Harry Dresden
| Harry Copperfield Blackstone Dresden | |
|---|---|
| The Dresden Files character | |
| First appearance | Restoration of Faith (chronological) Storm Front (first novel) |
| Created by | Jim Butcher |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Title | Warden, Regional Commander |
| Occupation | Wizard Private investigator |
| Affiliation | The White Council |
| Family | Malcolm Dresden (father) (deceased) Margaret Gwendolyn LaFey (mother) (deceased) Thomas Raith (half-brother) |
| Children | Unnamed daughter |
| Nationality | USA |
Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is a fictional detective and wizard. He was created by Jim Butcher and is the protagonist of the contemporary fantasy series The Dresden Files. The series blends magic and hardboiled detective fiction. In addition to the eleven The Dresden Files novels, he has appeared in five published short stories and several unpublished short stories, as well as a limited series comic and an unlimited series comic.[1] He was also adapted into a character by the same name for the TV series version of the novel series, also called The Dresden Files.
Dresden Files Series
- Storm Front (2000)
- Fool Moon (2000)
- Grave Peril (2001)
- Summer Knight (2002)
- Death Masks (2003)
- Blood Rites (2004)
- Dead Beat (2005)
- Proven Guilty (2006)
- White Night (2007)
- Small Favor (2008)
- Turn Coat (2009)
- Changes (2010)
- Backup (2008) - Separate Novella
Short stories
- The Warrior (Mean Streets anthology)
- Harry's Day Off (Blood Lite anthology)
- Something Borrowed (Billy and Georgia's Wedding) (My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding anthology)
- Restoration of Faith (first meeting with Murphy) (at http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/restoration/)
- It's My Birthday Too (Many Bloody Returns anthology)
- Heorot (My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding anthology)
- Last Call (Strange Brew anthology)
- Backup - (centered on Thomas, Harry's brother) - novelette
- Vignette - (http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/vignette/)
Fictional biography
Harry is a wizard who works as a private investigator of sorts in Chicago (he's in the phone book, the only listing under "Wizards"), dealing with paranormal crimes and consulting for the Chicago Police Department. He is named after three different stage magicians — Harry Houdini, Harry Blackstone, Sr., and David Copperfield. This name was given to him by his father, Malcolm Dresden, a stage magician himself, who raised Harry while still performing his magic show all across the country. The stories are told from Harry's point of view in a hardboiled style.
Harry is considered a magical "thug," lacking fine control of his power, but is one of the strongest living wizards in terms of pure magical strength, as well as factors surrounding the timing of his birth. He originally favored fire and wind spells in battle, but has since evolved towards fire and force. In Small Favor and in Turn Coat he used electricity when Mab deprived him of the use of fire,and while fighting the Skinwalker on Demonreach, an island in Lake Michigan. He is also an expert at tracking spells (which he uses in his investigations) along with summoning and entrapment spells to speak to faeries and other supernatural sources of information. Due to his lack of finer control, Harry often must rely on magical items to help focus and channel his magical energy. Harry has also been known to carry around many firearms such as a .38 revolver, a .357 and most recently a .44 revolver and a sawed-off shotgun for those times when 'magic just doesn't cut it'.
Harry's traditional arsenal includes a duster (first a canvas model, later replaced with a leather duster received as a gift) enchanted with protective magics, a rune staff, a 'blasting rod' (a wooden stick used to give him finer control over his evocation magic), a shield bracelet (which Dresden has upgraded significantly throughout the series), a silver ring (used to channel blasts of kinetic energy) which has grown from merely one to several on both hands over the course of the series, and his mother's silver pentacle amulet.
Harry also benefits from having a large number of contacts and acquaintances within the different groups of the magical community. Whereas most traditional and hidebound wizards refuse to have dealings with other magical beings, Harry has gained a great deal of respect and infamy that often allows him to pursue other options normally not available to wizards. Of particular relevance is the fact that Harry has met and has some level of interaction with all the Queens of the Summer and Winter Courts of Faerie.
Harry's mother, Margaret Gwendolyn LaFey, was a wizard herself, although Harry knew little of her prior to book six. He has since learned that he is not her only child. He has a half brother named Thomas. Harry was raised by his father, a stage illusionist, until the age of six, when his father died of a brain aneurysm. He spent some years as a ward of the state before being adopted at ten (shortly after manifesting his magical powers) by Justin DuMorne, a former Warden of the White Council who turned renegade and dark mage. Justin later tried to enthrall Harry as his slave, but Harry fought back and in the process killed Justin. Harry was then entrusted to the care of Ebenezar McCoy, who mentored Harry and helped keep him out of trouble, until Harry was old enough to support himself.
