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The Dresden Files => DF Spoilers => Topic started by: Dina on January 16, 2026, 12:10:05 AM

Title: AMA with Jim
Post by: Dina on January 16, 2026, 12:10:05 AM
Here you have: https://www.reddit.com/r/cinderspires/comments/1qdv4rk/jim_butcher_drops_the_title_of_the_next_cinder/

I posted the news about CS in that subforum. A few comments about what he said:

1) Apparently, we will have to wait to the first chapter of MM to truly learn about what being an outsider means.
2) He repeated that 12 months was not planned, and he said it was very difficult to write it, because it deals with pain and growing.
3) Harry does not think in Bonnie as his real daughter yet, mainly because she has not a true personality.
4) He is still planning 25 DF books in total, with the BAT
5) and he hinted something about Thomas, so perhaps 12M gives us something.
Title: Re: ANA with Jim
Post by: RobReece on January 16, 2026, 12:16:10 AM
Thank you
Title: Re: ANA with Jim
Post by: GreenMysticalUnicorn on January 16, 2026, 08:01:49 PM
We will find out more about what a STARBORN means in chapter one of MM.
Jim also said that the fandom SHOULD be asking why people don't mention the outsiders more. Interesting!
Title: Re: ANA with Jim
Post by: Mira on January 16, 2026, 08:57:58 PM
We will find out more about what a STARBORN means in chapter one of MM.
Jim also said that the fandom SHOULD be asking why people don't mention the outsiders more. Interesting!

Oh I think the fans at this sight do, it was quite a topic after Battle Ground if I remember.
Title: Re: ANA with Jim
Post by: g33k on January 17, 2026, 12:58:45 AM
We will find out more about what a STARBORN means in chapter one of MM.
Jim also said that the fandom SHOULD be asking why people don't mention the outsiders more. Interesting! 
???
YeahNO, pretty sure the fandom has been asking!
Jim just gets squirrely, and gives one of his stock non-answers.
 ::)
Title: Re: ANA with Jim
Post by: forumghost on January 20, 2026, 11:07:50 AM
Doesn't it come up in one of the side stories that the reason people don't talk about Outsiders is because some of them are in hibernation on earth, and talking about them causes them to wake up?
Title: Re: ANA with Jim
Post by: g33k on January 20, 2026, 05:37:54 PM
Doesn't it come up in one of the side stories that the reason people don't talk about Outsiders is because some of them are in hibernation on earth, and talking about them causes them to wake up? 

This is the premise of the Oblivion War, I think; not "on Earth" but locked-out for lack of summoning.  We see it mostly in the short "Backup," reprinted in the Side Jobs anthology.  And there's a big ol' WoJ laying it out, quoted here:
https://wordof.jim-butcher.com/index.php/word-of-jim-woj-compilation/woj-on-harrys-mortal-allies/
(search for "jimbutcher" -- it's the 1st of 8 hits.  The linked original 404error's; I don't know if it still exists, but my cursory Google only finds references to it, no hit for the original).
It's about erasing all record and memory of certain beings, who need to be Summoned to be able to reach into the world or influence it.

I don't believe it was ever made explicit that these were specifically "Outsiders" ... but the circumstantial evidence sure suggests they are!
Title: Re: AMA with Jim
Post by: forumghost on January 21, 2026, 10:35:39 AM
Just checked, and like I thought, it comes up in Cold Case

Quote
Have you heard of the Old Ones?”
“I don’t think it’s a very kind nickname for the Rolling Stones. They still put on a great show.”
He nodded and squinted at me. “I kind of need you to put on your serious face now.”
“That bad?” I asked.
“Maybe,” he said. “They’re … kind of a collection of entities. Really old, really powerful entities.”
“What, like gods?” I asked.
“Like the things gods have nightmares about,” he said.
“Outsiders.”
He nodded. “Only they aren’t outside. They’re here. Caged, bound, and sleeping, but they’re here.”
“That seems kind of dangerous.”
“Yes and no,” he said. “They feed on psychic energy. On fear. On the collective subconscious awareness of them that exists within humanity.”
I squinted at him. “Meaning what?”
“The more people who know about them and fear them, the more awake and more powerful they become,” he said. “That’s why the people who know about them don’t talk about them much.”
“What’s that got to do with the price of beer in Unalaska?”
“One of the Old Ones is known as the Sleeper. It’s said his tomb is somewhere under the Pacific. And that goddamned moron Lovecraft published stories and easy-to-remember rhymes about the thing.” He shook his head. “The signal boost gave the Sleeper enough power to influence the world. It has a number of cults. People get … infested, I guess. Slowly go insane. Lose their humanity. Turn into something else.”