The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers

Mirror Mirror Tracking on Butcher's official site!

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Mira:

--- Quote ---So 15-18 years, if my Jim'stimates are right and I did my math right (and RL doesn't strike).

--- End quote ---

A lot can happen in that time, and the creative mind isn't a machine, well, not just yet anyway. 

RobReece:
It's Jim's story, he can write it when and how he likes.  He can allow our desires to influence him, but my opinion is that he doesn't owe us anything. He's the artist, we just get to enjoy his art.

All that said, would I enjoy seeing them every 18 months or so, sure, but I'm not going to complain, I'll take them when I can get them. If for some reason I don't make it to the end, it's been a wild ride and not seeing the end of it won't bother me anymore.

LaraBeck:

--- Quote from: RobReece on November 19, 2025, 06:51:21 PM ---It's Jim's story, he can write it when and how he likes.  He can allow our desires to influence him, but my opinion is that he doesn't owe us anything. He's the artist, we just get to enjoy his art.

--- End quote ---

Eh, I tend to disagree –as an artist myself, mind you– he doesn't make his "art" for free, he doesn't gift it away, he charges money for it, his work meets the world as part of an economical transaction, we've all helped pay for his mortgage. So, maybe he doesn't owe us the ending we all want, but he owes us explanations, and effort, above all, and yes, IMO, an ending as long as it's in his hands. Life happens to all of us, doesn't matter what type of work you do, we all have deadlines and it's only professional and ethical to strive to fulfill our commitments. The whole thing about a creative endeavor being this mystical thing that needs the "artist" to be in a special frame of mind to create just under the right set of circumstances is, at best, naive or a misunderstanding. Jim himself acknowledges this in interviews, and most people in creative industries would, unless they have delusions of grandeur.

Personally, I hope we never see the TV show get the green light until he's finished with the series in the books, because otherwise, most likely, it will interfere with him finishing the series.

I also think there are things in the series that went past the acceptable timeline, I mean, it's been about 14 years in-universe for Harry and he still doesn't know what a starborn is, or what his mother actually did. And then, Jim keeps adding basically the same character but just with a twist, I mean, Goodman is just Kincaid 2.0 and honestly, I would have preferred to explore Kincaid's character further than to have to learn another name (personally, I dunno why people are so excited about Goodman). We keep repeating the scenes where Thomas gets incapacitated, and Harry only looks for advice with Michael who should have been retired for good from the series by now and let other characters like William take the spotlight (fortunately it seems like William will be more prominent in Twelve Months).

So, I'm in favor of him starting to wrap things up and focus on The Dresden Files and not side stories.


--- Quote from: Lord Kinbote on November 16, 2025, 01:38:41 AM ---In fact, I'd bet that Butcher would see more money by finishing the series quicker (and actually finish it and able to enjoy the rewards; he's not getting younger either) as there are readers who won't start an unfinished series because they've been burnt by other authors who don't finish.  I wish they'd explore alternatives to the current pace, and figure out a quicker path to the end.

--- End quote ---

Agree.

Mira:

--- Quote ---I also think there are things in the series that went past the acceptable timeline, I mean, it's been about 14 years in-universe for Harry and he still doesn't know what a starborn is, or what his mother actually did. And then, Jim keeps adding basically the same character but just with a twist, I mean, Goodman is just Kincaid 2.0 and honestly, I would have preferred to explore Kincaid's character further than to have to learn another name (personally, I dunno why people are so excited about Goodman). We keep repeating the scenes where Thomas gets incapacitated, and Harry only looks for advice with Michael who should have been retired for good from the series by now and let other characters like William take the spotlight (fortunately it seems like William will be more prominent in Twelve Months).
--- End quote ---

Agreed with all of that, books are now full of padding and not a lot of furtherance of the story, lots of plots and characters left hanging. 

Dina:
I think I simultaneously agree with many of you, even those who said opposite things  ;D ;D
I still like the DF books, some less than others. I like some of the new characters, like Goodman Grey, but I could have lived without them. The fact that I enjoy the books does not mean that I don't feel they are dragging. More characters are added and they are indeed too many loose ends. Like, now we are having Librarians? A full organization that never appeared before? Harry is having a new apprentice? (perhaps not a new character, but still, we have already seen mentor Harry. He should be too busy right now).

We have not seen characters like Elaine (I don't particularly miss her, but that is not the point), Ivy, Kinkaid, in lots of time. And at least we have an in universe reason for that. There are other characters who disappear without a trace  (like Vince, was it? the p.i. Or other characters I even forgot the names, the kid who may be Tera's son). I wish we begin having answers and wrapping things so at least I hope we tick some squares with the starborn thing.

I wish there are less books. Like do MM, then the fight one and then the BAT! But those are my wishes. And Jim does not work for me. Yes, I give him money for his work, but that is a exchange. He is not my employee. So I have no reason to complain. He does what he wants, he writes what he wants, at his pace, and that is fine. I owe him too many happy hours and this forum, so I am for ever grateful.

Take all the time you need, Jim.

On the other hand, it is true that I do not understand the commercial side of this. I have no data but I would think Jim is not making such a good profit with the DF as before. Let me explain my rationale. Let's have a universe of DF readers and think in the next book. There is a subset of the readers which are people like has been reading for years. Most of that subset is going to buy the next book, but some of them are not, because they grow tired of the book, or bored, or has no money, or are not able to read anymore, or they just died. So, the subset is reducing. Then there are new readers. People who heard the series is great, or began reading the books because they were at their parent's or just sees him in the media (or actual bookstores or libraries) and got interested. But how many new readers decide to began reading a saga with 19 books and many more to come? I think the universe of reading is having a negative balance between loosing and adding readers. Is the remaining subset enough? Perhaps. But I think if Jim wrapped the saga he would have a big wave of readers (new and returning ones, their interest piqued) and he would be able to begin an entirely new saga that could attract new readers (of course, many would be DF readers, as they probably like JB style). So, I see economic profit in wrapping more than in spreading the saga. But well, that is me and it may be factors I don't know, or I am wrong about.

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