Mirror Mirror Tracking on Butcher's official site!

[Lord Kinbote]

However I still say he can finish the series with half the novels and do it well.  It might even make the stories a bit more interesting as well.

I'm sure Butcher could but he and his publisher would be leaving money on the table.  I wouldn't ask Butcher to forego the payout he expects for the entire 25 books, or 26 or whatever the number is today.  I've watched many a long running hit TV series continue past their expiration dates but understand that the actors are getting paid money on their second contract that offset the low pay of their first, the crew and all supporting contractors are employed and providing for their families, etc.  I've no problem with that so long as they don't try to tell me "it's not about the money; we still have stories to tell."

But that doesn't mean that there aren't ways to accelerate the novel writing so that Butcher and his publisher get the financial benefits of all planned novels, while we readers get the conclusion quicker.  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.

[Mira]

I'm sure Butcher could but he and his publisher would be leaving money on the table.  I wouldn't ask Butcher to forego the payout he expects for the entire 25 books, or 26 or whatever the number is today.  I've watched many a long running hit TV series continue past their expiration dates but understand that the actors are getting paid money on their second contract that offset the low pay of their first, the crew and all supporting contractors are employed and providing for their families, etc.  I've no problem with that so long as they don't try to tell me "it's not about the money; we still have stories to tell."

Yes, but there is nothing sadder than a television series that has continued past it's expiration date.  The actors get older, go to other roles, even die, the series has a wonderful logical ending, only to continue often with diminishing returns.  We fans are loyal and continue on, they are counting on that, the writers even try to pretend that some of the events early in the series didn't happen as they try to keep the story going.  It is about the money and not about the art sadly.

But that doesn't mean that there aren't ways to accelerate the novel writing so that Butcher and his publisher get the financial benefits of all planned novels, while we readers get the conclusion quicker.  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.

Agreed, the novels could have a lot more content and less filler to move the story along.  I get tired of having to buy yet another book in the intervening years to get a few lines furthering the series in a short story.  With each book there are also more and more loose ends that will remain, loose..  That isn't very satisfying,  I also think a lot more could have been done with Murphy for example after she got a Holy Sword broken.  Yeah, I am aware that was great for Butters, but the fact that she was very arrogant in thinking she knew better than the Almighty as far as the rules governing the Holy Swords would have been an interesting read.  Did those differences or would those differences have ultimately split her and Harry up had she not been killed?

[Lord Kinbote]

We fans are loyal and continue on, they are counting on that, the writers even try to pretend that some of the events early in the series didn't happen as they try to keep the story going. 

You're a better fan than me.  I can walk away, and have, from series for which I was an enthusiastic early adapter, participated in forums and podcasts, and otherwise annoyed people with my thoughts and cheerleading.  The X-Files comes immediately to mind as an example.  I quit watching seasons before it ended; I think I even left before Duchovny.  I'm hoping the Dresden Files isn't added to the list.  But my relationship to the series isn't solely up to me.

[Mira]

You're a better fan than me.  I can walk away, and have, from series for which I was an enthusiastic early adapter, participated in forums and podcasts, and otherwise annoyed people with my thoughts and cheerleading.  The X-Files comes immediately to mind as an example.  I quit watching seasons before it ended; I think I even left before Duchovny.  I'm hoping the Dresden Files isn't added to the list.  But my relationship to the series isn't solely up to me.

Oh I have walked away, but it's hard when you make friends and contacts in the forums to totally give it up.  Battlestar Galactica, Game of Thrones, and JAG,[for those who remember that show] comes to my mind.

[g33k]

... I can't even say I'm cautiously optimistic that the series will be done in less than 20 years even with the recent developments (Butcher already tracking progress of Mirror, Mirror; his statements that he plans to be done with MM before touring on Twelve Months).  And no matter what I can't envision he'd ever get back to a Dresden novel every 18-24 months ...

I'm "cautiously optimistic" for just a hair under 20 years, presuming his health holds up (he's pretty fit, but no longer a youngling) and he doesn't suffer life-disrupting tragedies or logistical obstacles.

I'm figuring a 15-18 month per novel pace; alternating DresdenFiles with CinderSpires (as he says is his plan on an ongoing basis), that'd be 30-36 months before we're all abuzz with "Fight Night tracking on Butcher's Official Site".  I don't think faster than that is at all likely; but I'd be thrilled to be proven wrong!

FN (or whatever the title is) will be vol.19 of the DF; then 20, 21, & 22; by my estimate (above) taking 120-144mo = 10-12 years to wrap up "the Dresden Files" proper.

Then the BigApocalypticTrilogy, which (at one point) Jim said he saw as one big story, and planned to write as one big push, not alternating other books; figuring the "same" per-novel-pace for 3-in-a-row, and presuming his "palate cleanser" novel between the DF proper and the BAT, that'd be another 60-72 months = 5-6 years.

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

[Mira]

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

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]

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.

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.

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.

Agree.

[Mira]

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).

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 
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.