Jim Butcher’s Dresden files is probably one of the more popular series featuring a heavily magical world. At 13 books and counting, it’s also most likely not going anywhere any time soon. So, for part 2 of my ongoing series giving an in depth look at some of the more well known magical worlds in modern culture, I’m going to take a closer look at this pretty amazing series.
First off, if you didn’t catch my other two posts, here are some handy dandy links:
The Dresden Files tell the stories of the various shenanigans and such of Harry Dresden, a wizard in modern day Chicago, who’s probably the only wizard you can look up in the phone book. You could probably best describe him as a wizard P.I. He uses magic to help people solve different cases (though there are certain types of magic he won’t do). He also works heavily with the Chicago Police department’s Special Investigations unit, that deals with crimes that most likely have some sort of supernatural component to them. He also has to deal with the various other magical creatures and beings that exist in this universe too, such as the White Council of Wizards (of which he is a member), various kinds of vampires, faeries, and all kinds of other creatures.
I personally think this series is pretty awesome, in fact, you can read my review of it on my other blog, Rhyme and Reason,
by clicking this link. But, shameless plug for my book review blog aside (seriously, check it out. It’s pretty awesome), it’s time to get into the discussion of magics. I’m just going to go ahead and say this now: there is absolutely no way I can comprehensively discuss magic in this universe without spoilers. So I’m warning you now: there will be most likely be spoilers. I’ll give you a warning just before a major spoiler, but, consider this your blanket warning–there will be some minor spoilers here and now.
1. The role/function of magic in the world:
Magic, to Harry Dresden, in many ways works in a similar way to religion. Since using magic is based off willpower, you have to believe in your magic. You have to believe in magic in and of itself. There are more than a few occasions where Harry uses his belief in magic and his mother’s pentacle necklace as a holy symbol to ward off both Red Court and Black Court vampires. There’s still a slightly scientific aspect, as people who possess magical abilities still have to learn how to use it properly, but, the series leans far more heavily on the religious side of magic (to the point where the way its described is very similar to the way the Wiccans describe their uses of magic, but I’ll get a little more into that later).
Magic is described in the series as the energy produced by life, that can be manipulated by those who have the ability to do so. As a force, it serves, ideally, to protect and defend people. Harry constantly uses his magic to help people. It’s more or less the force that keeps people safe from the things that go bump in the night. (Though it can also be the force that makes things go bump in the night as well, depending on who is using it and how) The White Council uses their magic and their authority to keep the other supernatural creatures in line, (as much as they can), and to keep the mortal world safe. There are harsh consequences for using dark magic, especially when that dark magic is directed against humans.
2. Who can use magic:
Unlike in Buffy, in the Dresden Files, the ability to use magic is mostly genetic. Harry mentions that it’s passed down through a family, most commonly from mother to child, though a magic user in some cases has been able to assist non-magic users perform some sort of spell or ritual. He himself inherited his “magic genes” from his mother. And, like any genetic trait, people with magical abilities differ in how much magical ability they have. Some people, like Harry, have a lot of magical ability. Others have just enough to get them into trouble, and others still have barely enough to make any sort of impact. There are actually different terms for the different levels of magic users. Anyone who uses magic falls under the blanket term of practitioner. Magic users who are fully fledged members of the White Council, who have demonstrated sufficient magical ability, get the full title of wizard. Sorcerers are people who either have a large amount of power, but aren’t strong enough to be granted membership into the White Council, or who just aren’t in the Council for whatever reason. Minor talents, on the opposite end, are those who only have a small amount of magic. (Note, all of these are different than warlocks. The term warlock does not refer to magical ability, but rather someone who uses magic improperly, and who has violated one of the seven laws of magic.)
Magic is also not a strictly human phenomenon. Practically every faerie that shows up in the series has magic at her (or his) disposal, and the higher up faeries in the hierarchy have MUCH more powerful magic than any given wizard on the White Council. Some of the older vampires, such as Mavra of the Black Court, are even shown to be practitioners as well.
