Storm Front

The Dresden Files, Book 1

By: Jim Butcher

Narrated by: James Marsters

Length: 8 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

My name is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden. Conjure by it at your own risk. I'm a wizard. I work out of an office in midtown Chicago. As far as I know, I'm the only openly practicing professional wizard in the country. You can find me in the yellow pages, under Wizards. Believe it or not, I'm the only one there.

With rent past due and a decent meal becoming an issue of some importance, Harry needs work, and soon. A call from a distraught wife, and another from Lt. Murphy of the Chicago PD Special Investigation Unit makes Harry believe things are looking up, but they are about to get worse, much worse. Someone is harnessing immense supernatural forces to commit a series of grisly murders. Someone has violated the first law of magic: Thou Shalt Not Kill. Tracking that someone takes Harry into the dangerous underbelly of Chicago, from mobsters to vampires, while he himself is under suspicion of the crimes.

©2000 Jim Butcher (P)2002 Buzzy Multimedia

James Marsters is the best!

I love all the Harry Dresden books, with their wry humor and perpetually poor, beaten-up, but chivalrous hero. The narration by Marsters gives Harry Dresden life, to the point where I will not purchase the latest Dresden novel because Marsters was not available to do e reading. (For those unfamiliar with Marsters, he played Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series, & his British accent was so good even many of the crew didn't know he was from California!)

New favourite series!

This looks like a very promising and entertaining urban fantasy series with a really cool, even though a bit geeky wizard, the supernatural and good humor! And the narrator is really amazing. The way he is telling the story and impersonates the characters is exceptional, and even the additional background noises and all the sighing feel so very appropriate for the character and the story.
Highly recommended!

Wizard turned Private Eye

great stuff. modern fantasy done right. Marsters does a great job with the narration

Great!

Excellent book I highly suggest giving it a try. As for the narrator sounds it's really not that bad he did a great job give this one a dabble it's worth it.

Great story line

What did you love best about Storm Front?

Easy first person narrative listening. Following a wizard for hire, where the world touches on the super natural, make for a book.

A Solid Start

This book offers a solid introduction to Harry. The books only get better as the series progresses. Dresden is one of the best Wizard stories because of the characters. You grow to like most of the characters because of their charming quirks. Of, course Harry’s world is vividly brought to life and is always suspenseful.

I recommend checking out the book first because of the awful production values on this selection. It’s been rectified in later installments.

Totally Believable! Great Read!

Would you consider the audio edition of Storm Front to be better than the print version?

Of course. But then my eyes have to work too hard now to read books, so audio books are my only choice. But although I no longer have a choice, if I did, audio books would be my choice. I am not an actor/voiceover artist. I have "re-read" books by listening to them and find that I get so much more out of them with the audio book. Much easier to understand plots, motivations, etc. When I read, I am "monochromatic" and the only character. With an audio book, the world opens up with every color and all different characters. I've found that with books I read earlier and did not enjoy reading, my opinion has changed after listening to it. I now enjoy the book and it's wonderful!

What other book might you compare Storm Front to and why?

The books by Orson Scott Card.

Have you listened to any of James Marsters’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He has Harry Dresden down pat: down and out sometimes, loser sometimes, a guy just trying to do right. Although I know him from TV, I haven't heard any of his other book performances. I would definitely listen to him again.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Although it didn't make me cry, it did make me laugh. The book refused to be put down. Good thing I'm retired, otherwise I would have had to call in sick to finish it.

I had watched the TV series on The Dresden Files, but the books are so much better.

Any additional comments?

I'll be getting the rest of the series. Can't get enough of Wizard Harry Dresden!

My Favorite Series

So, being a long time Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan I love James Marsters. He is the sole reason I found this series. I am SO glad I gave it a try because turns out Jim Butcher writes very well! Storm Front is a decent start to a much deeper series and Marsters does a decent job narrating this. However, they both get better BY FAR! I think the series really hits its stride by Summer Knight (4). The characters are very well developed as the series moves forward. Harry, Bob, Murphy, Marcone, they are just the beginning! I love Harry's personality sarcastic, chivalrous, and enjoys annoying the monsters! I even recommend the short stories as they can be referenced sometimes. I have listened to all of these books multiple times. This is my go to series when I can't find anything new. Then, I realized all the things I missed the first time or 2 around! Jim does a fantastic job of weaving a multitude of mythological, theological, and magical creatures crazily enough to where it makes sense! If you listen and think the story is decent enough to move on, go for it! I promise they get better with each one! And if you love Bob there's plenty more of him!! I just wish Jim would finish Peace Talks already!! This is my favorite all time series!

Interesting Start

This shaped up to being a very interesting start to the series. Lining up some characters, a little backstory, but not too intense on the background (which I prefer in a long series). The "case" itself was interesting and caught my attention. I will definitely buy book 2 and continue onward! Great narration!

Very good story and Excellent narration!

Fantastic story which kept me occupied for the entire time.
usually like reading myself but tried this and don't regret it! the narrator has excellent use of voice and tonation which helps keep characters alive.