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“The Good People”
by
Jim Butcher
urban fantasy in a PDF edition that was published by the author on December 22, 2020 and has 11 pages.
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Mean Streets, Changes, Side Jobs, Ghost Story, Dark and Stormy Knights, Aftertaste, Hex Appeal, Welcome to the Jungle, 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", Battle Ground, "The Law", “Everything the Light Touches”, "Job Placement"
A free short story, 17.4 in The Dresden Files urban fantasy series, revolving around Harry Dresden, the Wizard of Chicago. The focus here is on Molly Carpenter, the Winter Lady. It takes place the Christmas after Battle Ground and immediately after “Christmas Eve“, 17.3.
My Take
It was an interesting position (Butcher is using first person protagonist point-of-view from Molly’s perspective) coming after “Christmas Eve“, 16.1.
I appreciated Molly still comprehending compassion — and her snarky comeback at Mab! Still, Molly does understand the power, the strength she must show, to enforce her authority.
There is a lot of action, but tempered by character with the three primary characters showing their real selves — softened. It is telling that Butcher notes that a criminal and the fae “bad guys” do more to help the people of Chicago recover than the feds.
Events do meander a bit, but only because Molly is having too much fun brightening peoples’ lives as she drives her “Good People”.
Butcher does have his fun with “The Night Before Christmas” when Molly confronts Kringle. He also conveys quite a bit of information about Winter, Kringle, and the compassionate nature of Christmas — even for Winter and Odin.
The Story
An eve for giving gifts and visiting family — as long as Molly is gone before Kringle shows up at her parents’ home!
The Characters
Lady Molly Carpenter, Harry’s former apprentice and now the Winter Lady, still has a heart. Mab is the Queen of Air and Darkness, the Winter Queen. The Unicorn, Black Dogs, goblins, ogres, Rawbones, and more spread holiday “cheer” at Molly’s command.
Kris Kringle, a.k.a. Odin, has his own bit of fun.
Harry Dresden is the Wizard of Chicago (I love Molly’s note!) and Mab’s Winter Knight (Ghost Story, 13). Gentleman John Barcone, the Baron of Chicago, heads up the crime syndicate in Chicago. Waldo Butters, a pathologist, is also a Knight of the Cross whose valor is recognized. Mort Lindquist is a terrified ectomancer. McAnally’s bar is a friendly meeting place for wizards, witches, and other supernaturals — and serves a good ale.The gargoyles and pixies participate.
The Title
The title is ironic, for one doesn’t think of the denizens of the Winter Court as “The Good People”.
