The Dresden Files short fiction

Besides the novels of The Dresden Files, author Jim Butcher has written several shorter works appearing in the same universe. Most are told from the point of view of Harry Dresden, as are the novels, but some take the point of view of other characters.

Works

Something Borrowed

"Something Borrowed"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding Side Jobs
Publication date	October 3, 2006
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Dead Beat   Proven Guilty

While getting fitted for his role as best man to William Borden as the latter marries his long-time girlfriend Georgia, Harry Dresden discovers that Georgia has gone missing, and goes looking for her. With the help of Karrin Murphy, he manages to bring her back to the wedding, unconscious and under a spell, only to find that Jenny Greenteeth has taken Georgia's place at the wedding. Dresden manages to convince William to awake his rightful partner, to disastrous results for Jenny Greenteeth.

Set between Dead Beat and Proven Guilty, Something Borrowed was published in My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding (October 3, 2006, ISBN 0-312-34360-4); it was later reprinted in Side Jobs.

It's My Birthday, Too

"It's My Birthday, Too"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Many Bloody Returns Side Jobs
Publication date	September 4, 2007
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
White Night   Small Favor

On Valentine's Day, Harry Dresden remembers he has got a birthday present for his brother Thomas Raith and arranges to meet him at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, where Thomas is taking part in a vampire-themed LARP. The play is disrupted by a revenant, an old friend of the players who turned into a Black Court vampire to seek revenge.

Set between White Night and Small Favor, It's My Birthday, Too was published in Many Bloody Returns (September 4, 2007, ISBN 978-0-441-01522-1); it was later reprinted in Side Jobs.

Heorot

"Heorot"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon Side Jobs
Publication date	December 26, 2007
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
White Night   Small Favor

Harry Dresden has been alerted that a young bride has disappeared from the Night of Living Brews just hours after her wedding, along with a cask of mead. Dresden and Mouse set to find her. They are joined by Ms. Gard only to find that the young woman has been kidnapped by a descendant of Grendel, who needs mead in order to breed a child of his own. Dresden and Gard make short work of the grendelkin and bring back the bride to her rightful husband.

Set between White Night and Small Favor, Heorot was published in My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon (December 26, 2007, ISBN 978-0-312-37504-1); it was also reprinted in Side Jobs.

Harry's Day Off

"Harry's Day Off"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Blood Lite Side Jobs
Publication date	October 21, 2008
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Small Favor   Turn Coat

Harry Dresden has finally a day off his many commitments and responsibilities, and plans to use it for a date with Anastasia Luccio. Dresden's so carefully laid plans, however, are disrupted by Molly Carpenter needing a lesson in potion-making, and by Andi and Kirby needing a thorough cleansing to get rid of psychophagic mites.

Set between Small Favor and Turn Coat, Harry's Day Off was published in Blood Lite (October 21, 2008, ISBN 1-4165-6783-6) It was later reprinted in Side Jobs as Day Off.

Backup

"Backup"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Side Jobs
Publication date	November 11, 2008
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Small Favor   Turn Coat

Dresden is hot on the trail of a kidnapped child, when Thomas Raith is alerted that a member of the Stygian Sisterhood is in town. His job is to stop and kill her, before she can complete her activities. In the chase, Thomas finds that she is behind the child's kidnapping, and that her purpose is to bring Harry down. He manages, all the while keeping his brother unaware of the fact. Narrated from Thomas Raith point of view.

Set between Small Favor and Turn Coat, Backup was published independently by Subterranean Press. It featured artwork by Mike Mignola. It was later reprinted in Side Jobs without Mignola's artwork.