Novels
The first book, Storm Front, introduces Harry Dresden as he is hired to figure out who is using magic to kill people in Chicago. The novel makes mention, in part, that Harry Dresden was nearly executed for breaking the First Law of Magic, but the White Council ruled the killing self-defense. Dresden was placed under the Doom of Damocles (a sort of probation) and put in the care of Ebenezar McCoy until adulthood.
In Fool Moon, the second book in the series, Harry meets the Alphas, a group of young werewolves who give him aid throughout the series while dealing with a series of werewolf related killings. Harry also starts to date Susan Rodriguez in this book.
In terms of Harry's backstory, the reader finds out that Harry's mother and father did not die natural deaths. It was also revealed that Harry's mother was known under a different name, and it was hinted that she had a dark past, but that she eventually redeemed herself.
In Grave Peril, third book in the series, Harry's friend Michael is introduced, a holy Knight of the Cross who battles evil. Michael encourages Harry to admit that he loves Susan, his reporter girlfriend. However, this comes too late, as Susan is attacked by Red Court vampires, and almost turned into one of them. To get her back, Harry destroys a large amount of Bianca's property, and Bianca herself, starting a war between the vampires and the White Council. Susan ends up leaving town to deal with her new identity as a semi-vampire.
It is also revealed in this book that Harry has a faerie godmother, Leanansidhe, who helped him to escape Justin DuMorne in exchange for his fealty, as well the fact that his mother, before she died, had made a pact with "Lea".
In Summer Knight, fourth book in the series, Harry learns that Elaine survived the fire that killed Justin. The Winter Queen of faerie, Mab, has purchased his debt from Leanansidhe and has made a deal with Harry for three favors. Harry then is forced into Faerie dealings and intrigue between the rival Courts to save the world.
After the first favor is accomplished, Mab offers him the title of Winter Knight, a position of no small power. Harry refuses, afraid of being caught up further in Fairy business...and of being the servant of Mab.
In Death Masks, fifth book in the series, Harry meets other Knights of the Cross as well as the Denarians, fallen angels who inhabit the 30 pieces of silver used to bribe Judas into betraying Jesus of Nazareth, specifically Nicodemus. Harry inadvertently absorbs the essence of a fallen angel by the name of Lasciel but doesn't realize it yet. Susan returns briefly before moving to South America to work with other not-quite-vampires against vampires.
In Blood Rites, sixth in the series, Harry learns that the White Court vampire Thomas Raith, whom he encountered in Grave Peril and Death Masks, is his half-brother: both are the sons of Margaret Gwendolyn LaFey, and Thomas is six or seven years his senior. He also learns that Ebenezar, who took him in after his time with Justin, is the equivalent of the White Council's black-ops hitman (the Blackstaff, a side reference to Khelban Arunsun of D&D fame?), and that Harry's mother had once been Ebenezar's apprentice, before she rebelled and took up with a bad crowd. She did not die naturally in childbirth, but was murdered by Thomas' father, Lord Raith of the White Court. Additionally, in this book Harry suffers severe burns to his left hand, crippling him.
In this book, Harry meets and adopts Mouse. The book opens with Harry's assignment to rescue a litter of Tibetan temple puppies from bad entities. At O'Hare, Harry delivers the box of pups to his client, Brother Wang. On the ride home, Harry discovers that one puppy had slipped out of the box and hidden under the back seat of the Blue Beetle. Brother Wang's flight is long gone. Mouse fits comfortably in Harry's duster pocket, so Harry decides to keep him. Mouse will eventually grow to be about a massive Foo Dog, with great power against beings of supernatural Evil. He becomes Harry's constant companion and guards his back.
At the end of the book, Thomas moves into Harry's apartment. He proves his usefulness by doing needful things. He pays off a mercenary named Kincaid so Harry won't be executed. And he buys a bag of large breed puppy chow which distresses Harry, as he does not yet know how large Mouse will grow.
