As you may have already heard, The Aeronaut’s Windlass was nominated for Best Novel in the 2016 Hugo Awards! This makes his third nomination, after Skin Game was tapped for Best Novel in 2015 and Welcome to the Jungle was short-listed for Best Graphic Story in 2009. Jim’s fellow contenders are some of the most loved in the genre–Ann Leckie, N.K. Jemisin, Neal Stephenson, and Naomi Novik–so best of luck to all! If you want to cast your vote in this or any category, you can register here.
Next, the Dresden Files Cooperative Card Came (or DFCO) Kickstarter ends in 48 hours! For those late to the game, here’s a convenient summary of what each pledge level gets you! You can read about the campaign in greater detail on the main page.
Also, we want to remind you of some upcoming conventions. Jim has three more cons announced for this year, the first of which is this weekend! Folks in the Kansas City area can meet him and get books signed at Planet Comicon this Friday through Sunday, then fans in Denver and Atlanta get their turn in mid-August and early September with Myths and Legends Con and DragonCon, respectively. His schedule for this weekend is below.
FRIDAY, MAY 20th:
12pm – 2pm: Celebrity Area
3pm – 5pm: Wordfire Booth (#723)
SATURDAY, MAY 21st:
10:30 am – 12:30 pm: Celebrity Area
2pm – 4pm: Wordfire Booth (#723)
SUNDAY, MAY 22nd:
11am – 1pm: Wordfire Booth (#723)
2pm – 4pm: Celebrity Area
Finally, Issue #2 of the Wild Card graphic novel hits stores tomorrow! Check out a five-page preview at Comic Book Resources, then snag a copy at your favorite local independent comics shop.
As always, you can keep informed about upcoming release dates at Jim’s Upcoming Works page.
Jim has been confirmed as the DragonCon 2016 literary guest of honor (see Facebook post)! As one commenter notes, “Get ready for crazy lines at any panel that has him among the speakers.” And based on past years, they’re absolutely right. But those lines are so worth it.
As part of the run-up to the launch they’ve shared the rulebook for the game and a video that teaches you how to play the game. Watch it now, and get pumped—this game’s gonna be great!
Demo Opportunities in Maryland and Austin, TX
Evil Hat founder Fred Hicks will be demoing the Dresden Files Cooperative Card Game several places over the coming weeks. Here’s the schedule!
Saturday April 16th • All Afternoon & Evening • Games & Stuffof Glen Burnie, MD
Games & Stuff is hosting their 16th birthday bash this weekend, and Fred will be there to run as many games as he can fill. (With four prototypes on hand, if there’s table space, he can accommodate up to 20 players at a time.) If you’re in Maryland and are curious about the game — or just want to check out a great game store — come on by!
Fred will be in Austin this week, and is stopping by Wonko’s on Wednesday evening for their tabletop night. He’ll be demoing the game for as long as there are folks who want to demo it & space to do it. See you there!
Saturday April 30th • 4pm-6pm (signing & conversation from 2pm-7pm) • Dragon’s Lair of Austin, TX
But if the weeknight at Wonko’s doesn’t work for your schedule, never fear, Austin! Fred will also visit Dragon’s Lair as a part of International Tabletop Day. With the event in full swing, the store’s sure to be packed; they can only promise Fred a demo table for DFCO from 4pm-6pm, so make sure to get there in time to claim a spot. Spectators welcome, of course! And Fred will be there for at least an hour before and after to meet & greet & talk about the game. Should be a great time!
Anywhere else?
Fred is based in Maryland and will be looking for other opportunities to demo when he can. You can best find out what Fred’s up to on Twitter and Google Plus.
The game’s designer, Eric Vogel, is based out of California, and is frequently found at unstoppable game store juggernaut Endgame Oakland, so keep an eye out there as well.
No change in status from what’s shown there, folks. Jim is working, but there’s only one of him. These things take time! Don’t wear out the refresh button on that page or anything, but we will continue to keep the information there current. 🙂
Over the years, Jim has often been asked, “If you could go back and change anything about the series, what would it be?” He’s previously shrugged off such queries with a non-committal quip, but he admits the questions always struck a chord with him. Today, on the 16th anniversary of Storm Front’s release, Jim answers the fans’ call with The Dresden Files Special Edition.
This definitive collection seeks to bring the series more in line with his original vision, adding characters and worldbuilding details that would’ve been impossible given the constraints of the publishing industry at the time.