The Warrior

"The Warrior"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Mean Streets Side Jobs
Publication date	January 6, 2009
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Small Favor   Turn Coat

Pictures of Michael Carpenter's family are being sent to Harry Dresden. Unsure of their meaning but feeling that his friend and his friend's family are in danger, Harry warns Michael to stay alert and begs him to pick up the sword Amoracchius again. Michael refuses, aware that, once put down, a Sword of the Cross can't be picked up again. An attempt to steal the swords is unsuccessful; but a few pictures of the perpetrator are taken. Later on, Alicia, one of Michael's daughters, is kidnapped to try to force the surrender of the swords. The delivery fails, leading to the capture of the perpetrator, a priest.

Set between Small Favor and Turn Coat, The Warrior was published in Mean Streets (January 6, 2009, ISBN 978-0-451-46249-7). It was later reprinted in Side Jobs.

Last Call

"Last Call"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Strange Brew Side Jobs
Publication date	July 7, 2009
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Small Favor   Turn Coat

A spell is placed on MacAnally's famed beer in order to control the spectators to a sport's game at the United Center in Chicago. Dresden and Murphy manage to link it back to Meditrina Bassarid, a maenad, and, with difficulty, they manage to subdue her.

Set between Small Favor and Turn Coat, Last Call was published in Strange Brew (July 7, 2009, ISBN 978-0-312-38336-7). It was later reprinted in Side Jobs.

AAAA Wizardry

"AAAA Wizardry"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Volume Two: Our World Brief Cases
Media type	Roleplaying Game booklet
Publication date	July 7, 2009
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Proven Guilty   White Night

Harry Dresden instructs a class of young Wardens on methods for investigating supernatural phenomena, using one of his own past cases as an example. He describes the four A's of his technique (Ascertain, Analysis, Assemble, Act), but warns them to beware of a fifth A (Arrogance).

Set at about the time of Proven Guilty, "AAAA Wizardry" was published in Volume Two: Our World of The Dresden Files Roleplaying Game (June 15, 2010, ISBN 978-0-9771534-8-0). It was later reprinted in Brief Cases.

Even Hand

"Even Hand"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Dark and Stormy Knights Brief Cases
Publication date	July 20, 2010
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Turn Coat   Changes

On a mission for Lara Raith, Justine visits Johnny Marcone to request shelter for herself and a child under the terms of the Unseelie Accords. Marcone reluctantly agrees to harbor her for the child's sake, using a formidable range of magical and mundane weaponry to stop the Fomor pursuing them. In the aftermath of the battle, Marcone reflects on the effectiveness of his defenses and how he plans to use them against Harry Dresden in the future. Narrated by Marcone.

Set between Turn Coat and Changes, "Even Hand" was published in Dark and Stormy Knights (July 20, 2010, ISBN 0-312-59834-3). It was later reprinted in Brief Cases.

Restoration of Faith

"Restoration of Faith"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	www.jim-butcher.com Side Jobs
Publisher	Jim Butcher
Media type	online
Publication date	October 26, 2010
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
—   Storm Front

While working as a private investigator, Harry Dresden finds a runaway he'd been hired to locate, a young girl named Faith. When he calls in his success to his partner, he learns that the girl's parents have reported her as being kidnapped to save face, and they plan to accuse him of the crime. Harry decides to bring the girl in anyway, but is stopped by a troll which has taken up residence under a bridge he needs to cross. When he confronts the troll, he is unexpectedly aided by a uniformed police woman by the name of Karrin Murphy. Dresden manages to win the fight, and with officer Murphy's aid, ensures that the girl is returned safely to her family.

Set before Storm Front, Restoration of Faith was published on Jim Butcher's web site; it was later reprinted in Side Jobs.

Publicity and Advertising

"Publicity and Advertising"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	www.jim-butcher.com Side Jobs
Publisher	Jim Butcher
Media type	online
Publication date	October 26, 2010
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Death Masks   Blood Rites

Bob and Harry have a discussion about how to write a Yellow Pages ad for Harry Dresden's business. Bob thinks that Harry's ad copy is boring and uninteresting, while Harry dismisses Bob's suggestions as deceptive or unbelievable. Eventually, Harry wins out and goes back to working on formulas. Formulae.

