Fairies & The Dresden Files Universe
ByFAIRIES AND THE DRESDEN-VERSE
© Buzzy Multimedia
by Theresa Bane
Have I mentioned lately how much I love “The Dresden Files?” It was long and ago that I first discovered Jim Butcher and his intrepid wizard hero, Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only practicing wizard (he’s in the yellow pages, go check for yourself). In fact it’s going on ten years now, or, there about. Hard to believe that Butcher has written 11 Dresden files book, 5 Codex Alera books, a Spiderman novel, a Dresden graphic novel, two novellas, and who knows how many short stories for various anthologies. Prolific much?
And in these past ten years there have been a lot of flash in pan authors who have come and gone. Many a book series has been born, lived, and died out since the first time we read about Harry and his wizarding escapades. One may wonder why , but the answer is simple-The Dresden Files are still with us because of the quality of writing that Butcher consistently produces. Each novel is great. I have yet to read an OK book from the man, let alone a bad one. Even his short stories that have appeared in numerous anthologies are works of freaking awesomeness.
Another reason I suspect that the Dresden Files has been with us for all this time is due to Jim Butcher’s research. There are numerous creatures and characters from various cultures’ mythologies that are respectfully, and properly, represented. One such example of this would be his treatment of the Little Folk, or fairies as those woefully mundane may refer to them.
Although I am not privy to Butcher’s research methods, it is apparent that if he does not do it himself, he has an expert researcher doing it for him.
To most people when they think of fairies, they picture cute little pink wigged people, al la Tinkerbell, who flutter about from flower to flower, sprinkling pixie dust, wearing clothing made of leaves or other such cuteness. This popular conception of fairies would get you killed if you ever encountered one, were they real. As a researcher and collector of mythologies and lore, I can tell you for certain that the original tales of the Fey folk are much darker than you can imagine. The reality of it, so to speak, is that if you were to ever encounter a fairy, you’d be lucky to escape with your life and cursed with something that you could learn to live with. Even the nice fairies in mythology are very dangerous and prone to violent mood swings and overkill punishment when it comes to dispensing what they consider justice. The real fey are less like Tinkerbell and more like the shark from Jaws.
In the Dresden Files, the Fey of that world are broken up into essentially the Winter Court and the Summer Court. Depending on the time of year, be it summertime or wintertime, its respective court is in power, that is, more powerful than during the off season, just like NFL players. For instance, if a quarterback is found recreationally killing and torturing dogs for fun and profit in the off season he is prosecuted just like any other rich person. However, if it is football season and his team is doing well, he’s made to pay a fine that you or I could afford and cannot play football for an entire game and a half.
Queen Mab is the primary ruler of the three Queens of the Unseelie (also known as Winter) Court, an evil and cold hearted bitch with lips that look that frozen raspberries. She purchased Harry’s debt from his (I kid you not) godmother who happens to be a faerie. Mab is among the most powerful beings in the Dresden Files so far encountered, as she performs powerful spells of magic with a casual and lackadaisical ease. She may be going insane, and in all fairness, many in her court already are, so it’s hard to tell. Since she is a secretive and manipulative being, she could be merely acting so.
William Shakespeare is the one typically given credit for popularizing the fairy queen Mab originally, although lots of other writers from numerous time periods have done so since. (Apparently, she is copyright free and considered public domain as a character.) Shakespeare most likely borrowed the name from the Celtic goddess, Medb who in fact may be a regional interpretation of the Scandinavian goddess, Mara. Shakespeare’s Mab is said to be the wife of Oberon, King of the Fey. As you may or may not know, being married to the king does not automatically make you the queen unless that right and title is part of the marriage ceremony. Nevertheless, Mab is described as a small being that drives her chariot over the face of a person as they sleep and gives them dreams where their wishes come true, or the plague. Occasionally a nightmare will do when the other options seem a bit much. Fairy logic is what it is.
Back in the Dresden Files universe, Queen Tatania is the primary of three queens of the Seelie (or Summer) Court, and has yet to be introduced as a character in the novels. Harry has doings with the Winter court since that is where his IOU happens to be, if not his favor or loyalties, so there is little to no reason that the beings of the Summer court would have anything to do with him.
