The Dresden Files

Is there anything (besides all the monsters and whatnot) preventing a permanent settlement of humans being established in the Nevernever?

I got the general impression that it's bad for humans to spend long periods of time there, but I think Elaine lived with the Summer Court for several years, so

Assuming we’re talking about vanilla people and not a bunch of wizards, they’d need some way of getting there, and preferably going back and forth, which probably means at least one wizard among them willing to open Ways as needed. Ways tend to close up on their own without the wizard holding them open, and other means of crossing over are unreliable or hard to access.

If they want to maintain contact with the mortal world, they also need to be wary of the Narnia Time.

Edited by HeraldAlberich on Apr 20th 2024 at 9:42:39 AM

Honestly i think spending extended periods of time in the Nevernever isn´t inherently bad for mortals. It´s just that the constant threat (and possible interaction with) of things trying to eat, enslave, enthrall, or otherwise harm you (not necessarily in that order) isn´t great for ones mental state. Areas with different laws of nature would also likely make one seem crazy upon returning to the mortal world, or might actually pose risks to ones health (like an area in which oxygen binds more strongly to hemoglobin resulting in symptons similar to carbonmonoxid poisoning).

A wizard is not specificly required. I think most caster types (of sufficient strength) regardless of species can open ways, though possibly more limited than wizards. Fae especially seem to be great at it, where some even create a smooth transition instead of a portal. Even some otherwise non-magical individuals can have an intrinsic ability to open ways in a limited way (i.e. white court vampires can open ways in places where something significant happened to them, like when Thomas open one in the Wraith deeps). Also i´m sure there are rituals vanilla mortals could use to open ways.

Edited by Samaldin on Apr 21st 2024 at 10:10:24 AM

Re the Queens-

IIRC Word of Jim is that there has only been one Mother Winter, but the current Mother Summer is the second in that role, and there have been 'several' the Ladies/Queens throughout the ages. We know (at last check) that Mab/Titania are twin sisters.

So I think that its possible that the current Mother Summer is the Bio Mom for the current queens from when she was Summer Queen, Aurora/Maeve/Sarissa were bio kids of Titania/Mab with Maeve/Sarissa being twins.

I think it was stated that Mab was the Winter Lady before ascending to the Queen role, most likely Titania was Summer Lady then became Summer Queen, and both Queen's Daughters became the Ladies.

Kringle is the Current Winter King (AKA Odin) and there was a Summer King he was named Oberon but he's not around anymore and got himself killed off, no idea if there is a current Summer King.

Damn that is way more confusing now that I actually wrote that out...

I assumed the Erlking was the Summer King, in the same way Kringle still counts as a Wyld Fae.

If i remember a WoJ correctly Oberon isn´t precisely killed off but one of the ice-sculptures in Mabs garden. Apparently he tried to have something going with Titania and Mab at the same time and they found out.

Truly courting death.

Yeah, dude, you're Sidhe, there are easier ways to indulge your Twin Threesome Fantasy. (Yes, I know he wasn't trying to get them in bed at the same time [probably], don't @ me.)

Admittedly, a move like that is about what I'd expect from a Fae.

I believe the Erlking is the ruler of the Wild Fey/Leader of the Wild Hunt which is separate from both the Summer and Winter Courts

If Oberon is part of Mab's garden that might be why we don't have an active Summer King, as long as he's 'alive' the mantle cannot be passed to another. Slate had a similar fate when he betrayed Winter in 'Summer Knight' and there wasn't a new Winter Knight till Changes when Harry accepted the mantle.

Edited by ShadowWingLG on Apr 23rd 2024 at 3:01:18 AM

If there was Summer King who was in Winter and wasn't using his mantle wouldn't that massively unbalance the courts in Winter's favour?

In the books, global warming is supposed to be because Summer Court has the advantage, even before Slate being taken out of play, which tips the balance more towards Summer.

Winter is already massively more powerful than Summer, they just focus their strength at the Outer Gates. I believe the disbalance from a mantle being out of commission is just political. For a supernatural disbalance with associated effects power needs to be outright transfered into one of the courts.

Furthermore there´s the question of how strong the mantle of king is in the first place. Eldest is a mantle among the Malks and i don´t think Cait Sith would be a significant difference in power when comparing the entire Courts. If it´s true that the Kings are supposed to be a balance for the typical court attitude (i.e. Kringle being friendly, kind, and generous, instead of the typical winter calousness and cruelty) their power might also not factor in all that much.

