Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1) by Jim Butcher
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Book Reviews of Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)
Book Review: Harry's humble beginnings
Summary: 5 Stars
Storm Front was a heck of a read; my eyes were glued to the pages from the very beginning and I pretty much gobbled it up in two days. The first time I heard about Jim Butcher was while looking at Kim Harrison's work, and the two are certainly similar as they are often compared, since I love Kim's stuff I wasn't surprised to find Butcher likable as well, in fact he's seems to be the male equivalent of Kim, with his own style and flare. For those who enjoy urban fantasy this will be a delectable morsel, this series has plenty of books in it now and I can't wait to plow through them all.
In this story, real meets surreal; cruel bits of life such as paying rent , hoping to catch some dinner and trying to hang in there are interwoven with a bit of magic. Harry Dresden is a wizard, he rents an office in Chicago and works with the police helping solve unusual crimes that don't seem to fit any plausible descriptions but he's also having a tough time keeping up with his bills and not getting killed when a big assignment comes up. When gristly murders involving dark magic disrupt everyone's peace, some eyes are on him, because only he seems to know how such a crime could be possible. If things weren't bad enough, a new dark wizard seems to be involved and Harry's own magic police is hot on his track, making sure that he's not the bad guy. Fighting the mafia, women who accidentally drink love potion and being chased out of a shower by a demon, with soap suds in the eyes and no clothes on can be a bit hard on the guys health but Harry seems to have a knack for staying alive and delivering an entertaining performance at the same time. With more than one thing not going his way, Harry has to solve the main crime and try to keep the mafia bullies off his back, not to mention squeeze a date or two into the mix, hoping that it wont end up in the usual disastrous manner.
As a hero Dresden is likable, witty and pretty normal, and his arsenal of spells and weapons is interesting enough to add a new feel to the same old magic type of a book. I was instantly drawn into his world and the mystery itself was pretty good, I like finding out who was causing trouble and watching Harry solve it, the identity wasn't too hard to guess but it still added some nice depth to the book. I enjoy stories where creatures of the night wreck havoc on the unsuspecting human fools, if anything it takes me out of the daily grind and makes my appetite for sci fi and magic stories grow.
- Kasia S.
Book Review: A Fast, Fun, Magical, Mysterious Fantasy
Summary: 5 Stars
The Dresden Files, written by Jim Butcher, has been around since 2000. The series has been very well received, winning many fans to the currently 12-book run with its humorous blend of fantasy and mystery and the grumpy wizard protagonist Harry Dresden. The series begins with Storm Front.
Harry Dresden is a practicing wizard in Chicago. He's a detective, of sorts, that works frequently with the Chicago Police Department as well as freelance work for anyone willing to pay. He's behind on his rent and down on his luck when he's called in to investigate some gruesome murders that look like they may have been done by someone using supernatural abilities. His investigation takes him to many odd and interesting characters in Chicago, from gangsters to vampires to demons, and soon his life spirals out of control.
Storm Front was a breath of fresh air to read. Written conversationally in first-person, Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is a witty, sarcastic protagonist that charms the reader. Butcher's skill of slowly revealing things about Dresden --his back-story, his education, his powers-- was masterfully done and worked great with the flow of the novel. By the end I felt like I could relate to Harry and understand why he acts the way he does.
Yes, you say, but what about the plot? Well folks, characterization is certainly not the only thing that shines in Storm Front. The story is captivating, the prose is rich, the humor is great, the magic is understandable, the mystery is, well, you get the point. The plot is exceptional and I loved it. Dresden tells it like he sees it, not from some omniscient perspective, but from the point of view of a detective who is trying to figure out what's happening.
As for dislikes, the list is quite short. There was an occasional curse word, but that sort of thing really doesn't bother me. There were a few sexual scenes, but nothing explicit or raunchy. Really that's about it. To me, the book flowed well and kept me interested and entertained, and that's what's important.
Overall, Jim Butcher's Storm Front was a delightful adventure that is easily recommendable to anyone with an interest in fantasy, mystery/detective, or humorous literature. There's no doubt that I will be reading more books in The Dresden Files, especially if they are all as good as this one.
Book Review: A Wizard Investigator-Consultant at Work
Summary: 5 Stars
Having read and reviewed a couple Georgina Kincaid novels, a suggestion by an Amazon friend to try a Harry Dresden novel didn't seem quite so mad an idea to me. I have not previously read works on vampires (outside the classics, such as Bram Stoker's novel, of course!), wizards, demons, and so on as a part of my repertoire. So, following the suggestion, I acquired Jim Butcher's novel, "Storm Front." It turns out that this was a pleasant romp, introducing the reader to wizards, a vampiress, a demon, and other odd creatures. As well as a talking skull, with expertise in potions and a 30 pound pet cat.
