Storm Front is a 2000 novel by science fiction and fantasy author Jim Butcher. It is the first novel in The Dresden Files, his first published series that follows the character of Harry Dresden, professional wizard.
[edit] Plot Summary
A woman named Monica makes an appointment with Dresden to discuss a missing persons case later in the day. Dresden also gets a call from Lieutenant Karrin Murphy, director of Special Investigations (SI) Unit of the Chicago Police Department. Murphy's partner shows him the bodies of two gruesomely murdered people with their hearts ripped out. Later that day, he is hired to find the husband of Monica Sells, Victor, a beginning magician who was acting oddly.
Eventually, Dresden, despite encounters with vampires, the warlock, and Warden Morgan, learns that the affair centers around the drug "ThirdEye," which allows normal humans to temporarily use The Sight, which can drive them insane. Victor Sells manufactured ThirdEye to hedge out Johnny Marcone. Using the power of thunder storms and the orgies held at his home, he powered the spells to remove his enemies, namely Marcone's men and people threatening his operation, in order to gradually bring down Marcone.
Interrupting Victor's last spell, Dresden attacks Victor, eventually burning down Victor's house while Victor is still inside grappling with monster-sized scorpions. Dresden wins, but he's trapped on the balcony on the side of the burning lake house. Warden Morgan drags him out of the fire, saving his life. Morgan witnessed the fight with Victor and knows that Dresden is innocent, testifying on Dresden's behalf to the White Council.
[edit] Plot points introduced
- Soulgaze: An event where a wizard locks eyes with another human (and only another human, as faeries, vampires etc. don't have human souls) and sees a piece of their souls. It is normally a daunting experience. Later books reveal that the experience is different based on the people involved. Some wizards experience the soulgaze like they would a work of art. Some hear, rather than see, the soulgaze, and some, like Dresden, see symbolic representations of who the other person is.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Characters introduced in this novel
- Harry Dresden: The protagonist; a professional wizard, who is in the phone book.
- Monica Sells: One of Dresden's clients and the wife of Warlock Victor Sells.
- Lieutenant Karrin Murphy: Director of Special Investigations, Chicago PD.
- Detective Ron Carmichael: Murphy's partner at SI
- Jennifer Stanton (deceased): An employee of the Velvet Room and Monica Sells' sister
- Tommy Tomm (deceased): A bodyguard for Gentleman Johnny Marcone
- Gentleman Johnny Marcone: The lord of the Chicago underworld.
- Hendricks: A bodyguard for Gentleman Johnny Marcone
- Mac: The owner-operator of McAnally's tavern
- Susan Rodriguez: A reporter at the Midwestern Arcane, and Dresden's love interest
- Toot-toot: A dewdrop faerie who helps Dresden
- Warden Donald Morgan: A law enforcement warden for the White Council, who has a mandate to aid the innocent and punish the guilty.
- Mister: Dresden's 30+ pound house cat
- Bob: An intelligent air spirit who resides inside a skull in Dresden's sub-basement laboratory.
- Madame Bianca St. Claire: The owner of the Velvet Room and a Red Court vampire.
- Linda Randall (deceased): A former employee of the Velvet Room; the Beckitt’s chauffeur; friend and sometime lover to Jennifer Stanton.
- The Beckitts: A rich couple who provide money for Victor Sells
- Donny Wise: A photographer for a local adult magazine
- Victor "Shadowman" Sells (Deceased) : The villain of the novel; a warlock; and Monica Sells' husband.
[edit] Storm Front in other media
- Storm Front has been recorded as an audio book, narrated by James Marsters.
- The plot of the novel was condensed into a 90-minute prospective television pilot for the Sci Fi Channel. Although the television movie was not used as the pilot episode, it was edited and aired later in the first season.
- The novel was adapted into an eight-issue comic book mini-series, adapted by Mark Powers and illustrated by Ardian Syaf and Brett Booth.
- This novel is available in ebook form on various ereading applications.
[edit] External links
|
|
|
| Books |
|
|
| Graphic novels |
|
|
| Characters |
|
|
