Hell's Bells: My (Totally Non-biased) Review and Recommendation of The Dresden Files

So to be completely up-front about the myself and the kinds of entertainment that I enjoy, fantasy tops the list. Frequently. The high concept magic and heroics in concert with the best examples of human bravery and treachery makes for some of, in my opinion, humanities greatest works of drama. There's an excitement and simplicity to the dualistic battles of good vs. evil. When a Knight in shining armor dares all minions of the dark lord to move against his will, fighting for hope and love in a world-shattering battle for all that is good in the world, there's nothing better.

But medieval times suck: plagues, corrupt religious institutions, famine and poverty; wouldn't a Wizard in modern Chicago be so much more dramatic (and sanitary)?

In the spring of my Junior year of high school I had officially run out of interesting and engaging stories. One fateful google search later, and had I met the only practicing Wizard in Chicago, and for the next 5 years I was drawn into the world of fairies, demons, and sorcerers; defended and sarcastically described by Professional Wizard, Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Started in 2000 by author Jim Butcher, the first book Storm Front is the introductory adventure into Dresden’s unique world.

The ways that Butcher builds this fantasy world is integral to the enjoyment I found in it, and the Romantic nature of the work in general will oblige any fan of hard boiled detective fiction, Arthurian magic and mysticism, or all of the above.

Enter Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional Wizard, conjure by his name at your own risk.

This modern urban fantasy epic starts with Jim Butcher's first novel in the Dresden Files series, Storm Front. Now you'll see a trend as the series goes on that every title has an example of clever wordplay, and in almost every case the title has multiple different meaning with the context of the story. Half the fun is learning the title months before the release of the book, and then trying to figure out what it could possibly mean to the story and Harry's world in general.

(For example, the story currently being written, the sixteenth book in the series, is set to be titled Peace Talks. Which proceeds to send chills down my little nerdy spine whenever I think about it's implications for my favorite Private Wizard.)

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But Storm Front begins in the traditional noir-ish fashion, with a knock arriving at Harry's office door. But it isn't a mob hitman looking to take him out or a femme fetale strutting in to embroil Harry in an underworld plot (those both come later in the series), it's the mail man. In one of the many brilliant genre reversal's found throughout the series, the book starts with the mail man riding Harry, asking him if he's serious.

Ya see, Harry is a Private Wizard, who for all intents and purposes does the same job that a private detective would do. Find missing objects and people, dig up dirt on rivals, and occasionally consult with the police. But as a practicing Wizard, Harry does all of those things for humans, as well as the multitude of magical creatures that exist in dark shadows of Chicago.

Dark sorcerers, a woman's missing husband,vampires, mob bosses, a hard nosed Special Investigations detective, and the looming dangers of missing rent; These are the kinds of threats that Harry faces on a daily basis.

But the fun is only just starting.

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The greatest asset to the book, and the series as a whole is the titular character, Harry Dresden. Every book including is told to the reader in first person as if the story was being read back to a good friend or in an interview. This personal aspect of the storytelling makes it feel all the more real, as if these things had really happened, drawing you in within the course of a few chapters.

Harry's charms comes from his explanations of the complex world around him and the mystical forces at work, both in terms of his own skills and the supernatural world he inhabits. The descriptions of crime bosses and vampires alike are filled with a deeply intelligent sarcasm readers will come to love from Harry.

He cares about everyone, deeply. Whenever he even starts to nurse the idea of standing aside and letting someone get hurt, he mentally kicks his own ass in gear and takes responsibility for the entire magical community.

In short, he is just a funny, kind, and interesting character to follow throughout his adventures. Being completely honest, the emotional vulnerability and moral fortitudes he holds have begun to influence my own view of the world around me.

Additionally, his old fashion view of the world leads to some pretty hokie and endearing swears. My own sign off, Hell's Bells, is one of these zany exclamations. In fact, the planned end for the series, a door stop apocalyptic trilogy meant to wrap up the whole story will be titled Stars and Stones, Empty Night, and Hell's Bells, respectively.

I'm so hyped for that I can't even adequately explain it with words.

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The supporting cast, ohhh my gosh the supporting cast.

A deeply Catholic Paladin, a psychosexual vampire, a ferociously tiny Chicago Police Detective, and the combined fury and terror of the supernatural community Butcher has created; from fairy courts to Wizard congresses, vampire collectives to Santa Claus himself the world is built on a shifting, warring power structure that is just a bit familiar to anyone who has ever read a fairy tale.

But with friends like these?

Better than all of those characters however, are the occasional world ending beings that flounce into and back out of Harry's life. Sometimes aiding him out of pity and other times giggling maniacally as they play Harry and his friends like pieces on a board game, there will be times as you read where even the mention of a elder being will make your blood run cold.

One of two Dragons left in all of existence makes an appearance in the third book, and we haven't heard scale nor tail from him since.

I'm sure that won't come into play later....

Villains, antagonists, "Ne'er-do-wells"; Dresden's world is chock-full of them. If cosmically disinterested dragons didn't do it for you, get ready for the sly and confident multitalented Chicago crime boss, a literal Ice Queen that rules over all of winter, the ageless Necromancer who casually chucks Kia Sorento's, the multiple equally nasty vampire courts spread throughout the earth, or the dark immortal (possed by a fallen angel) who accessorizes with a tie fashioned from the Judas Iscariot's noose. I can guarantee whether it's a regular old faceless henchman with a battle axe or an ephemeral force of nature bent on Harry's eternal exhaustion, you'll find a bad guy that you'll love to hate.

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At the time of this post, Butcher's 16th book Peace Talks is just about to be finished and a release date to be announced, so it's the perfect time to jump onto this crazy, mystical, out-of-control ghost train of a series.

I promise you won't regret it.

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Tl;Dr

Hey read this books series! It's great and you won't regret putting your time and energy into reading it!

Harry Dresden is a snarky and responsible goober who can melt your face with a fire from his hand or travel to the planes of the ethereal insanity of fairy worlds between pages. ..

Hell's Bells,

Alec