Codex Alera

Not sure if being trolled...

The most epic thing I would love to see (but probably wouldn't) would be a game of Ludus played by Varg and Leanansidhe. I feel like they'd probably find themselves to have a lot in common, and moreover reading about the Canim, with their whole "friendly enemies" concept kinda made Lea and Co make a little more sense.

But was I the only one who wanted to see some resolution to the whole "Max's family" thing? There was a lot we were left hanging on: how is Max dealing with his tormentor and his mother's killer being essentially brought back to life? Max's dad, who was awesome but not quite awesome enough for me to remember his name, just had all the messed-up-ness of his marriage/family brought up after his showdown thing with Isana. I would love to see how that affects him. And then Crassus was still pissed at Tavi, and then Dorothea herself is a whole bag of questions, though I'm most curious about how she acts around Max. Poor Max.

If anyone has some good fanfiction on the topic, I'd love to read it.

edited 24th Jun '12 7:34:32 PM by Almaseti

Nope, not trolling, just have a good head for figuring out tropes. It looks like I got some things wrong anyhow.

I'm sure my book does have the rest listed but I've never bothered to check the titles. I don't even read the backs of the books when it comes to Jim Butcher because I enjoy learning what the plot is about first hand.

Well, the Codex is a fantasy novel that starts with a boy on a farm. There's only two things he /could/ be: an Epic Hero of Epicness or a freaking King. I mean, there's really no in-between.

Boy On The Farm Is Actually King is pretty much a staple of the fantasy genre. I don't make the rules here. I just follow them. :D

The lesson you should take from this is, obviously, that if you want to get anywhere in life, you should become a farmer before you turn 20.

We're fans. What do you expect? Reasonable and courteous behavior?

edited 22nd Jun '12 6:30:04 AM by LizardBite

Hay, at least it is better than a barrage of questions that he shouldn't answer yet. And I don't think any of us went "GET BACK TO WRITING NOW!"

All-in-all, I believe we were quite polite with our "Nice to see you. Can't wait for/looking forward to the next Dresden, so we hope this is not taking time away from your writing."

I could have been much worse. Barrage of questions? Pff. More like READ MY MANUSCRIPT PLEASE!!! And then lots of blubbering and begging.

Speaking of Farmboys. I must say this series is one of the few where I don't find this trope overly annoying. Most series (glares at Eragon) handle it poorly. Here though Tavi is actually very well written and not your typical annoying farm boy becomes hero.

It probably helps that Tave+Kitai are such a stupidly cute couple that I can't decide if I want to take my diabetes medicine or cheer them on.

Not to mention the plot of the first book played out much differently than I expected it to if it was following standard procedure. In the usual story, the kids guardians get killed off quickly and he sets out on a journey. In Calderon the action stayed in the valley where it started, and Tavi's aunt and uncle stayed important characters, probably more important than Tavi in the first book.

, I know. I was joking. That's what the "" was meant to convey.

The best sarcasm/jokes have some truth to them. Your comment was silly/true so I replied in kind (I meant for that to be a silly "hey" with a grin, not a super-serious and "I take offense at that" one).

...then I got a bit more serious, but you can just ignore that.

And they stay important, too. Isana is one of the "core four" (along with Tavi, Amara, and Fidelias) who are major PO Vs in every book, and Bernard is an important supporting character. Though Isana isn't exactly who and what she seems to be...

But you had no smiley, so how was I supposed to know you weren't taking offense!?

(Smileys are the solution to all the world's ills. )

   SMILEYS ARE EVIL!    :P

~Ahem~

[insert something on-topic]

edited 22nd Jun '12 12:41:48 PM by Belian

What I like about Codex Alera (well, one of the many things) is that it takes the most cliché of all clichéd basic plots, and makes a believable, original and awesome story with it. That it takes so long to unfold (rather than everyone going OMGCHOSENONE!!!!111 by the second chapter) is a factor, but as always, chalk it up to Jim's skill.

Ah man, rest in peace Serai. I was really starting to like her too. Not ONLY because she reminded me of Rarity. Fidelias is still badass I see.

I totally expected her to live longer.

Sigh, me too. Anyway, thoughts on Academ so far: I really like Max. Tavi is cool now that he has awesome skills (but he doesn't really flaunt them, I like how restrained he is, it makes him a good foil to Harry Dresden who is very powerful and has very little restraint). Gaius is really interesting, though I'm not sure how much the book will actually focus on him. The Marat continue to be intriguing, and I really like Doroga.

The one thing I just have no patience with is Amara's Love or Duty subplot. She just sort of randomly decided that she has to leave Bernard for no good reason, even though she's been his lover for two years now while perfecting doing her duty for the crown.

Just wait till Kitai shows back up! That was when I really started enjoying Academ's. Her coming back is amusing and I personally felt very stupid not seeing how she would come back sooner.

So I am now onto book four and there is something bugging me. Outside of some minor characters there have been no major deaths. Maybe its because this is my first series after reading Song of Ice and Fire, but its just disturbing. I keep expecting these characters to die....and they don't. Its really making me nervous.

Tell me, how many main characters end up dieing in most Epic Fantasy (Ex: Lord Of The Rings) stories?

Well, the last book will have some of the deaths you are looking for.

In A Song of Ice and Fire, death is as common as leaves falling in Autumn.

Despite it's reputation though, you're usually safe if you're a point of view character.

Unless you're a prologue or epilogue POV character, then your death is guaranteed.

Or you're a Stark.

Or a King. Or an honorable person. Or a Frey.

That being said, the thought of an Westerosi Army meeting an Aleran legion is somewhat...amusing.

Imagine the Others invading Alera from the north.