The Bear Minimum

For a new and worthy book to read. Shall I find one?

I’m in the mood for something a little different. I’ve been reading The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams, but after starting it and then stopping reading it for a while I find that I want to read something else before returning to that series.

After some investigating online, I’m thinking of giving The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher a go, as it seems to be a bit of a divergence from the more traditional fantasy I’ve been reading of late.

The series is centred round a detective (or private investigator) who’s also a wizard, and his investigations into the supernatural wrong-doings in modern-day Chicago. Well it’s certainly different, no? The book was also made into a television series, but from what I understand that series doesn’t really stand up to the book series.

I don’t think Butcher’s won any awards with the Dresden Files, but there does seem to be a fairly full readership and mostly positive responses to the series as a whole. I first heard of the books some time ago when my wife was talking with a colleague who was reading the series. Whilst it didn’t immediately jump out at me as something to try, now that I’m in a mood for something a little unfamiliar I think it should work quite well.

There are a few books that I am still waiting to read, the next Song of Ice and Fire book, for instance, along with the final books in the Wheel of Time series, which I’ve decided to not read until the final three are all available. I’ve not read the prequel, either, nor the last two or three books as I want to wait until all are available and then read them start to finish again.

Of course, since deciding that I would read the Dresden Files, I’ve called every book store in my area and have been told that they’re not stocking it, but if I’d like to wait around ten days they can all order me a copy. Yes, well, I’m not a patient man, dear reader, so no, no I shan’t be waiting. I’ll buy them off ebay!