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The Dresden Files Omnibus #4
Wizard Under Fire
Contains Proven Guilty and White Night.
754 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
6 people are currently reading
1047 people want to read
About the author
Jim Butcher
204 books51k followersJim Butcher is the author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, the Cinder Spires. His resume includes a laundry list of skills which were useful a couple of centuries ago, and he plays guitar quite badly. An avid gamer, he plays tabletop games in varying systems, a variety of video games on PC and console, and LARPs whenever he can make time for it. Jim currently resides mostly inside his own head, but his head can generally be found in his home town of Independence, Missouri.
Jim goes by the moniker Longshot in a number of online locales. He came by this name in the early 1990′s when he decided he would become a published author. Usually only 3 in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only 1 in 10 make enough money to call it a living. The sale of a second series was the breakthrough that let him beat the long odds against attaining a career as a novelist.
All the same, he refuses to change his nickname.
Jim goes by the moniker Longshot in a number of online locales. He came by this name in the early 1990′s when he decided he would become a published author. Usually only 3 in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only 1 in 10 make enough money to call it a living. The sale of a second series was the breakthrough that let him beat the long odds against attaining a career as a novelist.
All the same, he refuses to change his nickname.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 12, 2011
When I first came across harry Dresden I ordered the available omnibus editions from Science Fiction Book Club. I still have these on my shelf. If you've read my reviews of the individual books (or by now the other omnibus editions) you know that I'm a fan of the Dresden books. The books in this volume are no exceptions. This book has Proven Guilty and White Night.
In Proven Guilty the world again seemingly lands on the boney shoulders of our hero. Harry's old mentor has a favor to ask and as usual, things are never what they seem and only barely survivable. Any more would be a spoiler, because you'll enjoy finding it all out for yourself...but then what more needs to be said.
Another outing where Harry's investigative skills come to the fore in White Night. As someone runs about killing "lower power" members of the magical community things from Harry's past, present and even future come together in this one. These are (in my opinion) exceptional books.
In Proven Guilty the world again seemingly lands on the boney shoulders of our hero. Harry's old mentor has a favor to ask and as usual, things are never what they seem and only barely survivable. Any more would be a spoiler, because you'll enjoy finding it all out for yourself...but then what more needs to be said.
Another outing where Harry's investigative skills come to the fore in White Night. As someone runs about killing "lower power" members of the magical community things from Harry's past, present and even future come together in this one. These are (in my opinion) exceptional books.
September 1, 2012
Every good hero needs a sidekick. Batman needs his Robin (or Robins). Holmes his Watson. The Lone Ranger his Tonto. Superboy his Krypto. Well, some are better than others.
And in these two books, Harry gets his sidekick. No, it's not Murphy or Thomas or any of the other characters that were discussed at length during the other books. See, Harry's had partners, but never an "equal" of sorts. Someone at his level with similar powers. By the end of White Night, he does. Sure, the sidekick isn't exactly ready yet, but that's the point of these two books. To start the sidekick's journey. And further a bit of both plots. Of course, the plots progress only a tiny bit - as is the Butcher way - but they still grow.
These two books - Proven Guilty and White Night - don't do a lot to the series ... but they do a little bit. I like the Monster Movie piece of PG, but there isn't a ton of cool effects like in the previous novels. This is just about establishing a way for Harry to grow stronger without a presence in his head.
And in these two books, Harry gets his sidekick. No, it's not Murphy or Thomas or any of the other characters that were discussed at length during the other books. See, Harry's had partners, but never an "equal" of sorts. Someone at his level with similar powers. By the end of White Night, he does. Sure, the sidekick isn't exactly ready yet, but that's the point of these two books. To start the sidekick's journey. And further a bit of both plots. Of course, the plots progress only a tiny bit - as is the Butcher way - but they still grow.
These two books - Proven Guilty and White Night - don't do a lot to the series ... but they do a little bit. I like the Monster Movie piece of PG, but there isn't a ton of cool effects like in the previous novels. This is just about establishing a way for Harry to grow stronger without a presence in his head.
November 17, 2016
I have to be completely honest, if I judge books by their covers, The Dresden Files wouldn't interest me at all lmao. The 4 Omnibus Volumes published by Science Fiction Book Club Fantasy, however, have book covers much more appealing imo. So yeah, if I were to physically own books from this series, this edition is the most ideal... So sad they didn't continue publishing the remaining series (as of now.)
My reviews for individual books included in this volume:
February 3, 2022
My husband & I read the Dresden Files several years ago and loved them. Reading them again and find them just as wonderful. Very creative, great grammar and vocabulary, well edited. I definitely recommend reading them.
March 23, 2018
More rainy day reading.
August 6, 2011
We find our hero in Proven Guilty in a big magical mess. His relationship with Michael is strained due to the Fallen Angel Lasciel's presence. The War with the Red Court is not going well and the White Council is looking at our hero in none too friendly way. The White Council holds a meeting in Chicago to send our beloved hero a two-fold message: one that he's still thought as a black magic wizard and two that he needs to toe the line as far as the White Council is concerned. Lastly his relationship with his mentor McCoy is still equally strained even though his mentor is offering an olive branch which Harry does not take at this time. McCoy hands him an envelope from the Gatekeeper. The Gatekeeper letter tells Harry that black magic is in Chicago and needs to be checked out. Our hero sets out to deal with the situation and ends up in a world of trouble that is unforeseen in alot of ways. Harry and his allies do their best to beat the odds of everything that is going on but can they do it and still save the life of a child too?
