The Dresden Files (books)

[Ultimate Houde]

The Dresden Files focus on a wizard, living in Chicago Il, and making a living by being, well, a wizard for hire. He's a Private Investigator, using his magic to help him along the way of course, and he runs into lots of weird things in his travels.

The books are all written in the First Person Perspective. If it didn't happen while Harry Dresden was there, you didn't know about it happening. And lots of books have clues, not only to the current mystery, but to mysteries in other, later volumes. The way Jim Butcher weaves the stories is wonderful, giving you the feel of being in the action, getting hit in the face by a bat, or worse. Very few times do you need to reread an action sequence, in fact out of nine book, I've only had to do it once. And there is plenty of reread-ability to these books, as like I said clues are dropped referencing future books.

The cast around Harry Dresden, as well as Harry himself, are very relatable. The head of Chicago Special Forces, Murphy, being one of the best. A petite female, who knows judo, and kicks *** with various weapons is his best friend, giving him jobs and becoming in later volumes, one of his best friends. His girlfriend, the sultry journalist Susan, literally oozes sexuality in the books. Even Bob, his magical rolodex and data bank of a human skull is a great character.

Overall, these books are good; they weave you into this magical world, and keep you interested for volumes to come. I would love to hear other people's perspectives on these books.

Currently, the Dresden Files consists of ten books. The newest one comes out this month.

Official Site
Free Short Story
Chapter one of the First Book

 

[Ultimate Houde]

Just started A Small Favor

About fifteen chapters in and Dresden is going against both fae courts, the Blackened Knights, Thomas was almost seduced by a coin (I think he was in my opinion) and Marcone's rule has been challenged.

Oh, and the Amazon that protected Marcone was disemboweled.

Nice start.

 

[Lynx]

Man. . .I really have to start reading these. Like. . .today.

 

[Ultimate Houde]

They are great reads. Generally Quick, but great reads.

 

[Lynx]

They are great reads. Generally Quick, but great reads.

I started Storm Watch. I can't put it down.

 

[ProjectX2]

I've read the first two are they were both really enjoyable. I got distracted whilst reading the third one (it happens a lot) but will definitely go back to the series later on.

 

[Friday]

So I'm going toh ave to read these sometime, aren't I?

Tell me, are there ever Zombies?

 

[Ultimate Houde]

So I'm going toh ave to read these sometime, aren't I?

Tell me, are there ever Zombies?

Book Seven.

Dead Rights.

Harry vs Three different Necromancers over a book of Kimmler, who was the best necromancer there was.

Harry outdoes them though, he brings out the big guns.

Her name is Sue, and she resides in the Chicago Historical Museum.

And she's Rexy. If you know what I mean.

 

[Friday]

Book Seven.

Dead Rights.

Harry vs Three different Necromancers over a book of Kimmler, who was the best necromancer there was.

Harry outdoes them though, he brings out the big guns.

Her name is Sue, and she resides in the Chicago Historical Museum.

And she's Rexy. If you know what I mean.

Well then its decided. Next mass book purchase will be of The Dreseden Files.

 

[Lynx]

Just started Grave Peril, Book 3. Fool Moon was fantastic, even better then Storm Front was. Grave Peril already has my intrest peaked with the introduction of Michael. Also, the connection between the first two books, the warlock who trained

Spoiler

Victor Sells

and gave the

Spoiler

FBI agents

their belts really helps bring together the books as a continuing story, rather than just a bunch of novels with just the same characters.

Man, this series is awesome. Much thanks to both Seldes and Houde for the recommendation.

 

[Ultimate Houde]

Michael is a great character.

 

[Seldes Katne]

Man, this series is awesome. Much thanks to both Seldes and Houde for the recommendation.

You're welcome. What can I say? Houde and I both know a good thing when we see one.

Michael is a great character.

Michael is an awesome character (and I mean that in both senses of the word). And wait until you meet the rest of his family....

 

[Seldes Katne]

Book 11 in the Dresden Files, Turn Coat, now has a listing at Amazon.com for April 2009. And I must remember to pick up a copy of the GN Welcome to the Jungle at some point soon.

 

[Grocer Man]

I just started getting into this.

It's great.

 

[Ultimate Houde]

Poor Morgan.

He never gets a break.

So now we get to guess who this traitor actually is.

 

[Ultimate Houde]

The newest book, Turncoat, is out and on shelves. Picked it up last night and started it.

Also, there's a short story in the collection called Mean Streets, which focuses on the choice Dresden made at the end of the previous book, which eventually lead to Micheal becoming crippled.

 

[Ultimate Houde]

The Short entitled "Warrior" was a great little story. Dresden is getting stalked by an ex-marine Preist who is pissed that Dresden has two of the holy swords, and not trying to find out who they belong too. Throughout the story Dresden does little things, which in the scheme of the universe, have pretty drastic consequences. It ends with Dresden having another talk with Uriel, the angel who gave him the ability of Soulfire.

I wish I could say the same for Turncoat, but every book couldn't be as good as Small Favor, and it does show Dresden actually planning this time instead of reacting.

Now, the villain in this one is extremely easy to pick up on, he's basically got a flashing neon light above his head that says "BAD GUY!". Still, how Dresden actually takes him down a notch was interesting. Morgan's involvement in this issue was a nice touch, and I really thought he would have gotten Excalibur, but I was proven wrong.

Other development in Dresden's life include his half brother shifting even further to the dark side. I personally think he's in possession of a coin at the moment, considering they were all over the place in the last book.

And there's some clues that the shadow of the Fallen Angel that was in Dresden's head is still in there.

 

[Ultimate Houde]

Long ago, Susan Rodriguez was Harry Dresden's lover-until she was attacked by his enemies, leaving her torn between her own humanity and the bloodlust of the vampiric Red Court. Susan then disappeared to South America, where she could fight both her savage gift and those who cursed her with it.

Now Arianna Ortega, Duchess of the Red Court, has discovered a secret Susan has long kept, and she plans to use it-against Harry. To prevail this time, he may have no choice but to embrace the raging fury of his own untapped dark power. Because Harry's not fighting to save the world...

He's fighting to save his child.

The blurp about the new book.

Child?

I'm intrigued.

 

[Ultimate Houde]

I'm three quarters through the newest Dresden book, Changes, and I'm pissed.

All the character development in the last few novels, where he started to plan against the bad guys, figured things out before the bad guys, and so on, is gone. He's acting like he's a novice all over again.

The only character so far who seems to be the same is Murphy. The rest are annoying little twits. Especially Susan.

Unless this takes a turn in the last couple chapters, this is the worst Dresden book yet.

 

[Seldes Katne]

When I read the line about Harry's child in the blurb, I mentioned to my library director that I was a little afraid that this was where the series was going to "jump the shark".

Now I'm a lot afraid....