Post No. 848 - Some minor, mostly magickally focused comments on “The Dresden Files” – Part Four (Books 13 – 15, and “Side Jobs”)

Other posts in this series:

• Part One: http://gnwmythr.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/post-no-833-some-minor-mostly.html; 
• Part Two: http://gnwmythr.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/post-no-834-some-minor-mostly.html; 
• Part Three: http://gnwmythr.blogspot.com.au/2016/03/post-no-838-some-minor-mostly.html.

Book No. 13 – Ghost Story
(ROC, 2012, first pub. 2012, ISBN 978-0-451-46407-1)

As a spirit rescuer, I find aspects of this book frustrating, so I tend not to reread it as much as the others. It is useful to compare this book to the film “Just Like Heaven”.

• what happens after death (p. 2):
  see Victor Zammit’s website, the century and a half of spiritualist experiences, Lobsang Rampa’s books, and a few millennia of mystics …
• “there are things out here” (pp. 7 – 8):
  parts of the lower astral are not particularly pleasant.
• eating / drinking after death (p. 11):
  a mistake some people make.
• concept of being stuck because of an irregularity (p. 14):
  in terms of the this-verse, this is basically rubbish. There are lots of reasons people get earthbound, and that ain’t one of ‘em (I’ve written elsewhere about this). In terms of this story, more is yet to be revealed on the matter.
• passing through things (p. 23):
  there are actually a range of experiences and perceptions for this.
• earthbound people continuing their routines (p. 23):
  yes, this is very true.
• wraiths and the devouring of memories (pp. 26 – 28):
  this is the way it is in the Dresden-verse, but not in the this-verse.
• ghost dust (p. 34):
  interesting concept. Hmm … I wonder … hmmm … nah – I’ll stick to my sigils and wards :)
• lemurs (pp. 40 – 45):
  pronounced lay-MOORS. Wikipedia spells it with an “e”, and says this was the term for restless, vengeful dead. See also manes, which crops up on pp. 68 - 69. This has been another of those enjoyable research episodes inspired by Mr Butcher’s greater knowledge of mythology.
• great example of mediumship (pp. 54 – 57).
• what ghosts are (p. 59):
  those comments do not apply to the this-verse. To simplify a little, “ghosts” can be earthbound entities (which have intelligence and can sensibly interact with people and events), thought forms (which do not interact or vary their routine), or etheric shells as they dissipate (generally in the case of someone who died with a lot of vitality). People visiting deliberately after they have already passed over are not ghosts. Have a look at sites like the Canadian indigenous paranormal investigation series “The Other Side” for more.
• shades are only a small part of oneself, the part with something to resolve (pp. 67 – 68):
  although it is possible for us to project part of ourselves for various purposes (generally learned in more advanced training), the concept that a shade disappears after it has resolved an issue does not apply in the this-verse.
• effects of thinking on interactions with the astral (p. 70):
  great discussion and fantastic – amusing - example.
• impact of wards (p. 74):
  which is why I’m not too worried about not having ghost dust.
• piecemeal wards (pp. 76 – 77):
  what an interesting idea. I’ll have to see if I can work out a way to do this – generally I do the same as harry and create a solid wall.
• being overwhelmed by memories (p. 93):
  I haven’t come across in any of the entities I’ve rescued in the last three and a bit decades.
• great example of good mediumship (pp. 104 – 107).
• Mister “shoulder blocking” Harry (p. 108):
  I’d like to see that :)
• Harry being hard on himself regarding his training of Molly (p. 121):
  I actually consider Harry is being unreasonably hard on himself. If he had had the time, he would have taught what she needed to know – gently, but effectively.
• co-opting energy (p. 131):
  very good and useful comments – for both Dresden-verse and this-verse.
• sunrise obliterating ghosts (p. 153):
  ghosts have actually been seen in daylight. I consider the psychic noisiness of normal human activities is why people don’t notice them during daylight (it is much quieter psychically when the other little darlin’s are tucked in for beddy-bys – that is why so much serious psychic work tends to be done late at night). The sort of energy effects being proposed would only apply to thought forms and etheric shells, and to a limited extent.
• moving physical objects (p. 171):
  this is hard enough to do psychically when one has a physical body; when one doesn’t, there’s an extra level of difficulty involved. However, it can be done … emotions can potentially help, and practice and training is likely to help (if delivered competently – which means “matched to the students learning style(s) and needs).
• not being able to communicate with the living (p. 193):
  this is one of the greatest frustrations of the earthbound. They may think they are being ignored.
• Murphy’s anger when Harry tries to protect the young people who shot at them (pp. 210 – 215):
  is completely justifiable. People did, in fact (in that part of the Dresden-verse) die, and the kids firing the guns blindly from the street have to accept the responsibility for that. This is a situation where BPM justice has to be both done, and seen to be done.
• guilt / conflict of conscience, and the harm that this can cause to mental health (p. 212 – 213).
• Mort (Mortimer, the ectomancer) had been saving Harry from things he didn’t know about, just as Harry had been saving Chicago from things Chicago didn’t about (p. 222):
  interesting – and a perspective that is well worth considering, as it saves us from arrogance.
• why ghostly Dresden has no magickal abilities (p, 243):
  this is an intriguing aspect of this book.
  In the this-verse, most rescues are of cooperatives, and the focus is on emotional issues. However, when uncooperatives are being rescued, they definitely have magickal clout. (I was told of an earthbound child who, when he found he was invisible, started playing ranks such as moving chairs, so cooperatives can do some “magickal” acts as well.)
