I like where he discusses villains. That there is something "missing". "They have this hole that is bottomless that they keep trying to fill." This does give some insight into people like Nicodemus, and Cowl.
Harry's strength's: Direct magic, and magic that requires time, investment, and love.
Harry's strength's: Direct magic, and magic that requires time, investment, and love. "his gadgets are second to none in the wizard world even though he's a punk kid". Surprised by that one, didn't realize the stuff he made was such a high level in comparison to more advanced wizards.
I have to admit mixed feelings on all this. I love the insight we get from these interviews. I get that fans love all these book signings. But I do think this is an example where fan enthusiasm gets in the way. By demanding teasers and personal appearances (which we do demand), we delay getting actual new books.
Now maybe JB gets a kick out of all this. In that case, the man should do what he likes. But if JB is rather so/so about all these appearances, I would personally prefer that fans place less distractions in front of "The Man" and let the guy write. :)
This is a little surprising at first, but when you think about it I think it fits for the most part. Harry always had a major leg up on crafting thanks to having Bob as both mentor and magical sensor package. His early potions were deceptively effective, some of the lesser used and/or not maintained designed could have become a lot more effective with continued development (the Bear Belt chi storage, the Murphionic Suppression charm, etc), unfortunately he always had to prioritized his combat gear over broader research. But his duster enchantments are legitimately pretty hardcore, his 2.0 shield has been complimented by several wizards who are nominally his superiors in magical skill, and most recently he even managed to successfully build a skull Spirit Sanctum, without bob's help and literally using stone age tools by the sound of it.
And then there was Little Chicago, and whoooBOY that one could have been a biggun.
I really, really want more gadgets for Harry. I am glad they are so good comparing with others, so now I want even more gadgets.The logic for why he hasnt had a bunch of them at any given time makes sense both in-world and from a storytelling pov. That being said, the in-world reason that it takes a lot of time to build and maintain his gadgets is actually a budget issue according to Bob. Harry simply couldnt afford the materials that would let his enchantments last longer so he had to focus on refining the design itself. Also, he's only so good a craftsman physically speaking, but for the most part did all his own carving, etc. But now he has lots and lots of Shiny Rocks and a decent if tangential relationship with the local Svartalves, so he can absolutely afford the expensive materials and even outsource the actual fabrication. Being broke has always been a core limiting factor form Harry so I am really looking forward to seeing what he does with funding. And with something better to spend his time on, like being a father.
I have the feeling Jim will have Harry use the money for something very specific and then he will be back to being poor. That said, Mab will probably pay her Knight
I was thinking that, precisely. Money to help Harry to keep a dignified status. Not money for the sake of it.
I was thinking that, precisely. Money to help Harry to keep a dignified status. Not money for the sake of it.
Precisely why I said he won't keep the diamonds. I suppose he will get a home for his daughter and him, but the rest, he will lose it somehow.
His early potions were deceptively effective, some of the lesser used and/or not maintained designed could have become a lot more effective with continued development (the Bear Belt chi storage, the Murphionic Suppression charm, etc), unfortunately he always had to prioritized his combat gear over broader research.The speedy getaway is combat gear, as well as the chi storage. I never understood why he only used them once.
What I remember is what I posted before. With more money will come more aggressive and resourced opponents,Um... I think that would be impossible. The resourced part at least. :D
I'll take my morsels and nuggets of info anyway I can get them.Word
I do find it interesting that the three younger Wizards (not including Molly) we've spent the most time with—Ramirez, Harry, and Elaine—have all used extremely intricate foci to do some pretty awesome things. Ramirez's gauntlet, Elaine's earring/ring/lightning chain, Harry's everything, etc. The Merlin was shown to carry a wand, and a tactical belt full of potions and other knicknacks, but other than that and Eb's stumpy staff, I can't recall any of the Senior Council using any foci of their own (not counting the Blackstaff for obvious reasons).
Maybe Maggie's private supernatural school she's going to attend is very very expensive.