In Dead Beat, seventh in the series, Harry finds out about a long since executed Dark Wizard named Kemmler. While Murphy is out of town, Mavra threatens to destroy her career if Harry does not get her the last copy of the book Word of Kemmler, the dark wizard's final work, from the Disciples of Kemmler who also come for the last surviving copy. The disciples are aligned with the Red Court and while Harry is busy the White Council is hit in a massive assault, resulting in the loss of over three-fourths of the Wardens. Harry tries to keep them from killing millions. When the head of the Wardens, Luccio, comes to Chicago to help stop the “Kemmlerites,” she also elevates Harry to the rank of Warden to help alleviate the recent loss of force and raise morale of the surviving Wardens, many of whom are young and see Harry as an idol. In this book Butters determines why wizards heal so well and live so long, as well as helps Harry begin to regain control over his burned hand. Also, in this book, Harry first becomes aware of the presence of Lasciel inside of him. Harry walks a fine line between using the gifts she offers (such as Hellfire, which supercharges his spells, and her photographic memory) and resisting her overtures for fear he will become dependent on her.
In Proven Guilty, book eight, Harry takes the rebellious Molly Carpenter (eldest daughter of his friend Michael Carpenter) as his apprentice, under similar circumstances to his own apprenticeship under Ebenezar. The act of sparing her life results in both Harry and Molly being placed under the Doom of Damocles, with Harry responsible for all of Molly's actions, and Molly being killed if Harry steps out of line with the Council. Harry and Ebenezar discuss the existence of the heretofore unknown "Black Council."
In White Night, book nine, Harry is forced to confront the fact that Lasciel has been influencing him, making him quicker to become angry at his friends. However, he discovers that his subconscious has also been influencing Laciel's shadow, enough that she takes a metaphorical bullet for him and apparently "dies." He also meets Elaine again, discovers Thomas's occupation as a hairdresser, and appears to be becoming involved in setting up a network to help members of the magical community who are not powerful enough to protect themselves.
It also turns out that Harry, due to the timing of his conception and birth, may have power beyond that of normal wizards. His mother apparently carefully arranged matters so that he would be born with the ability to destroy or banish Outsiders. However, it has been revealed that any wizard born under such circumstances would possess these abilities. Apparently the Council is unaware of this, although it is striking that Harry's power manifested years before that of most young wizards (such as Molly Carpenter, whose power manifested at sixteen/seventeen). At the end, due to Harry's actions the war with the Red Court is ended and replaced with a guarded truce.
Harry returns to deal with a bargain he made with Mab, monarch of the Winter Court of the Sidhe, the Queen of Air and Darkness, agreeing to save the life of Johnny Marcone as repayment of the second of three favors he owes her by way of his godmother. He is repeatedly pursued by fairy vassals of Summer, such as the Hobs and Brothers Gruff, as well as tangling with his unfortunate temptations by the Denarians. Harry discovers he has been given the power of Soulfire (accidentally, of course), the magical opposite of Hellfire. Soulfire magic is used to create things whereas Hellfire is used to just destroy. This magic was given to him by Uriel, one of the Four Archangels, also known as the "Watchman". Bob informs Harry that overusing his newfound ability will result in his soul likewise being used up, although his soul will replenish itself given enough time.
In this novel, Dresden's erstwhile enemy Warden Morgan arrives at Harry's doorstep asking sanctuary, pursued by other Wardens who believe he is guilty of murdering a member of the senior council. Dresden confronts a conspiracy that entangles his girlfriend, Anastasia Luccio, and his brother Thomas. Thomas' half cousin and fellow White Court vampire Madeleine, the mercenary Binder, the vicious and powerful Skinwalker and the White Council Traitor Peabody work together against Harry and the White Council.
Peabody, using magic embedded into the ink used at Council headquarters beneath Edinburgh Castle, influences the minds of the senior council, Wardens and Luccio. When Morgan stumbles upon Luccio shortly after she, in Peabody's control through a trance, kills a member of the senior council. Out of long stifled love for her, Morgan takes her weapon and implicates himself. Eventually he escapes and enlists Harry. Harry, invoking the strength of a powerful spirit on an island in Lake Michigan called Demonreach, brings the players on both sides to the island to provoke the conspirators into revealing themselves.
