1 Oh no, you can't pin this one on me. I got about three books in and wandered off again. (I'm not here to crap on the books so I won't go into why.) I don't recall offering effusive praise for the Dresden books. Butcher is a whiz-bang writer, though, so you'll probably enjoy 'em.

2 The first one is the weakest, and it takes him a few books to grow out of the monster-of-the-week plotting and some obvious cut-and-paste narrative. They don't suck, though, and they set up some really good crunchy bits for later. I suspect the audiobooks probably improve the first few, if they're read by someone decent. 

My biggest gripe about the novels (after about book 7) is that Butcher assumes you read the short stories as they came out in various themed anthologies. The first batch was collected in Side Jobs, but the second collection doesn't  come out until next summer.

The TV show was pretty good, but only loosely connected to the novels.

-j

3 OH yeah.  I DO offer effusive praise for that series.

4 ...


Dammit, I'm susceptible to peer pressure.


<wanders off to find Dresden Files audiobooks>

5 Guilty as charged!

And yeah, the TV show is different in many small ways but got the tone exactly right.  Shame it didn't get picked up for at least a second season.

6 GD, I apologize, in researching who to blame I mixed up someone else's comment with your name, which was right above it.  Or below it.  Next to it?  This was over at Pixy's place, mind you, not here.  

7 Marsters is a good choice. I listened to that sample chapter just now, and it works.

-j

8 I like Dresden a lot myself. I agree the first three or so books are weaker, but they are still quite entertaining. And Butcher is developing as an author.  The most recent, Skin Game, was EXCELLENT. I keep checking for the release date for Peace Talks, but apparently he's still writing it. Sigh.

9 James Marsters is so good, that I, a Brit, was surprised when I looked him up and saw that he isn't. The only American actor that's ever fooled me.