Fool Moon

Title: Fool moon
Author: Jim Butcher
Published: 2001
Genre: fiction - urban fantasy

started: Sept.4/11
finished: Sept.7/11

Books before this:
Storm Front

Initial thoughts
I am still trying to decide how I feel about Harry Dresden. He is very...chivalrous in a way that is on occasion somewhat boastful and occasionally has a slight feeling of misogyny (which he himself calls it at one point in Fool Moon.) I do like some of the ways he treated the realm of the supernatural (or the Nevernever as he calls it) and puts his own interpretation on many of the aspects found in urban fantasy. So far what I've read of this story I've enjoyed.



Final thoughts
Well I have to say that this book was an enjoyable read. Jim Butcher doesn't seem to stray too far into the graphic violence while describing gore enough that it gives the horrible a sense of...well horror. He is not like, say, Laurel K. Hamilton, that seems to revel in describing everything down to the minutest detail be it decor, clothing or graphic violence. He also has an interesting take, as I said above, on the Supernatural and approaches it in a way that both acknowledges the traditions (on occasion many versions as he actually did with this book) while also giving the tradition his own twist as I have found the best Urban fantasy authors (in my opinion anyway) tend to do. Seeing how they chose to present their own take is one of the best parts of reading urban fantasy. The authors I found I've gotten tired of are the ones that stick to the tradition with little variation.

In this book Butcher presented various takes on werewolves, drawing from different traditions and in the end had them all come out to play. that was a great approach to take with this. I haven't really come across other authors that have approached the traditions in that way. Usually they just give a nod to the known traditions and then state which are incorrect. I thought this was an interesting way to go.

I did find his relationship with some of the characters annoying though I can't quite put my finger on what it is. Perhaps it is the simple dynamic of it which adds drama and throws conflict into the mix but in this case it was a way that I found irritating though I can't really put words to what exactly it was about it. I will keep reading because I'd like to see what other aspects of the supernatural he plays with and how he defines them. It will be a while before I get around to reading the next book but I will be looking forward to it when I do.

Would I recommend this books: Yes

Who would I recommend it to:

this is a great series for someone who is interested in delving into the realm of urban fantasy but doesn't know where to start. The writing is decent and there is a feeling of plot and that he thought it out. (We shall see as I go if he uses a formula though). It has it's moments of graphic violence but it is not so much that it makes a squeamish person (like myself say) feel that they need to put the book down for a while. The approach is mystery mixed with the supernatural so there is more at stake in the story than one might find in others that say, draw from romance. It is for these reasons that I would recommend the series to someone starting out with urban fantasy, especially if they are a fan of mystery.

There isn't really anyone i wouldn't recommend this series too except maybe people who are looking for those series that are closer to the realm of supernatural romance. There isn't as much of that in this but it does have strong female characters even though the main character (and narrator) is male.

Who would I not recommend this to:

If you are looking for romantic urban fantasy/supernatural romance then this is not what you are looking for. The romance is hinted at but the story is a mystery and that is what the main focus is. this is not a piece of fluff, though there are aspects of fluffy writing in it. it is a more serious type of a plot with violence and death involved. It is something like a supernatural horror/thriller in book form. Still...there are few people I can think of that I would say should absolutely not read it.