• story of training with Justin (pp. 225 – 231):
  this covered a few points:
    - don’t be mediocre – agreed, but don’t have to be the world’s best, either,
    - work hard – yes, but kids also need to play for emotional and mental wellbeing and development – as do, to some extent, adults,
    - rewards – so long as they’re not excessive or too easily won, and one watches for any tendency on the part of the child to expect rewards, are OK,
    - age appropriateness – was something Justin clearly knew nothing about,
    - corporal punishment: no, as done by Justin is totally wrong.
• using memories as power (p. 232):
  this is, in a sense, a variation of the learning to get by without tools issue. It was interesting that Harry mentions (p. 234) he had been working several times a year on doing some magickal work without tools. Several times a year I set up circles using only visualisation, or with my back facing outwards.
• Lea’s teaching of Harry (p. 247):
  yes, she did share a part in Harry’s development, but I have a stricter definition of teaching, and her approaches don’t meet my definition. I tend to view life as the source of hard lessons, if they are to be faced by students of mine: I’ll work as effectively as I can – and throwing them in at the deep end and pushing them under has never been useful or effective in the teaching situations I’ve been in. Mind you, life – particularly that part of it associated with my day job – has done that quite a few times, and I can see the benefit of it in terms of that, BUT … if someone comes to me suffering and injured from psychic attack, they need safety and healing first, not to be pushed into clearing links etc (although I get annoyed if they had passed a chance to learn those skills beforehand). It’s a bit like being a battlefield medic coming across someone with a severed limb: you don’t start explaining how to use an arterial clamp, you just do it, and later, if they survive, you might talk to them about caring for their wound, etc – and, if they decide to change career and get into medical work, then you can teach them how to use an arterial clamp :)
• unintended consequences (pp. 264 – 265):
  Harry was in the grip of powerful emotions at the time he is reflecting on, but it always important to try to think things through. Sometimes things crop up that one hadn’t thought of: you learn from that, and then have a wider capacity for possible options /outcomes in future situations.
  That’s life.
• analysis of anger related thoughts and emotions (pp. 292 – 296):
  a bit basic, but reasonable for all that.
• making spells last (pp. 299 – 30):
  good comments about investing effort, and anchoring energy to objects. However, I am – as I’ve mentioned previously :) – not so convinced it is sunrise that does the degrading (particularly if the spell is of the same type of energy): I think the soup of energies we live in from peoples thoughts and emotions (broadcast in HD, owing to the lack of closing of auras) does most of the damage. It’s just that more people are far more active during the day.
• feedback through sensing as a way of developing psychism (p. 305):
  this is quite true – in fact it is the basis of a dowsing exercise I use to teach people (which, if I haven’t already posted, I will … one day). However, in terms of only some people being sensitive enough to do this, that’s not correct: one can develop that sensing. As an example, I’ve posted an amusing story about me being a “lift goddess” before. Well, now that I’m aware of it, that doesn’t happen automatically, but I am learning to judge that sensory signal which indicates where the next lift is going to come – by making a lot of tries, being right with some, wrong with others, and carefully analysing myself to discover the difference. Mistakes matter, good people :)
• as a general comment, I enjoy the backstory we get through the memories “theme” / idea.
• good adaptation to a powerful attack (p. 325).
• ghost are just memories (p. 343):
  no, see previous comments.
• the Akashic Record (pp. 343 – 344):
  this is effectively what is being described.
• differences between soul and spirit (p. 376):
  oy vey. Everyone has their own definition, I think – and really there is no-one to say whose is right or wrong. It’s really a case of torch vs. flashlight. Just get over yourselves people, define what you mean, and then mentally substitute the words when others use a different one (provided they do likewise).
• angel of death (p. 395(:
  yes! Good (but the stuff on p. 396 is basically neochristian rubbish).
• energising spell (p. 428):
  good example!
• wards (p. 431):
  no, they don’t need a threshold. They don’t even need to be fixed to a physical place – many of mine are in my aura, for instance.
• in the nonphysical, nonphysical power is the same as physical power here is – real, solid, and with impact (pp. 461 – 462):
  YES!
• mental war between Molly and “the Corpsetaker”:
  this is beyond the ability of anyone I know, but … it is the nonphysical. This experience is framed by the thinking of those in it.
• simplicity of good vs. evil in Star Wars (p. 541):
  I agree – it is simplistic (the original TV series Star Trek was better on that aspect), and it can be refreshing – a bit of escapist entertainment.
• use of ectomancy (p. 553 – 554):
  these are interesting examples, but they strike me as being a little bit too much like a ceremonialist finding and binding a spirit to their will.
• revelations about Mortimer (pp. 553 – 557):
  very interesting, particularly from the point of story and character development. I will be interested to see what happens when Mort next crops up in a Dresden book.
• Chapter 50 is mostly neochristian-based stuff, so of no interest to me, and, in my opinion, of questionable accuracy in terms of what happens in the this-verse.

