I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Welcome to the Jungle
by
Jim Butcher
It is part of the The Dresden Files #0.5 series and is a urban fantasy in Hardcover edition that was published by Del Rey Books on October 21, 2008 and has 168 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Mean Streets, Changes, Side Jobs, Ghost Story, Dark and Stormy Knights, Aftertaste, Hex Appeal, Dangerous Women, Storm Front, Grave Peril, Summer Knight, Fool Moon, Cold Days, Skin Game, Blood Rites, Death Masks, Proven Guilty, White Night, Small Favor, Shadowed Souls, Peace Talks, Heroic Hearts, "Christmas Eve", “The Good People”, Battle Ground, "The Law", “Everything the Light Touches”, "Job Placement"
A short story, a prequel in the Dresden Files. If you’re interested, there is a chronological listing of The Dresden Files books on my website.
My Take
Do keep in mind that I don’t like graphic novels. I much prefer using my own imagination. That disclaimer aside, I did enjoy Adrian Syaf’s graphics — Harry is much more good looking than I had imagined! Although the Harry pictured on the inside doesn’t appear to be the one on the cover…
It’s a fun, flash-bang-smash’em-up in true Dresden fashion as Harry fozares his way from one clue to the next.
The Story
The police want to pin Maurice Sandbourne’s murder on Moe, the gorilla. It’s clean, neat, and not supernatural. Lieutenant Murphy, however, prefers the truth.
The Characters
Harry Dresden is a professional wizard and private investigator who occasionally is hired as a freelance consultant by the Chicago PD. Well, Karrin Murphy, anyway. Dumorne is Harry’s foster father, mentor, and teacher. Bob the Skull knows more about magic than Harry can imagine.
Lieutenant Karrin Murphy is with Special Investigations and hires Harry on a fairly regular basis. She does believe there are things that go bump in the night. Sergeant Ron Carmichael is Karrin’s partner; he’s totally unenthused about Dresden.
Dr. Reese directs the gorilla program at the zoo; Willamena “Will” Rogers is his assistant. Dr. Dana Watson is on loan from London.
Anthrophages are the inner circle of the cult of Hecate.
The Cover and Title
The cover is black and electric green highlighting graffiti’d brick walls behind a Harry posed with his black coat, staff, and star pendant, waiting for something to leap out at him. A bright yellow draws your attention to the smallish title while a colonial blue highlights “Dresden”…just in case you might miss seeing it.
The title is quite accurate as you are Welcome to the Jungle of both the Lincoln Park Zoo and Harry’s world.
