Horror Book Reviews
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Title: Backup |
Review of Backup
- Let's get something clear right up front.
I'm not Harry Dresden.
Harry's a wizard. A genuine, honest-to-goodness wizard. He's Gandalf on crack and an IV of Red Bull, with a big leather coat and a .44 revolver in his pocket. He'll spit in the eye of gods and demons alike if he thinks it needs to be done, and to hell with the consequences--and yet somehow my little brother manages to remain a decent human being.
I'll be damned if I know how.
But then, I'll be damned regardless.
My name is Thomas Raith, and I'm a monster.
So begins "Backup," a twelve thousand word novelette set in Jim Butcher s ultra-popular Dresden Files series. This time Harry's in trouble he knows nothing about, and it's up to his big brother Thomas to track him down and solve those little life-threatening difficulties without his little brother even noticing.
Product Description
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Comments for Backup
- Posted on 2008-11-18
Backup if you are not a collector or completist...
This was a solid novelette that provides additional insight into the Harry/Thomas relationship and general story arc that exists in the Dresden Files series. It is not a graphic novel. Some things that people need to be aware of- Subterranean Press, the publisher of this novelette, does not produce cheap books. They are a specialty publisher of horror, suspense, and dark mystery. If you do not have an appreciation for superior paper, superior bindings, limited production runs, and exclusive artwork- this is probably going to be a bit of a disappointment for you. For the casual fan, this wouldn't fall into the "must read" category, though I myself found it highly entertaining.
Score: 4
- Posted on 2008-11-16
Fantastic, but then I knew what I was getting into
I've seen a lot of negative or ambivalent reviews for Backup and I think they are misrepresenting the demographic. I knew that it was a short 70 page novelette and a companion book to the Dresden Files, I think anyone who was confused about it could have easily learned everything they wanted to know by doing a simple google search.
As for the story itself, I really liked "seeing" the DF world from a perspective other than Harry's. I think Thomas is a good narrator and while Backup gave me more confidence that Thomas wasn't going to turn on Harry, I still am unsure about the whole Oblivion War. I'm excited to learn more and I'm sure it will become important in later novels.
My only complaint is that it's too short, but as a fan I think all the books are too short and want another the instant I finish.
Bravo, Mr. Butcher. Keep up the good work.
Score: 5
- Posted on 2008-11-14
Disappointing
I am a huge fan of Harry Dresden, and I looked forward towards reading this book. When the book arrived I was extremely disappointed by the small scope of the book!
This book is ONLY 70 pages long, and 60 net. In the anthology Many Bloody Returns, there is a short story by Jim Butcher, that is 46 pages long. I am not a fan of anthology books as a rule. I prefer a collection of the same author in one book. Thus, one can put three or four stories by the author, and the reader gets a much better value.
The story itself is a nice way to give us a different perspective on harry's world. I give the story 4.5 stars. I give the book 3 stars.
Score: 3
- Posted on 2008-11-11
Wowzas
First of all, this book is amazing. Thomas is an excellent character and just as likable as Harry. His internal struggle with the Hunger of the White Court is vividly expressed in this short work, as is his love for his younger half-brother. If you're a fan of the Dresden Files, this is a MUST read, but you should look into it even if you just enjoy a fantasy book once in a while.
The only con, you can finish this book in about a hour if you're not careful, so make sure to read a chapter a day or something.
Score: 5 - Posted on 2008-11-09
The Magic is Gone
One would think after nearly a dozen superb and successful Dresden novels, Jim Butcher would have socked enough magical energy away not to foist this childish trash on his unsuspecting fans in the form of a "Novella of the Dresden Files". First, it's doesn't come close to a novella--its an overly long unedited short story, in large 12 point font, double spaced with blank pages between chapters to stretch it to 70 pages, packaged in hard cover, to justify its outrageous price.
The story itself demonstrates none of the suspense, action, compelling reading, or character development as in the least of the Dresden novels. The story is trite, the plot weak, the writing at a sixth grade level, and the climax anticlimactic.
Not only should Butcher and his publishers be embarrassed at pricing this as a legitimate book, they should be embarrassed more at the inferior quality of the work.
Score: 1