Book No. 14 – Cold Days
(ROC, 2012, ISBN 978-0-451-46440-8)

I particularly enjoyed that the island and spirit Demonreach are featured in this book.

• the alleged need to “remember” Deities and the fae (p. 18):
  this is actually irrelevant to their nature and their existence, in the this-verse. Thinking otherwise is just human arrogance.
• changes made by the Winter Knight’s mantle:
  this is a theme (which Mr Butcher has commented he doesn’t plan – and that, based on my limited experience and comments by others, I consider is probably true – of most writers) – as another example, Thomas vs. his vampiric nature. They’re both examples of trying to use emotions, rather than allowing emotions use you. However, the control is based around fear of doing something “bad”, rather than aiming to transform and/or integrate such into one’s whole being – which is a bit of a theme in Tibetan Buddhism as I experienced and lived it. (Another example of this them may yet, I suspect, turn out to be Ebenezer vs. his “Blackstaff”.)
• Kris Kringle’s comments about “mythical” figures changing (p. 39):
  very true. After all, before Odin was the All-Father, Týr was (I was interested to recently read of Gaius Mucius Scaevola, aspects of whose story are similar to that of Týr – which reminds of this article, about the dangerous state of the Mosul Dam, which also mentions “the Old Testament in its final form is a product of and a response to the Babylonian exile” and refers to similarities between Babylnian and Old testament legends), and, if neochristianity hadn’t stuffed things up, by now Thor might be …
• an easy, innate access to magick (p. 42):
  should be the aim of all who do magickal work.
• a good conversation about sex and coercion (pp. 66 – 67).
• an example of indirect psychic attack using a lifestyle vulnerability (p. 71).
• the vulnerability of immortals on Hallowe’en (pp. 9  97):
  I don’t personally know any immortals in the sense used on the referenced pages. I promise to ask about this the very instant I meet such a being :) I’ll relay the answer – probably from at least three incarnations hence …
• Harry has finally learned to share knowledge so people can make an informed choice (p. 122).
• Thomas makes some excellent points (pp. 135 – 137.
• much of the world is alive (p. 143):
  well … yes.
• not understanding ancient magick (pp. 149 – 151):
  I can relate to this – it’s like not understanding advanced technology, or advanced mathematics (calculus is OK, but I got lost at the various transforms), or advanced social work concepts like “privilege”, or why people barrack for certain football teams – oh, wait. Oops – that one’s a mistake, ‘cos everyone is tolerant and forbearing with social differences of every single kind and people who speak different languages or have radically different social cultures (like a tribal person who has never met the 20^th century and someone from an industrialised nation), aren’t they? Hmm?
• revelation about the island (Chapter 16):
  this is an interesting concept – there are places in the lower astral like that.
• the first Merlin helped set up the neochristian roman catholic church (p. 156):
  if the first Merlin did that (in any-verse), the first Merlin is a flippin’ idiot. He should have worked with the Arabs, who kept the light of civilisation going during the Dark Ages, and didn’t create the Crusades, Inquisition, etc (although they had their flaws as well).
• waves going through time before and after an event (p. 171):
  yes, this is very true, and is one of the ways precognition works. As warnings get more frequent, one knows one is closer to the actual event.
• water grounds out magick (p. 183):
  this is usually a reference to moving water, but I suppose a large body of water with lots of bits of movement would be similar. My experience – which includes shamanic journeys as part of the water – is otherwise, as I’ve written earlier in these reviews.
• Ebenezer’s theory that humans are inherently conflicted and thus magick in the Dresden-verse stuffs things up (p. 184):
  humans are not necessarily inherently conflicted – many are, but not all – and, as one evolves spiritually, the conflict is resolved.
• the Fomor:
  I recognise these entities – and the views about them – from Gaelic (Irish) mythology, which was written by the victors  -the Tuatha Dé Danann. The Wikipedia article on them includes the following: “However, their relationship with the Tuath Dé is complex and some of their members intermarry and have children. The Fomorians have thus been likened to the Jötnar of Norse mythology.”
  Now, if either the Fomor or the Jötnar are interpreted as natural powers, well – I like natural powers and the wildness of Nature, as I mentioned in various places, such as this post.