Word
*cough* Ilvermorny *cough*Nope, Maggie's school is far less xenophobic, no Human-Only segregation
I don't think we can judge the gadgets of the Senior Council yet. We have not really seen them in as many varied situations as we have seen Harry which would necessitate the use of different foci. Since a foci could be anything (example silver buttons on a coat), we may have seen foci already and not been clued into their use. We will probably get a better glimpse of the Senior Council and their gadgets as the BAT approaches.
*rolls eyes at the supernatural school idea and at Maggie in general*
Maggie Dresden and the Spirit of Intellect
Maggie Dresden and the Blackened Denarius.
I hope not. While I don't really care much for Maggie as a concept, I think her getting taken by the Nickleheads would break Harry.Eh, the kidnapping plot has been done (several times) by Jim. Just because they're out there doesn't necessarily mean they're going to be going after Maggie. Maybe some kid finds a coin and it keeps getting passed around from kid to kid doing some damage but never being there long enough to really do serious damage until Maggie whatevers it.
Also, if Maggie is a Potter analogue in her series, would that make Mouse Hermione (the way smarter and more capable friend of the MC?)
uh.uh, that was his fault, not Harry's. Perhaps he could put some blaming in Mab.
That all depends upon a certain point of view.Oh, he'll blame Harry for making the Plan go sideways, but he'd never let anyone give any CREDIT for the plan itself. He doesnt even seem all that willing to share that credit with Anduriel...
Ol' nicky's pov may not match with reality in this case.
Oh, he'll blame Harry for making the Plan go sideways
Oh, he'll blame Harry for making the Plan go sideways, but he'd never let anyone give any CREDIT for the plan itself. He doesnt even seem all that willing to share that credit with Anduriel...Maybe the nature of the Mantis will solve some problems eh?
And frankly, I suspect he has his hands full with a very Angry Tessa. It very much was not HER plan, and then Nic couldnt even get Revenge right, getting scared off by a nerd in a tent-sized coat and something that OBVIOUSLY couldnt be a real lightsaber ;)
he could have been a white necromancer raising the spirits like he did in book 3
Interesting choice of words...
How so?It implies that Necromancy is not innately Black Magic as we'd been led to believe. Id always considered that one one of the more simlistic Laws since it was more banning a qualitative Energy rather than an Act; it banned the Method rather than the motivation. Id taken it to mean that Necromancy was in itself a Black Magic energy that innately Tainted you (comparable to say Outsiders), and that eventually he'd pay some Price for Sue
It implies that Necromancy is not innately Black Magic as we'd been led to believe. Id always considered that one one of the more simlistic Laws since it was more banning a qualitative Energy rather than an Act; it banned the Method rather than the motivation. Id taken it to mean that Necromancy was in itself a Black Magic energy that innately Tainted you (comparable to say Outsiders), and that eventually he'd pay some Price for SueSir Stuart explained it I think. Ghosts and other spirits are not supposed to pierce the veil to manifest or otherwise directly effect mortals... I think part of that is that mortal choice/fate thing. But a necromancer is empowering things that go directly against that on both accounts, bringing it back through and giving it a direct tie to his own mortal magic, the ability to effect fate. Remember it's always kept alive by said summoner just like binders men. They're enabled. *we know piercing the veil gives direct negative effects to said spirits, why wouldn't it contaminate those whom they are literally connected to?
Sir Stuart explained it I think. Ghosts and other spirits are not supposed to pierce the veil to manifest or otherwise directly effect mortals... I think part of that is that mortal choice/fate thing. But a necromancer is empowering things that go directly against that on both accounts, bringing it back through and giving it a direct tie to his own mortal magic, the ability to effect fate. Remember it's always kept alive by said summoner just like binders men. They're enabled. *we know piercing the veil gives direct negative effects to said spirits, why wouldn't it contaminate those whom they are literally connected to?This was always something of a point of debate on that: whether there was any qualitative difference in the Energies behind the Ectomancy that Mort does and actual Necromancy. In one theory they are using qualitatively different energies, one of which is safe (as much as normal Life magic use anyway) while the other is innately twisting. In the other theory, which the concept of a White Necromancy supports, is the idea that the underlying energy is the same and is not innately Black, but that only certain uses of it is.
