The Dresden Files

[Michael Dean]

I just picked up Storm Front a couple of days ago based on a recommendation on rpg.net. I am a huge fan of the Garret Files by Glen Cook, and I noticed Cook gave a blurb for the Dresden books. So if there is any good similiarities between the two I will be very happy.

 

[eris404]

I can't get past the disappointment of James Marsters not playing Dresden.

He did a nice job on the audio books, I must admit. It would be nice to see him doing something (anything). (tangent: I had no idea that he's in his mid-forties. He looks ten years younger!)

 

[IcyCool]

He did a nice job on the audio books, I must admit. It would be nice to see him doing something (anything). (tangent: I had no idea that he's in his mid-forties. He looks ten years younger!)

Marsters would make a better Bob than a Harry.

 

[Staffan]

He did a nice job on the audio books, I must admit. It would be nice to see him doing something (anything). (tangent: I had no idea that he's in his mid-forties. He looks ten years younger!)

Well, vampires don't age, you know.

 

[Elemental]

I'll highly recommend them, as well. They've been compared to Laurel K.Hamilton's work, but that's not really fair on the DF series, which have more plausible characters, better constructed plots and far less monster porn. I like them both for the humour, (a lot of which comes from the viewpoint of the narrator himself) and for the drama--the series has a rare knack for moving smoothly between comedy and tragedy. A large supporting cast is juggled fairly well, and there's some good worldbuilding going on in the background.

As chance would have it, I read the first six books almost completely back to front. Most of the stuff from previous books gets explained in context, so I wouldn't say reading them in order is critical before the seventh or so. With the first one, there's a definate sense of trying to define what the series is all about, so skip to the second if it's not to your taste.

 

[PhoenixDarkDirk]

Does Bob remind anyone else of Morte from Planescape: Torment?

 

[Maxwell's Demon]

Thanks for all the great feedback. I've now read the first three novels and have my greedy little eyes locked on the remaining ones. I do have a follow-up question though. Given that the First Law is never kill a human using magic does Butcher ever explicitly state the other Laws of magic?

 

[WayneLigon]

Thanks for all the great feedback. I've now read the first three novels and have my greedy little eyes locked on the remaining ones. I do have a follow-up question though. Given that the First Law is never kill a human using magic does Butcher ever explicitly state the other Laws of magic?

I don't think there is ever a formal list given; the first law is jiust the first one because it's the most important. The other big one is 'don't mind control anything' (some summonings are a 'grey area' for this, because though the creature is bound, it usually accepts the binding on some level).

 

[SteelDraco]

I don't think there is ever a formal list given; the first law is jiust the first one because it's the most important. The other big one is 'don't mind control anything' (some summonings are a 'grey area' for this, because though the creature is bound, it usually accepts the binding on some level).

They're listed in Blood Rites, at least tangentially. Spoilers below are for context.

Spoiler

When Harry finds out that Ebenezar is the Blackstaff, he thinks for a minute about what that means. Part of that contemplation is a list of the laws, in context of what that means that he's free to do.

The Laws, as given, are...

1. Don't kill.
2. Don't enthrall another creature. (Which applies to both mortals and supernatural critters.)
3. Don't invade the thoughts of another mortal.
4. Don't open the Outer Gates. (Basically, don't mess with the Lovecraftian powers that exist outside time and space.)
5. Don't transform others.
6. Don't reach beyond the borders of life.
7. Don't swim against the currents of time.

Spoilers for the series (up to the end of Proven Guilty) discussing the Laws...

Spoiler

Interestingly, Harry is probably guilty of violating the Sixth Law for intentionally creating a ghost of himself at the end of Grave Peril. The kid in the beginning of Proven Guilty is executed for violating the Second Law. Molly gets the Doom of Damocles for violating the Third Law. The White Council's hatred of vampires probably comes from their very nature violating the Fifth Law.

In case it's not obvious, I'm a huge fan of the series. It's excellent stuff, with an incredibly cool world to it. I'd really like to, at some point, run a game using that setting.