There are humans, too, such as Police Detective Karrin Murphy, in a unit dedicated to solving very odd cases and who has a consulting relationship with Dresden to help solve out of the ordinary crimes. Or the reporter for the newspaper catering to stories of the occult and paranormal. Or the gangster leader and his minions. Or. . . .
Anyhow, the story turns on two separate plots that, eventually, come together into one central plot line. Dresden's sleuthful adventures after being called to duty by Murphy because of a horrific double murder are complicated by a wizard assigned to track Harry for possibly violating the rules that wizards are supposed to follow, under a threat of being killed if he is found to violate the rules.
Lots of adventure. The action is nonstop. Many of the characters are rather one dimensional, but the book is so much fun and moves so fast, from one dangerous situation to the next, that one has little time to reflect on that. Sometimes the dialogue seems a bit too familiar from the zillions of detective novels out there.
But the book does grow on one. At the outset, Harry's powers are not well outlined. By the end, the reader is amused and amazed at the breadth and power of his wizardly skills, although he does bumble quite often (forgetting his cane and so on). His final confrontation with the evil wizard at the heart of the murders is well crafted. And one comes to understand the importance of the title of this book.
So, count me as a Harry Dresden fan. I'm not sure that I'm going to be reading anymore, but I guess I have warmed up to a genre that I once paid little heed to.
Book Review: IF RAYMOND CHANDLER HAD WRITTEN FANTASY...
Summary: 5 Stars
He'd have come up with Harry Dresden...a gumshoe, flatfoot detective who happens to be a wizard in modern day Chicago where magic is real and creatures such as demons and faeries really do exist. In a seedy office in a seedy building is where Harry has his office and takes on a case involving a missing husband.
Before he can get working on that case, he's called in by the local police to consult on a brutal double murder of a man and woman, killed in the throes of passion, as their hearts seemingly exploded right out of their chests. Harry soon finds himself under pressure from the police as well as the local mob boss as the male victim was one of his underlings. On top of that, the White Council, governing body of wizards, already is watching Harry closely due to an early incident.
Harry soon finds himself knee deep in trouble facing demons, vampires, as well as a rogue wizard who is targeting Harry for the same fate as the first two victims. Through it all Harry uses his magical skills as well as good old fashioned detective work to begin putting together the clues of the murders and the missing husband.
Part detective, and part Urban fantasy, Jim Butcher's first book in the Dresden files came as a surprise and a big breath of fresh air from much of the fantasy on book shelfs today. Written with the sarcastic sneer, and told in first person perspective, one almost pictures Harry in a hot, dimly lit office with a slow moving fan rotating but not helping much. Harry Dresden isn't a hero's hero or man's man. A rather bland guy, not so fit who travels about in a VW bug with mismatching door paint. Harry is a hero, just a guy being what he is, in this case a wizard.
The who-done-it mystery wasn't terribly hard to figure out, but the plot layers involving the magically produced street drug that makes crack look like bubble gum was fun, and briskly paced. It's nice to see a hero who gets out of tight spots using his brain rather than just his brawn. Harry is almost like the wizard version of McGyver with the way he manages to escape certain death.
Excellent first book in the series and I look forward to reading the others.
Book Review: Wizard in our World
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a pretty big fan of the concept of 'other powers' and people that can use them walking about in our world. I like the Anita Blake novels, and the Kurtz Adept books. This book (and, I imagine, the series) aren't really like those books I just mentioned, except in the sense that people and things of the realm of magic are operating in our modern world.
But that's good enough for me. At least, combined with a good story, told well, with interesting characters (although I find the police woman a bit annoying), and a fairly well thought out magic system, it is. I can't wait to get the other books in the series!
mid-2006 UPDATE
OK, that's what I said back then. I have to revise somewhat, and I'm lowering all the Dresden books to 3 or 4 stars.
Look, too many writers today seem to think it is necessary to heap challenge upon challenge on their hero, agony upon agony, misfortune upon misfortune, setback upon setback, and yet they STILL somehow beat the bad guys with what is basically heaps of dumb luck and unending gritty determination. It just becomes too hard to swallow.
Dresden is seemingly both a very powerful wizard and a bumbling fool. He both cares way too much about helping and protecting everybody and yet constantly does not think through things, uses his power wildly and indiscriminately, and harms all sorts of people as a result. Give me a break. And grow up some, Butcher.
One of the reasons the Spenser series (by Robert Parker) is so good is that Spenser can usually handle what comes his way. Not always, but usually, and without all sorts of gimmicks. So where is the drama with that? Well, with a good writer, it is what you and the hero DON'T know, but need to find out. Spenser needs to find out things, and therein lies the story. Dresden bumbles around dealing with far too many story gimmicks and unnecessary challenges, and at times is too stupid to see what is in front of his nose but at other times suddenly becomes brilliant. Too hard to swallow.
So, yes these books are mostly good and fun, but also quite flawed in some ways, and that might really irritate the reader.