Grave Peril Grave Peril is Book Three of the Dresden Files.
Back Cover Blurb (as taken from the back cover of the book.):
Quote: Harry Dresden's faced some pretty terrifying foes during his career. Giant scorpions. Oversexed vampires. Psychotic werewolves. It comes with the territory when you're the only professional wizard in the Chicago area phone book.
But in all Harry's years of supernatural sleuthing, he's never faced anything like this: the spirit world's gone postal. All over Chicago, ghosts are causing trouble - and not just of the door-slamming, boo-shouting variety. These ghosts are tormented, violent, and deadly. Someon - or something - is purposely stirring them up to wreak unearthly havoc. But why? And why do so many of the victims have ties to Harry? If Harry doesn't figure it out soon, he could wind up a ghost himself....
I have to say, my favorite part of this book is when Harry and Michael are being introduced at Bianca's party -- and there are all those comments and looks from the other guests, but the reader has NO idea what Harry's costume is -- then all of a sudden - we're hit with it - the description of Harry's costume -- and that is the funniest damn thing I've ever read!
That was an ingenius piece of writing and so well done, you could picture Harry dressed in that gaudy suit w/ the fake teeth and the cape and the blood - too funny!!
Tall, Dark and Fangy
Despite the later bitter irony of his costume, it is truly one of the most inspired pieces of humour in the whole series. Jim Butcher has a wonderful sense of the perverse in matters such as this.
Bob - Spirit of Air
Posts: 59
(11/24/02 20:40) Reply
Re: Tall, Dark and Fangy
Been working my way through this a second time -- and I'm liking it more and more as I go along --
(however, stopped at pg 166 - I'll pick up again in a bit)
but I was reading the descrip of Harry's nightmare and how he crawled down into the lab and curled up in the protective circle - and it's emotional and scary and all those things that make a story really interesting --
Re: Tall, Dark and Fangy
I'm just at the end of this book - all during Christmas dinner I wanted to sneak off and read it in a dark (or perhaps not so dark!) corner. Am I bad??!
I was at the part when they were at Bianca's ball. I agree about the cheesy outfit surprise - I squirmed uncomfortably when I found out what he was wearing! He's cool, but in a geeky way! I Love Harry!
Bob - Spirit of Air
Posts: 70
(12/28/02 22:41) Reply
Re: Tall, Dark and Fangy
Is it bad to want to sneak off to read about Harry? Never!
Of course - I'm probably not the one to ask - I've done the 'sneak a page when you should be working' thing before.
I was so into the books my first time through them, that I almost never put them down! Which is quite a feat - b/c prior to this - I hadn't picked up but maybe 2 books the previous year. So - I owe a big 'thank you' to Jim Butcher for making reading 'fun' again!
One of my absolute favorite things about Harry - he's human. He's not a super hero, he's not some guy w/ lots of muscles or big strength (like Buffy), he's not a vampire (yet - it could happen, it would suck, but it could happen), he's not some alien, he's just a guy - w/ some magical ability and not-so-much grace. He's clumsy, he's far taller than most people, he's almost too chivalrous (not that I think anyone could really be that, but it gets Harry into trouble), he's got skeletons in his closet that he admits to having (at least to himself). He's got flaws - but not so many that it makes all his 'successes' look like flukes. He's 'just right'. And for that, Jim Butcher is, in his own right, an amazing talent.
Of course, I told a former college professor about these and he told me to write a paper explaining the political infrastructure and governmental workings of them - but then again, he's been telling me to write papers about things since I graduated, so, this was nothing new, and this one I might consider doing.
Re: Tall, Dark and Fangy
I would like to know the story about Michael.... we have not heard of him until this book.. and he is not in the fourth, but I kind of like him.. and would like it if Jim, maybe in another book, would explain his relation with Harry, they know each other since when??.. where does he come from?.. in the book he have good power and his friendship with Harry is not "new" (like the werewolves), so... how come he was not there for the first two books...
sorry.. just my mind wondering, since I am reading this book for the 3rd time... well.. I bored and waiting for the next Harry Potter book... so... *smile*.. here I am... asking all sort of questions... It would be fun to be able to asked those questions to Jim directly!!..
Won't you come and dance with the Beautiful Death?
Bob - Spirit of Air
Posts: 122
(6/19/03 20:43) Reply
Re: Tall, Dark and Fangy
Jim has said that there is more to Michael's story -- and I think he said that it's coming up in a later book, but not 100% on that.
You *can* ask questions directly to Jim -- go to www.jim-butcher.com and find the link to the mailing list or to McAnally's -- Jim's on the list, however, atm, he's kinda busy - but he does post there! (just don't forget about here if you hop over there -- )
)
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