  If they’re interpreted as the original inhabitants of a place, they’re in the unenviable situation of the pre-Celtic inhabitants of Britain, the Etruscans just north of Ancient Rome, and indigenous people everywhere pre-colonisation.
• an interesting qualification to the Dresden-verse’s threshold concept (pp. 197 – 198).
• excellent comment about echoes through time by “Vadderung” (pp. 209 – 210).
• good example of psychic attack and resistance (p. 223).
• Outsiders (p. 227):
  I’m not familiar with an equivalent from the this-verse, but I am familiar with the concept that things can so different that one cannot comprehend them. One of the blogs I used to read had an excellent article about this: unfortunately, after a day or so of searching I was unable to find it, but I did come across some posts which might be interesting and sort of related – vaguely – to the concept I wanted to explain here, here and here.
• karma, Harry, karma (p. 237).
• bad things are inside everyone (p. 240):
  well, yes – that’s why shadow work is so important.
• Butters’ theory about how the Winter Knight’s mantle works (p. 266):
  if you’ll excuse me while I do a Fringe and switch to my Dresden-verse typewriter, this doesn’t actually explain everything. There clearly are magickal effects involved as well, although this theory could well be part of it.
• someone having your blood, or having done a blood ritual with you, is actually something that can be defended against – and one of the first points is to know that defence is possible. The next is to remember that blood cells have a life of around 90 days: at the worst, you might have to keep working for that long, although relative strength of you and your allies vs. person attacking you and their allies needs to be considered –and you do not need to know people who are your allies in such a working, as people attacking you in such a way have probably got a lot of people off side (p. 270).
• good comments by Murphy about the transition to evil potentially being quite slow – and hence the need for shadow work, knowing oneself, and reflection (p. 273).
• words are symbols; Will drives magick, and emotions often drive Will (p. 297  298):
  yes.
• there are lots of interesting passages in this book about matters I’ve already commented on, but by this stage of the book I’m getting absorbed in the story, and so won’t interrupt my pleasure to make additional comments (generally).
• interactions between the Fae and humans (pp. 326 – 328):
  interesting comments – well worth comparing to “the Guardians” in Katharine Kerr’s magnificent Deverry series.
• psychic “body heat” (p. 346):
  YES!
• gender stereotypes (p. 347):
  rubbish, basically.
• using a floating steel needle to penetrate blocks to a tracking spell (p. 356):
  interesting.
• similar events happening in the same place (p. 366):
  I can quite accept this. In the sense that Harry is contemplating, which is about “bad guys”, this could be because (a) doing something “bad” where “bad” events have already been done allows one to build on that badness, (b) word of mouth would have spread and thus the “bad guys” would know about the place as somewhere that could be used for this sort of “badness”, (c) there may have been some “badness” originally – e.g., damaged ley lines, etc.
  On the other hand, every single aspect of this applies to “good” stuff as well – once you help to establish some niceness in a place, people keep coming to admire the niceness, and potentially add a little more, perhaps a share of the boost they received.
  This also shows why it is so hard to change something after a while, and thus it is important to, for instance, stop wars as early as possible, to prevent a build-up of that conflict energy.
• shielding on one side only (p. 367):
  why? I’ve never even conceived of doing anything other than all round defence.
• an example of psychic attack (p.415)
  and
    the use of logic to help overcome it (p. 416) (this also cropped up in Katharine Kerr’s magnificent Deverry series, where an aspect of the training was to learn to think during dreams – which also reminds me of Joan Grant’s “Winged Pharaoh”)
  and
  the use of knowledge of oneself and one’s Will to also help overcome it (p. 417).
• circles (p. 451):
  interesting thoughts about creatures that cross over circles, and I will think about the comment that this could be related to the quality of the circle.
• the value of not always following instinct (p. 453).
• the value of good training (p. 454).
• Queen Mab is wrong when she claims that what Harry has done with Molly is no different to what Mab has. Even if there are similarities in aspects of this (and I contend that they are limited), there was no intent on Harry’s part. (p. 500)
• a speculation (p. 506):
  does this open the door for a way that Harry can escape the mantle in a few years time, when his back has healed?

