The Other Wizard Called Harry

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher are quickly becoming some of my favorite books. Lately I’ve been on a huge Dresden kick and have read the last three books in the series in less than two weeks. If you’re a scifi fan and haven’t read this series, or if you were a fan of the television version on SciFi last year, then I highly recommend these books.

A quote on the cover of one of the books described the Dresden novels as a cross between a grown up Harry Potter and Spencer, and I must agree. While these novels are full of magic and fantasy, they are also more firmly grounded in reality than Harry Potter. You could almost believe that that there really is an underground magical community out there under our very noses.

Each novel is narrated by Harry himself, and he provides a very amusing description of events as they take place. I love the wit and humor, and I love the fact that I actually get the majority of the pop culture references used in these books; Tolkien, Star Wars even Darby O’Gill and the Little People, these are all references that I get and understand. Harry Dresden certainly isn’t a perfect man, like everyone he has his flaws and personal demons (literally, in his case) but it’s those flaws that make his character so realistic and so likeable.

The supporting cast of characters in these books are extremely diverse and they’re all just as interesting as Dresden himself. There’s Karrin Murphy, the head of Special Investigations and a friend of Dresden’s; Bob, the talking skull; Thomas, a vampire who is more than he seems (Thomas is quickly becoming my favorite character after Harry, but I won’t tell you why because that may give too much away) and Harry’s friend Michael, a faithful, God-fearing man who wields a powerful sword said to be forged with one of the nails from the cross of Christ. There’s also an equally diverse and intriguing cast of villains, including werewolves, vampires, demons and a powerful mobster known as Gentleman Johnny Marcone.

While many fantasy series these days seem to borrow heavily from classic tales such Tolkien’s works, Butcher has created a world all his own. However, like Tolkien, Butcher takes inspiration from classical mythology and folklore (Queen Mab, Merlin, etc.) as well as various religions. What fascinates me is the way he blends Christian tradition with his magical universe. Most often books of this genre tend to view the existence of magic (witches, wizards, etc.) and God as mutually exclusive; but in Dresden’s universe God and those doing his work have just as much power as the wizards.

Some book series tend to dry out, become less interesting with each novel published, but that’s not true in this case. Each novel is better than the one that precedes it, the stories become more intense, the stakes are higher and I love Harry more and more with each page I turn. So far I’ve finished each book thinking this one is my favorite, only to fall even more in love with the next one as I’m reading. I’ve also finished each novel faster than the one before it, because I just get more and more involved in the stories.

I also love how each novel builds on the one that preceded it. These aren’t completely individual stories. While the first few books seem fairly stand alone, with only a few references to previous novels, by the fifth or sixth book you begin to realize that there is a much bigger picture, and Butcher is just starting to reveal his plans to us.

Okay, I’m done raving now. I really love these books and definitely recommend them to any scifi fan. These books are terrific, and just get better with each one published.

Small Favors, book 10 of the Dresden Files, goes on sale Tuesday and I’m looking forward to it almost as much as I was looking forward to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I’ll let you know what I think of it when I’m finished reading.