Slight tangent, I think this goes also into the positive/negative aspect of the spiritual plain. With things like the fae possessing enough pull here to mantle a host without disagreeing with said law or simply to cross over of their own will. Something not everything can do.
Among other things this tells me that Kumori is not nearly as Naive as Id been assuming.
Mort used Harry's spirit against his will in GS, how is that different? I'm leaning towards the "Intent" theory.If its the scene Im thinking of, I dont think he did (at least not in the strict subconscious Free Will sense). He was "instinctively" moving to save Mort and tripped.
I moved on instinct, throwing myself uselessly between the weapon and the ectomancer. I tripped on a fragment of the ghost-dust-painted door and wound up falling in a heap on top of Mort and . . . . . . sunk into him.
If its the scene Im thinking of, I dont think he did (at least not in the strict subconscious Free Will sense). He was "instinctively" moving to save Mort and tripped.Yea, and Mort instinctively didn't fight it cause he knew Harry's experience and power was greater.
This was always something of a point of debate on that: whether there was any qualitative difference in the Energies behind the Ectomancy that Mort does and actual Necromancy.I'd say absolutely... but it does start to get a bit nuanced in it's reasoning and intention. Like Stu surviving longer intact basically because of his purpose towards a part of life, his familial connections... Something eerily similar to the Rent paid elsewhere and the balances kept as well.. That's why I use the logic of the yin-yang and Bagua design literally everything started as wuji, one state, then yin-yang which spins the five elements out into the 8 manifestations(Mountain, Ocean, ect) into the 64 variations and so on. Which a cross with a nice mythos, I think Maori or somewhere close, that states basically the same thing except that all things that exist in the light exist first as shadows in the endlessly dividing darkness that seeks to reform as one state/being,whom I also cross here with Cronus/Chronos as well as the mentioned Slowest Terror/Hunter of Shadows. It sets a nice frame work so it doesn't boggle me to think about, and is not at all inaccurate in most ways. It's just finding what he actually did with the idea.
It implies that Necromancy is not innately Black Magic
as we'd been led to believe. Id always considered that one one of the more simlistic Laws since it was more banning a qualitative Energy rather than an Act; it banned the Method rather than the motivation. Id taken it to mean that Necromancy was in itself a Black Magic energy that innately Tainted you (comparable to say Outsiders), and that eventually he'd pay some Price for Sue
Of course it's not. Kumori used it to keep injured people alive.And harry used it to raise a zombie dinosaur. Which I been under the impression had still stained him with detectable black magic, same as his earlier run-in's with Black Magic had stained him in a detectable way.
Time travel isn't "black" magic but it's punishable by death.And stabbing a Senior Council Member in the face is punishable by death but is not Black Magic Council "Justice" is a wildly different topic. :P
And harry used it to raise a zombie dinosaur. Which I been under the impression had still stained him with detectable black magic, same as his earlier run-in's with Black Magic had stained him in a detectable way.I don't think so... Maybe though.
And stabbing a Senior Council Member in the face is punishable by death but is not Black Magic Council "Justice" is a wildly different topic. :P
Actually it's not. There are no laws against killing senior council members. It doesn't happen for 2 good reasons: 1. They would probably kill you first, and 2. Someone close to them is probably gonna come looking for you.You mean except for the guy that they hunted down and put on trial with full intention of executing for stabbing a senior council member? :P
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gmu76ritoQ 40:00Oh, ya, that hat has been sorta kinda established in canon already. Apparently there exists a hat that LTW gave McCoy way back in the day.:
I didn't know this but Jim intends Harry to have Indiana Jones Fedora.
A black staff
Overalls
Flannel shirt (several to choose from, actually)
Work boots
and I'm growing a beard, which comes in appropriately grey.
What I still need to know:
Does he regularly carry any other gear besides the Blackstaff?
What color flannel shirt?
Does he have a pentacle like Harry's and Thomas'?
Be sure you get old-school overalls, not something fancy and trendy; Ebenezar uses his clothes to work in. I don't remember where, but he was also described once with a white t-shirt, which will help with the Atlanta weather. Finally, he also wears spectacles—it's only mentioned in TC, but some fake wire-rims wouldn't hurt.