Book No. 15 – Skin Game
(ROC, 2014, ISBN 978-0-451-46439-2)

Back to ancient mythology – this time Ancient Greece. Woo hoo!

• examples of types of uncooperatives (pp. 2 – 3);
• good techniques for dealing with anger (imposition of rationality by doing times tables, etc) (p. 39);
• naming something contains the emotion around it (p. 66):
  very true point: one could say this contains it in a box, or one could say it frames the issue and gives a way of viewing and analysing it – and no doubt there are many other ways of viewing this;
• the problem of ricochets (p. 69):
  very good point.
• example of astral travel (pp. 96 – 97):
  too many dreams that are actually are distorted recall of astral travel get written off by ****wits as messages to be interpreted, when they should just shut up and accept it for what it is. On the other hand, pp. 104 – 106 is all Harry’s subconscious not being very sub- …
• sowing the seeds of discord in one’s opposition (pp. 104 – 106):
  this is done in the this-verse as well – there are groups of uncooperatives who need clearing, as well as individuals. The way Harry has gone about this is revealed later in the book to be particularly BPM, and that is the key to this.
• save those doughnuts, Harry, save ‘em!
  (sorry – couldn’t resist :) )
• reasons not to kill (p. 117):
  Harry’s reasons are all reasonable, but, if I was in that situation, I think I’d be happy with “it’s wrong”. If I needed more, I’d definitely respond to the “it’s not best in the long term”: I’ve spent too much time and effort sorting out nonBPM karma from past life nonBPM actions (and also enjoying the BPM karma from past life BPM actions).
• Chapter 20:
  this chapter has a lot of personal insights, and presents a great example of what friendship is – real friendship, the sort that outweighs many blood ties.
• analogy of getting pages on a phone for using the name of a Deity (p. 167):
  interesting. I’ll think about this – my first reaction, as a limited human being, is that it is plausible, but then, we’re talking about being who probably fundamentally don’t exist in the same way that I and you do, and thus this may not be an issue – which is something Harry discussed with Uriel in one of the earlier books (p. 514 of “Small Favor” [sic]).
• this is one of the most hilarious twists to a story I have ever read (p.182).
• don’t react to changes out of fear, and have faith in friends (p. 188 – 190):
  I agree with this up to a point – I don’t want to create unreasonable pressures on my friends, so I’d add a qualification of the legal sense of “reasonableness” to this.
• use Earth magick to ground out attack (p. 197):
  this is an interesting idea. For me, Earth energies are peaceful, persistent – but they are also very grounding, inherently so. I will think about this … ;
• establishing “like to like” connections for magickal (p. 207 – 209):
  interesting considerations.
• Harry’s comment about the Genoskwa’s use of veils showing it does actually have fear / respect for / some consideration of what mortal authorities can do is valid (p. 211).
• Butters inventiveness (Chapter 27):
  this is a very good example of doing what one can with limited strength / resources.
• Chapter 41:
  Harry’s interaction with Hades is the highlight, for me, of this book. This is also one of those many instances where Mr Butcher’s superior knowledge of mythology has led me to do some research – and I will do more, one of these days, on the Greek Deities …
• good example of working on an uncooperative (p. 362).
• example of the unforeseen consequences of one’s actions (pp. 365 – 366):
  this is a little bit like invading another country …
• true power comes from knowledge (p. 373):
  interesting – I’ll meditate further on this, but I’m inclined, at this stage, to agree.
• redirection of a massive (physical magickal) attack:
  excellent use of vortices – and I have done this myself, in the this-verse,
• love of magick rather than love of power (p. 387):