Edited by Samaldin on Apr 23rd 2024 at 10:51:32 AM

"Eldest" is a title used for the most powerful/senior member of a fairy race in general; you also have Eldest Fetch in Proven Guilty and Eldest Gruff in Small Favor

Malks were just the only ones i remembered to be mention in a WoJ to use "Eldest" as a mantle, the others likely carry an "Eldest" mantle as well

If something like Global Warning was giving Summer an 'edge' it would give more clarity on WHY Aurora was trying to do what she did in Summer Knight. She already 'knew' that Summer was becoming 'more powerful' than Winter but of course Titania wouldn't pull the trigger and 'Win the Fight' against Winter. Its unknown of Aurora knew about the Outer Gates and why Winter was needed.

Her pouring a new mantle into Winter would most likely force Summer to really fight Winter at minimum, I can't remember if Jim stated what would have happened had Aurora succeeded in her plan at the table.

As far as i remember it was the other way around according to Bob. Global warming didn´t give Summer an edge, Summer having an edge was the cause of global warming.

Also Aurora didn´t want for Summer to really start fighting Winter, she was tired of the constant skirmishes, contests, proxy wars, etc between the courts and people getting crushed in them. I believe that that line of thought was still herself, without any Nemesis influence, and that she didn´t know of the Outer Gates. Nemesis then twisted her wishing for hostilities to cease into the idea to powerup Winter so there would finaly be a victor to end the eternal conflict, even if it wasn´t her side.

Also, I feel like the Queens' and Ladies' mantles probably give them a compulsion to fight each other. The same way that, even if they want to give a straight answer to a question, it's a struggle to overcome their instinct to speak in an oblique, cryptic manner that leaves room for Exact Words trickery.

Edited by RavenWilder on Apr 27th 2024 at 10:24:44 AM

Stuff like this is why it really sucks for Molly that she ended up Winter Lady. Like I mentioned way back, no wonder Nemesis was able to get Maeve on board.

Ghost Story is done:

