In life and death, in any examination of the past, there is regret for loss, for suffering, for pain and failure. Ironically, now that the hero is his dead, we learn how he became the man he was. It’s a parallel drawn throughout the book.

It’s a new set of rules when you no longer have a physical presence, but with time and a little bit of practice, Harry is able to master his newfound abilities as he did magic. On the other other side, Harry meets old friends who gave up their “meat-suits” long ago. This in-between offers a chance for the author to view his world from a different perspective and start a new arc for the series. It’s a side that, in the 13 novels in Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files, has been referred to several times but never fully detailed. Things were going fine as expected for the hard-assed magician detective-that is, until his murder.Īs a ghost, Harry gets to see the other other side of Chicago. It’s usually just another day at the office, calling in friends for favors (supernatural or otherwise), squashing the latest punk trying to mess with his town, saving the world once again. Over the course of 13 novels, in an ever-expanding universe of magicians, vampires, demons, mystics and fairy godmothers, Dresden has become adept at dealing with the laws of the paranormal world. Magical detective that he is, caseloads usually eschew cheating spouses and money launderers for the unseen dangers that lurk in the other side of Chicago.

As a magician, he’s a bit more advanced than your average Harry Potter, adept at working with various realms, runes and revelation. As a detective he’s of the wisecracking, hold his own in a bar fight, wears a hat and duster, Marlowe-Spade mold. It’s a bit for anyone to have on their plate. Harry Dresden is a detective and a magician and now, a ghost. Learning the lessons of the past is the only way to shape the present and the future. The future is the only thing we can change. It was never too late to learn something. “For shades, memories are life, sustenance, and power. Stu slid his readied pistol back into his belt.

Ghost Story by Jim Butcher