  Harry is commenting on his love of the philosophy of magick, as it is done in the Dresden-verse, rather than just wanting it as a tool to have and use power. In the context of the situation he is in at that time, this is reasonable, HOWEVER, I have to add that the topic should be thought of in light of Michael’s comments back in Chapter 20, and also, for me, the issue always is: what do you do with power – and there is no question that magick is an issue of having power, even if one does come to it out of the “right” motivations in your heart – to deny that is as irresponsible as seeking power for its own sake.
  I once asked someone who was what I describe as a “head Buddhist”, a stereotypical Westerner getting involved in Buddhism – and become aggressive about that – how he was better for being a Buddhist … and he couldn’t say!!! I’ve asked others how the world is a better place for their religious / spiritual philosophy, and often been disappointed. In my case, I am trying to make this world a better place – and I’m not interested in the ****wits who think that can only be pursued if one has been through great suffering or if one acknowledges self interest: such cretins are the sort of people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
  If you have power, you have a moral / ethical / spiritual DUTY to use it responsibly (which is something Harry has said elsewhere).
  The thing is, almost everyone has power – more than they realise …
• size (p. 393):
  good realistic comments.
• interesting twist about the character “Goodman Grey” (p. 439):
  I’d like to see where this goes in future, but it does raise the fact that we have the ability to choose what we do with what we have – including our environmental and, to some extent, genetic inheritances. As an example of the latter, I know women who undergone mastectomies to deal with the risk of breast cancer – another example might be caring about diet and exercise and health generally to deal with risks of heart attacks. As an example of the former, every survivor of child abuse I know who has had children has taken great care to make sure their children do not have the same experience.

Side Jobs 
(ROC, 2010, ISBN 978-0-451-46384-5)

Unfortunately, I don’t have access to all the short stories that have been written about the Dresden-verse. By the time I can spare the money for these, I hope the single collection will be available. Also, I haven’t bought the “graphic novels”: I might, one day, but … don’t hold your breath.

A Restoration of Faith

• this has some good human elements and back story (when Harry met Murphy), and a bit of mythology based loosely around trolls – although I have never heard of trolls bursting apart into little trolls. Good lesson on emotions and magick for a child.

Vignette

• shows Harry’s commitment to ethics.

Something Borrowed

• Harry is very patronising of the werewolves – particularly so given that he was in that fight (p. 30).
• good example of the social expectations and other rubbish that should be thrown out in regard to weddings (p. 32).
• excellent comments that indulging in histrionics does not help (p. 37).
• limitations and requirements (to work and make an effort) of magic are right (pp. 42 – 43).
• Chicago sinking (p. 45 – and many other places in these stories):
  as a civil engineer, this interested me, and I am aware of some very interesting things such as jacking buildings up while people keep working in them, but have no confirmation of some of the other aspects of this. I know parts of the Manhattan Project were initially based in Chicago – and many other places as well.
• "shelly cobs” (p. 48):
  nice bit of writing.
• use of magick to – sort of – walk on water (p. 49):
  cute.
• sleep spell to be broken by kiss of true love (pp. 51 – 52): pretty much required for the anthology this story was going into, but … ho-hum.
• using fire sprinkler water to disperse magick (also in “Small Favor”; p. 54):
  I’ve commented on the mythology of running water being a magickal barrier before, but, in this instance, the distraction, if nothing else, would mean it could conceivably work.

It’s My Birthday, Too

I enjoyed this story.