Shakespeare also wrote of Tatania in his play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. There she is said to be the Queen of Fairies who is married to the King, Oberon. Fairy lore that is older than Shakespearian works never mentions a fairy king or queen. Other authors have also used Tatania in their works as a fairy Queen, apparently the tradition of borrowing Mab and Tatania is longstanding and in good company.
In the Dresden Files, each of the Courts is set up as one might imagine a human court of royalty to be. Faerie Knights and Lords and Ladies abound, as do armies on both sides. But that is about where the similarity ends. The Faeries of the Dresden Files are clearly not humans; they do not think like humans, have goals and objectives like humans, or think along even a similar wavelength as humans. In fact, they pity humans for their mortality, morality, and limited understanding of their own world and everything in it. Humans on the other hand have trouble understanding Faerie objectives and goals because the fey are just not motivated by the same things that humans are. Even abstracts, such as power, are not sought after the way or for the same reasons that humans seek it. Basically, understanding the fey is like trying to understand why nature is the way it is. A hurricane is not an evil being, but it is an aspect of nature, how it is interpreted by humans is what makes it evil, and then only to humans. Sharks don’t care about hurricanes anymore than they would tumbleweeds or the stock market, and why would they?
What is amazing is that Butcher is able to make a kind of sense of it all. The fey are not major characters or influences in the Dresden-verse, so as a reader you don’t have to deal with them often. But in books where the fey play a prominent roll, like in “Summer Knight,” the faerie politics alone can make you want a tall, stiff drink. Although most prominent in book four, the fey are the very catalyst for book 10, “Small Favors.” Mab calls in one of Harry’s favors, a small one in fact. Basically after the first couple of chapters, the fey just let the story unfold as it will until just at the very end while all hell is breaking loose. At least the Gruff who has appeared to challenge Harry realizes he’s come at a bad time, by human standards. But since the release of 40 powerful demons coming forth into the world of man is not his concern, the Gruff continues on with his objective which is to kill Harry in an honorable duel. Honorable to a member of the Unseelie court that is.
But I have to say this, if you are a fan of the series, you have to admit that of all the fey characters, Toot-Toot is your favorite. And to those of you who don’t know, Toot-Toot is a small, winged critter who works for Harry in exchange for pizza. He once led a battalion of fellow fey armed with plastic handled x-acto knives against a peat moss monster in a Wal-Mart garden center. But it has not always been heroics when little Toots shows up. Once, Harry rescued him from the Vampires of the White Court where he was being used essentially as a tea light in a paper bag, one of many being used as decorative ambient lighting.
And if you haven’t heard James Marsters voice Toot-Toot in the audio books of the Dresden Files stop reading this article as soon as you get to the bottom of this paragraph and follow the link, buy “Summer Knight” as an audio book. OMG! As if I needed another reason to love James Marsters!
(Download Chapter 13 for Free & Hear Toot Toot)
For those of you still reading, Thanks but, that’s all I got.
QtR – Theresa Bane, vampirologist and purveyor of all things Dresden
Hello,
I just enjoyed what you wrote about how the sidhe politics making you want to reach for a cold one, whether or not you enjoy the look of a “raccoon” at the moment. I just finished my fifth reading of Small Favor and I’m still trying to figure out the normal fey web of what may be going, let alone what is going on with the “creatures acting outside of their nature.” So, here’s to you, loyal Dresdenaut, and have a cold one for that aching head.
Thank you for listening,
Gatien
I’ve never been a big fan of stories about the sidhe but you are right, Butcher does his homework and besides that he makes the characters seem so real. I loved the way James Marsters did all if them with different voices, even when Too-Toot reported for duty with his regiment of Brownies.
I was following this post and liking it, and then reached the line “James Marsters voice Toot-Toot.” Fantastic! I don’t normally go in for audio books, but this I have to hear. I’m going to go download the samples now and get a feel for how they sound.
I was reading your review of The Dresden Files and it sounds very entertaining. I had never heard of fairies being bad – this makes me sad (lol) But i do now realize that me and Toot-Toot have something in common (we both work for pizza)!!
