Although I have a very strong liking for sci-fi, many people jump to the conclusion that I love fantasy as well. I like my outrageous fiction grounded by some form of pseudoscience no matter what it is. The Dresden Files was a recommendation to me by a German fantasy author who spends half his time berating me for disliking fantasy. While many wouldn't dare label The Dresden Files as "fantasy", I'm going to go out and say that it's "urban fantasy" at the very least. 

Jim Butcher's world building has one of the most engaging details I have ever read. Although it's been nearly 5 years since I finished the Harry Potter books and was awestruck by the world, I'd put it right up there. There are some striking similarities with Harry Potter, and American Gods by Neil Gaiman. The magic in The Dresden Files is sort of backed up by science and physics (at least in the mortal world) and borrows heavily from occult practices around the world – from the Mayans, the Indian tantrik chakras and Chinese medicine/lore. You keep wanting to know more simply because the world makes you believe that you're already in it. Big plus for immersion. 

Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is a wizard private investigator and a member of the White Council of Wizards who resides in Chicago. He protects the general area and will basically do almost anything for money. He needs to pay his rent, you know. Dresden's character always claims to be the sword of justice and chivalry but time and time again we see that he strikes deals with people and creatures that seem like very bad ideas. The moral justification can be interpreted in multiple ways. One can say that all of Jim Butcher's efforts into creating a character went behind Dresden as the other characters aren't really bad but they aren't memorable apart from their plot significance. You'll have fun reading the interactions between the characters as the quirky dialogues showcase the author and Dresden's wit. 

The plots. Wow. That's where things get a bit murky. The first 2-3 books are fine, as they are only starting out but once you hit books 4-5, you'll want to kill yourself at times. Jim Butcher keeps using plot devices and improbable (I know it's magic but still) situations to pull Dresden out. Once you cross that hurdle, the overarching plot appears. This is where I have to applaud Jim Butcher for a simple solution that many authors face with an ongoing series. Most of the books deal with run-of-the-mill supernatural crimes that slot into the bigger picture. So you end up knowing more about the wonderfully composited world along with an intriguing plot. 

The Dresden Files are a gripping and highly entertaining read, that much is guaranteed. Don't look for eloquent wordplay and tasteful wit. Most of the jokes run in between all shades of politically incorrect.

Rumman R Kalam is a sub-editor at SHOUT and a goat with opposable thumbs at Rantages. Ask him politically charged questions: tehgoatlord@rantages.com