Harry Dresden: Wizard, White Knight and Complete Dork.

Mazzyx

Harry Dresden:Wizard Extrodinare

Skin Game is out! Please watch your spoilers carefully.

1.Who is Harry Dresden?

-Harry Dresden is the main character of a series of books called The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. He is a wizard as he explains numerous times though out the books. He has his own scoobie gang kind of like Buffy. And he fights evil, sometimes has lunch with Farie Queens and usually ends up blowing at least one building up a book. All in all Harry is a bad ass.

2.Why should I read about this guy? Isn't this just a Harry Potter the adult ripoff?

-The Dresden Files are some of the most fun books you can find. The characters are witty, the conversations are fun and the action is packed through and through. The more of the books you read the more you get into it. Plus the guy is such a dork it will make you feel better about yourself time and again.

3.OK, this sounds like it might be more fun than poking my eyes with a hot stick or reading Twilight. Where do I start?

-The Dresden Files has turned into a pretty long series. It is 14 books with a 15th on the way. The stories in each book though are pretty self contained and unlike some other Fantasy series it actually has books coming out about once a year. So the wait period isn't 2 years to when the next ice age hits.

The Books in Order
















Next Books Title is: Peace Talks

Short Stories! Thanks Cimmerii for point them out because I always forget about them.

Short Stories for Dresden!


Don't forget the graphic novel! Mostly because I did because I am a fool!


4. Ok, sir, I have read the books and I am in your thread. What do you want me to do? I mean I am in love with Murphy but how will she ever love a neckbeard like me? What do I discuss in this thread?

-Well, hoss, this is where you talk about the books. Plots, theories, favorite characters and favorite moments. Ask questions about are the books good or which one is your favorite. If you could though hoss avoid the Mary Sue shit. It killed the last thread and many threads before this and we really don't want to bring a satellite down on yah. Also, use spoilers for major events or twist. If you are discussing the new book put everything in spoilers for the newest book, some folks gotta work for a livin'. For older books try to keep it to minor stuff unspoiled and major stuff spoiled. You may discuss relationships unspoiled, if and only if it isn't breaking any of the previous rules. And the same goes for speculatin'. Other than that enjoy the thread.

Captain Carrot

Reposting from [chat]:
Is it just me, or is the foreshadowing too obvious when

Odin gives Harry tea and cakes? I mean, there's no obvious connection, but they made a lot of him eating and drinking what Vadderung set before him, and nothing comes of it in the rest of the book.

Relationships:

Susan is dead, permanently. Luccio is not willing to get involved with anyone anymore, possibly especially Harry.

I prefer Molly to Murphy (after Molly stops being his student, obviously) for one major reason, closely related to the one Murphy gave Harry at the hotel at SplatterCon!!!: magic. Specifically, Molly and Harry both use it, and Murphy doesn't; therefore, the two of them will live much longer than she does, and that sort of disparity is unhealthy for a relationship.
Also,

it seems ridiculously stupid for Harry to let someone else raise Maggie just because she's in danger by virtue of being his daughter. She's getting old enough for him to start teaching her to defend herself, and I think she'd prefer to know her father.

override367

How does this relate to they very short lived sci-fi series about this fellow? Like, any similarity or are the books way better?

Mazzyx

Override, about the only part of the show that was similar were the character names. Oh and magic exist. The books blow the show out of the water by huge margins. I mean it is hard to even connect the two.

CC:
Repost from [chat].

I think it was a way he curried favor with the All Father. I mean he mentions it like 10 times how obsessed Odin is with the rules of hospitality. And that Harry takes the time to follow all of them really puts the Odin on his side. Though, I have this odd feeling was the womens voice was a Valkyrie. Just my thought.

Relationships:

Yeah, Susan still I think was the light of Harry's life. Nothing will ever be the same without her. I am still not 100% sure with Luccio, I mean she does help him whenever she can. I think there is still something there just not what was when she was being mind screwed. But Molly? Really I mean she is like 30 years younger than Harry and the daughter of his best friend. Plus his apprentice, abuse of power there! I rather he would go for Murphy.

Last spoiler thing:

Though his daughter probably is a mage, doesn't mean she is or is strong enough to be trained. Plus it doesn't kick in till puberty and with so many enemies who would abuse the relationship I can really see why he is doing it. Don't forget Mab owns him now, and is that someone you want near a kid? Actually are any Fae really something you want near a child?

rockmonkey

Captain Carrot wrote: »

Reposting from [chat]:
Is it just me, or is the foreshadowing too obvious when

Odin gives Harry tea and cakes? I mean, there's no obvious connection, but they made a lot of him eating and drinking what Vadderung set before him, and nothing comes of it in the rest of the book.

