# Jim Butcher (Dresden Files - Codex Alera) book signing!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [March 25, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684 "2009-03-25T01:16:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/1 "2009-03-25T01:16:25Z")
**DogMom** started it all [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=502505), asking a question in the Chicago forums about Undertown, as found in the Harry Dresden books. Not only some good information came from factual responses by Dopers, but also from Butcher himself. Which was way cool, and led to Ed lining up a phone interview with Mr. Butcher and Cecil which led to [this column.](http://chicago.straightdope.com/sdc20090319.php)
Keeping up?
Next - today, **DogMom** , [started this thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=510904)
Along the way, unless you’re not paying close attention, you caught on that the [midnight, first day sales event of the 11th book, **Turn Coat** is happening right here, in the west Chicago 'burbs!!!](http://www.jim-butcher.com/)
:: happy dance, and nose thumbing at the rest of the country ::
I PM’d **Dex** wondering which would be best, to drop a note into one of those threads, or start one here to suggest/invite/demand a Chi-Dope-Butcher pre-game fest.
Since the festivities start at the Oakbrook Borders at 10:30 PM, this lends itself to a fabulous pre-event-event, followed by a raggle taggle jaunt to the signing/contest/reading and sale. There are any number of nice places to gather for a nosh and or a beverage within a couple miles of the Borders, I’m open to suggestion if anyone has a preference.
I AM going to be there, **Dex** is “hoping” to make it, it’d be kind of cool to make a group entrance. I don’t do costumes well though, so unless I find a giant skull with glowing eyes in my size, I’m out of that.
But come on, it’ll be fun! Stay up late, have some fun on a school night, stay up late, head home with a cool book and a neat story!!!
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### Author:  [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/2 "2009-03-25T01:56:29Z")
Dude, awesome. Shows what I get for not hanging on on the Chicago side of the boards. I’ve been rereading the series in anticipation of the new book. They’re just so much fun, and put my own budding idea of a modern magic novel to shame.
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2009, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/3 "2009-03-25T10:48:25Z")
Alas, as I am in PA I will not be there. But enjoy!
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### Author:  [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2009, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/4 "2009-03-25T12:38:03Z")
Dang. I just went to the thread and tried to send Jim Butcher a gushing fan letter, but he won’t let me. However, it’s still very cool that he was here! I’m all a-flutter.
I’m just now reading the series for the first time, so I can’t read the linked threads and I’m about to bow out of this one, but rest assured I am very jealous of you, **Bus Guy**.
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### Author:  [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/5 "2009-03-25T15:46:57Z")
I saw Jim Butcher at Dragoncon a couple of years ago, when he was plugging the TV show. He was a good and funny speaker, and very nice about signing things. I’m glad to see him becoming so successful.
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### Author:  [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/6 "2009-03-25T17:47:12Z")
Hmm, he’s coming to Dayton soon. I’m there.
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/7 "2009-03-25T19:17:33Z")
I’ll try very hard to be there. My problem is that it’s two days before Passover, and I’ve got a ton of family coming in on Tuesday, and midnight is way past my bedtime. I’ll try.
**Mr Bus Guy** , just pick a place and time.
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/8 "2009-04-03T01:24:33Z")
**Mr Bus Guy** and I are meeting at Ditka’s in Oakbrook on Monday night at 9 PM, prior to going over to Borders for the signing activities. It’s on the ground floor of an office building on the NW corner of 83 and 22nd street in Oakbrook. Any other Dopers wanting to join us, please do. I’ll have a copy of one of the Straight Dope books prominently displayed.
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2009, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/9 "2009-04-03T10:47:24Z")
If you get a chance, please ask him how many books he plans for The Codex Alera.
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2009, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/10 "2009-04-13T11:46:53Z")
So did you get to ask him how many books he planned for the Codex Alera?
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### Author:  [@MissRancher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissRancher)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2009, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/11 "2009-04-13T12:12:05Z")
Damn, damn, damn. Why oh why did I move away from Chicago! He’s coming to _my_ Borders and I’m not even in the state anymore.
Grumble.
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### Author:  [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/12 "2009-04-13T13:40:04Z")
> [@Khadaji](#):
>
> So did you get to ask him how many books he planned for the Codex Alera?
There was a lengthy Q & A session, during which I kept wandering in the periphery trying to get better angles. The question was asked, but I don’t honestly recall the answer.
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### Author:  [@Morelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morelin)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/13 "2009-04-13T15:19:01Z")
I think there are only one or two more in the Codex series.
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### Author:  [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/14 "2009-04-16T02:21:34Z")
Just got back from the Dayton signing. I like this guy, he’s funny. I can tell he’s a gamer just from the way he talks. Originally, he was supposed to do a reading, but after asking the crowd if he could just go right to the Q & A that’s what he did. Got a book signed for me, a book for my friend, and another for my brother in Iraq, who I will soon be sending all the Dresden file books I can get my hands on.
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### Author:  [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/15 "2009-04-16T14:01:13Z")
He did that here too. Someone I work with (ok, ok…my boss… ) asked me what he was like. I said he is exactly the guy I’d want to find myself sitting next to in the airport lounge during a long delay.
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### Author:  [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/16 "2009-04-16T15:07:08Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#):
>
> Just got back from the Dayton signing. I like this guy, he’s funny. I can tell he’s a gamer just from the way he talks. Originally, he was supposed to do a reading, but after asking the crowd if he could just go right to the Q & A that’s what he did. Got a book signed for me, a book for my friend, and another for my brother in Iraq, who I will soon be sending all the Dresden file books I can get my hands on.
I wish I’d been able to go- I would have liked to have gotten my book signed. I’m currently reading the new Dresdan, and loving it. I think that Butcher’s strength lies in his characters, especially the ones on the side. Every side character he makes could easily support its own book- Michael, Molly, Murphy… hell, even Toot-toot.
While I enjoy the Codex Alera books, I really prefer Dresden.
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### Author:  [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-butcher-dresden-files-codex-alera-book-signing/490684/17 "2009-04-16T16:01:32Z")
> [@Lightnin](#):
>
> I wish I’d been able to go- I would have liked to have gotten my book signed. I’m currently reading the new Dresdan, and loving it. I think that Butcher’s strength lies in his characters, especially the ones on the side. Every side character he makes could easily support its own book- Michael, Molly, Murphy… hell, even Toot-toot.
He’s writing short stories from the point of view of other characters. He promised a story from the point of view of Murphy entitled ‘Hawaii’.