When I went to NYCC 2 years ago as Ebenezar, I used black latex to show the "infection" on his hand from the Blackstaff (which, oddly, only has the descriptions of "dark" and "twisted"). It was a fun little bit to add.
FWIW, I was a bit leery of shaving my head, so out of pique and a "what the hell" attitude, I sent a question to Jim about whether Eb wears a hat. He was MOST emphatic ("You bet he has a hat"); turns out he has a black leather OOOOOLD-style hat. Listens-to-Wind gave it to him at the end of their very long feud (Jim said the details are really horrible). LtW had taken it from the last surviving paleface from the group that killed his family, so yeah, it was an ugly thing all around. Anyway, this is the hat that I got and Jim approved fully:
http://www.sheplers.com/Minnetonka-Silverthorne-oiled-leather-hat/6964.pro
(http://s7d9.scene7.com/is/image/sheplers/096656_89_p1?hei=575&wid=470&op_sharpen=1&size=470.0,575.0)
Sadly, this hat is apparently no longer available. But that should give you some idea if you want to go that route.
And harry used it to raise a zombie dinosaur. Which I been under the impression had still stained him with detectable black magic, same as his earlier run-in's with Black Magic had stained him in a detectable way.Here's a nice metaphor... Imagine a clear glass of water as someone's source of magic, this magic is effected directly by what they use it for, what they actually manifest, ect. squirting food coloring into it, say red for using fire magic, black ink for black magic, ect. well, once you squirt some ink into it the resulting alloy/mixture isn't ever gonna look quite the same even if you start dumping white out in to try an balance it... imagine the best you could hope for after a time is a deep purple. ;)
And stabbing a Senior Council Member in the face is punishable by death but is not Black Magic Council "Justice" is a wildly different topic. :P
You mean except for the guy that they hunted down and put on trial with full intention of executing for stabbing a senior council member? :P
Don't recall that happening? Even so, it's not in the laws of magic.Ehm, Turncoat?
If its the scene Im thinking of, I dont think he did (at least not in the strict subconscious Free Will sense). He was "instinctively" moving to save Mort and tripped.What? Like Harry tripped and Mort fell?
Ehm, Turncoat?
But you do have a point. It's not in the laws of magic. However, the death of a wizard is considered Council business, and thus subject to investigation, capture and trial of the accused. It's not a mortal (heh) affair.
What? Like Harry tripped and Mort fell?haha, no...well, yes? (PHRASING!) Harry /literally/ tripped on ghost dust while trying to save Mort, and fell, and ended up inside mort... (But since Harry wanted to save him and Mort didnt want to die, they vocally grumbled about the grossness but in actuality had Accepted it enough to not run afoul of the angel definition of Free Will.
Oh was that how Morgan was supposed to have killed someone? I don't even remember. Who did he kill????Are you ok Groinkick...?
Morgan was a warden and therefor trusted with security. I wonder if a non warden/Council member killed a wizard it would matter? I mean if Harry Dresden was gunned down by Marcone would the Council do anything? I doubt it. So if someone who wasn't given the duty of protecting the Council killed a member I wonder if the Council would respond the same way?
They probably only care if you kill someone of importance.. Senior Council members, or something like that.
Are you ok Groinkick...?
You mean except for the guy that they hunted down and put on trial with full intention of executing for stabbing a senior council member?
Don't remember who Morgan was supposed to have killed though.It was in Turn Coat. I forget his name right now...Lafortier.
We all have senile moments. I have about 10 a day.Yea I was in the middle of an online match today and I forgot where I was or what I was doing for a minute... it was very unsettling...
uh.uh, that was his fault, not Harry's. Perhaps he could put some blaming in Mab.
Oh was that how Morgan was supposed to have killed someone? I don't even remember. Who did he kill????
Morgan was a warden and therefor trusted with security. I wonder if a non warden/Council member killed a wizard it would matter? I mean if Harry Dresden was gunned down by Marcone would the Council do anything? I doubt it. So if someone who wasn't given the duty of protecting the Council killed a member I wonder if the Council would respond the same way?