Nice review!
I vaguely remember the start of Dresden Files but, not being a big TV person, I forgot about it. This commentary has piqued my interest to *TRY* and remember to watch it! I’m also looking at ordering the books for my library.
Have you read the Holly Black young adult series which include Tithe; Ironside and Valiant? These were the books that introduced me to the Seelie/Unseelie, terms I had never heard before.
As a fan, bordering on fanatic, of Harry Dresden and Jim Butcher I would and do encourage everyone to read this series. I wasn’t a sci-fi book fan until someone encourage me to start the series. Even though I am not well versed in mythology and fey lore, I can easily follow the story line (with the help of Jim’s discriptions and Wikipedia).
If I ever visit Chicago, I hope to run in to Harry in the middle of a beer at Mac’s place.
Karen-
I haven’t read the Holly Black books yet but even though they are YA I’ll put them on my list due to your recomendation. If you visit the rest of the Buzzy Multimedia site you will find that you can download the first three chapters of our audio books for free. Why not have a free sample while you are waiting for the order from your library?
Pat-Welcome to the wonderful world of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. You can always pull up a stool at Mac’s place or perhaps at the Crosstime Saloon and share a brew or two with people who enjoy a tall tale. Distance is no barrier
I just love all his books and I do agree the sidhe are major players. I really think Lea has some more information and I am wondering if he’s prepping for a reveal about Harry’s family. Plus I am dying to see how he pays the last favor to Mab. More though I am going nuts that we have to wait for audiobooks, but it’s totally understandable with Marster’s schedule. I just love the audio and the packaging ( which I know I keep raving about) is the best and I just wish all the other companies would use it…
I love the Dresden books too. I especially love Bob, the lacivious talking skull. I wish the Sci Fi channel would have kept the show on the air – they cancelled it before it could find an audience. I wonder if there has been any talk of a movie? I would think the books would be great on the big screen and would bring even more fans to read the series.
This is the last day of 2008. A year full of discoveries for me. And one thing I found: THE DRESDEN FILES. Normally I don’t read this kind of books. But I’m really fascinated by Harry Dresden.
I found this blog by random.To be honest this entry was worth reading. I knew a bit about faeries and their background. Now I know a lot more. And I have to continue reading DRESDEN novels.
I agree with Susan, even though the TV series was not that similar to the books a visual representation was fun to watch and I wish they’d continued! I find that as the books went on I am more drawn into the plot and quite frankly I can’t wait for Turncoat to be published.A happy new year to all and I’m sure new surpises from Jim about Harry!
PS All hail Pizza!
The TV show was the show and the books are the Dresdenverse as far as I am concerned. I know that there is a Dresden Files comic book out, a pre-quil to Stromfront. Twas Awesome, as Jim Butcher wrote it. He said that when he wrtie hhis book he “sees” them in his head as comic panels. There is also a dreden rpg in the works.
Lomax Lamat.
BTW – I enjoyed this blog and will look to see what other articles you wrote.
I have enjoyed all Of Harry’s exploits and hope to be enthralled for years to come.I agree with
you that it is refreshing to find that Jim does
his homework when using creatures of classic mythos.I also loves the fact that he incorperates
today’s attitudes into the actions of ancient beings without tainting their traditional nature.
I also look forward to more books from you.Theresa
is a meticulous,engaging,and talented author in her own right.Check out Actual Factual Dracula.
Honestly, I love the Dresdenverse. For a while, I’d given up hope of finding rather unique entries into the genre that would pique my interest, but this has done it handily. A perfect blend of humor, fact, tact, sarcasm, creativity and a lot of wit, all mixed in with tons of lore, and a wonderful story line. Harry came along and dominated my interest in reading. Jim is a wonderful author, and so willing, the Dresdenverse will continue as long as he has planned it to do so.
I read all the time. Can’t get enough to read! Jim Butcher happens to be one of my favorite authors. Not only does he make a wizard come to life in a way that has me laughing so hard( I occasionally have to set the book down to stop the tears), but the Alera series keeps me begging for more. I make the people I swap books with read Jim’s, even if they usually don’t read sci-fi fantasy! I am to the point now, I don’t wait for paperback. Go Jim Go. Thanks for writing man.
