The Science Fiction Novel - Jim Butcher

When Jo and I came back from our tax prep appt yesterday, we noticed that they had spread salt on the roads. Now this was on a sunny day when it was 11 degrees C and people were preparing their yards for summer. In our little neighborhood, there was a fellow going door to door asking if people wanted their yards aerated. We saw a couple of other guys doing the same thing around town. Well this morning at 6:00 we knew why they had gritted the roads. It was snowing. It snowed for a few hours but it's since warmed up and everything is melting nicely, still some snow on the grass and roofs but the roads are just wet. Spring, what can you do about it? 😃

So, I've no new books to report on and I've not completed any books in the past couple of days, although I think I might have one done tomorrow. I'll get right on with my look at the Sci-Fi novel then, won't I?

The Science Fiction Novel - Jim Butcher

Jim Butcher

Jim Butcher is an American fantasy writer, born in Independence Missouri in 1971. I first became aware of him when I started watching the TV series based on his Dresden File books.

The TV series is about a Chicago - based wizard / detective who helps the Chicago special crime squad investigate crimes with supernatural aspects. Jo and I both really enjoyed the series which featured Paul Blackthorne as Harry Dresden, Valerie Cruz as his contact in the police, Lt Connie Murphy and Terence Mann as Bob, basically a head in a jar. It was a most entertaining TV series, but only lasted one season of 13 episodes (2007). It made me explore the books and I've since enjoyed a few of the books and have a few more on my bookshelf.

Butcher is of course best known for the Dresden Files, but he has also written six books in the Alera Codex series (I've not yet tried it). The Dresden Files features Harry Dresden, as mentioned above. He is a wizard who practices the 'white' arts, although he is powerful enough to do the black arts as well. He has a troublesome relationship with the fey universe, that borders the reality in which we exist. The series is a fascinating mix of detective story and wizarding / magic fantasy, with many fantastical beings / creatures thrown in . The stories are easy and enjoyable to read and the characters are all fascinating. The magical aspects, potions, spell-casting, etc make the stories even more enjoyable. Butcher has written 15 books in the Dresden series since 2000. I've enjoyed 4 so far and have another 4 on my bookshelf to read.

a. Storm Front (#1 / 2000).











"I've enjoyed both the TV series and the books about sorcerer / private detective Harry Dresden. Author Jim Butcher has created a unique, fascinating world. Storm Front is the first book in the series and officially introduces us to Harry and the people with whom he associates; Lt Karrin Murphy of Chicago's Special Investigation unit, with whom Dresden consults on strange cases; Bob, the ghost / wizard who lives in a skull in Dresden's basement and laboratory, Morgan, who works for the White Council and monitors Dresden for violations in the White Council's laws. Of course there is also Dresden's cat, Mister.

Dresden is down on his luck, having difficulties paying his rent and other bills. A woman calls him and wants Harry to find her husband, Victor. At the same time, Harry gets a call from Karrin Murphy, a tough, spunky Lt. She wants his help finding out who killed two people, a man and a woman, whose bodies have had their hearts ripped out, more like exploded out. This requires powerful magic. According to Morgan, he thinks Dresden did it, as he is one of the only wizards in Chicago with the power to do so. As well, the local gangster chief, Johnny Marcone, threatens Harry if he continues to work the case.

That is the gist of the story and it's an interesting one. We find out lots about Harry besides his money problems, like how electric appliances and phones are affected by his magic. Someone is also trying to get rid of Harry by sending a demon to kill him. Harry has many conflicts with this case, which can be frustrating at times. I do get irritated with this strong silent types at times, keeping things from Murphy, trying to do things on his own. But it doesn't take away from the entertainment of this story, a nice mix of mystery and fantasy. And they get better in future stories (3.5 stars)"

b. Fool Moon (#2 / 2001).

"Excellent, well-paced, at times intense, fantasy story. Jim Butcher is a great tale-spinner. I like Dresden, and really like Murphy (not enough of her this time). I enjoyed the explanation of the various types of were-wolves and found some of them heroic. The baddies were suitably bad and there was enough doubt spread so that the explanation of who indeed were the villains came as somewhat of a surprise. Totally enjoyable story. (4 stars)"

Synopsis - "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…"

c. Grave Peril (#3 / 2001).









"The Dresden Files are always a rollicking good fantasy adventure. I like Dresden, his spiritual guide/ assistant, Bob and I have a thing for policewoman, Karrin Murphy, although her part in this story was a bit minimized. I also like Michael, the sword carrying Hand of God who helps Dresden so much in this story. Basically in this story, Dresden and Michael are running around Chicago battling angry ghosts and trying to find out who is responsible for stirring them up and causing disturbances in the border between Earth and the Nevernever. The story is filled with action; vampires, sorcerers and Dresden's sexy stepmother, evil Lea (yum) who wants to make Dresden subservient to her. The story is fast-paced, entertaining and just fun to read. (4 stars)"

d. Summer Knight (#4 / 2002). Next on my list.