While Harry's plan fails, the skinwalker is driven off and most of the conspirators are destroyed or flee. Back in Edinburgh Castle, Harry discovers and reveals Peabody's complicity, but Peabody escapes. Harry, the wardens and Morgan pursue - and Morgan is killed cutting Peabody down. In the book's final moments, its revealed that La Fortier's apprentice is elected to the Senior Council though he is not old or powerful enough for the position - perhaps the plan of the rumored Black Council all along. Warden Luccio, freed from Peabody's domination, calls things off with Harry after she learns that her affection for him was forced upon her as part of Peabody's scheme. Ebenezer McCoy reveals to Harry that there are others amongst the council that believe in the Black Council conspiracy and wish to take action against them. As they must do this covertly, when Harry declares himself part of McCoy's group, he dubs them the Grey Council.
Long ago, Susan Rodriguez was Harry Dresden's lover-until she was attacked by his enemies, leaving her torn between her own humanity and the bloodlust of the vampiric Red Court. Susan then disappeared to South America, where she could fight both her savage gift and those who cursed her with it.
Now Arianna Ortega, Duchess of the Red Court, has discovered a secret Susan has long kept, and she plans to use it-against Harry. To prevail this time, he may have no choice but to embrace the raging fury of his own untapped dark power. Because Harry's not fighting to save the world...
He's fighting to save his child.
Changes is due out April 6th, 2010. Info from Jim Butcher official site (www.Jim-Butcher.com)
Love Life
As of Small Favor, Harry has only had three romantic relationships. This scarcity may be due to the tragic ends of his first two love affairs, making him wary of getting involved with women. It may also have to do with his hectic, danger-filled lifestyle which simply makes him too busy to date.
His first girlfriend and first love Elaine, who was also a fellow apprentice, lived with him and Justin DuMorne for several years, and as Harry puts it, they drove each other nuts and went through puberty together. She was enthralled (a magical mind control technique, deemed black magic by the Council) by DuMorne and attempted to kill her boyfriend, and Harry believed she had betrayed him. When he killed DuMorne, he also thought (incorrectly) that Elaine was dead.
His only major girlfriend after that was Susan Rodriguez, whom Harry dated steadily for a few years but found himself unable to say "I love you" to. He finally said it when she was turned half-vampire, and proposed marriage soon afterwards, but Susan declined (due to the dangers from her recent vampire nature) and left the U.S. She later returned, and they resumed their sexual relationship briefly. Harry hasn't gotten over her loss yet, and as of White Night he reveals that he's been celibate ever since their last encounter. This has afforded him protection from the vampires of the White Court. Butcher has revealed that in the forthcoming novel "Changes" Susan claims to have had Harry Dresden's child.[2]
Harry also flirted with the idea of becoming involved with Karrin Murphy, but this never went anywhere. In addition, wizards tend to live much longer than non-wizards; Karrin would die of old age centuries before Harry. Despite this, their platonic friendship is often closer than that of lovers.
In Small Favor Harry has begun a relationship with Anastasia Luccio, otherwise known as Captain Luccio, of the Wardens of the White Council. The relationship forms part of the backdrop for the short story "Harry's Day Off". It is revealed in Turn Coat, however, that she was manipulated using mind magic to keep tabs on Harry, which she did by dating him.
In Dead Beat, a necromancer that Harry kills, via Mouse, hits Harry with his death curse: "DIE ALONE."
Powers and abilities
As one of the most powerful younger wizards of the White Council, Harry has a large repertoire of magical powers. His skills at evocation, or quick and dirty magic, aka "kaboom magic", aka "battle magic", lean toward large blasts of fire and force, sometimes using wind, and also has some skill with earth (usually magnetism) and lightning magic. He has considerable magical brute strength, though his control is somewhat lacking - for example, while he could easily shatter a pair of handcuffs, he may also break the wrists of the person wearing them. For this reason, Harry is ofttimes referred to as a magical 'thug'.
Harry channels his magic through several items. The first are his silver rings (formerly ring) that store physical force, and release it in a linear attack. They are charged by movements of his arms and hands, siphoning small portions of kinetic energy off to be released later. The second is his blasting rod, which gives him much finer control over evocations in general and fire in particular (his preferred form of attack), such that he can chew a ray of fire through a steel beam. The third normal item is his oaken staff, which helps him in wielding other form of energy, particularly air and subtler force effects (and is handy for leaning on and beating people with, incidentally). The fourth item is his shield bracelet, which helps him establish defensive fields. From a mere kinetic deflector, this last effect has been improved to be effective against virtually all attack forms, up to the detonation of hundreds of pounds of C-4 going off almost point-blank (although the short duel against Thorned Namshiel proved it still has holes). The pentagram amulet he wears about his neck serves as an impromptu magical focus and often a divination aid to find his brother Thomas and his dog Mouse. Lastly, the leather duster he wears has been charged and strengthened with magic to be able to ward off even military grade gunfire; the duster also stops combat energy-based magic fairly effectively, while being waterproof and stainproof. Unlike any of the other magic users in the series, Harry shouts faux Latin commands to perform spells. He explained that most magic users use some language they're not familiar with for their incantations, to provide a bit of magical insulation to the user's mind from the forces they are channelling.
