''Storm Front'' is a 2000

fantasy novel Fantasy literature is literature set in an imaginary universe, often but not always without any locations, events, or people from the real world. Magic, the supernatural and magical creatures are common in many of these imaginary worlds. Fa ...

by American writer

Jim Butcher Jim Butcher (born October 26, 1971) is an American author., He has written the contemporary fantasy ''The Dresden Files'', ''Codex Alera'', and ''Cinder Spires'' book series. Personal life Butcher was born in Independence, Missouri, in 1971. He ...

. It is the first novel in ''

The Dresden Files ''The Dresden Files'' is a series of contemporary fantasy/mystery novels written by American author Jim Butcher. The first novel, '' Storm Front''—which was also Butcher's writing debut—was published in 2000 by Roc Books. The books are wri ...

'', his first published series, and it follows the character of

Harry Dresden ''The Dresden Files'' is a series of contemporary fantasy/mystery novels written by American author Jim Butcher. The first novel, '' Storm Front''—which was also Butcher's writing debut—was published in 2000 by Roc Books. The books are wri ...

, professional wizard. The novel was later adapted into a pilot for a

SyFy Syfy (formerly Sci-Fi Channel, later shortened to Sci Fi; stylized as SYFY) is an American basic cable channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. Lau ...

channel

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...

Plot summary

Dresden is hired by a Monica Sells to find her husband Victor Sells, an amateur magician who has been acting oddly. Later that day, he gets a call from Lieutenant Karrin Murphy, director of the Special Investigations (SI) Unit of the Chicago Police Department. Murphy's partner shows him the bodies of two people, who died by having their hearts ripped out, apparently by magic. Dresden realizes that he is the chief suspect for these magical murders. Eventually, despite encounters with vampires, the unknown warlock, and the ever-suspicious Warden Morgan, Dresden learns that the affair centers around the drug "ThreeEye", which allows normal humans to temporarily acquire Wizards Sight, which eventually drives them insane. Victor Sells has been manufacturing ThreeEye to edge out mob boss Johnny Marcone. Using the energy of thunder storms and the orgies held at his home, he powered the spells to remove his enemies, namely Marcone's men and anyone else threatening his operation, in order to gradually bring down Marcone and corner the drug trade. Dresden interrupts Victor's spellcasting and attacks him, "brains versus muscle", eventually burning down Victor's house while Victor is still inside grappling with monster scorpions and a demon he had summoned to kill Dresden. Dresden survives, but is himself trapped on the balcony of the burning house until Morgan steps in to rescue him. Morgan had witnessed the fight with Victor and, knowing now that Dresden is innocent, reluctantly testifies on Dresden's behalf to the White Council.

Characters

: the protagonist, a professional wizard, and the only one listed in the phone book. * Monica Sells: one of Dresden's clients and the wife of Warlock Victor Sells. * Lieutenant

Karrin Murphy ''The Dresden Files'' is a series of contemporary fantasy/ mystery novels written by American author Jim Butcher. The first novel, '' Storm Front''—which was also Butcher's writing debut—was published in 2000 by Roc Books. The books are wr ...

: director of Special Investigations, Chicago PD. * Detective Ron Carmichael: Murphy's partner at SI. * Jennifer Stanton: an employee of the Velvet Room and Monica Sells' sister. * Tommy Tomm: a bodyguard for Gentleman Johnny Marcone. *

Gentleman Johnny Marcone ''The Dresden Files'' is a series of contemporary fantasy/Mystery fiction, mystery novels written by American author Jim Butcher. The first novel, ''Storm Front (The Dresden Files), Storm Front''—which was also Butcher's writing debut—was p ...

: the lord of the Chicago underworld. * Hendricks: a bodyguard for Gentleman Johnny Marcone. * Spike: a man of Marcone's. * Mac: the owner and operator of McAnally's tavern. * Susan Rodriguez: a reporter at the Midwestern ''Arcane'', and Dresden's love interest. * Toot-Toot: a dewdrop faerie who helps Dresden. *

Warden Donald Morgan ''The Dresden Files'' is a series of contemporary fantasy/mystery novels written by American author Jim Butcher. The first novel, '' Storm Front''—which was also Butcher's writing debut—was published in 2000 by Roc Books. The books are wri ...

: a law enforcement warden for the White Council, who has a mandate to aid the innocent and punish the guilty. *

Mister ''Mister'', usually written in its contracted form ''Mr.'' or ''Mr'', is a commonly used English honorific for men without a higher honorific, or professional title, or any of various designations of office. The title 'Mr' derived from earlier ...

: Dresden's 30+ pound house cat. *

Bob Bob, BOB, or B.O.B. may refer to: Places * Mount Bob, New York, United States *Bob Island, Palmer Archipelago, Antarctica People, fictional characters, and named animals *Bob (given name), a list of people and fictional characters *Bob (surname ...

: an intelligent air spirit who resides inside a skull in Dresden's sub-basement laboratory. * Madame Bianca St. Claire: the owner of the Velvet Room and a Red Court vampire. * Linda Randall: a former employee of the Velvet Room, the Beckitt's chauffeur, friend and sometime lover to Jennifer Stanton. * The Beckitts: a rich couple who provide money for Victor Sells. * Donny Wise: a photographer for a local adult magazine. * Victor "Shadowman" Sells: the villain of the novel, who is a warlock and Monica Sells' husband. * Jenny and Billy Sells: children of Monica and Victor Sells.

In other media

* The plot of the novel was condensed into a 90-minute prospective

television pilot A television pilot (also known as a pilot or a pilot episode and sometimes marketed as a tele-movie), in United States television, is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell a show to a television network or other distri ...

for the

Sci Fi Channel Syfy (formerly Sci-Fi Channel, later shortened to Sci Fi; stylized as SYFY) is an American basic cable channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. Lau ...

, and edited and aired as a later episode in the first season. * The novel has been adapted into an eight-issue comic book mini-series, adapted by Mark Powers and illustrated by

Ardian Syaf Ardian Syaf is an Indonesian comic book artist. He has worked for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and Dynamite Entertainment. In April 2017 he became embroiled in controversy for inserting hidden anti-semitic and anti-Christian messages in ''X-Men Gol ...

and

Brett Booth Brett Booth is an People of the United States, American comic book artist. He is best known for his work on Backlash (Marc Slayton), Backlash, a character he co-created with Jim Lee at the Wildstorm Studios. Biography Following his Wildstorm wor ...

References

External links

* The first two chapters of the book and several MP3 clips are on th
author's official website

Review by J. K. Pelletier
FantasyBookNews.com, October 2009 {{Authority control 2000 American novels American fantasy novels Novels by Jim Butcher The Dresden Files Low fantasy novels Urban fantasy novels 2000 graphic novels