Reviewed by: Mandy Wrangles
Harry Dresden, Chicago’s first (and only) Wizard PI is almost too awesome. Seriously, this character is a rare gem. Not only is he is a self-deprecating hero, the protector of supernaturally-blinkered mortals of the city as well as the protector of the supernatural community itself (well, the good guys, anyway…), the wielder of some very cool, magical weaponry, wears a long leather duster and has a giant dog for a side-kick – but he’s ridiculously funny. In fact, his creator, Jim Butcher, had me laughing out loud in more than one story of this fantastical anthology of short stories.
Side Jobs is a collection of eight short stories and a novella, each of them taking place between the thirteen (so far) Dresden Files novels. Jim Butcher introduces each story with his trademark humour, and it’s easy to note that much of Dresden’s personality is similar to his creator. The first story in the collection, ‘A Restoration of Faith’, was, in fact written a couple of years before the first novel, originally a creative writing class assignment. Butcher notes: “Read this story for what it is – an anxious beginner’s first effort, meant to be simple, straightforward fun.” And that’s exactly what it is – fun, lots and lots of fun (honestly, if you can’t get a giggle out of a smart-arsed, sex-starved spirit imprisoned in a skull kept in the basement – you have no sense of humour).
‘It’s My Birthday Too’ was first published in the collection ‘Many Bloody Returns’, edited by the queen of paranormal crime – Charlaine Harris. This one tells the story of Dresden trying to surprise his half-brother Thomas for his birthday. Instead of a warm and fuzzy family get together, Harry finds himself in an almost-deserted shopping centre with a crazed vampire on the loose. Harry’s half-brother, who also happens to be a good vampire (mostly) is helping out a friend’s role-playing group. But it’s a bit more complicated than that. Thomas might be a heterosexual blood-sucker/succubi, but he gets through his days camouflaged as a gay hairdresser. So in this story, he’s a straight vampire, who, by day pretends to be a gay hairdresser, at a role playing night pretending to be a straight vampire. Get it? Another high point of this story was Dresden’s interaction with the fairy cobblers who have a weakness for designer stilettos. Hilarious.
‘Something Borrowed’ first appeared in the anthology ‘My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding’, edited by P.N. Elrod. In this one, Harry is forced to deal with
the evil Jenny Greenteeth. “Yes,her teeth are green. Like steamed spinach,” as Bob the skull notes. She also happens to be much like a mermaid with legs and not quite so cuddly.
But the stand out story in this collection was ‘Herot’, which was written especially for the follow up collection ‘My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon’, again edited by P.N. Elrod. This time around, Harry does battle with a hideously horny creature direct from Norse mythology, with a penchant for boutique mead and virgins.
Side Jobs is an anthology for hardcore Harry Dresden fans. With each story being slotted between novels, there’s spoiler upon spoiler for those who haven’t yet read the series. In particular, the final novella, ‘Aftermath’, will ruin the grand finale of ‘Changes’, the twelfth Dresden Files book. If you love your crime mixed with the supernatural, and a good dose of sarcastic humour, I’d recommend getting stuck into the novels first – and then returning to this unique collection for that extra little bit of Dresden magic.
Published by Orbit
ISBN – 978 1 84149 920 8
Paperback, 403 pages.
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