Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)
by Jim Butcher
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jim ButcherEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-04-01
ISBN: 0451457811
Number of pages: 384
Publisher: Roc
Book Reviews of Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)
Book Review: "There is no truer gauge of a man's character than the way in which he employs his strength, his power"
Summary: 4 Stars
"There is no truer gauge of a man's character than the way in which he employs his strength, his power"
After much clamoring, I finally gave into my friends' requests that I start this book.
Harry Dresden is the only practicing wizard in the Yellow Pages and often works with the police on their "paranormal" crimes. One day, Lieutenant Murphy calls him up and presents him with a crime scene: two dead bodies, killed in a most brutal and obviously unnatural method, which some are trying to blame on Harry. Meanwhile, Harry is also hired to find the missing husband of Monica Sells.
I Liked:
The character of Harry is rather enjoyable. He isn't all-powerful, omnipotent, able to leap buildings in a single bound, martini upright in his hand and the lady cooing in the other (in other words, a blatant Marty Stu). He is funny, grouchy, persistent, and genuinely horrible with women. While he is a capable wizard, he also isn't able to conjure just anything. While the limitations are vague and probably planned to make the story more interesting, I do appreciate seeing a protagonist with some weaknesses, some limitations, some holding back from pure, unadulterated power. I liked seeing Harry have to use his mind instead of just blowing the baddie into the next state with a mind-boggling spell. Furthermore, I liked the ambiguity Butcher touches upon, Harry's inner turmoil between White and Black Magic.
I touched on it briefly, but humor is what really stands out to me in this book. The one-liners are really funny! You can't help but chuckle or laugh out loud.
Butcher also writes in an enjoyable way. His writing is uncomplicated and is perfect for the flow of the story. And yet, he gives enough details to give the reader just enough idea of where Harry is or what is happening. The big fight between Harry and the scorpion, the showdown at the Lake House, the demon at Harry's house...all these were well-written fight sequences, with believable actions and intensity, that makes it tough to set down the novel until you find out how the heck Harry will get out of that scrape.
Lastly, the story is pretty interesting. It was neat to see how Butcher ties in the concept of Wizards and Wizardry with the modern world (particularly how wizards tend to mess up electronics). In many ways, I felt a connection with the Magic of this book and the Force in Star Wars.
I Didn't Like:
While Murphy bucked the Sexy WomanTM stereotype to an extent, most of the other women are easily very vamp-ish. Susan, Bianca, Linda...yes, I understand some are/were in the "escort" business, but I really hate seeing women portrayed merely as sex kittens.
The faceoff between Harry and the baddie felt a little corny, over-used.
On one hand, Butcher did a good job with the magic in his book. On the other, some of it felt too light, not enough meat, as if it were only the tip of the iceberg, or just enough to tell the story, but not enough to linger on. Hopefully, later books will reveal more (and since this is a first novel in a series, it is understandable that the Magic is in the beginning stages too).
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Tame. Da**, he**, one or two f-bombs...nothing you wouldn't find in most PG-13 movies.
The victims are found "in the throes of passion". Harry speaks with Bianca, a vampire who runs an escort service. The missing husband was said to be having an orgy in his summer home. Women wear provocative clothing. A man can build up his energy to perform magic using the passions in love-making.
The victims are left in quite a mangled manner, causing Harry to vomit upon seeing them. John Marcone attempts to bully Harry into "taking a vacation". Harry is confronted by his keeper and a demon. He and Murphy also are attacked by a scorpion. And then, there's the final showdown.
Overall:
While I have no huge long lists on annoyances or grievances on this book like I have had for many others (I was, at one point, scraping the bottom of the barrel to come up with dislikes), I still can't give a full 5 stars. Perhaps there was something missing in the story. Perhaps it was the writing was a little too status quo. Maybe the characters weren't appealing enough or the plot was too iffy. However, this is a nice, little book, perfect for a cozy evening in front of the fire, the waiting room or anywhere you need to just get away. 4 stars.
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