REVIEW: Storm Front by Jim Butcher

Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Publishing Information: 2000 (first publishing) 2000 (current edition)
Publisher: Roc Fantasy, Mass-Market Paperback, 355 pgs
ISBN-13: 978-0-451-45781-3
Series: The Dresden Files, Book 1
Reviewer: Andy
Copy: Out of Pocket

Synopsis: (from back cover): Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he's the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things-- and most of them don't play well with humans. That's where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a -- well, whatever. There's just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name. And that's when things start to get…interesting. Magic. It can get a guy killed.

When I first heard about this series, the geek side of me wanted to rejoice. Conceptually, it has all the things I love - its a hard-boiled mystery series featuring a wizard-detective who investigates the paranormal. Its James Cain meets Harry Potter with a healthy dose of the X-Files thrown in for good measure. However, the literary side of me was filled with reservations. Fantasy authors have a tendency to abuse magic, employing it as a deus ex machina, often writing themselves out of holes through introducing previously unmentioned magical forces. The potential for this kind of abuse in a mystery series is increased tenfold. In a whodunit, the reader should be at least in principle have all the information available to decipher the outcome. Magically mysterious forces tend to complicate that principle quite a bit.

I was pleased to discover that Butcher is not afraid to reveal the inner-workings of his universe piece by piece, and through the book's first-person narration, he leaks all the details necessary to solve the mystery. My worry of that sort of abuse was put to rest. Butcher's primary strength though, is his ability to not take his story too seriously. This book contains over-the top characters such as lecherous talking skulls and pizza-loving fairy informants. The ability to blend comedy with fantasy and horror is reminiscent of Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series, as fans of Buffy will find a similar tone here.

Not to mention, Harry Dresden, our hero, is a true homage to the hard-boiled detective. He seeks out danger, has a tough and cynical view about the world, and a traditional view of the role of women. Much of this is Butcher playing with genre conventions - and Butcher comes off as a self-aware author offering up a daring genre fusion for fans with a complex enough palate. Often the mix works brilliantly, as Dresden employs divination spells as tools of investigation. We also get a taste of the seedier side of Chicago, as a new drug has hit the streets - one which gives average junkies a taste of a wizard's visions. Its times like these where the book really shines, when the conventions of fantasy and noir-mystery seem to blend naturally, as if they were created for one another.

The prose is simple, austere, and masculine, in the American tradition of hard-boiled pulp noir - and the majority of time its clever and witty. However, sometimes the dialogue falls flat on its face, such as when tough-girl cop Murphy compares Harry's hairstyle to the Empire State Building. I am hoping this improves as the series continues. Additionally, there seems to be some tension between the desire to portray Harry as a foolhardy detective who often barks up the wrong tree and ends up with a black eye and a seriously powerful wizard. I am hoping Butcher will find a balance between these two sides of Harry by putting Harry in situations where his powers are severely limited or toning down Harry's powers in future books. Additionally, the world needs to be fleshed out a bit more (its a bit thin so far)- we hear talk of alternate dimensions and catch a glimpse of a Wizarding council but at the moment these are merely promises of a larger world. It will be interesting to find out if Butcher can create a compelling and complex world while still preserving his humorous and playful tone. However, this is a promising debut novel and I think my geek side indeed wins out after all.



Plot……….8/ 10

Characters………8/10

Style………..7/10

Overall.......7/10