Of Stubborn Wizards and Magic

Why I absolutely love The Dresden Files

To My Lovely Sara,

How is your evening? Yes, evening. I know you like to read my letters by the bed under that yellow reading light that I swear will be an antique in a few years. I sometimes miss the sound of you sneaking into bed after that click of the switch…. Hmmm… Speaking of reading, I’ve struck gold: The Dresden Files.

Picture this, modern-day Chicago: Cars, lights, noise, the bustle of day-to-day living and you guessed it, Magic!! I’ll try not to spoil. In fact, allow me to not touch any of the plot-lines because I believe you’d skin me alive for that. Let me speak of the titular character, the man who bears it all: Dresden.

See, my dear, the books (yes… its a series… 15 currently published and going on strong ) are written entirely in the first person. And so, for the whole ride, you are Dresden, Wizard-for-hire, Private Investigator. You live in his head, see through his eyes and think his thoughts. He is a complex individual suffering from the side-effects of constant bad-assery leading to problems like chronic sarcasm, dumb bravery and a penchant for destruction. But he is human, ever so human.

I love Dresden because he is fragile. He is a man who is constantly going up against bad guys who are bigger, badder, faster and waaaaaay more dangerous than he could ever hope to be. The deck is always stacked against him. Circumstance is not his friend and Fate is a cruel mistress, always throwing the worst possible things his way. And yet, in the face of that adversity, often knowing that he may never come back from the brink, he chooses to stand and fight. He chooses what is right no matter the cost. He protects his friends and family to his very last breath.

There’s a gravestone in the story: Here lies Harry Dresden — He died doing the right thing. A gift from an old enemy. That line sticks with me. The irony of it is lost without context but the words aren’t wrong. Dresden does the right thing.

But he is not unbreakable. He is a mere mortal. A man who finds himself fighting with himself more than with anything out there. There are chapters that bring me to tears, my love. Moments when all seems at an end and the man is broken. And he cries. And he fights. And he seeks help.

I love Dresden not because he’s some amazing wizard who can literally change the planet. I love Dresden because he is stubborn and foolhardy. Because he is creative and quick-witted.Because he is as sarcastic as they come and as annoying to the bad guys as can be. I love Dresden because he is principled to the point of obstinacy and will stop at nothing to save a life. I love Dresden because he looks out for his friends and will fight for his family to the bitter end. But most of all, I love Dresden because he is human; because he is fallible and fragile. Because he knows his failings and fears. Because he knows hurt and hates hurting. Because he is someone that we all can aspire to be. Someone I can aspire to be.

Because, in a few ways, he reminds me of me.

I hope you get a chance to go through these lovely books. They have been a journey through time and magic. and if that beautiful lamp by your bedside still shines, cast its light upon the pages of The Dresden Files, and perhaps there you shall find not just pieces of me, but of you too.

Yours, Always,

Lawrence

#Books #Dresden #Life #Magic