The Dresden Files: An Introduction

Book Series by Jim Butcher

Diaries of a fan

Every time I get the chance to recommend a book to someone, it is almost impossible not to talk about The Dresden Files. And since this is a personal blog, I will tell you the story from my own perspective. I think it was about 2008 when I won the first Dresden Files book, Storm Front, in a draw on the radio. Back then, I didn't even know the existence of the book series or the author. I later learnt that the book I won was the first of a series. I have to tell you that I read the whole book in one breath. I liked it so much that I got the second and the third book and I still keep going till I finish all the books in the series. I just can't stop telling everyone about The Dresden Files! I think that I would do a very good job if Butcher hired me to promote his books! -laughs

A connoisseur's guide

The Dresden Files is a book series by the American author named Jim Butcher. The series consists of 14 books with a 15th book being expected to come out in May 2014.

It is about a wizard, Harry Dresden, who lives in Chicago in our contemporary era. Harry runs an office where people come asking for his services as a wizard. He also assists the Chicago PD Special Investigation as a consultant when there is a case of paranormal nature. In his world they exist all kinds of supernatural entities, like demons, werewolves, spirits, ghosts, ghouls, fairies, vampires and many other monster-like creatures, thus making the book suitable for every taste.

I personally think that Jim Butcher has his own, unique style of writing and very cleverly combines action with fantasy, seriousness, emotion and sarcastic humour. He created a character that reminds us a bit of a superhero like Batman and a bit of the guy next door. He made us believe that Harry is always out there, almost being killed by magic.

How the first book was written:

Jim Butcher was taking a writing class in 1996 and started writing the Storm Front book under the supervision of his teacher, Deborah Chester.

"When I finally got tired of arguing with her and decided to write a novel as if I was some kind of formulaic, genre writing drone, just to prove to her how awful it would be, I wrote the first book of the Dresden Files."

— Jim Butcher in "A Conversation With Jim Butcher", 2004

Since the first publication in 2000, the series became a great success and have won many awards and prizes. Apart from the paperbacks and the hardcovers, there have also come out many short stories, several graphic novels and an RPG (role playing game) all based on the Dresden Files. In addition, "The Dresden Files was adapted to television in 2007 by the Sci-Fi Channel, and was cancelled after one season" (Wikipedia).

The Dresden Files books

1. Storm Front
2. Fool Moon
3. Grave Peril
4. Summer Knight
5. Death Masks
6. Blood Rites
7. Dead Beat
8. Proven Guilty
9. White Night
10. Small Favor
11. Turn Coat
12. Changes
13. Ghost Story
14. Cold Days
15. Skin Game

Useful Links

You can read about the author on Wikipedia and also on his website.

Here are all the books in the series.

References

"The Dresden Files" Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 18 Jan 2014. Web. 20 Jan 2014.

McCune, Alisa (2004). "A Conversation With Jim Butcher". The SF Site. Retrieved 2008-02-04.web.