The Sci-Fi Channel has picked up 11 episodes of the Dresden Files based on the books (listed below) by author Jim Butcher. The pilot is due to be aired “this summer.” Check http://www.scifi.com/dresdenfiles/ for details. Jane (one of the owners) is extremely excited about the series, because she loves the books. She’s nervous about the series, as well, for the same reason. (Remember the Bakshi Lord of the Rings movie?) But here’s the scoup on the Dresden Files:
Elevated “into the front rank of urban fantasy heroes” (SF Site), is the professional wizard Harry Dresden. Yes, it’s a wizard named Harry. No, he doesn’t live at Privet Drive. He’s in Shy-town, the city of Big Shoulders, Chicago. He’s a unique kind of private investigator, who is occassionally hired to work with Chicago police when they are dealing with supernatural crimes.
Harry, the only wizard in the Chicago phone book, is pledged to fight crime, banish evil, and outwit the masters of dark arts in the shadowy corners of Chicago where all those ancient, underworld baddies are operating in full-swing in the modern urban landscape. You’ll find Vampires, and Werewolves, Demons and Dark Wizards. You also get to meet more-questionable faeries and white-court vampires. But good or bad, Harry usually ends up in the thick of things — (Monkey-demons flinging flaming feces, for example). Harry is the guy you call when you need help with things that put the “ick” in magick.
You’ll find a full brew of hard-boiled mystery, supernatural thriller, and a hero with somewhat sarcastic humor. Take Laurell K. Hamilton, Dashiel Hammet, and add a twist of Terry Prachett stir, shake and you get Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files.
If you haven’t read the books yet, you are in for a treat, because there are seven available in paperback, and a new one in hardcover. Here is the series in publication order, just click on a link to read our product description in our catalog:
All are highly recommended by Jane, our resident magickal-fiction book addict, and all are available on the website under Books > Magical Fiction.
Just in case you are wondering why we carry fiction in a metaphysical store, our reason is simple: Any fiction which portrays “the Otherworld” or magic or the supernatural is up our alley because the folks who write these have thought things through. Even though the spells and magic is bogus; the characters, dilemas of people who don’t fit in because of their gifts isn’t. Plus, we try not to be too serious all of the time.