Relationships:

Susan is dead, permanently. Luccio is not willing to get involved with anyone anymore, possibly especially Harry.

I prefer Molly to Murphy (after Molly stops being his student, obviously) for one major reason, closely related to the one Murphy gave Harry at the hotel at SplatterCon!!!: magic. Specifically, Molly and Harry both use it, and Murphy doesn't; therefore, the two of them will live much longer than she does, and that sort of disparity is unhealthy for a relationship.
Also,

it seems ridiculously stupid for Harry to let someone else raise Maggie just because she's in danger by virtue of being his daughter. She's getting old enough for him to start teaching her to defend herself, and I think she'd prefer to know her father.

I have to agree with you all pretty much all of those points.

I too thought something was coming besides the fact that Harry should be polite and accepting food and drink invokes a guest's rights of protection from the host.


I like molly the most out of the possible candidates, but I'm fine with him either not being engaged in any romance for the next book or finding a new flame all together. Like you said, Molly, but after she's no longer his student.

I really can't believe he's going to have Maggie raised by strangers and that he won't even know who/where. I can understand that if he's the winter knight that he couldn't raise her himslef, but it seems like even if he wasn't winter's knight that he wouldn't keep her. He lost EVERYTHING, but I kind of figured this would be a good opportunity for a more secure home base, something still close to other people and the portection that provides opposed to out in the country where no one will hear you scream (or your house being blown up), but also apart enough that he can get more security measures and maybe some early warning systems up.

Knowing Butcher Harry won't stay the winter knight forever, or it won't impact his life as much as we'd think. I can't imagine him giving Harry a daughter and then disappearing her, I have to believe Harry will raise her in some capacity. I also figure this is time for harry to upgrade his diggs, and mix up his bag or magical gear. New duster, staff, car.

Mazzyx

You know I just thought of something...

Maggie is in Forthill's protection at the moment. And out of all the houses that he knows and he knows Harry cares about what about going to Micheal? I mean Charity knows about magic and how to spot it since she had the gift. Micheal is the most awesome person ever. Plus it would be the family Harry could never provide, protection of the good lord himself seems to sit on the house and Harry can be involved that way, too.

Z0re

Mazzyx wrote: »

You know I just thought of something...

Maggie is in Forthill's protection at the moment. And out of all the houses that he knows and he knows Harry cares about what about going to Micheal? I mean Charity knows about magic and how to spot it since she had the gift. Micheal is the most awesome person ever. Plus it would be the family Harry could never provide, protection of the good lord himself seems to sit on the house and Harry can be involved that way, too.

Michael's retired though and I doubt Harry would ever even consider it. He'd think it would be placing the Carpenters in to much danger and he already feels bad for how much he drags them into trouble.

Also Molly is roughly 13 years younger than Harry not 30 some. A bit wide when they are early twenties/ mid-thirties. Less so when they are 145 and 158.

Cimmerii

It's also worth mentioning there is a handful of short stories, which happen anywhere from pre-Storm Front to after Small Favor, and one from Thomas' point of view.

They are occasionally referenced, (the Billy and Georgia wedding fiasco, finding out Gard is a Valkyrie, and a few other things)

They are available at the author's site here.

Morblitz

Morblitz wrote: »

Mazzyx wrote: »

You know I just thought of something...

Maggie is in Forthill's protection at the moment. And out of all the houses that he knows and he knows Harry cares about what about going to Micheal? I mean Charity knows about magic and how to spot it since she had the gift. Micheal is the most awesome person ever. Plus it would be the family Harry could never provide, protection of the good lord himself seems to sit on the house and Harry can be involved that way, too.

I disagree,

Harry cannot have anything to do with his daughter, because if people find out where she is or who she's with, a lot of people will be in danger. If Maggie went with Michael, sure, she'd be protected (as much as possible, given the circumstances, the good lord couldn't protect Michael from being crippled by machine guns) but Harry would still need to keep away from her, he can't be in her life, that's the point of the whole story. With his own daughter being so close, yet so far, it would kill him, so she has to be sent away.

It's all rendered moot by the ending of the book, anyway.

Apothe0sis

Didn't this start out as Butcher punking his literature professor? Putting every idiotic trope and cliche of poor amateur writing into the originals?

Then, deciding that maybe the general idea wasn't so bad afterall, and reworking it to be a little less bad.

