Questions Specifically for Jim

[Mickey Finn]

Since Jim is not monitoring the boards due to writing crunch times, I thought I'd create a thread specifically aimed at him to check when he can, in order for some questions to avoid being buried in time.

However, we have to be careful and not flood this thread with random questions. So, rules of this thread:

1) No questions obviously aimed at plot points that will be revealed later, such as "Who is the girl Marcone's protecting?" or "What really happened at Arctis Tor before Harry arrived?" or "Who is Cowl under the hood?" This can be a fine line, depending on the question. For instance, "Does Murphy know how to use those katanas, or are they just decorative?" does not violate this rule and will be allowed. Jim may not answer it, of course. Jim may not answer any of these questions.

2) Nothing personal, in this thread. This is for Dresden Files questions, only. If he deviates, well, he's allowed.

3) Don't discuss or derail the thread. If you want to discuss something he's said, make your own thread and quote him.  He can come in that thread and discuss it with you...the point of this thread isn't a one-stop shop for all things Jim, but simply a place where he can see  questions and answer them. If we get into discussions, this thread will wander all over the place (something I normally don't mind, but this thread is an exception).

4) Please do your homework before asking a question...see if you can find the answers elsewhere, first. Unlike some, I do not mind when someone new to the boards asks a question that's been discussed to death, but if an answer is readily answerable elsewhere, then it's a waste of breath in this particular thread. Please also note that there's a FAQ forum near the top of this board. At the time of this writing, it's a tad threadbare, but it is growing.

[Mickey Finn]

So, to start:

Can Murphy actually use the katana set she has on her mantle?


It's mentioned that the Swords of the Cross have a nail from the Crucifixtion worked into them...are they visible (as in, part of the guard or blade), or are they hidden or reforged into the metal? Also, the katana has the symbol for faith engraved on the blade...do the other two have their respective namesakes engraved on them somehow? What are they? (As in, is it a symbol or word in the blade of the broadsword and calvary sabre?)

Is it supposed to be a mystery at this point whether that was Mab or not on the roof of Arctis Tor? There's been much discussion as to whether or not it was or was not, and if it's supposed to be a mystery, great, but if not, did we just miss it? (This question is purely to determine whether we, the audience, are supposed to know, or if it's still a mystery.)

[Priscellie]

As the maintainer of the timeline, I have a bunch of timeline-related questions!  Feel free to ignore or mock any question you don't feel like answering.

1)  Some have reported you saying that we have already been given enough evidence to determine Harry's age.  One point of contention is the real-life timeline of David Copperfield, who only adopted that stage name in 1974 and gained national recognition in 1977.  Did you have these dates in mind when you named Harry, and if so, does this give us an upper limit on Harry's age?  Is the smallpox vaccination scar also meant to be a clue?

2)  How long was Harry in Chicago before opening his detective business, and how long did he work with Nick at Fallen Angel?  (Also, can we get a last name for Nick?)

3)  How long was Harry with Ebenezar?  Was there much intervening time between when he left Ebenezar and when he moved to Chicago?  (Yeah, so #2 and #3 together are tantamount to asking "How old is Harry in Storm Front?"  Was it that obvious? )

4)  Did you happen to have any point in time in mind for "Vignette," the short story in which Harry and Bob discuss his yellow pages ad?

5)  Care to pin down specific years for the actual books so we don't have to rely on my ridiculous BSF/ASF system? *puppy dog eyes*

6)  Sorry, after the revelations at Dragon*Con, I had to add a sixth.  You spoke of the age difference between Molly and Daniel as being part of the reason Molly will be the only magical Carpenter kid.  However, Molly is 17 in Proven Guilty, whereas Daniel is about 15 or 16, "maybe old enough to take a driver's test."  There's not much of an age difference at all.  Should I get a life?


The Minutae:

About how old is Alicia Carpenter in Proven Guilty?  We're given approximate ages for all the kids but her.

What is Richard's (Murph's second husband's) last name?

Care to give us approximate ages for Luccio and Morgan?


And finally, I know you're extraordinarily busy, but if you happen to glance over our timeline and notice any glaring errors, please point them out!

[William McCoy]

The One's I'm Curious About

Edit:  Question One was answer by...well...existance and the fact it was the story used in My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding.  So, to replace it, I ask this question, dedicated to the Fae and Semantics:  You make it very obvious that the Fae exisit.  You have primal forces like Summer and Winter personified.  And you have Angels, Demons and God in the picture too.  Does this mean that other Acients, such as the Greek gods or perchance the Norse Pantheon may be involved too?

2.  Events off camera, such as storm-chasing and such...will those ever come up as possible vignettes, or does Harry actualy get some private time away from us voyers...uh...I mean...readers?

3.  Is Mike the Mechanic actualy a musical referance, as speculated?

4.  Would it be possible to give us the 7 Laws in order, just to make sure we've hammered them down correctly?

The One You Probably Don't Need To Answer

These books aren't meant as a Dracula-esque saftey guide to mortals, are they?

And a follow up to that:  Are you sure?


Thanks for humoring me...

---Slim

[Rhea]

When the swords of the cross have been reforged (I know you said Amoracchius has never been reforged, so this applies to the other two), have they always had the same shape (i.e. was Shiro's always a katana)?

Is the Gatekeeper deformed because of job-related activities (i.e. guarding the Gates), or is there another story behind his presumed deformities? And where the hell WAS the Gatekeeper when the Reds were bringing in Outsiders to use against the White Council in "Dead Beat?" I don't remember ever seeing an explanation for why the Gatekeeper didn't...well...Gatekeep (unless all of the Outsiders were summoned in the Never-Never and he doesn't monitor there).

Why the Leanansidhe for Harry's godmother? A sidhe who bestows creativity at the cost of madness or death, and is thought to collect the artist's blood in a cauldron to ensure her great beauty? Did the name just sound cool?

[Ghoulfish]

You might mention this in a later book but

how did Harry first come into contact with leannasilde (I think I spelled it right sort of maybe ...... not)
In I think Fool Moon he dreams of the ritual where he gains his power bit it never really meantions what he was like before.

And another question why are you reading these messages - you should be writing

shame on you!



Just kidding 

[CrystalAnne]

Would you characterize the Fallen as demons or angels?  Oh, and also (and you can blow this one off if it veers off into future plot point territory), how did they wind up in the coins when the Fall would have taken place approximately 4000 years before Judas (if one goes by Christian theology)?

[Belmonte]

[Edited 'cause I'm a moron and forgot which thread this was]

My own question: Did Harry ever lose the power he got from the Nightmare in Grave Peril, or is it still a part of him?  I'm basically curious about how the magical cosmology works.  Is that transfer of power permanent?

[Bynjaimyn]

my questions are more about the writing aspect....

1. When you start to write a new book, do you already know how it's going to end, or does it just develop while you write?
2. Do you have many more dresden files planned, or are there a set limit?
3. Do you write out your novels or do you type them? I can sit and write, but typing kills me for some odd reason...
Thanks!

[Priscellie]

my questions are more about the writing aspect....

1. When you start to write a new book, do you already know how it's going to end, or does it just develop while you write?
2. Do you have many more dresden files planned, or are there a set limit?
3. Do you write out your novels or do you type them? I can sit and write, but typing kills me for some odd reason...
Thanks!

I can answer #2.  Sayeth Jim:

I'm writing 20-ish case books, and a big old three book apocalyptic trilogy to cap it off, and then the story is over.  I have no intention of trying to force more story out for its own sake.  I've got a plan, and I wanna stick to it.