Reviews of the Harry Dresden Series
I’ve been reading a series of books by Jim Butcher and his
likeable main character, Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden,
a Wizard. In fact, the only professional Wizard advertising
in the Chicago phone book:
“Harry Dresden–Wizard
Lost items found. Paranormal Investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or
Other Entertainment.”
Besides a few odd jobs of exorcisms, ghost removals
and finding lost objects, most of Harry’s income is derived
from work he does with Lt. Karrin Murphy in the
Special Investigations Division of Chicago PD. Harry and
Karrin have a love-hate relationship from which they
both benefit. Karrin’s group investigates “unusual events”–
unexplainable crimes committed by non-living beings.
Susan Rodriguez is a reporter for the Midwestern “Arcane”,
a tabloid circulated widely from Chicago and specializing in
sensational, and mostly unbelievable stories. But Susan,
friend and sometime romantic interest of Harry Dresden,
believes in his powers as a Wizard and the magical world
that he represents. She’s constantly trying to get the scoop
on some of Harry’s activities so that she can document
them and acquire national syndication for her columns.
In his lab in the basement, Harry keeps a spirit inside a human
skull. Bob, the spirit, is hundreds of years old and supplies
Harry with the recipes for numerous kinds of magic potions.
Occasionally, Harry lets Bob out to seek information for
him from other spirits in Chicago and in Nevernever, the
spirit world.
The White Council, a large group of wizards that Harry is
part of, enforces a code of conduct for all practitioners.
Harry, from time to time, is forced to do things during his
investigations and exploits that put him in the bad graces
of the White Council.
There are lots of comings and goings from Nevernever by
all sorts of creatures, including demons, ghosts, vampires,
werewolves and other shapeshifters. To combat these
antagonists, Harry relies on his staff, blasting rod, a shield
bracelet, a silver pentacle on a silver chain passed down
from his mother, his ability to create “summoning circles”
and make “protective circles”, and a host of energy-creating
incantations and other devices to keep all these beings
at bay and protect his friends. Despite all this, he still
gets knocked around a lot!
I’ve never been much of a reader of horror fiction, or even
a big fan of the majority of fantasy writing, but I admit that
I’m hooked on Jim Butcher’s stories. A customer kept raving
about his books, so when we acquired some in the store,
I had to give Butcher a try. So far, I’ve read the first three
titles: “Storm Front”, “Fool Moon” and “Grave Peril” and
I’m looking forward to reading others.
The atmosphere of the books is reminiscent of the noir
detective fiction of the 1930’s and 1940’s. Dresden’s first-
person narration reminds me of the same droll delivery
of Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe. And Harry Dresden
shares some of the same traits of two of my other favourite
characters, Jack Reacher in Lee Child’s books, and
Repairman Jack in F. Paul Wilson’s books.
Altogether, a unique and enjoyable reading experience,
at least for me.
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Talk soon.
April 14th, 2010 at 10:23 am
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