I recently read The Dresden Files: Dead Beat, by Jim Butcher, an entrancing, apocalyptic, fantasy novel. Through his diction and choice of character, Jim Butcher illustrated that even ordinary people can do extraordinary things. In the novel, the supernatural lives alongside the mortal world unbeknownst to humans. Harry Dresden is Chicago's only publically practicing wizard. Despite having saved the world multiple times he still struggles to pay his rent and finds himself living paycheck to paycheck. He works part-time as a consultant for the Chicago Police Department Special Investigations Unit whenever they are up against a supernatural force too great for them to handle on their own. In the previous novels, Harry Dresden has gone up against sorcerers, a variety of werewolves, three kinds of vampires, faerie queens of the summer and winter courts, and demons. In his last endeavor, he fought who he believed to be one of the strongest members of the black court of vampires and lost the use of his left hand to severe burns. The doctor told him that his only option was to amputate his hand. Unable to accept that he went to see Waldo Butters, an assistant medical examiner at a morgue. Butters gives him the same unfortunate advice, but Harry keeps his hand despite its lack of functionality. Later on, Harry is forced to find the Word of Kelmer, a book written by an evil necromancer. Necromancy is the art of raising/manipulating the dead. To get a lead on his investigation Harry goes to talk to Butters about any interesting deaths that have happened recently. While there they are attacked by a necromancer searching for the Word of Kelmer. Throughout the story, Harry Dresden faces a variety of necromancers, zombies, and semi-solid ghosts, alongside Butters and other acquaintances and friends. Ultimately, he has to perform some necromancy with help from Butters to save the day. The book is interesting and engaging and you will find it difficult to tear your eyes away from it, due to the never-ending action and danger surrounding the series. In addition to the theme that ordinary people can do extraordinary things, the book touches on the theme that life is not black and white but full of shades of gray. As Harry crosses into a kind of forbidden magic to save millions of lives, it is highlighted that while rules are there for the good of society as a whole, there are times when you have to break those rules to do the right thing. All in all, Dead Beat was an intriguing action-packed book that introduced multiple themes in a realistic light compared to the idealist light of many feel-good books that convey the same theme use.
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