Well, his bulletproofing enchantment on the duster is demonstrably second to at least Ebenezar's work, which protects the head and ankles even if they're not physically covered. Though I'm not sure whether he's actually marking up his robes with spells, or doing it some entirely different way.
You think so, I think so, but the question is does Nicodemus think so? I fully expect him to go after Maggie in some way at some point. That was foreshadowed in Skin Game, after all.
I hope you are wrong, because if he goes after Maggie he is dead (I would be so happy if he succeeds, before Harry kills him in a horrible way)
Yes. that would be horrible. It won't happen.
Actually no, it wouldn't get me rid of the brat, all the contrary.
That would bring me 7 more books, 8 movies 5 prequels and probably a sequel, so...nope :P
Nah, Harry Potter would be a much shorter story if Riddle had been going after Harry Dresden's kid.If this were potter-world, Riddle would have been the guy that Adopted Harry in the first place.
If this were potter-world, Riddle would have been the guy that Adopted Harry in the first place.Wrong, he'd have adopted Mavra, she's just as sexy as he is. Match made in heaven.
If this were potter-world, Riddle would have been the guy that Adopted Harry in the first place.
Actually no, it wouldn't get me rid of the brat, all the contrary.Dina be like...
But that would be merely revenge if Nic gets Maggie.. Very hollow if she ends up with a coin which would be really horrible..
This is actually more what I would expect, something along those lines. Not necessarily exactly that, but simply killing Maggie is too easy, too quick. From revenge, it would probably be more interesting and more manageable to somehow corrupt or taint Maggie. Ideally, from Nicodemus' POV, that creates a situation where Harry must either kill his own child (thus in Nicodemus' twisted thinking equivalent to him and Dierdre) or live with the knowledge of what she has become.
Harry having to kill Maggie would be a cruel twisted thing that Nic would love to arrange.. I think he might take it a step further, have Maggie sacrifice herself willingly for Harry as his daughter had done. If Maggie had to be "put down" because of what she had become, Harry maybe wouldn't forgive himself but as seen in a mercy light learn to live with it.. Sacrifice herself though, perhaps like her mother, I don't think he could.Id almost see it as the opposite, mostly because of the Respect Their Choices theme harry has been on with his own personal growth. He can respect a persons right to Choose now, but wouldnt forgive himself if they were "Pushed" and never got the chance to fix it (especially after all the supernatural second chances he has gotten). Rather, if she Fell hard because of being Pushed and because of exposure to things and/or enemies in his life, and had to put her down himself would be hard. THe only thing harder would be if one of his /Friends/ had to put her down, like say Sir Butters. Then he'd be grieving more along the lines of Titania, with her Hate in Spite of knowing intellectually that it had to be done.
Id almost see it as the opposite, mostly because of the Respect Their Choices theme harry has been on with his own personal growth. He can respect a persons right to Choose now, but wouldnt forgive himself if they were "Pushed" and never got the chance to fix it (especially after all the supernatural second chances he has gotten). Rather, if she Fell hard because of being Pushed and because of exposure to things and/or enemies in his life, and had to put her down himself would be hard. THe only thing harder would be if one of his /Friends/ had to put her down, like say Sir Butters. Then he'd be grieving more along the lines of Titania, with her Hate in Spite of knowing intellectually that it had to be done.
It would be hard but if it was best for Maggie as well and the world, I think he could live with it, no matter who did it including himself. Look at it as a form of suffering and putting an end to her suffering... On the other hand if somehow she was convinced that her sacrifice was necessary for a goal much like Nic's daughter was, I don't think Harry could handle that.. Because I believe he try to exhaust all other ways to accomplish the goal first.. If he failed, even if it was Maggie's choice I don't think he could live with that.Oh, I very much think that SHE'd believe it, I just think the impact would be much worse for harry if he did not agree, but she went through with it anyway. More a mirror to McCoy and Maggie, actually
just old enough that Harry didn't have to deal with having a literal baby around,Im not sure Eight qualifies as "just old enough to no be a literal baby", unless youre calling her a baby right up to the pre-teen years. My niece is six and can already roll her eyes and be sarcastic.