White Knight, we find that a man wearing a grey cloak is kidnapping low magic woman. Harry is even with his status as Warden of the White Council couldn't imagine why people were suddenly very afraid of our hero. Murphy asks for Harry's help on a case that she's working on. Harry helps Murphy discover that the case is more in his field of interest than her's. Thomas is refusing to return Harry's calls and Molly is refusing to listen to anything Harry says or does. An unexpected person shows up from Harry's past that causes new problems as well. Harry, meanwhile gets his clocked clean by an unknown person makes for even more mystery to solve for our hero. Can Harry overcome all of these handicaps and more to solve this case and still teach Molly the lesson she needs to learn so deseperately? You'll just have to read all about it for yourself.
White Knight, we find that a man wearing a grey cloak is kidnapping low magic woman. Harry is even with his status as Warden of the White Council couldn't imagine why people were suddenly very afraid of our hero. Murphy asks for Harry's help on a case that she's working on. Harry helps Murphy discover that the case is more in his field of interest than her's. Thomas is refusing to return Harry's calls and Molly is refusing to listen to anything Harry says or does. An unexpected person shows up from Harry's past that causes new problems as well. Harry, meanwhile gets his clocked clean by an unknown person makes for even more mystery to solve for our hero. Can Harry overcome all of these handicaps and more to solve this case and still teach Molly the lesson she needs to learn so deseperately? You'll just have to read all about it for yourself.
November 23, 2019
PROVEN GUILTY: 4 Stars - Harry Dresden, Warden of the White Council of Wizards, is sent in search of black magic practitioners, and finds himself not only fighting horror movie monsters, but Charity too! He is aided by the Lady of Summer and her Knight, Murphy, and of course Bob, as he discovers that something or someone is using them. Everyone is being played, but to what end? Harry continues to fight in the ongoing war against the vampires of the Red Court, save the life of Molly, Michael’s oldest from Winter and the White Council, and resist the temptations of Lasciel. Can he do all that when his power is all tapped out?
WHITE NIGHT: 5 Stars - The best Dresden Files book since Summer Knight!!! When helping Chicago’s SI with a suicide, Harry finds that his brother, a vampire of the White Court is the prime suspect. Working along side Murphy, their relationship is growing beyond that of just friends, but can Harry get over that she and Kencaid went to Hawaii? An old enemy of Harry’s shows her face. And his old childhood friend and first love, Elaine shows back up in his life. The weight of being a warden is bearing down on him.
WHITE NIGHT: 5 Stars - The best Dresden Files book since Summer Knight!!! When helping Chicago’s SI with a suicide, Harry finds that his brother, a vampire of the White Court is the prime suspect. Working along side Murphy, their relationship is growing beyond that of just friends, but can Harry get over that she and Kencaid went to Hawaii? An old enemy of Harry’s shows her face. And his old childhood friend and first love, Elaine shows back up in his life. The weight of being a warden is bearing down on him.
June 10, 2013
Wizard under fire consists of two stories. In the first, Harry is forewarned that black magic is stirring in Chicago by the gatekeeper and must investigate and put a stop to it. Little does he know that the one responsible is someone quite close to him. As always with Harry, nothing is ever as it seems.
In the second, Harry must put a stop to a serial killer that has been taking out women with magical abilities. But in this particular story, Butcher seems to emphasize just how much some evil in the world is necessary. Having Harry team up with beings that don’t necessarily have his best interest at heart but can provide him with the assistance he needs to mete out justice.
In the second, Harry must put a stop to a serial killer that has been taking out women with magical abilities. But in this particular story, Butcher seems to emphasize just how much some evil in the world is necessary. Having Harry team up with beings that don’t necessarily have his best interest at heart but can provide him with the assistance he needs to mete out justice.
August 3, 2012
I can't really write more glowing praises for the Dresden Files than I already have. I love the mystery angle, where you have to figure out who done it. I love the rapid fire action and the sweet, intense emotional scenes. Above all, I love that Harry is a character that is written as flawed and trying to do better. I can't wait to see what the next books hold.
July 8, 2008
I guess this is actually books 8 and 9 of the Dresden files (Proven Guilty and White Night). So if you have already read these two books, there's no reason to repeat history unless you have to have all versions of the novel.
July 29, 2008
Dresden series is phenomenal, and now my favorite series. He has such a great sarcastic humor, and novel way of getting himself out of tight situations. Love the characters and Love the stories.
June 30, 2014
The Dresden Files Books 8-9
September 23, 2013
I've reviewed these separately at FanLit: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/fant...
August 4, 2015
Good book. The ending of the 2nd story in it was a little drawn out.
September 26, 2019
Books reviewed individually.
July 8, 2013
Harry Dresden continues to get more complicated, without becoming less sympathetic. Fun reads!
June 19, 2018
Still fun, only a little cringey.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews