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The Dresden Files => DF Spoilers => Topic started by: Foxed on May 30, 2018, 08:27:04 PM

Title: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Foxed on May 30, 2018, 08:27:04 PM
Had a thought. What separates the Trilogy from the case files.

Answer: what if Butcher is planning to expand the point of view beyond Dresden. We see it in short stories.

Plus that way our trusty narrator is no longer safe.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: groinkick on May 31, 2018, 04:34:59 AM
I could see it happening that way. 

I laid out a theory a long time ago that the case files will end, Harry will get his happy ending, and the BAT will start years after the case files end.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Quantus on May 31, 2018, 12:10:25 PM
Interesting Idea.  Might imply harry will die to kick it off.

Id always thought the main difference with the Trilogy would be that it was more literally a single large story arc broken into three parts, as opposed to the self-contained and more loosely grouped case-files
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Kindler on May 31, 2018, 02:50:00 PM
I've kicked around the idea of the BAT doing just that; multiple first-person perspectives. It can be reconciled with the idea that the Case Files are Harry's journals, too; the alternate perspectives are accounts gathered after the fact by a fastidious chronicler.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: wardenferry419 on May 31, 2018, 11:59:51 PM
That would add an element of uncertainty to Harry's survival.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Fcrate on June 01, 2018, 12:03:30 AM
That would add an element of uncertainty to Harry's survival.
To be honest, Harry's survival would disappoint me to a certain degree.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: wardenferry419 on June 01, 2018, 12:10:33 AM
After his craptastic life, Harry could use some retirement.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Fcrate on June 01, 2018, 12:44:02 AM
A nice spot in heaven, with visitation rights to Hell looks like a good retirement plan to me.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Cozarkian on June 03, 2018, 04:26:05 AM
Quite possible. My theory is that the case books have all happened in the past but the BAT will be in the present. The very first line of Storm Front was a clue that the case books are Harry's journals of past events. I think he completes writing the set of journals after the last case book and before the BAT. This has a similar effect of making Harry not safe.

Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Snark Knight on June 04, 2018, 07:31:57 PM
A nice spot in heaven, with visitation rights to Hell looks like a good retirement plan to me.

He did eat Vadderung's donut, which if I'm not mistaken gives the Norse pantheon a claim on him to go to their afterlife.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Kindler on June 04, 2018, 07:42:08 PM
Quite possible. My theory is that the case books have all happened in the past but the BAT will be in the present. The very first line of Storm Front was a clue that the case books are Harry's journals of past events. I think he completes writing the set of journals after the last case book and before the BAT. This has a similar effect of making Harry not safe.
This?
Quote
I heard the mailman approach my office door, half an hour earlier than usual.
I think you're right about the books being the journals, but I don't see how that's a clue.

As for the BAT being in the present, that'd be swell, but I hope to God he isn't going to write it in present tense. Present tense fiction is extremely irritating to read. Too many f*(&ing gerunds. Simple past FTW.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: nedserD C B yrraH on June 06, 2018, 06:28:18 PM
f*(&ing gerunds.
;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Kindler on June 06, 2018, 07:25:07 PM
;D ;D ;D
Glad someone got it.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: exartiem on June 07, 2018, 12:45:31 PM
Since the books are 'written' by Harry in the past tense, then if he dies, someone else will have to write it.  How do you write down the events of your own death when you are not there afterward?

Given Jim's predilection for torturing Harry, I don't see him letting the boy off the hook while he's still alive.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Quantus on June 07, 2018, 02:01:56 PM
Since the books are 'written' by Harry in the past tense, then if he dies, someone else will have to write it.  How do you write down the events of your own death when you are not there afterward?
He hasnt even been alive during all the Books themselves; there's absolutely zero requirement for him to be alive to write these books.  Dead and Gone are wildly different things in the DV, especially with Harry. 
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Kindler on June 07, 2018, 02:12:17 PM
I'm spoiling this. It's about a Dean Koontz series.

(click to show/hide)

Personally, my money is on Dresden becoming something Grander at the end of the BAT rather than dying.

EDIT: I didn't spoil it, I quoted it. Sorry!
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Quantus on June 07, 2018, 02:30:22 PM
I'm spoiling this. It's about a Dean Koontz series.

Personally, my money is on Dresden becoming something Grander at the end of the BAT rather than dying.
"Grander" seems like too much of a "Happily Ever After".  More likely he's stuck sitting around all day haunting Mort
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Kindler on June 07, 2018, 03:32:15 PM
"Grander" seems like too much of a "Happily Ever After".  More likely he's stuck sitting around all day haunting Mort

I meant more like he becomes something different, like Vadderung. A new, modern Mantle-type being. Not really a happily-ever-after ending, and not quite a "the adventure continues" either. Though I guess that would kinda violate the whole Free Will is Pretty Awesome, Actually theme. I dunno. But I don't see how Harry finishes the series as just a wizard, or as the Winter Knight, or anything like that. He'll be something More than he is now, and not just in a personal growth way.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: exartiem on June 07, 2018, 07:10:29 PM
He hasnt even been alive during all the Books themselves; there's absolutely zero requirement for him to be alive to write these books.  Dead and Gone are wildly different things in the DV, especially with Harry.

That's why I said 'past tense'  he is writing about events that happened in the past, as a memoir.  He is not writing in the present tense, as the events are happening, there fore, he wrote about being a ghost after he came back to life.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Quantus on June 07, 2018, 10:43:38 PM
That's why I said 'past tense'  he is writing about events that happened in the past, as a memoir.  He is not writing in the present tense, as the events are happening, there fore, he wrote about being a ghost after he came back to life.
Nope, not at all.  My whole point was that in the Dresden Files you do not have to be deadALIVE to be able to write a book, or event to be able to write a book and share it with Mortals.  So yes, Harry can still very much be dead at the end of the series and still be writing theses books after the fact. 

EDIT: Alive, I meant Alive..
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Ananda on June 08, 2018, 01:29:59 AM
As for the BAT being in the present, that'd be swell, but I hope to God he isn't going to write it in present tense. Present tense fiction is extremely irritating to read. Too many f*(&ing gerunds. Simple past FTW.
I’m still hoping for second person, future tense.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: exartiem on June 09, 2018, 05:26:38 AM
Nope, not at all.  My whole point was that in the Dresden Files you do not have to be deadALIVE to be able to write a book, or event to be able to write a book and share it with Mortals.  So yes, Harry can still very much be dead at the end of the series and still be writing theses books after the fact. 

EDIT: Alive, I meant Alive..

Only if he's doing it through Mort or someone else like him.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Quantus on June 09, 2018, 12:42:33 PM
Only if he's doing it through Mort or someone else like him.
Oh sure, he'd need a mechanism of communication.  But Mort or Fitz or maybe demonreach or Butters and Molly or likely most Council Wizards would be able to work something out, it's not that hard or rare in-world.  Assuming Harry doesnt manage it himself, with his own I-Died-and-Got-Better shenanigans (which we're told was more significant than he knows)
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Jcarlson171 on June 11, 2018, 12:13:36 AM
Another possibility that becoming something grander would be that he losses it all winter knight, demonreach, his magic, etc. and becomes something like mac who is "out"
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: wardenferry419 on June 11, 2018, 12:15:46 AM
To be out of the game? May be a good thing for Harry.
Title: Re: Big Apocalyptic Trilogy Theory
Post by: Quantus on June 11, 2018, 12:54:12 PM
To be out of the game? May be a good thing for Harry.
Retirement does look nice.  Assuming his package is in any way similar to Michael's