Brief Cases

Jim Butcher

Jun 2018 · Dresden Files · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

An all-new Dresden Files story headlines this urban fantasy short story collection starring the Windy City’s favorite wizard.

The world of Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, is rife with intrigue—and creatures of all supernatural stripes. And you’ll make their intimate acquaintance as Harry delves into the dark side of truth, justice, and the American way in this must-have short story collection.

From the Wild West to the bleachers at Wrigley Field, humans, zombies, incubi, and even fey royalty appear, ready to blur the line between friend and foe. In the never-before-published “Zoo Day,” Harry treads new ground as a dad, while fan-favorite characters Molly Carpenter, his onetime apprentice, White Council Warden Anastasia Luccio, and even Bigfoot stalk through the pages of more classic tales.

With twelve stories in all, Brief Cases offers both longtime fans and first-time readers tantalizing glimpses into Harry’s funny, gritty, and unforgettable realm, whetting their appetites for more to come from the wizard with a heart of gold.

The collection includes:

  •  “Curses,” from Naked City, edited by Ellen Datlow
  •  “AAAA Wizardry,” from the Dresden Files RPG
  •  “Even Hand,” from Dark and Stormy Knights, edited by P. N. Elrod
  •  “B is for Bigfoot,” from Under My Hat: Tales from the Cauldron, edited by Jonathan Strahan. Republished in Working for Bigfoot.
  •  “I was a Teenage Bigfoot,” from Blood Lite III: Aftertaste, edited by Kevin J. Anderson. Republished in Working for Bigfoot.
  •  “Bigfoot on Campus,” from Hex Appeal, edited by P. N. Elrod. Republished in Working for Bigfoot.
  •  “Bombshells,” from Dangerous Women, edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois
  •  “Jury Duty,” from Unbound, edited by Shawn Speakman
  •  “Cold Case,” from Shadowed Souls, edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie Hughes
  •  “Day One,” from Unfettered II, edited by Shawn Speakman
  •  “A Fistful of Warlocks,” from Straight Outta Tombstone, edited by David Boop
  •  “Zoo Day,” a brand-new novella, original to this collection

Ratings and reviews

I just finished 'Side Jobs' and was completely entertained. The only downer was - well, if I say that it would be a spoiler, so I won't. Let's just say, time well spent. Harry being Harry. Some interesting bad guys. Meeting Murphy. They really should get together. Just MHO. Good hearing more about the Alphas, and an entire story in Murphy's voice and one in Thomas', those were delightful and interesting changes. Great to hear the different perspectives. Oh, and I love Mouse. We can definitely hear a lot more about him. An altogether enjoyable, entertaining collection of short stories and novellas. Thank you for the effort and more would be appreciated.

This is a great set of simple cases to tide you over while waiting for more novels. Some are from different povs which is fun. At the end you even get a sampling of Maggie's voice - which either 2 years back at dragon con our last year at gencon he said he would likely be writing her own novels. I always enjoy hearing what happens between books.

I have been an avid fan of the Dresden Files for more than a decade. And this is one of my favorites. I've never really been into short stories but the way he wrote them from the perspectives of our different beloved characters was brilliant. Definitely a must for your Dresden collection. <3

About the author

A martial arts enthusiast whose résumé includes a long list of skills rendered obsolete at least two hundred years ago, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher turned to writing as a career because anything else probably would have driven him insane. He lives mostly inside his own head so that he can write down the conversation of his imaginary friends, but his head can generally be found in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Jim is the author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera novels, and the Cinder Spires series, which began with The Aeronaut’s Windlass.