Set between Death Masks and Blood Rites, Publicity and Advertising was published on Jim Butcher's web site; it was later reprinted in Side Jobs as Vignette.

Aftermath

"Aftermath"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Side Jobs
Publication date	October 26, 2010
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Changes   Ghost Story

Harry Dresden has just been shot, and the police are checking the scene of the crime on Thomas Raith's boat. Karrin Murphy joins them only to hear that the body has not been found. Not really accepting the fact that he's dead, Murphy starts moving on with her life, strengthening her contacts in Chicago's supernatural community and trying to do her duty as both a policewoman and as a member of the supernatural group. In the meanwhile, a number of splinter groups is trying to step in the vampire Red Court, the Fomors being the most successful. Narrated by Karrin Murphy.

Set between Changes and Ghost Story, Aftermath was published exclusively in Side Jobs (October 26, 2010).

Love Hurts

"Love Hurts"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Songs of Love and Death Side Jobs
Publication date	November 26, 2010
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Turn Coat   Changes

Karrin Murphy calls Harry Dresden in on a series of weird double suicides, and they find that all the dead can be linked to a carnival outside Chicago, prompting further investigation. A Red Court vampire is discovered there, casting spells on couples, forcing them to fall in love. Since love is a mortal's sole defense against being fed upon by a member of the White Court, widespread use of the spell would cause the White Court's food supply to dwindle, giving advantage to the Red Court.

Set between Turn Coat and Changes, Love Hurts was published in Songs of Love and Death (November 16, 2010, ISBN 1-4391-5014-1). It was later reprinted in Side Jobs.

Curses

"Curses"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Naked City: Tales of Urban Fantasy Brief Cases
Publication date	July 5, 2011
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Small Favor   Turn Coat

Harry is hired to look into the Curse of the Billy Goat, which has plagued the Chicago Cubs in the postseason for decades, and try to lift it if possible. The case leads him to the king of the Tylwyth Teg, who cast the curse himself and has been renewing it every year. After a friendly talk with the king, a longtime Cubs fan, Harry decides not to interfere and risk costing the team its loyal fan base.

Set between Small Favor and Turn Coat, Curses was published in Naked City: Tales of Urban Fantasy (July 5, 2011, ISBN 978-0-312-38524-8). It was later reprinted in Brief Cases.

I Was a Teenage Bigfoot

"I Was a Teenage Bigfoot"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Blood Lite 3: Aftertaste Working for Bigfoot Brief Cases
Publication date	May 29, 2012
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Dead Beat   Proven Guilty

The teenage scion of a Sasquatch and a woman, Irwin Pounder is virtually immune to disease. When his parents learn that he has fallen ill at the boarding school he attends, they hire Harry to find out if something is wrong. Harry visits Irwin and discovers that someone is using dark magic to drain energy from his aura. The culprit proves to be the school's headmaster, who has been magically regrowing his hair to reverse his baldness. Harry orders him to stop or face reprisals from the White Council, and Irwin quickly recovers.

Set between Dead Beat and Proven Guilty, I Was a Teenage Bigfoot was published in Blood Lite 3: Aftertaste (May 29, 2012, ISBN 978-1451636246). It was later reprinted in Brief Cases and Working for Bigfoot.

Bigfoot on Campus

"Bigfoot on Campus"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Hex Appeal Working for Bigfoot Brief Cases
Publication date	June 5, 2012
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Turn Coat   Changes

Strength of a River in His Shoulders, a Bigfoot, asks Harry to look in on his half-human son Irwin Pounder, who is attending college and playing football. Harry discovers that Irwin's girlfriend Connie is a White Court vampire whose powers have little effect on him. When her father tries to psychically force her to have sex with Irwin and fatally drain his life force, Harry and River Shoulders intervene to save them both. Irwin meets his father for the first time, the price Harry set for helping, and he and Connie quietly disappear from campus.