Im not sure Eight qualifies as "just old enough to no be a literal baby", unless youre calling her a baby right up to the pre-teen years. My niece is six and can already roll her eyes and be sarcastic.
I'm quite familiar with six-year olds, and yeah, that's usually the case. I meant that he didn't have to go through changing diapers, potty training, bed wetting, crawling into his bed at night, et cetera et cetera. A lot of that drops off by three or four in many cases. Harry missed the parts of infancy and toddler-hood that are the hardest (though I often remind my sisters with their little ones that 1-6 months is the easy part; it's when they're ambulatory and trying to lick electrical sockets that you have to start freaking out). Harry got a daughter with her own personality, her own capabilities, and a level of autonomy he didn't have to encourage, monitor, or raise.Fair enough. There is a reason there are not many successful fiction series featuring a new parent battling sleep deprivation and diapers, though. I honestly think skipping that part is doing US a favor more than anything.
There are downsides to it, of course, and Harry went through plenty to get his daughter back at all. He paid for it in a very Dresden-ish way, and there's going to be a certain amount of sudden-onset-parenthood shock for him; I'm just saying he didn't have to put the work in.
Fair enough. There is a reason there are not many successful fiction series featuring a new parent battling sleep deprivation and diapers, though. I honestly think skipping that part is doing US a favor more than anything.There are plenty of narrative reasons to do it, but there are also plenty of narrative methods to deal with that creatively, without a Sudden Parenthood MOAB. I would've been WAY more on board with Harry's "I MUST PROTECT MY DAUGHTER" attitude in Changes if we had known he'd had a daughter for longer than five pages. I get it, and there are character reasons for Harry to immediately be Papa Bear, but I wasn't Papa Bear alongside him, if that makes sense. In Changes, Maggie is a MacGuffin, and I tend to prefer it when MacGuffins aren't people.
I guess I can understand why her sudden appearance would be off-putting compared to established characters like Molly. I dont mind it as much because I like when these sorts of stories (especially ones that have gone on as long as Dresden has) remind the audience that there is a lot of other crap happening out there in the story-world, so that Significant things dont always have to happen near the Main Character. Some of my favorite stories made their fantasy world seem so much richer simply by mentioning other events or legend or whatsoever entirely in passing.
I also didnt come down on the anti-Susan side of things, so I actively wanted Susan to come back and be relevant again. She was either actively participating or else was a primary motivation for all the the first five books, then wasnt mentioned again beyond the Other Ex that Ended Badly for another seven. Saying she dropped off his radar on purpose to hide their love-child from his horrifically dangerous lifestyle felt realistic and thematically interesting in the sense of highlighting the difficulty of the morally grey.
I think Harry's response to a child he didn't know was that he could relate to being alone with nobody to protect him. Although I cannot relate I'm wondering if anyone raised in foster care or something similar found themselves loving Harry even more because he loved his child so much even though he hadn't met her.
I guess I can understand why her sudden appearance would be off-putting compared to established characters like Molly. I dont mind it as much because I like when these sorts of stories (especially ones that have gone on as long as Dresden has) remind the audience that there is a lot of other crap happening out there in the story-world, so that Significant things dont always have to happen near the Main Character. Some of my favorite stories made their fantasy world seem so much richer simply by mentioning other events or legend or whatsoever entirely in passing.
I also didnt come down on the anti-Susan side of things, so I actively wanted Susan to come back and be relevant again. She was either actively participating or else was a primary motivation for all the the first five books, then wasnt mentioned again beyond the Other Ex that Ended Badly for another seven. Saying she dropped off his radar on purpose to hide their love-child from his horrifically dangerous lifestyle felt realistic and thematically interesting in the sense of highlighting the difficulty of the morally grey.
I just hate that someone as important as Harry's daughter should be has bern reduced to a plot device to force the story in the direction Jim wants to take it, instead of being a real character.
Exactly why I am worried for the next books. Maggie will become more important.Oh yes, the real proof of this to me is Mouse, whose obviously got an agenda of his own, is now her personal guard dog. The monster under the bed was probably as real as Dresden thought.(woj of things only kids can see.)
Exactly why I am worried for the next books. Maggie will become more important.