The Dresden Files!!!

[Bran]

The Dresden Files.

This is now my favorite book series. The early books, I was hesistant to commit, even though I loved them. They were like a guilty pleasure in a way... But then book 3 (Grave Peril) came along and the series really took off.

Here, I will describe/ advertise this series to you. I am excited enough about it to be all "EVERYONE SHOULD READ THISH IT IS AWESHOME"

Changes, book 12, just came out and is AMAZING. I am now completely unabashed to declare this as my favorite book series and favorite author ever.

The series follows a private investigator living in Chicago who happens to also be a wizard. He has an ad in the yellow pages that looks like this:

HARRY DRESDEN — WIZARD

Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, Parties or Other Entertainment

It also features a wisecracking talking skull, a tough blonde detective in charge of Special Investigations who looks more like she should be someone's favorite aunt, and eventually a wide cast of many really enjoyable characters who show up at least every three books. OH, and did I mention, there are twelve so far and at least ten more planned. He cranks them out once a year, too. And he has written another series that is now complete that he managed to get done yearly as well. Jim Butcher is prolific, he's young, and supremely worth following! Even if you have been burned by poorly written modern fantasy in the past, you should definitely give The Dresden Files a try. Or, maybe give Butcher a chance by reading The Codex Alera first. The first two books of the Dresden Files are nothing special, but if you would otherwise be tempted to put them down, just start with book 3. Trust me. This series is amazing.

Has anyone here read it?! If so, well, I am full of theories on book #13 because of the very INTERESTING ending of book 12, and I would be thrilled for a spoiler tagged discussion of some sort.

[Sha'mad Conde]

Moved to Book Discussion. I'm sure you can figure out why.

[Shecky]

Agreed; it's some of the most enjoyable reading I've ever encountered. Head over to jimbutcheronline.com/bb for discussion (also of his high-fantasy series, the Codex Alera, that he just concluded last year - another fine read); it's where I went after one too many at Dragonmount.

[Bran]

@'Mad

So you haven't read them I'm guessing? Honored moderator, speaking within my capacity as the humble Lord of the Basement, you should. Soon.
(By the way, do spoiler / hide tags just not work anymore?)

@Shecky

Yes! I have started the Codex Alera! It's very enjoyable thus far and I hear it just keeps getting better.

I don't know if you've picked up Changes yet but it is the best book in the series so far. It's jaw-droppingly awesome, and made me cackle with joy at many moments when I was reading it.

[Sha'mad Conde]

I haven't read them yet. They are on the list to be read, though. I've known about them for a couple of years.

[Stripy Wombat]

*is Codex Alera fangirl*

ALERA LOVE AND AWESOMENESS.

Yeah, that's all. Bran and I already had a Facebook conversation about this?

[ShadowsDawn]

Read both, love both. Jim Butcher is amazing

[Stripy Wombat]

I still haven't decided whether I actually want to read the Dresden Files - I've gotten impatient in my old age, I want books to be gripping IMMEDIATELY.

I've just started Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding (being also a Chris Wooding fangirl from back when he was writing Broken Sky), and I've probably put it down too many times (reading on buses -_-), but I'm forcing myself to the point where reading it takes on its own momentum (i.e. I can't put it down even though I WANT to). It's only because I trust Chris Wooding.

I heard the K E Mills (Accidental Sorceror et al) books are a chip off the Dresden Files block - I have the first two on my TBR pile (courtesy of the library) - has anyone read these?

[ShadowsDawn]

The English equivalent of Dresden would probably be the Felix Castor series by Mike Carey. You should check them out if you like the Dresden files, it's a very similar tone and set in London.

That's really been the only similar (PI kind of style) that I've read compared to more general urban fantasy.

[Bran]

I want books to be gripping IMMEDIATELY.

Just start with book 3. Trust me; he gives you all the information you need in each book. You can read starting from there quite easily, I think... You don't really get the specifics of Harry's backstory until Book 4 anyways. (Just ignore it when Harry says to Michael "I don't talk about Elaine" because Butcher hasn't told you who she is yet anyways.
The only thing you'll really be missing that is important is the introduction of the character Johhny Marcone, but he basically reintroduces everyone in each book.

Read both, love both. Jim Butcher is amazing

Have you read CHANGES?! It is amazing. SERIOUSLY. I thought it was impressive how Turn Coat started going from paragraph one, and Changes not only does the same thing, but it is like...just plain awesome. Epic. I don't think he is going to be able to top Changes until the series finale. Clearly the best book in the series, although I think my favorite particular moment is still the end of book 7 (Dead Beat).

K.E. Mills and Mike Carey? Sounds interesting! I may check them out when I finish Codex Alera and Brandon Sanderson. They're going on a list! "The Accidental Sorcerer" sounds interesting just from the title...

[ShadowsDawn]

Re: Changes

Finished it release day over here, was quite put out by the ending. If that wasn't the last one I don't know how he'll top it. It really is one of the best books I've read all year, though I say that about every new Dresden file.

Trying to get one of my friends to start reading them, just loaded her with the first three of the series and told her to get back to me when she's finished.

[Drezell]

Sadly I am only on "Summer Knight" because I keep getting busy. But I LOVE the series. It is really wonderful! The characters are all interesting, the writing style makes me HAPPY! Jim Butcher does a really good job of appealing to what I need in a book. Actually, not just to books, but to almost everything. Humor. Haha. He uses all different aspects in this series, but I love the humor.

I cannot WAIT when I finally finish this book though. It looms over my head. Crying at me to read it. And I WANT to...I just never have time...maybe instead of talking about it I should be reading it right now. @_@ But anyway, I cannot wait for the ending, and finally read up to "Changes" because it sounds amazing.

But is it only amazing because you finished the rest of the series and have been WAITING for the new one...or is it really just more awesome than the rest?

[ShadowsDawn]

It really is more awesome than the rest

[Bran]

Seconded.

And I totally agree! Harry Dresden is my favorite wisecracking hero. He has officially replaced Spiderman as best-at-wisecracking-during-intense-situations. I love the fact that Butcher is perfectly willing to throw pop culture references in just as much as a biblical joke like when there is the line, "Hi, God, it's me, Harry. Please don't turn me into a pillar of salt."

Re: Book 4
Scene in wallmart SPOILER! If you haven't gotten past when the setting is a walmart, then this is a SPOILER.
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I love how he can't bear to call the animated plant thing a "plant monster" and so just starts calling it a chlorofiend instead, even though he has no idea whether or not it's the right name.

[Drezell]

Yup! I'm a bit farther than that, so I got to read the spoiler! Yay! Haha.

And of course, good authors can help you envision what they want you to...how the characters look, etc.

But Butcher actually made me twinge. Haha. When Harry was all gross, didn't shave...I actually saw it in my mind and was thinking "Ewwww...!" Takes a good writer to do that!