"Ever since his girlfriend left town to deal with her newly acquired taste for blood, Harry Dresden has been down and out in Chicago. He can’t pay his rent. He’s alienating his friends. He can’t even recall the last time he took a shower.

The only professional wizard in the phone book has become a desperate man.

And just when it seems things can’t get any worse, in saunters the Winter Queen of Faerie. She has an offer Harry can’t refuse if he wants to free himself of the supernatural hold his faerie godmother has over him — and hopefully end his run of bad luck. All he has to do is find out who murdered the Summer Queen’s right-hand man, the Summer Knight, and clear the Winter Queen’s name.

t seems simple enough, but Harry knows better than to get caught in the middle of faerie politics. Until he finds out that the fate of the entire world rests on his solving this case.

No pressure or anything…It seems simple enough, but Harry knows better than to get caught in the middle of faerie politics. Until he finds out that the fate of the entire world rests on his solving this case.

No pressure or anything."

e. Proven Guilty (#8 / 2007).











"There's no love lost between Harry Dresden, the only wizard in the Chicago phone book, and the White Council of Wizards, who find him brash and undisciplined. But war with the vampires has thinned their ranks, so the Council has drafted Harry as a Warden and assigned him to look into rumors of black magic in the Windy City.

As Harry adjusts to his new role, another problem arrives in the form of the tattooed and pierced daughter of an old friend, all grown-up and already in trouble. Her boyfriend is the only suspect in what looks like a supernatural assault straight out of a horror film. Malevolent entities that feed on fear are loose in Chicago, but it's all in a day's work for a wizard, his faithful dog, and a talking skull named Bob...."

f. White Knight (#9 / 2008).

"In Chicago, someone has been killing practitioners of magic, those incapable of becoming full-fledged wizards. Shockingly, all the evidence points to Harry Dresden's half-brother, Thomas, as the murderer. Determined to clear his sibling's name, Harry uncovers a conspiracy within the White Council of Wizards that threatens not only him, but his nearest and dearest, too..."

g. Small Favor (#10 / 2009).











"Wizard Harry Dresden’s life finally seems to be calming down. The White Council’s war with the vampiric Red Court is easing up, no one’s tried to kill him lately, and his eager apprentice is starting to learn real magic. For once, the future looks fairly bright.

But the past casts one hell of a long shadow.

Mab, monarch of the Winter Court of the Sidhe, calls in an old favor from Harry. Just one small favor he can’t refuse – one that will trap Harry Dresden between a nightmarish foe and an equally deadly ally and strain his skills and loyalties to their very limits.

And everything was going so well for once…" (3 stars)

h. Turn Coat (#11 / 2010).

"When it comes to the wizard's White Council, Harry Dresden is thought of as either a black sheep or a sacrificial lamb. And no one holds him in more disdain than Morgan, a veteran Warden with a grudge against anyone who bends the rules. But now Morgan is in trouble. He's been accused of cold-blooded murder--a crime with only one final punishment.

He's on the run, wanting his name cleared, and he needed someone with a knack for backing the underdog. So it's up to Harry to uncover a traitor within the Council, keep Morgan under wraps, and avoid coming under scrutiny himself. And a single mistake may cost someone his head."

It's a great, entertaining series. If you want to check out all of Jim Butcher's books, check this link.

Now, if you like the fantasy / detective type story, you might like to also check out these two series, one by Canadian Tanya Huff and the other by P.N. Elrod. They may be more 'horror' than fantasy, but you can judge. 

2. Tanya Huff (Blood Books). Huff was born in Halifax, N.S. The Blood books was also a TV series. Basically you have a female PI, suffering from deteriorating vision who is assisted by a vampire in her investigations, as well as, grudgingly, a Toronto cop. There are six books in the series and I have enjoyed the first four. Huff has written many other books but thus far this was my focus. Her complete catalogue can be found at this link.

3. P.N. Elrod (Vampire Files). Elrod was born in Texas in 1954 and specializes in urban fantasy. Like Huff, she has written many series but I have thus far only explored the Vampire Files, a series set in the roaring 20s in Chicago, featuring a vampire night club owner / PI and is a sort of 'hard-boiled' mystery series. There are 12 books in this series and I have enjoyed 4 so far. If you want to check out all of Elrod's works, go to this link.

I hope this gives you some reading ideas. Enjoy your weekend!