Jim Butcher's Dresden Files (Recommendations similar to Dresden and/or Codex Alera)

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waylander99

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This author doesn't get enough recognition for his writing and I'm wondering why? He has two awsome series called Dresden Files and Codex Alera. His books never get boaring or cliched. There is another reason why he is such a good writer you can never put down his books at all because you want to know whats going to happen next. So that is why I'm wondering why he doesn't get enough recognition here but if i wrong about this please tell me why. :confused:
 
I liked Storm Front quite a bit and I plan on continuing on with the series.

People around here do read him regularly and post about him, there just aren't that many threads dealing specifically with him and his books. For the most part, the response is positive.

I just searched DRESDEN and came up with these threads where you should find quite a bit about him:
Dresden Files
Supernatural Fantasy: Ghosts, Vampires, Werefolk and Wizards

If you search "Dresden" or "Butcher" a number of threads will turn up, so it isn't like we don't discuss him here.
 
I've only read the Codex Alera series. I like them a lot. They're just fun.
 
And I'm working through the Dresden series at the moment (well, since September 2005!) as they've just been released in the UK.

Official reviews for Storm Front, HERE, Fool Moon HERE,, and Grave Peril HERE. Like them a lot so far, but am spreading them out a little as I suspect trying to read them all so close together is a little repetitive.

Hobbit
 
A friend of mine at work (the same one who got me into the Anita Blake series) got me into the Dresden Files. I have loved everyone one of them. Harry is one of those heroes that you wonder sometimes what else can happen to him. I am eagerly awaiting his next one "Proven Guilty" I believe it is coming out here in May. He was coming out with the Dresden books more often but now they will probably be only one a year, since he is doing the other series. From what I understand it is more of a fantasy series, but I haven't picked it up yet. Has anyone read this one, and what do you think of it?
 
I'm reading Fool Moon at the moment and enjoying it much more than than I did the first in the series. I look forward to catching up with the rest eventually.
 
I have only read Storm Front and in my view it was just "ok". It really didnt do much, I got the feeling the author was just trying way to hard and failing on almost all fronts. I liked the concept, just wasnt a fan of the execution.
 
The Codex Alera is set in a typical medieval fantasy setting, but there also is a strong Roman Empire feel to the world. There is only one nation of humans on this world, and they are often beseiged by enemies from beyond the Empire. The story takes place out in the frontier. All the people of this world can control Elementals. These Elementals can control one either Air, Water, Fire, or Earth to a varying degree. A person's place in this world is often dependent on how powerful their Elemental happens to be and how many Elementals they control. The main character is a young boy named Tavi and he controls none; thus he's a bit of a freak.
He learns of a threat to the Empire and is forced to do his best to save it. Because he doesn't have any magic, he has to rely on courage, luck, friendship, intellect, and skill. The writing is good (not splendid but good enough), but what I liked is that the story just rockets along. It was just a fun read. It may not change your life, but it will definitely entertain you for a few hours.
 
Only one?

I just wanted to add that The Dresden Files books just get better and better as you read through the series. In the first book you really don't learn much about Harry but as the series progresses you learn a lot about what makes him tick and get a glance at his future. There are many plots being filled in. If you only read the first book, which is good, you are missing out on the rest of them - many which I consider better than the first one.

Hopefully I don't get staked for saying this, but I enjoy Harry Dresden far more than Anita Blake. Harry feels like he is going somewhere. He is more real. He makes huge mistakes and has to deal with them.
 
I very much agree with you. The series just keeps getting better and you really do so what makes Harry do what he does. I also agree about the Anita Blake series. I really liked the first five or six books and then I just got disgusted with them. I am no prude, but I hate to read a book about nothing about sex. She is called the Vampire Hunter, and I wish Hamilton would go back to what she was in the beginning. But I really doubt that is going to happen. So I will keep reading Harry and forget about Anita.
 
Looking for book reccomendations. finished Butcher's codex alera series recently

Ok, so I need a new series to read.

I am finishing up Butcher's Dresden series and I had read his Codex Alera series before that.

I really enjoyed that series and I like a good fantasy with plenty of magic and entertaining spells, etc.