Arch

Apothe0sis wrote: »

Didn't this start out as Butcher punking his literature professor? Putting every idiotic trope and cliche of poor amateur writing into the originals?

Then, deciding that maybe the general idea wasn't so bad afterall, and reworking it to be a little less bad.

No it has stayed literally the same. Hell it even has *changes spoiler

Ebenezar is Harry's GRANDFATER OH NOOOESSSS. Ebenezar is his mentor who looked out for him ALSO HIS GRANDPAPPY! And of course his vampire contact in the first books IS HIS HALF BROTHER. and then of course his half vampire exgirlfriend HAD HIS BABBY.

That all being said- it is a fun read because it is the most ridiculous thing ever. I MAzzyx for making this thread because I was going to but was too lazy.

WARNING THIS NEXT BIT IS ME BITCHING ABOUT THE LATEST BOOK

What the shit. That is basically it. That is the culmination of my bitching. Yay stupid cliffhanger after he gave up everything ever! And the aforementioned "I am your grandfather!" bit was lame as well.

Selner

I've only read the first three (fourth is queued up on Kindle for reading), but I've enjoyed the books so far. They are quick reads, and rather enjoyable. And being able to get a 13-book series on Kindle makes my bookshelf happy.

I also queued up the first book in Butcher's fantasy series (the Fury books). There's an author's note where he says that the fantasy stuff is what he really likes to write, but the Dresden stuff pays his bills.

And I personally enjoyed the short-lived Sci-Fi series when it was on. It's obviously quite different.

Also, I didn't see it mentioned but there's a Dresden graphic novel, Welcome to the Jungle.
http://www.amazon.com/Dresden-Files-Welcome-Jungle/dp/0345507460

Captain Carrot

Re: Winter Knight, note that

since Harry has died, his service to Mab is over. Though I suspect she'll be awfully irritated about this. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Harry and Murphy have some version of a FWB deal after he comes back - not casual sex, but not a fully committed romantic relationship either.

Arch

Captain Carrot wrote: »

Re: Winter Knight, note that

since Harry has died, his service to Mab is over. Though I suspect she'll be awfully irritated about this. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Harry and Murphy have some version of a FWB deal after he comes back - not casual sex, but not a fully committed romantic relationship either.

if he died how will he come back? So many other people have actually died that to allow HIM to live is silly. I mean I know he is the hero but it really fucks a lot up, to me at least.

Captain Carrot

Arch wrote: »

Captain Carrot wrote: »

Re: Winter Knight, note that

since Harry has died, his service to Mab is over. Though I suspect she'll be awfully irritated about this. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Harry and Murphy have some version of a FWB deal after he comes back - not casual sex, but not a fully committed romantic relationship either.

if he died how will he come back? So many other people have actually died that to allow HIM to live is silly. I mean I know he is the hero but it really fucks a lot up, to me at least.

There's obvious foreshadowing

with the tea and cakes Odin gave him. Plus, the light at the end of the tunnel turns out to be a train, so that process is obviously not going as normal. I mean, I'm not saying that he'll just spring back at the next book, healthy as a horse, but his story isn't done yet, and his stay in the afterlife won't last this time.

shadowane

I won't be able to read this until Amazon and Penguin make up and start selling kindle books again. It's really fucking annoying.

Arch

Captain Carrot wrote: »

Arch wrote: »

Captain Carrot wrote: »

Re: Winter Knight, note that

since Harry has died, his service to Mab is over. Though I suspect she'll be awfully irritated about this. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Harry and Murphy have some version of a FWB deal after he comes back - not casual sex, but not a fully committed romantic relationship either.

if he died how will he come back? So many other people have actually died that to allow HIM to live is silly. I mean I know he is the hero but it really fucks a lot up, to me at least.

There's obvious foreshadowing

with the tea and cakes Odin gave him. Plus, the light at the end of the tunnel turns out to be a train, so that process is obviously not going as normal. I mean, I'm not saying that he'll just spring back at the next book, healthy as a horse, but his story isn't done yet, and his stay in the afterlife won't last this time.

Oh derp derp- Risen warrior in Odin's 'service' aka still working for the grey council.