Harry's associate Bob is a spirit of knowledge, the equivalent of a magical encyclopedia, supplying him magical knowledge and note-taking that he doesn't know himself, or can't remember. Harry also has access to a wizard's laboratory, his own collection of magical tomes and lore, and an extensive and eclectic collection of brick-a-brack useful in making potions. His laboratory is now dominated by a scale model of Chicago, used in focusing Divination spells, thaumaturgic rituals, and the like, while deflecting any attempts at striking at him through the spells.
Harry's skill with battle magic has increased steadily and quickly. His shields are the most striking example, initially unable to deal with sufficiently strong attacks, and not warding away heat, such that his hand was almost burned off. Now, thanks to practice and improved foci, they can deal with significant attacks without a problem. While the head of the Wardens has sufficient focus to wield fire magic with a pinpoint laser-like effect that can cut a person in two, Harry has the power to take out a building, fry an I-beam, and has 'upgraded' to a blue-white shot of fire magic strong enough to bore through a Denarian. Harry is also using physics more, using his shields to turn enemies attacks back upon themselves or their allies, and ripping heat away from areas to create ice as well as power fire attacks simultaneously.
Harry was able to employ Hellfire while possessed by the Shadow of the Denarian Lasciel, a power that especially aided destructive spells and fire effects. Having lost that power, the Archangel Uriel awarded him the Angelic power of soulfire, which is used to make a sort of magical framework for the magic being used, turning, for instance, a straight force attack into an enduring silvery construct hand able to bash and batter repeatedly. The portion of the soul used in the soulfire returns over a period of days, enabling the wielder to get back to full strength; using all of one's soul is still fatal, however.
Magic itself has an innate power to disrupt technology in the Dresdenverse. A strong wizards' aura interferes with computers, airplane engines, and car motors, severely limiting his use of any modern/electronic gadgets. Among other things, that makes it dangerous for Harry to visit hospitals, where people are on life support. This means Harry prefers older, less refined technology when he has to deal with it, and drives a 1960s Volkswagon Beetle which his mechanic is extremely adept at repairing and able to keep functioning eight days out of nine.
Because of this technological stricture, many wizards employ the Nevernever to travel long distances. If a wizard knows the path, they can step into the Nevernever, walk a short distance, and emerge somewhere else far away, as distance and time function differently inside. Due to their difficulty in using advanced means of transportation, control of paths and locations in the Nevernever is of critical importance to wizards for getting around rapidly. Knowledge of access points to the Nevernever is among the more useful secrets in the Dresdenverse...and an important bargaining chip for the Faerie Courts, which control most of the Paths through them. Dresden's mother was one of the most knowledgeable of such travelers. According to Luccio she would breakfast in Prague, lunch in Rome, and be in Tibet by sundown, with a couple of stops for coffee along the way.
Harry also possesses great skill at thaumaturgy - he prefers it, since it gives him more structure and precision for his power. According to Harry his skills lie in "redirecting energy, sending energy out into the world to resonate..." in White Night. He is particularly well-versed in tracking spells. It should be noted that Harry has summoned spirits across multiple mythos in his time, including faeries big and small, Voodoo loa spirits of knowledge, actual demons, and the like using this skill and thaumaturgic rituals.
A power that all true wizards have is the Sight, or the Third Eye. Using this power is one of the earmarks of wizardry. It allows a wizard to see the world as it truly is, on a magical and spiritual level, bypassing all veils and illusions and showing people and things as they truly are. Anything that is witnessed under the Third Eye is remembered perfectly, forever, which leads to reluctance to employ it, as it is often called on in situations to reveal evil, horrible supernatural harm, and the like, and the weight of such memories can cause significant mental stress over time. Harry's first use of the Sight was on a tree, and he can perfectly picture the gnome-like spirit within it to this day. His use of Sight on the Skinwalker (in Turn Coat) nearly drove him mad with fear and terror at the depth of the evil and cruelty and aberration he witnessed within the creature. It is noteworthy he has never used True Sight on a true Denarian, although he has witnessed the conflict of the fey courts using this ability...which completely turned his estimation of the power of Mab on its ear in his awe (and fear). (In Book One of the Dresden Files, the 'drug' being manufactured by the antagonist is actually an alchemical potion allowing normal mortals to use True Sight, an experience few are ready for.)