I am a fan of the wheel of time (great magic system), sword of truth, etc, etc.

anyone have anything good?

thanks!

also I did look at the recommendation thread, but have spent way too much time trying to flit through long lists and was hoping someone with similar tastes to mine could point me at something. those lists are far too random and broad.
 
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J V Jones "Book of Words" trilogy.
Kate Elliotts "Crown of Stars" series.
Melanie Rawn's "Dragon Star" and "Dragon Prince" trilogys.

Haven't read "Codex Alera" but i'm a fan of the other authors/series you mentioned. Well Goodkind up until book six or so anyway. The above series have plenty of magic. There all finished which is also a bonus:)
 
after spending quite a few more hours perusing sites and such, I came across the following:

Friedman's coldfire trilogy,
Edding's Belgariad,
Zelazny's Amber Chronicles,
and Green's Nightside series.

Anyone familiar with them? I'll probably end up reading them either way, as I read quickly and always need more fuel for the fire, but I am in the mood for a particularly magic centered read at the moment (as opposed to character driven with fantasy as simply the setting). I was curious how much these delve into the abilities and such of the characters.

And thanks for the suggestions Chris.
ps..when looking up the book of words book 1 on Barnes & noble's site, I encountered the strangest and assuredly incorrect synopsis ever. Seriously I hope a) this gets fixed and b) everyone gets a good laugh out of it.


on a complete side note, anyone else tired of the stereotype/cookie cutter covers on fantasy novels?... It may just be that I'm aesthetically minded but I sometimes have to force myself to buy a good novel, knowing I'll be walking around with some book with a strange brightly colored swordsman on the front in a strange billowy tunic.
 
UnknownElementX said:
on a complete side note, anyone else tired of the stereotype/cookie cutter covers on fantasy novels?... It may just be that I'm aesthetically minded but I sometimes have to force myself to buy a good novel, knowing I'll be walking around with some book with a strange brightly colored swordsman on the front in a strange billowy tunic.
Click to expand...

Don't start. Must not rant...Ugh, I hate fantasy covers. There that's better. I think there's about 3-4 threads devoted to this one topic alone.
I'm reading Bitterwood and the sequel Dragonforge by James Maxey. It's actually a post-apocalyptic fantasy, and it also happens to be very well done. A few other choices:

Laura Resnick's series. It's a trilogy and it's complete. P.C. Hodgell's ongoing series, that starts with Godstalk. I think you can find the first two books in an omnibus.
 
Help With New Series

Hello everyone Im a fantasy lover like you all and need help on what series to pursue.

I've read all of David Eddings and now need a new series.

Also what is the abercrombie series authour or is that him?:p
 
If you read Eddings, now its time for Robert Jordon and his Wheel of Time.
 
Radone, how is Godstalk? I have some of the books in the series but never got into it. Your personal review?
 
I just merged the this thread with Help With New Series since they are essentially asking the same thing.

In addition to the enormous (yet slightly un-updated) Recommendation Thread, since people often are looking for what series to read next, we do have quite a few pre-existing threads*:
Need help picking new fantasy series to read
In search of a new series to read
Fantasy series
Rate fantasy series you've read out of 10
Neverending Series?
Unfinished Series
Looking for a new series to read
List of Completed Fantasy Series

As I'm fond of saying, the SEARCH function is your friend, use it liberally.
 
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UnknownElementX said:
after spending quite a few more hours perusing sites and such, I came across the following:

Friedman's coldfire trilogy,
Edding's Belgariad,
Zelazny's Amber Chronicles,
and Green's Nightside series.

Anyone familiar with them?
Click to expand...

Coldfire : one of my favorites, but with mixed reviews from the rest of the board : magic intensive, very good negative character [gerald tarrant], interesting cultural, religious conversations, weaker plotting - fellowship on a quest mostly. I appreciated the mix of fantasy and SF, since I like my magic explained, not coming out of finger snapping or nose twitching.

Belgariad : haven't read it, but it has good reviews , especially for entry level fantasy fans. I guess it's closer to Shannara books by Terry Brooks than with the current gritty crop of writers.

Amber : I'm reading it now, and I suggest you start with it also. It has a lot of magic, good characterisation, flashes of humor and a lot of crazy landscapes [shadow worlds] to wander through.

Nightside : I would also like to find out more about this one.
 
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