Book Review: The Dresden Files - Storm Front/Fool Moon
Title: The Dresden Files (Books 1 and 2): Storm Front/Fool Moon
Author: Jim Butcher
Published: April 2000/
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Novel Recipe: Beat one stick detective novel in a large bowl until softened. Slowly add in 1 1/2 cups of paranormal activities until a smooth batter forms. Add three tablespoons of Film Noir extract, one tablespoon of distilled Mafia and blend well. Fold in a handful of supernatural critters, and spread into a greased pan. Bake until snarky, but still sincere in the middle. Let cool, and frost generously with whipped magic. Serves at least 10.
My Thoughts: The Dresden Files are perfect summer reading: quick, pulpy, and addictive. Jim Butcher manages to keep his stories intricate and interesting without being overcomplicated, and everything falls into place with a satisfying thunk. Harry Dresden's Chicago is dark, with ghosties around every corner, but his characters never give up hope. From dewdrop faeries who love pizza to sex-obsessed air spirits, Harry Dresden takes them all in stride with wonderfully jaded, snarky commentary that is both self-aware and earnest.
Grade: A-
From the Publisher:
Storm Front
The novels of the Dresden Files have become synonymous with action-packed urban fantasy and non-stop fun. Storm Front is Jim Butcher's first novel and introduces his most famous and popular character-Harry Dresden, wizard for hire.
For his first case, Harry is called in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with the blackest of magic. At first, the less-than-solvent Harry's eyes light up with dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage. Now, that black mage knows Harry's name. And things are about to get very...interesting.
Fool Moon
Business has been slow. Okay, business has been dead. And not even of the undead variety. You would think Chicago would have a little more action for the only professional wizard in the phone book. But lately, Harry Dresden hasn't been able to dredge up any kind of work-magical or mundane.
But just when it looks like he can't afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise.
A brutally mutilated corpse. Strange-looking paw prints. A full moon. Take three guesses-and the first two don't count...
I really enjoyed the first two novels of The Dresden Files. Harry Dresden is the only wizard in the Chicago phone book, possibly the enture US. He is cynical and sarcastic, but still a chivalrous gentleman, trying to keep the big bads in line. Harry is flawed and hard-headed, with his moments of angst, but he's likeable and not self-righteous. Hints of a deeper plot are sprinkled in the first two books, with just enough frequency to whet the appetite but not give everything away. The rest of the cast of characters include Karrin Murphy the head of Chicago PD's Special Investigations department (and Dresden's dream girl), Bob the horny air spirit/wizard computer, Susan Rodriguez the spunky reporter and Dresden's casual girlfriend, Gentleman Johnny Marcone: mob boss, as well as a bunch of magical beasties.
And the best thing about the Dresden Files? 10+ books, which should keep me in novels until the beginning of June, at least. :-)