Book Series Review: The Dresden Files

[Blue Atsushi-Kai]

I gotta say I'm obsessed with this series. I started because my wife got me to watch the TV show that was supposed to be a kind of "Alternate Dresden" but Sci-Fi Channel didn't pick it up after the first season.

The first book is called Storm Front. Give it a read. You won't regret it.

While waiting for the 11th book, I came across a similar series (goes by a few different saga names) written by Kim Harrison. I'm just gonna call it the Rachel Morgan series. Just do a gender switch and move everyone from Chicago to Cincinnati, and you've got this series.

But....back to Dresden. Harry Dresden is a PI in Chicago and the only person listed under "Wizard" in the yellow pages. Every so often he is called on by the city's Special Investigations department to advice on an especially suspicious murder case. Unfortunately, Dresden can't really show the local LEOs what he can do or why he can solve their weirdest cases.

12 years ago, Harry killed someone to save his own life. because of this, he's been cast under the "Doom of Damocles", a kind of probation for wizards, by the mighty White Council. The White Council is an intimidating order of law keepers who police the globe and execute anyone who uses magic to kill. In extreme cases, they'll spare the guilty...but will forevermore watch them. This is the Doom. Once the Doomed slips up, a Warden beheads them on the spot. No trial.

So, how can Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden beat the bad guys, save his only real friend, not get killed, keep dark secrets, AND pay his rent on time? Not even he knows.  

[Freiflug]

I've read Storm Front and enjoyed it quite a bit. Harry was just such a likeable character, and I love the mix of detective work and fantasy. If I should ever come across another one of those books I'll gladly pick it up and read it, for sure. (: However, I wasn't too interested in watching the series. Maybe I will watch it someday, maybe, but the seeing the actor for Harry sort of ruined the lovely image of the character I had in my head.