Set between Turn Coat and Changes, Bigfoot on Campus was published in Hex Appeal (June 5, 2012, ISBN 978-0312590727). It was later reprinted in Brief Cases and Working for Bigfoot.

B is for Bigfoot

"B is for Bigfoot"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Under my Hat: Tales from the Cauldron Working for Bigfoot Brief Cases
Publication date	August 28, 2012
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Fool Moon   Grave Peril

Strength of a River in His Shoulders is a Bigfoot who has a son, Irwin Pounder, by an archaeologist he met during a dig. When River learns that Irwin is being bullied at school, he worries about the boy's safety and hires Harry Dresden to investigate. Harry learns that Irwin's tormentors are under the protection of a svartalf who threatens to kill Harry if he interferes, but Harry finds a way for Irwin to solve the problem on his own.

Set between Fool Moon and Grave Peril, B is for Bigfoot was published in Under My Hat: Tales From the Cauldron (August 28, 2012, ISBN 978-0375868306). It was later reprinted in Brief Cases and Working for Bigfoot.

Bombshells

"Bombshells"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Dangerous Women Brief Cases
Publication date	December 3, 2013
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Ghost Story   Cold Days

In the months after Harry Dresden's death, Molly Carpenter is on the run, living on the road and keeping under the White Council's radar, all the while being tutored by the Leanansidhe on the arts of survival and magical fighting. Encounters and skirmishes with the Fomor are increasingly frequent, until the Leanansidhe sends her in a mission to Svartalfheim in order to rescue Thomas Raith from execution. Molly discovers that a treaty of neutrality between the Fomors and the Svartalves is to be signed in a few hours and that the Fomor mean to explode a bomb during the ceremony causing numerous deaths, and sets out to prevent it. Her life turns for the better after succeeding. Narrated by Molly Carpenter.

Set between Ghost Story and Cold Days, Bombshells was published in Dangerous Women (December 3, 2013 ISBN 978-0765332066). It was later reprinted in Brief Cases.

Jury Duty

"Jury Duty"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Unbound Brief Cases
Publication date	December 1, 2015
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Skin Game   —

After receiving a summons to jury duty, Harry must save an innocent defendant from being the victim of a proxy war between Gentleman Johnny Marcone and Lara Raith.

Jury Duty was published in Unbound. Set after Skin Game.. It was later reprinted in Brief Cases.

Cold Case

"Cold Case"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Shadowed Souls Brief Cases
Publication date	November 1, 2016
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Cold Days   Skin Game

Molly Carpenter is the new Winter Lady. As her first task in her new position, she is charged to collect old tributes to the Winter Court.

Set between Cold Days and Skin Game, Cold Case was published in Shadowed Souls. It was later reprinted in Brief Cases.

Day One

"Day One"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Unfettered II Brief Cases
Publication date	November 21, 2016
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Skin Game   —

During training for his new role as a Knight of the Cross, Waldo Butters successfully meets his first challenge fighting a rogue baku.

Day One was published in the anthology Unfettered II. Set after Skin Game.. It was later reprinted in Brief Cases.

A Fistful of Warlocks

"A Fistful of Warlocks"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Straight Outta Tombstone Brief Cases
Publication type	anthology
Publisher	Baen Books
Media type	Trade paperback
Publication date	July 3, 2017
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
—   Storm Front

Anastasia Luccio, a Warden for the White Council, is pursuing a few dangerous characters and ends up in Dodge City, home of Wyatt Earp.

A Fistful of Warlocks was published in the anthology Straight Outta Tombstone. It is set in the late 1800s. It was later reprinted in Brief Cases.

Zoo Day

"Zoo Day"
Short story by Jim Butcher
Country	U.S.A.
Language	English
Genre(s)	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publication
Published in	Brief Cases
Publication date	June 5, 2018
Chronology
Series	The Dresden Files
Skin Game   —

Harry, his daughter Maggie, and his dog Mouse try to enjoy a day at the zoo, only for each to face a supernatural threat - a young warlock for Harry, a pack of haunts for Maggie, and Mouse's discovery that his own brother is orchestrating events to target them both. A Rashomon-style story told alternately from each character's separate point of view.

