Storm FrontJim Butcher
341 pages; published 2000
My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Conjure by it at your own risk. I’m a wizard. I work out of an office in midtown Chicago. As far as I know, I’m the only openly practicing professional wizard in the country. You can find me in the yellow pages, under ‘Wizards.’ Believe it or not, I’m the only one there. My ad looks like this:
HARRY DRESDEN – WIZARD
Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, Parties, or Other
Entertainment.
You’d be surprised how many people call just to ask me if I’m serious. But then, if you’d seen the things I’d seen, if you knew half of what I knew, you’d wonder how anyone could not think I was serious. (2-3)
When I come across a review of a book I find interesting it goes on a list (one that gets a little on the long side from time to time) until I can it down. As such, a lot of the time I borrow a book from the library no longer remembering why it was I wanted to read it in the first place – Storm Front, the first book of Jim Butcher’s ‘Dresden Files’ series, was one such book.
As soon as I started reading however, it came swooping back.
Harry Dresden is a professional wizard, hiring himself out as a private detective and police consultant to pay his rent and make his way in life. At the start of the book, Harry is somewhat lacking on the monetary front and takes in two assignments – one tracking down a quiet wife’s missing husband, and another consulting on magical murder case with the Chicago P.D.
It is with the murder case that most of the book is concerned, especially when Dresden himself becomes a suspect.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish – attracting many a strange look for my outright laughter. Told entirely in the first person, Harry’s voice is frank, honest, and downright hilarious.
Paranoid? Probably. But just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean that there isn’t an invisible demon about to eat your face. (9)
I did feel, in parts, that this book was trying to set up a lot for the future books, and as such didn’t guy into the depth I would have liked – but as there are several books to follow, this is natural and forgivable.
Purchase Storm Front (Dresden Case Files) here.
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5 comments :
This is one of my favorite book series. I really like Harry and I wonder with each book how he manages--he always seems to be going a mile a minute, trying to do whatever he needs to do in each book. I am glad you enjoyed the first book in the series!
Thanks for the comment. I think it could become one of my favourites, too - I'm very excited to read the next one.
I really enjoyed the first couple of books in this series, and I am definitely planning to read more from him! One of these days I will actually write my reviews of them!
I plan on reading these for my 1st in a Series Challenge next year.
Hi Rebecca! I stumbled upon your blog after following links through Musing Mondays (which hopefully I remember next week).
I do love this series and it gets better (and pretty much complicated) as it goes. I've read up to the fifth book already and my attention has yet to wane (which is a good thing). I sure hope you have fun reading through the books like I did.
I also heard a few snippets of the audio version from Jim Butcher's site, particularly that line you quote as read by James Marsters (Spike from Buff the Vampire Slayer and Angel series). Lovely, lovely.
Here's the link to my thoughts on the first book:
http://lightheadedbooks.blogspot.com/2007/08/other-wizard-named-harry.html
I'm sure to drop by again for the Musing Monday.
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