Yet another power that all wizards have is the soulgaze, a meeting of the eyes that transforms into a highly personalized and revealing look at the other person's psyche and soul, and one of the reasons why people instinctively don't look deep into another's eyes. It is an immediate way to identify someone or something flawlessly. It is notably something he has never shared with Murphy, although he has with Susan. Harry has no idea how people perceive him, although those who have Gazed him tend to have their opinion and respect for him taken up several notches after it happens, as they realize the true nature of who they are dealing with. The crimelord Marcone, for instance, evidences a remarkable amount of respect for Harry after sharing a soulgaze, and young wizard who shared a soulgaze said that Harry was gentle, kind, and alone.
It was referenced that by the timing of Harry's conception and birth, he has some form of power over Outsiders, such as He Who Walks Behind, resulting in his astonishing ability to overcome a major Outsider while still a teenager after his master had sent it after him, and actually surviving an entropy curse (a malevolent form of bad luck)
Harry has a fairly uncommon magical power he has developed with time and experience, the ability to Listen. This is more akin to a clairaudience effect of limited range then merely enhanced hearing, but the sensitivity of it has risen with time, to the point where Harry can even filter out and discern different heartbeats around corners and in rooms close by. Although it can be stopped by a veil, it provides an excellent tactical edge against many opponents for him.
Harry can make various alchemical potions to imbue himself with various powers or one-shot effects, though he heavily relies on Bob's knowledge to make them. He uses them often in the first novels, but less and less frequently as time goes on. He likes to put them in plastic sports bottles to better disguise their nature.
Starting with his first exposure to the island of Demonreach, it also appears that Harry is starting to develop foresight, a characteristic seemingly common to all wizards as they get older (and are not warned about ahead of time to stop them from wondering if this or that event was foreseen).
Additionally, after bonding with the native spirit of Demonreach in Turn Coat, Harry is able to link in with the spirit's intellectus ability concerning itself and all upon the island, enabling him perfect knowledge of Demonreach and its denizens, and natural harmony with the creatures dwelling there, giving Harry an incredible tactical advantage while he is present.
Harry's 'final' ability is one possessed by all wizards, that of the death curse. While it must be targeted at the being that kills them, and the wizard must have time to use it (a few second), it can be incredibly powerful. Harry believes that the force of his curse could wipe every living thing off the island of Demonreach, and others agree. His mother's curse completely blocked the ability of the King of the White Court of Vampires to feed, a creature that was otherwise immune to magic. He himself has been the target of a death curse, although the lesser power of the caster left it open-ended and of vague purpose.
While it isn't stated among his magical powers, perhaps Harry's greatest asset compared to many of his peers are his non-wizardly friends and allies that he can call upon. From giving the Archive a name (Ivy), to working with the crime lord of Chicago, adopting a Foo Dog, rescuing Pixies into forming a support team, having a (friendly!) White Court Vampire half-brother, having a strong link with Chicago's Police Department, a personal connection with a pack of (good) werewolves and all of the Knights of the Cross (and particularly Michael's family), Harry's allies and alliances have in many ways proven more powerful then his magical talents. His knack for making friends out of enemies even managed to convert the Shadow of the Denarian Lasciel to his side, as awarding her a name (Lash) showed her that she was every bit as entitled to her freedom of will as the fallen Angel that had spawned her was free to be independent of God.
His Foo Dog, Mouse, is a character of his own, possessed of roughly human intelligence, able to detect supernatural evil, battle straight up with supernaturally tough and strong opponents, and voice a bark that can literally be heard for miles...or throughout a burning hotel. Complimenting Mouse is Harry's crew of loyal, pizza-bribed Pixies, serving as scouts and spies and informers...and keeping the mice out of his home.
On a more mundane level, Harry is also capable of slowly 'healing perfectly' from injuries, leaving no scars or breaks. For example, his broken bones will seal and leave no mark behind, and he is slowly regaining use of his flame-seared left hand, damaged so severely the normal doctors recommended it to be amputated.