• ‘tis garlic flowers that repel vampires – I’ve been reading Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”, largely as a result of what is in these books.
• the household cobbs (or cobbler elves) were a nice touch: I enjoyed them.

Heorot

This is probably my favourite story in this anthology – I enjoyed re-researching the myth (I had first done so a long time ago, when I first came across it … pre-Internet). Go, Valkyries!

• endearing, sincere people driven by emotions can be wrong (p. 112):
  yup, absolutely.
• Harry being kept in the dark is not just ironic, it also has a karmic element to it (pp. 125 – 126).
• Gard makes a good comment about virgins always being in short supply. I’d also note the number of allegedly virgin pregnancies experienced by teenagers – and single women - in the Middle Ages (p. 118).
• The comments about the Grendelkin’s need for mead are, I suspect, more Dresden-verse than this-verse … (p. 118).
• I generally enjoy Gard’s use of runes – or, to be more accurate, what are probably bindrunes. Her Rune of Routine here is similar to what I have been working on for a couple of years with the help of my friend Tony, RMftB * - we’ve actually got it drawn, but I have to write it up – as an alternative to the Seal of Solomon for invisibility. The latter calls on a Deity to bloodily rip the eyes out of the person one doesn’t want to be seen by, whereas the bindrune design Tony and I have come up with just minimises our visibility.
  * Rune Master from the Bush

Day Off

This is introduced as a foray by Mr Butcher into comedy. Actually, there is good – intentional - humour all the way through the Dresden books, so I don’t actually consider this his first foray into that area at all.

• (no magickal or other comments)

Back up

An intriguing insight into Harry’s brother, Thomas.

• good comments about most people only needing the level of ability that matches what has to be done (p. 186).
• the Dresden-verse has a few differences to the this-verse I live in, and one is the concept that Deities need attention from humans to be anchored into this world. I know others in the this-verse who share that view, and consider it complete bollocks – it is a sign of human arrogance and presumption, the sort of thinking that insisted the Earth could not possibly orbit round the Sun.
  Deities exist for their own purposes - I’ve speculated a few times that it is to bring something into manifestation, something which can then be used by humans, and thus reduces the need for active work, perhaps, on that matter, but that doesn’t change the fact of the Deities existence, nor the validity of their purpose. Humans may change and forget what has been brought into existence, in which case the mediumship of the Deity will be needed again.
• (I also don’t buy into the Dresden-verse idea of diluting Deities by multiple rituals – that sort of thinking is also human-centric, limited, and contradicts some of the points made by, for instance, the character Uriel.)

The Warrior

The introductory comments by Jim Butcher are very thoughtful – and well worth reflecting on. I got a lot out of this story – far more than these brief comments would indicate. (I’m starting to run out of steam for this long review project, which comes in the middle of several other major life events.)

• defensive amulet (p. 223):
  interesting … I wonder I would make something like that for the this-verse?
• on p. 224:
   - the purifying nature of fire – potentially, fire can be purifying, yes;
   - the “like to like” connection with the fake sword – yes, and good thinking;
   - turkey snags – NO, NO, NO!!!

There is a lot more on ethics, the risks of losing balance when one has strong emotional triggers (on both sides), and what, effectively, random acts of kindness. One day when I am in a better place in terms of life generally (or at least not moving house), I might come back and try to write more about this story … but, knowing me, I probably won’t get around to it.

Last Call

I’m going to skip this one. It’s basically about Dionysian type events, and, as one of my ex-partners was (and probably still is) an alcoholic who put me through hell, I have no inclination to view any such things neutrally: I see them only through the prism of the past abuse I have endured.

Love Hurts

• this is a good story about the need to be genuine;
• good to see Harry pounding the (psychic) pavement as a PI (p. 310).
• "junkies don’t need to be happy; they need to be free” (p. 332):
  too right.

Aftermath

It sounds corny, but I actually get quite a bit out of this because of the description of stereotypical male behaviour – something I’ve never really understood anyway.

• good example of male body language and aggression (p. 350).
• sensible comments about a threshold (p. 377).
• interesting how Murphy works through her fear (p. 395).

Overall, I found this a very inspiring story.

Rightio then, that’s all done – now I’m going to go back and read ‘em all for pleasure! (Well, the ones that haven’t been packed for this blasted move, at any rate.)