Yes Roy, Theresa Bane has a wondrous knack for sharing her discerning eye on many subjects with many who enjoy her special brand of snark(those of exceptionally sour dispositions need not apply) Buzzy is always happy to have a contribution by the only vampirologist of our acquaintance. FYI, if you enjoyed her Actual, Factual Dracula, keep an eye out for her upcoming comprehensive works on demons, fairies and a number of other supernatural folk.
I have all the audiobooks that are out so far that are authored by Jim Butcher. I am absolutely in ove with James Marsters’ reading of the Harry Dresden book. I anxiously await the other books in the series to be recorded and available!
I’ve followed Harry since stormfront was published and the audio books just add to the flavor..I cant wait for the rest of the series to be published. On the Tv series…for me..they changed to much of Harry for it to be truly about Harry Dresden…There’s a reason the books are popular…so why change it..Jim: Hang on to the rights like JK Rowling did…she kept control over her series…you can too…I would love to see a movie per book…
I work at a public library. One of the questions I am frequently asked is “what do you recommend to read?” Jim Butcher and the Dresden Files is among the classics in literature such as Ray Bradbury, Salman Rushdie, Gerald Durrell, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker as well as classic mystery authors, i.e. Erle Stanly Gardner, Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen. My prefrence of characters seem real, “do the right thing” — stand up for their beliefs, values,etc. think fast on their feet (what I do on a daily basis), smart, have integrity, humor, have unique quirks or mannerisms. The writers who pull me into the story, make me think outside the box, leave me wanting more, and have made me cry (i cried when Susan and Harry split — classic Casablanca) are my favorite authors who I will alway recommend.
I love Jim Butcher’s Dresden series and even convinced my classic science fiction loving father to try out the Codex Alera series, haven’t convinced him to read Dresden yet but I hold out hope. After waiting patiently for months for a new story I read it in a day and then re-read it a couple times. I tend to be on the road a lot and I keep all my Dresden audio books handy as company on the drive, way better than a radio and such fun listening to James Marsters perform. His original Toot-toot voice is best, he changed it a bit in Small Favor and I found myself wanting the old Toot back.
As far as the blog goes I enjoyed the reading and can appreciate the research that went into it. I agree that Toot is one of my favorite characters along with Bob the Skull. I do have one point that makes me sound like a teacher, which I’m not. Toot-toot didn’t defeat the plant monster in Summer Knight, he weilded his boxcutter against the real villan which I won’t reveal – you’ll have to read the book for the answer if you haven’t already.
I have to absolutely agree that the Dresden Files is one of the greatest series out there! I have to admit the first I heard of it was the Sc-Fi TV show. And just that one season hooked me forever. And when I found out that it was a book series, I nearly fainted with pleasure! I bought the first 3 and was reading them so fast I couldn’t keep up with buying them so I was checking them out at the library to read while buying them too. I am completely in love with Harry and absolutely love his dry, sarcastic humor. And can relate to the “whatever is going to go wrong, will” I can not count the number of times I have read and re-read the series. I am addicted and not ashamed to admit it. Harry brings to life not just magic but the troubles of a mortal life, love, relationships, then throw in some vampires, sidhe, and fallen angels and you just can’t put it down! Harry is my hero
Jim’s books were a new find for me around Christmas time this year. I have always loved supernatural detective stories and Dresden’s sharp wit only add’s to the equation. Like alot of fans I have read all the books and have even watched the much maligned tv show (yes it sucked but at least it was something). I must say in closing that there is just not enough of this kind of quality sci-fi out there and after listening to Marsters to the audio books I can honestly say all Dresden fans need to pick these up now.
I have read 3 of The Dresden Series and I fell for the short lived TV series on Sci Fi but I find myself not being able to push through the third book. I can not say what it is about Butchers writing but he does not capture me, don’t get me wrong his world is good but as a gamer (table top roleplaying) I see his influences from White Wolf’s World of Darkness.