By Autum Dierking
Harry Dresden is an ordinary guy. He has a dog, an older brother, a best friend and a self-run business. Then again, when you count the fact that his dog is magical, his brother is a vampire succubus, his best friend is a cop specializing in the supernatural and his business can be found in the yellow pages under "Wizards," maybe he isn't so ordinary after all.
Harry is the snarky main character in Jim Butcher's series, "The Dresden Files," which chronicles his adventures helping people combat a variety of not-so-nice otherworldlies like vampires, werewolves, faeries and ghosts.
The latest book to be published is the 10th book in the series entitled "Small Favor," which was released April 1 and is currently only in hardback. (Amazon.com is selling it for fairly cheap considering it's a hardback - $14.37. You can find it at Powell's for $23.95.) This book will ensnare you from the start. "No one's tried to kill Harry Dresden in almost an entire year," it reads in the opening lines - and for anyone that follows Harry, this is a feat worth mentioning. In typical Butcher style, however, all hell breaks loose from here on Harry's quest to repay a "small favor" he owes a faerie queen by rescuing a local mob boss and battling all kinds of horrors in the process.
Sure, at first glance, the modern-day wizard plot line may seem like a knock-off of "Harry Potter," but trust me, it's not. Instead of the usual goody-two shoes, "sacrifice myself for the greater good while kicking spooky ass and taking names" hero you might expect out of a supernatural thriller, Harry is anything but predictable. He grapples with the issues of right and wrong in a more realistic manner, taking into account his own fight or flight reactions and, eventually, making the right choice for the not-so-obvious right reasons.
"The Dresden Files" are not just for science fiction/fantasy fans. Butcher sets the story in modern times and makes Harry's life relatable to the reader - outside of the not-so-infrequent monster appearances that might just scare the bejeezus out of you. Though these books may not necessarily be great literary works, they're definitely fun to read. Butcher's humor is irreverent at times, and Harry's pop culture references and steadfast sarcasm will almost surely elicit a chuckle or two as you read along.
The first book in the series, "Storm Front," is probably the best starting point for new readers, as it will give you a foundation and a little background that will help you get the jokes later on the in series. "Storm Front" chronicles Harry's mission to track down a practitioner of black magic as a consultant for the Chicago Police Department's Special Investigations unit. With a tagline that reads, "Magic. It can get a guy killed," how can it not be an appealing read?
If you accidentally buy another book in the series, don't worry. The beauty of Butcher's writing is that every book is a story within itself. This series does not have complicated plot twists that will lose you entirely if you don't read the books in order. Whether you start at the first book or the last, it's guaranteed you will want to keep reading.
For those of you that would rather watch than read, the TV adaptation of the books is currently available on DVD. Be warned, though - it's not nearly as good as the book version, despite the ruggedly handsome actor cast as Harry (Paul Blackthorne, who is currently acting in the TV dramas "Lipstick Jungle" and "Big Shots"). And for those of you that would rather listen than read, the audio books feature the voice of James Marsters (remember Spike from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer?" Love it).
As any bibliophile would agree, however, you can't beat the original medium - a solid, well-worn text just awaiting a good page-turning. And the pages will definitely turn when you get your hands on Harry.
This wise-cracking, demon-beating, oddly endearing superhero of sorts will hook you. Guaranteed.
