(Originally published 2000, Mass Market Paperback 355 pages)
Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden has oodles of personal issues. The
sarcastic, contemporary wizard's mind isn't exactly a steel trap for
retaining information. To mix his magical potions, he needs the aid of a
horny faery-like spirit which inhabits a talking skull named Bob. The
verbal exchanges between the two of them are very entertaining. Harry
Dresden also has self-esteem issues, no real close friends, electronics
of any sort usually wig out when he tries to use them, he lives in a
grungy basement of an apartment building in Chicago, he has quite the
little temper and his personal hygiene has plenty of room for
improvement.
The cover conveys an ominous, Dirty-Harry-type persona. He comes across as a man of few words and the ones he does speak usually come out sounding sarcastic. Because the book is written in the first-person narrative of Dresden's thoughts, the reader quickly realizes that it is mostly just an act. It is what I found most appealing about the first book in the Dresden Files. The image he conveys to the public isn't reality. Harry crosses paths with a vampire, a demon, large poisonous scorpions, a Mafia boss and a wizard who is murdering people by ripping the hearts out of their chests without even being near the victims. Add to this mess, Morgan, a magical warden who is hell-bent on finding an excuse to execute Dresden.
This all makes for a highly enjoyable fun. Mr. Butcher's novel is the right mix of suspense, humor and mystery. There is plenty of room to expand in this series. At the time I wrote this review, the author had produced twelve books about Harry Dresden. However, 'Storm Front' does not end on a cliffhanger and comes to a satisfying conclusion. It isn't necessary for you to continue reading the next book if you don't feel Mr. Butcher's character is your cup of tea. The novel does include a little material that is inappropriate for younger readers. I'll most certainly be reading the other books in this series when I'm looking for a light entertaining read.
The cover conveys an ominous, Dirty-Harry-type persona. He comes across as a man of few words and the ones he does speak usually come out sounding sarcastic. Because the book is written in the first-person narrative of Dresden's thoughts, the reader quickly realizes that it is mostly just an act. It is what I found most appealing about the first book in the Dresden Files. The image he conveys to the public isn't reality. Harry crosses paths with a vampire, a demon, large poisonous scorpions, a Mafia boss and a wizard who is murdering people by ripping the hearts out of their chests without even being near the victims. Add to this mess, Morgan, a magical warden who is hell-bent on finding an excuse to execute Dresden.
This all makes for a highly enjoyable fun. Mr. Butcher's novel is the right mix of suspense, humor and mystery. There is plenty of room to expand in this series. At the time I wrote this review, the author had produced twelve books about Harry Dresden. However, 'Storm Front' does not end on a cliffhanger and comes to a satisfying conclusion. It isn't necessary for you to continue reading the next book if you don't feel Mr. Butcher's character is your cup of tea. The novel does include a little material that is inappropriate for younger readers. I'll most certainly be reading the other books in this series when I'm looking for a light entertaining read.
(Meyers - A few years ago, I
started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short
reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #335)
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