The train was Odin's valkyrie. They have kept up with the times :P

Arch

Basically- in regards to

harry ever coming back to life, and how I feel it will affect the series

I trawled through the mess of the official forums and found this nice quote

My point is that Harry coming back to life takes away a bit of the believability in the narrative universe. Harry's conflicts and struggles have been written well with his humanity firmly in mind, even accounting for the Wizardry magic. The series has had one foot in the surreal, and one in Real Life. He has naturally feared death, and his refusal (up to this novel perhaps) to compromise his own morality even in the face of it has been a driving theme in the series. It has always been an ever-present angle in the stories as a potential ultimate consequence to his actions. Now, if he can potentially cheat death, then his character takes a hit both when it comes to how well the audience can relate to him as a human being, and the potential consequences to his actions have to somehow invoke death as a viable spectre again, or have him worrying about other things rather then his own life as his primary motivation, both of which are rather tricky to pull off well.

I kind of like it, as it is exactly how I feel about this shit.

Z0re

Also about that big spoiler

The next book is titled Ghost Story so I'm thinking Harry is not going to just immediately spring back to life, I think there may be some sort of epic journey with him dead.

Plus I can't wait till Aftermath to see how his death affects everyone and if his body is recovered or not.

Plus the series is going to be 21-2 books with a final 'Apocalyptic Trilogy' to finish it off.

MagicPrime

Maybe I should pick these up... they look interesting.

Captain Carrot

Arch wrote: »

Basically- in regards to

harry ever coming back to life, and how I feel it will affect the series

I trawled through the mess of the official forums and found this nice quote

My point is that Harry coming back to life takes away a bit of the believability in the narrative universe. Harry's conflicts and struggles have been written well with his humanity firmly in mind, even accounting for the Wizardry magic. The series has had one foot in the surreal, and one in Real Life. He has naturally feared death, and his refusal (up to this novel perhaps) to compromise his own morality even in the face of it has been a driving theme in the series. It has always been an ever-present angle in the stories as a potential ultimate consequence to his actions. Now, if he can potentially cheat death, then his character takes a hit both when it comes to how well the audience can relate to him as a human being, and the potential consequences to his actions have to somehow invoke death as a viable spectre again, or have him worrying about other things rather then his own life as his primary motivation, both of which are rather tricky to pull off well.

I kind of like it, as it is exactly how I feel about this shit.

I think the first option in the last sentence makes the most sense.

I don't see the tea and cakes being anything more than a one-time deal, and I'm betting to get them again he'd have to have a similar situation to the first time. So basically, he'll have to jump through some hoops to come back, and it'll be understood that next time he's gone for good.

Solandra

Z0re wrote: »

Also about that big spoiler

The next book is titled Ghost Story so I'm thinking Harry is not going to just immediately spring back to life, I think there may be some sort of epic journey with him dead.

Plus I can't wait till Aftermath to see how his death affects everyone and if his body is recovered or not.

Plus the series is going to be 21-2 books with a final 'Apocalyptic Trilogy' to finish it off.

Is this information from the official forums? I've skimmed Butcher's site (the Dresden portion at least), and didn't see any mention of future publications...

Arch

MagicPrime wrote: »

Maybe I should pick these up... they look interesting.

I am thinking you should change your location

jhunter46

Don't forget about Welcome to the Jungle. Picked it up and read it over the weekend. My wife is also into the series and this is the first graphic novel she's read!

MagicPrime

Arch wrote: »

MagicPrime wrote: »

Maybe I should pick these up... they look interesting.

I am thinking you should change your location

How true.

Arch

MagicPrime wrote: »

Arch wrote: »

MagicPrime wrote: »

Maybe I should pick these up... they look interesting.

I am thinking you should change your location

How true.

Super Namicchi

maybe

he'll get wished back with the Dragon Balls!?

regarding the next book:

Jim's dropped some hints here and there that Bob will be the 'main sidekick' of Ghost Story; so i imagine it's going to be him doing a sort of Ghost of Christmas ______ thing where he goes around but no one can see him. Harry Who Was, Harry Who Is, and Harry Who Might Be dun dun dunnn

Arch

ArcanisTheImpotent wrote: »

maybe

he'll get wished back with the Dragon Balls!?

regarding the next book:

Jim's dropped some hints here and there that Bob will be the 'main sidekick' of Ghost Story; so i imagine it's going to be him doing a sort of Ghost of Christmas ______ thing where he goes around but no one can see him. Harry Who Was, Harry Who Is, and Harry Who Might Be dun dun dunnn

oh god that would be terrible

Mazzyx

I am not certain about the next book but...

Harry fell into the lake which because it is cold will slow the bleeding and give him more time. I figure it is more that he isn't dead yet but instead he just unconscious. I can see him being taken by the Valks but I am not really seeing it. I mean we know he was shot, he fell unconscious and is probably in the water. We don't know for certain if he is dead.