• Nitpick: Translators vary between each book. This one decided to shift Harry's name via some declension shenanigans. It's not incorrect but it's the only book that does it, and it bothers me when it's not just "Dresden".
• Anyway, main thing out of the way: I feel like I really can't blame Harry for doing what he did. Self-flagellation is a part of his character, granted, but he didn't exactly have many options at the time in Chichen Itza; either the Reds used the curse and killed him (and his family) or he kills them back. The Fomor reappearing out of the woodwork (er, glonework) mere hours after the Red Court is destroyed doesn't help, especially since later books will establish them to be a very similar and one-dimensional presence that looms in the background. At least this comes to a head much earlier in their case than with Reds'; maybe they would be more palatable if there were more hints of them being out there.
  • Fair about taking Molly there, as well as the shenanigans about his memory loss. I thought there were some exceptions, but it seems like she did stay out of trouble in most cases (unless the trouble found her, like in It's My Birthday, Too); makes sense that trip would tremendously mess her up. It really does feel like Harry moved on from Molly's crush and never really addressed that this is not a one-way-street.
• Mort definitely gets an award for the biggest glow-up out of many minor characters throughout. And even despite his achievements, he is very firmly not an action character, which honestly sells it a bit more. He gets his moments, but not everyone can just act the part of an irreverent action hero like Harry could.
• Speaking of irreverent action, his time as a ghost involves a lot of blunders. This is understandable, since he's very new at this and also under a strict time limit, but even late in the book when he figures his magic out and even manages to briefly materialize, Mort still needs to remind him that he's about to unmake himself. Harry can definitely be stubborn like few people are.
• I like that tidbit with Murphy gently walking the Great Hood hoodlum through the process of inviting them in. We see her as a massive hardass throughout the book (demolishing Felicia, tearing into Harry at Marcone's Castle etc.), more than she's ever been - but at the end of the day, she still has that moral core hidden deep down.
• Sir Stuart is out of the story early, that surprised me. He makes a quasi-return and Uriel even gets him a new unlife at the end, but I originally thought it was much later where he is shaded.
• The glimpses into Harry's past, finally seeing Justine Dumorne "on screen" so to say - that was neat, and I wonder if there will come a time where we see what exactly happened when Harry came back empowered by Lea. But man, even before the big bad reveal happens, Harry just matter-of-factly states that Justin would hit him hard and fast for blundering, like it's just something that happens.
  • He Who Walks Behind is definitely terrifying, and the idea of this not-quite-but-practically-invisible creature sells nicely. I am however confused as to why Justin sent a Walker - who are supposed to be among the top agents of the Outsiders, Sharkface's dismal performance in the next book nonetheless - after Harry. Like, of all the things you could have sent, why a Walker? Isn't that like trying to kill a fly with a flamethrower? And HWWB doesn't even manage that, because he's too busy getting his jollies on by tormenting Harry.
• I'm honestly surprised kinetomancy like what Aristedes does isn't more widespread. Then again, Harry kinda does that (did that) with his power rings and most mages don't really need to be getting in melee range to begin with. He is an interesting antagonist in that he wouldn't be trouble for the usual protagonists, but those are unavailable. Even then, despite his skills and abilities, Daniel and Butters still almost get the better of him.
  • Fitz is alright. I'm not sure if Alive!Harry would go after them guns blazing, despite what Murphy and himself may imply; he might at first, but these are still just kids being whammied by a warlock. That they don't suffer any consequences however for their drive-by is kind of eyebrow-raising, I suppose.
• How did Evil Bob get out anyway? I thought that part of him was supposed to be forgotten, rather than expelled. Bob changing hands from Harry to Butters wouldn't have changed that, would it? Nonetheless, the war sequence was pretty cool and also another display of Harry not thinking things through (what's with sending the Lecters out to go wild).
• Something that I appreciate about this book is the presence of good supernatural forces. Most of them in Dresdenverse are some manner of wicked and predatory. The Winter Court is technically the good guys (since they manage the Outer Gates), but their manner of being is still very dangerous for the vanilla mortals. Uriel having this entire Chicago-Between department of people working behind the scenes to help out, or even things as simple as Amitiel shutting off Harry's sight to keep him from hurting himself or the knowledge that the Carpenters' House has such powerful protection (which makes it a perfect place to put Maggie in, although I recall the protections are put to the test in Skin Game, since Ol' Nick cheats)... there is some hope in the world, even as it is besieged by terrible creatures.
  • Of course, Uriel himself states that what they can do is limited (I imagine if they could, they'd smite Ethniu and Corb off the face of the planet), but the Seven Words of Truth are how Harry begins his new "standard": as a Winter Knight in Mab's employ, but still himself.
    • ...anyway, that Fallen whispering in his ear - that's a bit annoying. Where did it come from? Lash was supposed to be dead, and also she was shaken enough to give her life to shield Harry back in White Night - which begs the question, who on earth is this random Shadow showing up and even letting Uriel and his crew get involved in the first place? It's not the first time the Fallen are cavalier about getting Angels involved (White Favor's massive Lucifer-boosted circle comes to mind), but... it kind of feels like it just shifts some blame off Harry. Of course, it is stated in text that the Shadow only exacerbated Harry's tendencies and isn't wholly responsible for them - but still...

There's a lot to talk about, honestly. At the end of the day, it's definitely a different book compared to the others, though maybe not as different as I thought it was. Up next, Cold Days.

The shadow angel whispering in Harry's ear is Anduriel, Nicodemus's partner. It manifests as his shadow.

This! All and sundry seem to line up post-Changes to tell him what a mess he made of it and how everything messed up but never outlines at workable alternative to what he did. And if he did nothing, well Maggie dies, he dies, McCoy dies. (Molly would still be on her own unguided apart from Lea at best.) That's not a win is it?

I mean he massively crushed one of the major evil factions but his attempt to weasal out of his deal with Mab resulted in his allies being left without backup for a year, making things much much worse.

Also, he still needed to kill a woman he loved and the mother of his child to do it. Regardless of the justification and necessity of the act, one which was also forced on him, it would still be extremely traumatic. Guilt is not rational even in mundane circumstances, and this situation would make anyone guilty even if there were extenuating circumstances. If Harry had just moved on rationalizing the act as bad but necessary, I would have thought him sociopathic.

In the sense that he just told her "no" once and considered the thing closed and done with. (despite the many "I would have to be blind to not see how hot Molly is" comments throughout the further stories) Molly, meanwhile, still carried a torch for him throughout. It probably didn't help with her mental state after Harry died, what's with the whole "I am party to killing the man I loved" thing.

...how did he get there? I don't think Nick was in town recently, was he?