I’m going to let you in on a guilty pleasure I’ve been indulging for a few months.

Back in the winter, I was trolling around, looking for something to read—something with magic, something with action, something new to me but well-rated that I had missed in previous trolling-for-good-books activities. Honestly, sometimes I wonder where I was for half my life. Oh, yeah. I was working at a soul-sucking job to earn a living. And while I was thusly engaged, I missed a lot of fun stuff.

But enough carping: I stumbled on Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files. Just what I needed.

I’ve been to Chicago a couple of times, but apparently I only got the nickel tour because I had no idea the place was infested with vampires. I count myself lucky to be alive. If I ever go back, I will be better prepared.

The Dresden Files is 17 books strong, with more on the way. I am currently reading #15. I’m told to expect later books to present challenges—some readers have been disappointed, but I adapt. We’ll see.

If you want the entire list of Dresden books and stories in preferred reading order (sort of how they fit chronologically in Dresden’s universe, here is a link:

So far, up to and including Skin Game, this series has been my favorite form of procrastination for months. I have my own books to write, but as long as I can call reading “research” ….

Anyway, Harry Dresden is in modern-day Chicago, magic-ing the hell out of that place. The stories themselves are lots of fun with spells flying willy-nilly and a variety of supernatural nasties to fight and/or lust after. Butcher philosophizes via Dresden about the nature of magic, the inconsistencies of the human heart, and the toll that fighting evil can have on the (mostly) pure of heart.

His opinions are close enough to my own to make the reading comfortable and different enough to make it thought-provoking. Another point in favor is that the reading level of the Dresden Files is around the 11^th grade level—though the appropriateness of content may be for older peeps. I’m referring only to reading level. This is a step above—actually seven steps above– some of the most popular authors whose bestsellers come in at or near the 4^th grade reading level.

Seriously?!

I’m against the dumbing down of the world. My advice to you is to read stuff that challenges you in one way or another and steer clear of authors who write down to you just to sell books. Thank you for attending my TED Talk.

Anyway, as the series progresses, we move further away from the PI business and closer to the supernatural goings on in that time-between-time, which Harry knows as the Never-Never. Still entertaining, but I miss the old days.

A common situation I observe with any series—TV, book, or whatever—is that they often stray far from what made them popular. I get it—the author likes to explore beyond the boundaries —especially fantasy and paranormal authors—but for me it’s the conflict between what we think of as normal and the way we try to rationalize the things we encounter that are decidedly not normal that provides endless push and pull. I’m not complaining one way or the other about how Butcher writes his books, just noting that the series veers away from the original Wizard PI premise. We’ll see what Butcher does next. I’m enjoying the ride.

All that said, I highly recommend The Dresden Files at least as far as 15, only because that’s as far as I have gotten as I write this. Magically Delicious, gloriously gory, and tantalizingly twisty-turny.

Start with Storm Front, the first novel in the series, and see what you think.

Since I plan to finish this series at some point in the near future, I’ll be trolling for a replacement binge. Any ideas?