Reposting this 2010 review because the Kindle Edition is on sale for $1.99.
Takeaway: A fun modern fantasy (that was the basis for the short lived tv show.)
After I moved to Georgia, and before I started being a nanny for my nieces I used to have a lot of TV running in the background when I was doing data entry. Previously I had not had the benefit of either Tivo or cable, now I had both. I watched all of Angel and Buffy the Vampire Slayer over the span of a couple months. (I had not seen any of either previously.)
One other short lived show that I enjoyed was The Dresden Files (Hulu link if you are interested). I knew that it was based on a series of novels by Jim Butcher, but I have not gotten around to reading any of them before now.
I have been reading a lot of fairly heavy theology. The more theology I read, the more I need fiction as a balance. It is not that I do not like the theology, I am really enjoying what I have been reading. It is that my brain needs alternative engagement, not necessarily fluff, but something different. Although I was looking for mostly fluff when I bought this.
Storm Front is the first book in the Dresden series. It is introducing the characters, which I was already pretty familiar with. There are a few differences between the book and the tv show. And they are split between good and bad changes in my mind. By my memory I thought the show had used pieces of this book in a couple different shows. When I went on line to look at the show episodes I saw that this book was what was originally a 2 hour pilot. The Pilot wasn’t shown as it was and it was later cut into a single hour and shown as episode 8. If you have never seen the show, then you don’t care.
The basic idea of the series is that Dresden is a wizard that acts like a private eye and does side jobs as a consultant with the Chicago police. He is the only openly practicing wizard in the area (probably the country). He has a dark past because he killed his mentor (in self defense) when he refused to go to the dark side. Like many heroes, he is poor because he fights for the people that need help not himself, he has a code of honor that he keeps even when he is being falsely accused by everyone around him and he is doesn’t seem to be lucky with the women. There are lots of cliches here. But it is still a fun book.
Purchase Links: Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook, Paperback box set for books 1-3
My husband is always amazed that although we both read and enjoy theology or Christian living books, I also adore fiction. I can relate to your comments about needing something different, and, sometimes I just plain enjoy fluff. This book sounds interesting; think I'll check out if our library system carries it.
I think fiction ignites a different part of the brain than nonfiction. A blog I read talked about the need for fiction a few days ago ” target=”_blank”>http://rhettsmith.com/2010/03/11/enough-put-down-…
I also think that fiction can talk about fairly cerebral ideas in a way that nonfiction just cannot. Sometimes it takes a story to communicate a concept. Describing it in a nonfiction method may not do it. This book is not one of those fiction books. But much of the science fiction/fantasy that I really like is about ideas more than ray guys or swords. I think that is what a lot of people that have a disdain for fiction miss. They don't see the ideas under the story.