Contact with Lash has given Harry fluency in ancient Etruscan, the court language of the White Court, and he can understand spoken Latin, the language of the wizard world, but his own attempts to speak it are initially poor. Harry has some ability with staff and sword work (rapier/fencing style), which he has been slowly improving by working out with Murphy. His athletic regimen consists of something akin to a boxer's regimen: hitting a bag (and charging up his kinetic rings) and doing lots and lots of running. His fighting style emphasizes the fact he is tall (about 6'6, or two meters) with a long reach to go with it. Lash's influence has given him a degree of ability with playing the guitar. He is proficient with firearms, largely revolvers to avoid the misfire chances associated with magic and automatics, and also uses shotguns as needed. Uriel's influence may have granted him some manner of enhanced coordination with his hands, judging by events in Small Favor.
Contact with Lash also exposed Harry to some of the more esoteric mental discipline/possibilities that the Dresdenverse draws freely from. He has learned how to stretch his bones and muscles in wildly inappropriate ways, as if he were a master Yoga practitioner (except, of course, it hurts a lot more), and he learned mental disciplines that enable him to shut off pain completely, allowing him to function even when he should be completely incapacitated--for a time.
He also has the appropriate hard-boiled detective's aptitude for grunt detective work, sources to call on, and the ability to put disparate pieces together into a recognizable plan to figure out what is actually going on, a use of intellect he is constantly being underestimated on.
It should be noted that although Harry has been enlisted as a Warden, and has helped train aspiring Wardens, he has never been through Warden training himself, nor has he been gifted with a Warden sword that can slice enchantments and wards (this is due to the maker of the swords losing her talent for making them.)
Lastly, although he has misused one before, Harry is nevertheless the current guardian of two of the holy Swords of the Cross, waiting for their new bearers. They are held in his home, which is guarded by some terrifically powerful wards to deflect attack...and has its own fairy cleaning crew (which he cannot witness at work, so he walks Mouse periodically to give them time to clean up.)
Adaptations and influence
Television series
Debuting on January 21, 2007, the Sci Fi Channel TV adaptation starred Paul Blackthorne as the eponymous wizard. Harry's history in the series differed from that of the novels in several significant ways; his father, Malcolm Dresden, did not die from an aneurysm, but was instead murdered by Justin (named Morningway rather than DuMorne, and Harry's biological uncle). Bob is the spirit of a medieval wizard who, in punishment for using black magic to resurrect his life's love, is doomed to spend eternity inside his skull; he can manifest a human appearance outside the skull - but only within a short radius of the skull itself - and must return to the skull when ordered. In "What About Bob?", it is revealed he was also Dresden's primary magical teacher as a child.
Harry wears a magical "shield-bracelet" (and he also has the pentacle necklace, which makes an appearance in flashback scenes from "Bad Blood") that once belonged to his mother, and was given to him by his father. As a private investigator, Harry drives a Korean-war-era military Jeep instead of the infamous "Blue Beetle" VW Beetle of the novels (a change made based on actor Blackthorne's height and the difficulty of filming inside a VW Beatle, as well as the fact it would look more like a 'clown car' on video than a serious vehicle).
According to "Bad Blood," Harry was around 31 when he killed Justin, instead of 16 as in the novels; a Red Court vampire, Bianca, protected Harry while the High Council investigated Morningway's death. The two had a sexual relationship that does not exist in the books.
In the episode "What About Bob?", the events surrounding Justin's death at Dresden's hands are fully revealed: Only five years prior to the series Dresden discovered that Justin, using black magic, was responsible for the death of his father. Justin said that he did not kill Harry's mother, but he died before the truth could be divined. Dresden used thaumaturgy - in this case, a voodoo doll of sorts - to attack Justin, who fought back using his own magical ability. In the scuffle, Harry accidentally crushed the voodoo doll, causing Justin to die with a "circle-shaped crushing wound" around his heart.
The series was canceled by the SciFi Channel in August 2007. Efforts by fans still exist to bring the show back or find it a new home.[3]
Graphic Novel
In spring 2008, Dabel Brothers comic book publisher will launch a comic book adaptation of The Dresden Files, along with two other major properties. They will be distributed Del Rey Books in the summer or fall of 2008
Influence
As a possible gag or tribute, he is also listed as one of the magicians on the same bill as Alfred Borden in the movie The Prestige.
References
- ^ Jim Butcher's page on The Dresden Files
- ^ [1]
- ^ Slice of SciFi's "Save Dresden!" campaign
External links
