• Side Jobs

  • Stories from the Dresden Files
  • By: Jim Butcher
  • Narrated by: James Marsters
  • Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (14,588 ratings)

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Side Jobs  By  cover art

Side Jobs

By: Jim Butcher
Narrated by: James Marsters
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Publisher's summary

The first short-story collection in the number-one New York Times- best-selling series - including brand-new Harry Dresden short stories!

Here, together for the first time, are the shorter works of best-selling author Jim Butcher - a compendium of cases that Harry and his cadre of allies managed to close in record time. The tales range from the deadly serious to the absurdly hilarious. Also included is a new, never-before-published novella that takes place after the cliff-hanger ending of Changes. This is a must-have collection for every devoted Harry Dresden fan, as well as a perfect introduction for readers ready to meet Chicago's only professional wizard.

Check out more Dresden Files.
©2010 Jim Butcher (P)2010 Penguin Audio

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The folklore of just about every human culture is rife with stories that feature talking animals, shape-shifters, demons, witches, spirits, and more. Whether you arrive seeking horror, thrills, romance, or fantasy, there’s a title here for you. And with a slate of narrators that includes famous actors and award-winning voice artists, it’s impossible to go wrong with any of these picks.

What listeners say about Side Jobs

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Dresden Short Story Collection

I've wanted to get my hands on the various Dresden short stories for some time but was stopped by two things: 1) I'm not a huge fan of anthologies, where most of the shorts appeared, and 2) the audio format versions were not read by James Marsters.

Jim Butcher did make some bits available on his website for reading, but the remainder appeared in Mean Streets, My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding and My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon, among others. All the stories are placed in the context of the Dresden-verse timeline. The last, which takes place immediately after Changes, appears nowhere else. Some of these are, as the author admits, not the best effort, while some are not to be missed, particularly Thomas' grimly determined everyday battles with the monsters he is related to as well as the one within him.

James Marsters is less a narrator, and more a one man show. I've probably noted it in another review, but it really can't be said enough the difference between someone who is merely reading, and someone who evokes the scenes, emotions, characters and interactions and portrays them well. I've been disappointed by books by best selling authors that were narrated in the barest sense of the word, and have followed other authors around in part because of the narrators chosen to read their works. Mr. Marsters is definitely in the latter category.

If you are a fan of the series, you probably know all these things, and just want the punchline: Yes - if you have been following the adventures of Dresden and company, do get this book. If you have never heard a Dresden novel, these stories are still good, but will have more meaning when you have read some of the other novels.

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95 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Know what sucks about this book?

The fact that it ends.

Damn you Jim Butcher and your compelling characters! I started listening to the Dresden Files while on my daily commute and burned through all the books in a matter of a couple months. Side Jobs is another great book in the series.

Jim Butcher's skill in writing and development with the characters just keeps improving. This is a fun collection as you can get a feel for the growth through the stories written over time, ending with a great novella.

I recommend this book, and the entire series.

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81 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A must for every Jim Butcher/James Marsters fan!

While I've listened to several of these stories read by other narrators, nobody brings Butcher's characters to life like Marsters does. I also enjoy the background Butcher shares before each story, giving a glimpse into the man behind the man inside the duster. This was just the fix I needed to carry me through until Ghost Story is released. If you are new to The Dresden Files, I highly recommend starting with Storm Front, but then come back and enjoy these wonderful additions to the series.

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32 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Welcome Relief

While I have kept up with the novels, I???ve never really hunted down the short stories. Anthologies sound like a great way for authors to get short fiction out there and to expose readers to other authors . . . unfortunately I???m just not one of those readers. I???m not willing to plunk down the money for a book that only has one short story I???m interested in. . .and that view goes double with my audiobook credits.

So, Side Jobs has been a wonderful injection of new Dresden Files stories for me, and a welcome relief while waiting for the next novel to be released. The stories provide some wonderful insights into Thomas and Murphy and other characters, along with a few really great short adventures with Harry. On top of that we get commentary from the author about each short story, the anthologies, and the people who put them together.

Among all the other wonderful books coming out right now, I am so glad I made time for this one.

And, as always, James Marsters does a great job.

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28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

'Job' Well Done!

I am so grateful for Mr. Butcher and Mr. Marsters. I wanted to get the anthologies that contain the Dresden short stories, but did not necessarily want to listen to all of the stories written by other authors. I also couldn't imagine listening to any Dresden stories narrated by anyone other than James. This is a prayer answered. The stories are classic Harry and shed a lot of light on things just glimpsed in the series. My only negative is that I still have too long to wait for the next installment. Bravo!

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great for a fan of the series.

Most of these short stories are not new, however it is still great to hear James Marsters narrating them. Even if you own all the other short story anthologies that these stories first appeared in it is worth a purchase for the new stories contained within. People new to the series or that have not read all the novels may feel a little lost.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Not worth the credit.

Would you try another book from Jim Butcher and/or James Marsters?

I mostly bought this for the novella picking up after the end of Changes - don't bother. Nothing important to the storyline happens, it's inconveniently the last story in the collection so one cannot easily skip to it, and the rest is boring filler. I've read each of the full novels in the series and will likely continue to do so, but I won't be buying another of his collections.

What about James Marsters’s performance did you like?

The narration was excellent, as usual.

Any additional comments?

Stop using gap-novellas to sell short story collections. I did not want most of this content, and neither had I any interest in the majority of Shadowed Souls... it's shady marketing, especially for fans who's already bought more than a dozen of your novels.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Marsters/Butcher, is there a better team?

James Marsters gives another wonderful reading of the popular NYTimes bestselling author Jim Butcher's works--this time a collection of the author's short stories.

As a fan, it's an enjoyable romp through the series history with a tidbit of enticement for his future work coming out in July called Ghost Story. Butcher knows that his addicted fans can't wait, so he manages a simple gift for the dedicated to ease the cruelty he's inflicted on his characters and thus on us. Think of them as high caloric snacks between courses. Not necessary, but they enrich the entire experience at the table!

I own the paper editions; I devour them, but hearing James read them simply makes life enjoyable. Let's be honest, doing a search for chapters and hearing his rich voice say, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3 etc... is as thrilling as when he's actually reading the work!



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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I usually don't like short stories.

But it's Dresden so...If your a fan of the series and need a fix, this does the trick.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Another awesome book by Jim Butcher

James Marsters carries the listener through out the entire book. He is a man who enjoys the Dresden Files. And only one word can fully say how I enjoyed this read.....WOW.

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8 people found this helpful