dying.

Harry’s even more frustrated because he only got involved with this bizarre mystery as a favor to Thomas-his flirtatious, self-absorbed vampire acquaintance of dubious integrity. Thomas has a personal stake in the case Harry can’t quite figure out. But Harry is about to discover that Thomas’ family tree has been hiding a shocking revelation that will change his life forever

Dead Beat – Book 7 – released 5/2005
Harry Dresden must save Chicago from black magic and necromancy — but first, he must locate the Word of Kemmler. Just as soon as he figures out what that is. It’s all in a day’s work for the city’s only professional wizard … assuming he can live to see the end of the day.

Proven Guilty – Book 8 – released 5/2006
Harry Dresden has spent years being watched and suspected by the White Council’s Wardens. But now he is a Warden, and it sucks more than he thought… So when movie monsters start coming to life on his watch, it’s officially up to him to put them back where they came from. Only this time, his client is the White Council, and his investigation cannot fail — no matter who falls under suspicion, no matter the cost.

White Night – Book 9 – released 2/2007
Someone is targeting the city’s magic practitioners, the members of the supernatural underclass who don’t possess enough power to become full-fledged wizards. Many have vanished. Others appear to be victims of suicide. But the murderer has left a calling card at one of the crime scenes–a message for Harry Dresden, referencing the book of Exodus and the killing of witches.

Harry sets out to find the killer before he can strike again, but his investigation turns up evidence pointing to the one suspect he cannot possibly believe guilty: his half brother, Thomas. Determined to bring the real murderer to justice and clear his brother’s name, Harry attracts the attention of the White Court of vampires, becoming embroiled in a power struggle that renders him outnumbered, outclassed, and dangerously susceptible to temptation.

Harry knows that if he screws this one up, a lot of people will die–and one of them will be his brother.

Small Favor –  Book 10 – released 4/2008
No one’s tried to kill Harry Dresden for almost an entire year, and his life finally seems to be calming down. For once, the future looks fairly bright. But the past casts one hell of a long shadow.

An old bargain has placed Harry in debt to Mab, monarch of the Winter Court of the Sidhe, the Queen of Air and Darkness-and she’s calling in her marker. It’s a small favor he can’t refuse…one that will trap Harry Dresden between a nightmarish foe and an equally deadly ally, and one that will strain his skills-and loyalties-to their very limits.

It figures. Everything was going too well to last

Turn Coat – Book 11 – released 4/2009
The Warden Morgan has been accused of treason against the Wizards of the White Council–and there’s only one, final punishment for that crime. He’s on the run, wants his name cleared, and needs someone with a knack for backing the underdog. Someone like Harry Dresden.

Now, Harry must uncover a traitor within the Council, keep a less-than-agreeable Morgan under wraps, and avoid coming under scrutiny himself. And a single mistake may cost someone his head–someone like Harry.

Changes –  Book 12 – released 4/2010
Long ago, Susan Rodriguez was Harry Dresden’s lover-until she was attacked by his enemies, leaving her torn between her own humanity and the bloodlust of the vampiric Red Court. Susan then disappeared to South America, where she could fight both her savage gift and those who cursed her with it.

Now Arianna Ortega, Duchess of the Red Court, has discovered a secret Susan has long kept, and she plans to use it-against Harry. To prevail this time, he may have no choice but to embrace the raging fury of his own untapped dark power. Because Harry’s not fighting to save the world…

He’s fighting to save his child.

Ghost Story – Book 13 – released 7/2011
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 no body, 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…

Cold Days – Book 14  – 11/2012
HARRY DRESDEN LIVES!!!

After being murdered by a mystery assailant, navigating his way through the realm between life and death, and being brought back to the mortal world, Harry realizes that maybe death wasn’t all that bad. Because he is no longer Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard.

He is now Harry Dresden, Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness. After Harry had no choice but to swear his fealty, Mab wasn’t about to let something as petty as death steal away the prize she had sought for so long. And now, her word is his command, no matter what she wants him to do, no matter where she wants him to go, and no matter who she wants him to kill.

Guess which Mab wants first?

Of course, it won’t be an ordinary, everyday assassination. Mab wants her newest minion to pull off the impossible: kill an immortal. No problem there, right? And to make matters worse, there exists a growing threat to an unfathomable source of magic that could land Harry in the sort of trouble that will make death look like a holiday.

Beset by enemies new and old, Harry must gather his friends and allies, prevent the annihilation of countless innocents, and find a way out of his eternal subservience before his newfound powers claim the only thing he has left to call his own…

His soul.

Short Stories

Side Jobs – 10 short stories – released 10/2010

Compiled by Barb

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