Arch

Mazzyx wrote: »

I am not certain about the next book but...

Harry fell into the lake which because it is cold will slow the bleeding and give him more time. I figure it is more that he isn't dead yet but instead he just unconscious. I can see him being taken by the Valks but I am not really seeing it. I mean we know he was shot, he fell unconscious and is probably in the water. We don't know for certain if he is dead.

Butcher flat out said it in an interview

Mazzyx

Arch wrote: »

Mazzyx wrote: »

I am not certain about the next book but...

Harry fell into the lake which because it is cold will slow the bleeding and give him more time. I figure it is more that he isn't dead yet but instead he just unconscious. I can see him being taken by the Valks but I am not really seeing it. I mean we know he was shot, he fell unconscious and is probably in the water. We don't know for certain if he is dead.

Butcher flat out said it in an interview

I haven't read any interviews. My laziness means I just stick with the books themselves. But if he said that you can disregard what I said there.

MagicPrime

Death is but a door, time is but a window. I'll be back.

PantsB

Dresden has

ridden a zombie T-Rex, verbally sparred with Arch-Angels, Demons and DemiGods and taken on every Big Bad around. Coming back to life doesn't seem like its that big a stretch and I don't think its what breaks the believability camel's back. Especially since

Law of magic wrote:

Thou shalt not reach beyond the borders of life.

and the existence of necromancy implies its not entirely outside the realm of possibility.

Mazzyx

PantsB wrote: »

Dresden has

ridden a zombie T-Rex, verbally sparred with Arch-Angels, Demons and DemiGods and taken on every Big Bad around. Coming back to life doesn't seem like its that big a stretch and I don't think its what breaks the believability camel's back. Especially since

Law of magic wrote:

Thou shalt not reach beyond the borders of life.

and the existence of necromancy implies its not entirely outside the realm of possibility.

And we all know

Molly has a huge crush on him. Has broken the rules of magic before to do whats right. He has friends in the Summer court, is the winter knight and we have seen body swapping already. There are tons of ways that Dresden can be brought back that don't really fall out of place in this universe.

Cantide

Changes spoilers

I'm guessing his inevitable resurrection will have something to do with, or at least take place at, that special island from Turncoat, which is why he had the premonition that it was going to be such an important place for him in his future.

mjn6172

I think I said this in the other thread, but my theory regarding the end of Changes is

It's all a plot by his crazy fairy godmother Lea. Either she wants to keep Harry all to herself, or she's using this as a chance to weaken Mab and try and conquer Winter again. Either way I think it's her voice he hears and she'll be essential in bringing him back.

Z0re

My theory about the end of Changes

The person or persons who have been gunning for Harry the last few years finally got him. You know the one who smashed into his car in PG, blew up Murphy's car in WN, I forget what exactly they did in Turn Coat.

This way it didn't come out of nowhere because the last three books had someone make an attempt on Harry's life wholly unconnected to whatever the main plot was. It seems odd to drop that in this book unless the sniper shot was it.

Archonex

Alternatively, it could be that the person who

killed Harry was Fix, the Summer Knight. He did pull a gun on Harry before on the assumption that he had taken up Mab's offer. Him taking a preemptive shot at Harry before he gets on the job officially would make sense.

Professor Phobos

Cimmerii wrote: »

It's also worth mentioning there is a handful of short stories, which happen anywhere from pre-Storm Front to after Small Favor, and one from Thomas' point of view.

The next book "Odd Jobs" supposedly collects all the short stories, with a new one.

I just finished re-reading the whole series up to Turn Coat. As soon as the Kindle Edition of "Changes" is available, I am catching up.

Lynx

Professor Phobos wrote: »

Cimmerii wrote: »

It's also worth mentioning there is a handful of short stories, which happen anywhere from pre-Storm Front to after Small Favor, and one from Thomas' point of view.

The next book "Odd Jobs" supposedly collects all the short stories, with a new one.

I just finished re-reading the whole series up to Turn Coat. As soon as the Kindle Edition of "Changes" is available, I am catching up.

Side Jobs, actually. Comes out in November. It doesn't collect two of the short stories, though, so Butcher is going to write a few more so he can publish a Side Jobs 2, which would collect the rest.

Anyways, I'm just about to start reading Blood Rites. Summer Knight and Death Masks were awesome. Wish I could contribute to the Changes discussion, but still a ways off.

MagicPrime

Death Masks is awesome because it's a Michael heavy novel.