Jim credits the influence of his long-beloved Spider-Man franchise in this decision, citing the perennial appeal of Peter Parker’s origin story. He muses, “I’ve always wondered what Harry Dresden’s early life would’ve been like if he’d faced functionally identical villains, but with a different love interest, and with him being slightly more attractive, in a millennial way.”
The first novel will be rebranded as “Harry Dresden v The Shadowman: Front of Storms.” Jim draws readers’ attention to the “v” as opposed to the more conventional “vs.,” citing this choice as a way of “keep[ing] it from being a straight ‘versus’ book, even in the most subtle way.” This essential installment is due out in bookstores April 31st.
Jim hopes fans will embrace this new edition, as he looks forward to correcting an oversight in the dream sequence in Dead Beat, where he neglected to mention Harry’s father’s uncanny resemblance to Hayden Christensen.
If successful, Jim plans to reboot the series again in five years with an entirely different publisher.
Dresden Files Cooperative Card Game Exclusive Card Reveal & Kickstarter Date
Last week, the wizards at Evil Hat Productions demoed the Dresden Files Cooperative Card Game (DFCO) for retailers attending the GAMA Trade Show (GTS). We don’t want you to feel left out in the cold with Queen Mab, so take a look at the art from the pyrofuego-hotness that is the Harry Dresden deck. Artist Tyler Walpole is hard at work to finish the game, and it’s got us happier than Toot-toot with a large pepperoni pie.
Notice that he’s not wearing his “evil hat”? Harry doesn’t do hats! (Click for a bigger image.)
Just in case you’re not familiar with the game yet, here’s the skinny:
Play Harry Dresden and his friends as they take on the cases from the bestselling Dresden Files novels in the ultimate what-if scenario—what if Harry was on the scene with allies who weren’t there in the original story? The core game includes Harry, Murphy, Susan, Michael, and the Alphas and plays through the first five novels as well as Side Jobs, a random scenario generator based on the short story collection of the same name.
Box art by novel series artist Chris McGrath!
Designs are already well underway for expansions featuring more series characters and more novels. You can get your paws on all of them in the Evil Hat DFCO Kickstarter, coming to a computer near you (keep Harry away or he’ll fry it) in late April-ish. Sign up for the Evil Hat newsletter or simply watch this space to be notified when the Kickstarter goes live, and in the meantime take a look at their interviews from GTS to get a deeper preview of the game and the thought that went into it.
Team up. Strike back. FUEGO!
Wild Card Graphic Novel #1 Preview on Bleeding Cool
There’s a new Dresden Files graphic novel on the way. Join Harry, Thomas, Molly, and Murphy as they face off against a strange new supernatural threat. You can get a multi-page art preview over at Bleeding Cool, and the first issue arrives in late April. Here’s the summary:
Jim Butcher’s worldwide bestselling Dresden Files saga continues in this original limited series! Set in the aftermath of the novel White Night and comic series Down Town, a bizarre double murder draws the interest of Chicago’s only wizard for hire. But as Harry Dresden begins his investigation, the clues lead to troubling conclusions about the possible perpetrator, and set him on a path that will place him in the middle of a conflict between the city’s three most powerful factions—a conflict that could engulf all of Chicago!
Schedule Conflict Cancels Houston Appearance
We had previously reported that Jim would be making an appearance at Houston Comicpalooza in June of this year, but unfortunately a schedule conflict has torpedoed that appearance. Not our favorite thing to report, of course, but we wanted to make sure you were warned well in advance!
A New Dresden Files Short Story – Now Preorderable
Shadowed Souls is a new anthology from Roc that will feature an all new Dresden Files short story about Molly. You can preorder the book now! Here’s the Jim-relevant deal:
In this dark and gritty collection—featuring short stories from Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, Kevin J. Anderson, and Rob Thurman—nothing is as simple as black and white, light and dark, good and evil..
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what makes it so easy to cross the line.
In #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s Cold Case, Molly Carpenter—Harry Dresden’s apprentice-turned-Winter Lady—must collect a tribute from a remote Fae colony and discovers that even if you’re a good girl, sometimes you have to be bad…
Looks like everything’s coming up Dresden! That’s it for today. And remember, if you have any questions about what’s up with an upcoming book, you don’t need to email us about it—that information is already available on our website!