3. How is magic used-mechanics:
As I mentioned earlier, Harry describes magic as heavily tied into willpower. You have to focus your will on accomplishing the task at hand. The use of circles and other symbols can make this process significantly easier, but it is possible to do magic without them. Magical circles can be used for a variety of purposes, such as keeping things out or keeping things in. There are other elements that hold a certain power of their own, which can be used, with magic, to create a link. The two biggest examples in the Dresden Files are blood and true names. Every being (I use being because I’m referring to humans, demons, faeries, and all sorts of creatures) has their own true name, which, when said correctly (including inflection, intonation, pronunciation, the whole spiel) has an absurd amount of power. By invoking something’s true name, you can pretty much get them to do whatever you want. There are different specifics for the different types of magic, but ultimately they all come down to the same thing: focusing your will, and committing to what you are doing.
4. Relationship between magic users and non-users:
There is no clear-cut relationship between magic users and non-users. Some people, like Michael Carpenter, Murphy, and Susan Rodriguez readily accept that Harry is a wizard, and that magic exists. But their acceptance is extended to those like Harry who use magic in wholesome ways. Murphy in particular, after being the victim of some rather nasty dark magic, is very wary of any dark magic. Other people, however, are less inclined to willingly accept that magic is real. They dismiss Harry as a crazy person, or some sort of swindler. Dresden mentions on multiple occasions that mortals just don’t want to believe that magic exists. As with any series, the lines are not cut and dry, and among those who know of the supernatural world’s existence, using magic in and of itself is not nearly as much of an issue as what that magic is used to do.
5. Types of magic discussed in the world:
Dresden discusses several different types of magic. Some are more acceptable than others (some, you know, violate the Laws of Magic and just aren’t good to do. Seriously. The White Council will execute you. With prejudice. No questions, no opportunity for a real defense. Just Boom. No more head. Or life for that matter, as you know, decapitation is pretty much impossible to recover from.) Each wizard has an affinity for different types of magic. Harry himself is much better at thaumaturgy than he is at, say evocation (though he does put some serious work into his evocation skills throughout the series). And while Harry himself is moderately terrible at veils and psychomancy, Molly Carpenter is incredibly talented with them.
Here are some of the many types of magic discussed in the series (Obviously, there are more types of magic than this, but, these are some of the more commonly mentioned ones.) :
Necromancy: magic concerning the dead, and death. Necromancy is forbidden by the 5th Law of Magic.(Though there’s a loophole that Harry exploits in Dead Beat, in which he points out that necromancy is only forbidden on humans, and not, say, millions of years old dinosaur skeletons named Sue.)
Psychomancy: magic concerned with the mind, most commonly some kinds of mind control. (This area is also rather frowned upon by the White Council. Tampering with another human’s mind is also enough to get the sharp side of Morgan’s giant sword, no matter what the intentions, as Molly finds out in Proven Gulty. Luckily….Harry intervenes. For the time being.)
Thaumaturgy: The use of thaumaturgy creates links between items, which can then be used to track and locate items, or for other purposes, like voodoo dolls. In order for it to work, though, some part of the target, like hair, or blood, must be used. Harry is quite adept at tracking spells, and uses them frequently throughout the books
Evocation: Dresden routinely describes evocation as “quick and dirty magic.” While a focus may or may not be necessary, evocation can be done without some sort of ritual. As such, evocation is more well suited to combat use.
Ectomancy: magic dealing with ghosts. It’s a bad idea to leave an ectomancer alone, in a room full of ghosts. Especially if you don’t want him to use the ghosts to attack you….
Kinetomancy: Magic of energy and movement. A really good example of this would probably be Harry’s ring. It stores up a bit of energy from moving his hand, and then he can unleash that energy into a blast of force.
Well, that’s another magical world down. Two more left and then there will be the exciting conclusion.
Until next time then,
Angel out!
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