Set after Skin Game, Zoo Day was published exclusively in Brief Cases (June 5, 2018).

Stories by internal chronology

Title	Publication year	Preceded by	Followed by
A Fistful of Warlocks	2017		Storm Front
Restoration of Faith	2010		Storm Front
B is for Bigfoot	2012	Fool Moon	Grave Peril
Publicity and Advertising	2010	Death Masks	Blood Rites
Something Borrowed	2006	Dead Beat	Proven Guilty
I Was a Teenage Bigfoot	2012	Dead Beat	Proven Guilty
It's My Birthday, Too	2007	White Night	Small Favor
Heorot	2007	White Night	Small Favor
Harry's Day Off	2008	Small Favor	Turn Coat
Backup	2008	Small Favor	Turn Coat
The Warrior	2009	Small Favor	Turn Coat
Last Call	2009	Small Favor	Turn Coat
Curses	2011	Small Favor	Turn Coat
AAAA Wizardry	2009	Unknown	Unknown
Love Hurts	2010	Turn Coat	Changes
Bigfoot on Campus	2012	Turn Coat	Changes
Even Hand	2010	Turn Coat	Changes
Aftermath	2010	Changes	Ghost Story
Bombshells	2013	Ghost Story	Cold Days
Cold Case	2016	Cold Days	Skin Game
Jury Duty	2015	Skin Game
Day One	2016	Skin Game
Zoo Day	2018	Skin Game

Collections

Side Jobs

Side Jobs

Author	Jim Butcher
Illustrator	Christian McGrath
Language	English
Series	The Dresden Files
Genre	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publisher	Roc Hardcover
Publication date	October 26, 2010 (hardcover—US only) November 11, 2010 (audio book)
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardcover)
Pages	418

Side Jobs was published on October 26, 2010 as a collection of most of the existing short stories in the series at the time. The novella Aftermath was first included in this publication. All of the short stories published therein took place between novels, and were ordered chronologically.

Story order

1. "A Restoration of Faith"
2. "Vignette"
3. "Something Borrowed"
4. "It's My Birthday, Too"
5. "Heorot"
6. "Day Off"
7. "Backup"
8. "The Warrior"
9. "Last Call"
10. "Love Hurts"
11. "Aftermath"

Working for Bigfoot

Working for Bigfoot

Author	Jim Butcher
Illustrator	Vincent Chong
Language	English
Series	The Dresden Files
Genre	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publisher	Subterranean Press
Publication date	June 30, 2015
Publication place	United States
Pages	131

Working for Bigfoot was published on June 30, 2015. It is a collection of novellas, previously published in other anthologies, about Harry working for Bigfoot to help when his half human son gets into trouble.

Story order

1. "B is For Bigfoot"
2. "I Was a Teenage Bigfoot"
3. "Bigfoot on Campus"

Brief Cases

Brief Cases

Author	Jim Butcher
Language	English
Series	The Dresden Files
Genre	Urban fantasy/Mystery novel
Publisher	ACE
Publication date	June 5, 2018 (hardcover—US only)
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardcover)
Pages	437

Brief Cases was published on June 5, 2018 as a collection of Dresden Files short stories. The novella Zoo Day was first included in this publication. The stories take place between the events of the novels in the series and are arranged in chronological order.

Story order

1. "A Fistful of Warlocks"
2. "B is for Bigfoot"
3. "I Was a Teenage Bigfoot"
4. "Curses"
5. "AAAA Wizardry"
6. "Bigfoot on Campus"
7. "Even Hand"
8. "Bombshells"
9. "Cold Case"
10. "Jury Duty"
11. "Day One"
12. "Zoo Day"