Recommended reading: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

Filed by: Darren on November 23, 2006 at 21:27
Filed In: Books

When we first meet him, our hero Harry Dresden is a down-at-heel, gumshoe wizard-for-hire, living in a basement apartment in one of the less reputable areas of Chicago, taking whatever cases - mostly missing persons, or missing felines - come his way, and helping out Karrin Murphy of the Chicago PD with any cases that go so far beyond the norm that even the cops get desperate enough to call him in.

As well as trying to make ends meet, he spends a lot of his time trying to keep out of the bad books of the White Council - they're the secret society of wizards in charge of regulating the use of magic and generally keeping the bad guys under control - just in case he puts so much as a toe out of line and their enforcer, Morgan, finally gets to have his way and carry out the suspended death sentence that's been hanging over Harry since his former mentor tried to eat Harry's mind, and Harry had to get rough and kill him. See? back-story a-plenty, and we're only a couple of chapters in...

Anyhow, I have to say that so far I'm thoroughly enjoying this series. The characterisation is fantastic, the supporting cast is varied and colourful, and Jim Butcher's milieu is extremely well thought-out; it's both solidly consistent and highly intriguing. A multitude of supernatural beasties come pouring out of the woodwork at every turn, and Harry - although he's potentially one of the most powerful wizards to have lived, if certain tantalising hints are to be believed - is young and still relatively inexperienced, so he's not immune to getting his arse kicked in the line of duty.

In fact, that's one trick that Butcher manages to pull off quite neatly; he's very good at instilling a palpable sense of risk in Harry's encounters with his various and numerous foes. Admittedly, as the hero of an ongoing series, there's a good chance that Dresden's not going to get wind up slaughtered halfway through the book, but there's still every chance that something bad will happen to those that Harry works with, cares about and loves...

I'm very glad I started reading this particular series before the Sci-Fi Channel announced they were making a TV series based on them. I much prefer to experience books first, adaptation afterwards, rather than the other way around, and I'm not sure - judging by the trailer - that the producers have got the casting exactly right; Paul Blackthorne looks the part as Dresden, but I'm not sure that Valerie Cruz will make a convincing Karrin Murphy... we'll see when the series finally makes it to the UK.

If you're a fan of supernatural detective / mystery series in general, then this is one of the better ones I've come across. Here are the Amazon links for the first seven volumes, UK editions:

Let me know what you think when you've read the first book or two, yeah?

Filed on: November 23, 2006
Filed under: Books
Tagged with: Jim-Butcher | recommended-reading | supernatural-detectives | The-Dresden-Files |

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5 Responses to 'Recommended reading: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher'

Joe on November 29th, 2006 1:52 pm

Having devoured the lot I have to say I am well hooked. Thank goodness George and the nice folks at Orbit sent each one to me. I had the especially nice thing of not knowing about them in advance, looking at these books they had sent, looking at my massive 'to be read' pile and thinking, may look at them at some point. And then having finished a book at lunch time and needing something else to start I saw the first Dresden next to my desk and thought, okay, let's have a quick look at you - ended up reading the first siz back to back after that, totally hooked. I like a wizard who turns up to a congress in his bathrobe because the rules say all wizards to present in their robes, but doesn't specify what robes - that partly sums up Harry.

Seventh one was also highly enjoyable and I like the way Jim has developed not only Harry but the world around him as he has gone along. Since you enjoyed these I'd also heartily recommend Lilith Saint Crow's "Working for the Devil" (also Orbit this year) and, of course, the new works of Mr Mike Carey (if you haven't already - go well with your Hellblazer marathon)
Ariel on November 29th, 2006 2:04 pm

Loved the first two Mike Careys (expect to see those in a Recommended Reading column sometime soon) but have to admit that I didn't get on with the Saintcrow. There was something that irritated me - I think there was a lot of repetitive dialogue in the first few chapters, something like that - but it put me right off. Couldn't finish it...
Ed on November 30th, 2006 7:46 pm

Enjoyed the first of Mike Carey's and will be checking out Vicious Circle. And I'll probably get round to Jim Butcher at some point too. But I've got like over 30 books here still to read so might be a while. Not that I'll be reading them in the order I got them.
I might even check out that Hellblazer thing, bound to be scanned copies of it on this 'net thing. There certainly is for manga.
Professor Yaffle on September 19th, 2007 9:13 pm

Loved it. I saw the TV series first which is what prompted me to seek them out. Thought the TV series was great, but the books are infinitely superior. I agree whole-heartedly about the casting. Paul Blackthorne is definitely Dresden, but Valerie Cruz, is neither short nor blonde. They could have at least given her a wig!! Not sure about Morgan either! Characters' backgrounds are well thought through and develop with the plots as we go through the series. I'm hooked. I started the first one at the beginning of August and I'm now at the stage (mid Sept.) where I'm concerned that I'm going to get through number 8 too fast and I won't be able to get hold of number 9 quickly enough!! That's how I found this site actually, looking for and inkling of where I might be able to get number 9, and I have to say I'm pleased to discover there's a number 10 in the pipeline! Phew! My favourite (so far) is number 4 "Summer Knight" where Harry starts to realise he has friends. I particularly like Butcher's style. It sits well with me. It's the first book I've read in a long time that's written in the first person, but doesn't dwell on emotions and forget that there is a plot to develop. Fast moving, well written and researched and humourous into the bargain. First rate!
Ariel on September 20th, 2007 7:04 am

Hi Prof - Well the really good news (as reported on UKSFBN a while back) is that the US publisher has signed contracts for books #12 and #13, which will make it over to the UK in due course.

Of course, we're really going to have to wait for those... :)