McAnally's Pubcast

We are discussing Chapter 8 in which we meet Mister and Bob

Harry heads home from his lakeside adventure and decides to get his geek on. He’s basically a wizard nerd, lacking any other particular skills or interests, so he decides to whip up some potions to help settle his nerves and, y’know, maybe come up with something useful to have in the field. Much to our delight we discover that Harry has a sassy little lab assistant in the form of a talking skull, whom Harry has dubbed ‘Bob’. Like Harry, Bob uses sarcasm liberally, loves to crack wise, and bust Harry’s chops every chance he gets. He also doesn’t forget anything. Ever. This comes in handy for our tech-challenged hero, who can’t just hop onto the web and visit demonsdemonsdemons.com (source: Angel S1E16). Dresden would like to do up a simple escape draught, but, since “there’s always room to make two, if you’re making one” Bob berates Harry into agreeing to make a love potion as well. Once done with those, Harry is mentally and physically drained enough to hit the sack and pass out for a few hours of much-needed rest.

In this episode we discuss Chapter 7 in which we are introduced to Morgan.

We are introduced to Morgan - essentially Harry’s Probation Officer from the White Council. There isn’t a lot of love lost between these two, and we learn Morgan is a very ‘by-the-book’ type of guy and doesn't think much of Harry, personally or professionally. Seems Harry has a record regarding magical murder and even though he evaded the death penalty at the hands of the White Council with a self-defence plea, many (including Morgan) don’t have much faith in, or respect for, Harry Dresden. Morgan tries to trump up a charge against Harry regarding his recent interaction with Toot-Toot, but Harry manages to call his bluff and eventually Morgan backs down. Morgan is aware of the murders at the Madison, and Harry informs him that he’s consulting on the case, so if Morgan has any info to share that’d be great - Morgan basically just laughs in Harry’s face. Apparently Morgan, (therefore meaning the White Council in general), figures Harry is a heck of a prime suspect and they’re gonna prove it and bring him down. Harry slugs Morgan, Morgan slugs Harry back, and Harry slinks home to have a private little panic attack.

We've made it to the Dresden Files Podcast Episode 3: Pizza and Sporting, where we discuss Chapters 4-6 of Jim Butcher's Storm Front. Harry Dresden lands a job looking for an estranged husband, goes for a steak sandwich and gets a little help from a little friend.

Harry meets Monica, a well-to-do, timid housewife. She explains how her husband is not ‘mysteriously missing’ or anything, ‘just gone’. When asked why she doesn't go to the police or a private investigator, she explains that her husband’s recently gotten interested in ‘magic’. He has also recently lost a very good job at SilverCo Trading Company. Monica gives an obviously fake name for hubby and Dresden politely and patiently explains that he can’t help if she doesn’t give him some correct info to go on. They have a vacay house in Lake Providence, just inside Michigan, that Harry can look into, in case hubby has just run off to there. The husband doesn’t speak to anyone in his family, anymore, and he was only really friendly with people from work. Monica No-Last-Name gives Harry $500 up front, the address to the lake house, a pic of hubby (Victor Sells), and a creepy-ass little dried out scorpion talisman that wigs out Dresden a little (yeuch). Harry promises to call the moment he digs up anything, and Monica bolts. He quickly calls around to hospitals and morgues, as his first course of action, but there are no hits matching Victor.

Dresden heads to McAnally's pub. He discusses his doubts about a new street drug called ThreeEye that supposedly gives users second-sight. He is interrupted by Susan Rodriguez who is looking for a story for the Arcane. She convinces him to go on a date.

Dresden returns home to gather some supplies then drives to the lake house. He snoops around some, picks up a film canister, and then summons Toot-toot, trapping him in a circle, whom he asks if anyone had been around the lake house. Toot returns and informs Harry that there was a pizza delivery to mortals who had been 'sporting' and needed to recover their strength.

We excitedly bring you the episode Pizza and Sporting! Pull up a chair to the bar and have a listen!

Welcome to the second Dresden Files podcast episode of The McAnally’s Pubcast. Today we’re discussing the second and third chapters of Jim Butcher’s Storm Front.

Harry leaves a note for his 2:00pm missing person’s appointment, then walks the few blocks from his office to the Madison Hotel to see how he can help with the police investigation. We meet Lt. Karrin Murphy, with whom Harry has worked before, and discover that a call girl and a mafia enforcer have been murdered, horribly, and by no means that could be achieved other than by magic. Harry is mortified, not simply in the humanity-of-the-situation way, but doubly-so that someone could have perverted the use of magic in this way. He relays his initial impressions and findings to Murphy and her partner, and then rushes off to make his appointment. He is stopped quickly and persuaded to accept a ride back to his office from none other than mob boss, Gentleman Johnny Marcone.

On the surface, Marcone doesn’t look like an intimidating organized-crimelord, but he is just that and rules Chicago-land. Marcone wants to hire Harry to not investigate the murder at the Madison, offering Harry 2 full weeks of pay. Harry, of course, doesn’t agree to that, and in his refusal of Marcone’s offer, they lock eyes. Cue Soul Gaze. Harry initially thinks he’s getting one up on Gentleman Johnny, but after the soul gaze is complete he realizes that Marcone manipulated him and that Marcone got more out of it than Harry did. This rattles Harry. He does his best not to let it show how much it’s thrown him. Marcone backs off on his attempt to get Dresden to stay out of ‘his’ business, and Harry is dropped off outside of his office building.

Now grab yourself an ale, and enjoy our Dresden Files Podcast Episode 2: Green Eyes and Broken Hearts!

Welcome to our very first Dresden Files podcast! In this episode we introduce ourselves, discuss the book Storm Front as a whole, and delve into the first chapter of the book. We meet Harry Dresden, Wizard and Private Investigator for Hire!

Here we start off the first chapter of the first book with an introduction to the titular character, Mr. Harry Dresden, himself. We meet Harry in his office building, killing time with no current case.

He soon receives a call from a nervous woman looking for her missing husband. Dresden’s not sure if this if the type of situation he can help with, but makes an appointment to discuss the details further, in person. On the heels of that call, he receives another from the Chicago PD - Special Investigations division.

Harry has done some work for them in the past, but this time it’s a little weightier with a double-murder having been committed.

Welcome to the McAnally’s Pubcast, a podcast dedicated to the Dresden Files Universe.

For the newly indoctrinated, Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files follows the story of a professional wizard in Chicago. 

The first book, Storm Front, was published in 2000, and the series now boasts 17 novels, plus a combined 36 short stories, comics, and graphic novels to help flesh out the world. On top of that, the Dresden Files has also produced a television series, card games, and a TTRPG.

With all of that content (and a ballpark estimate of 6 coming novels), we’ve started our Dresden Files Podcast as a way to help break down the series most important moments, characters and lore. Add theories, ramblings and outside sources, and you’ve got the number one Dresden podcast for all your interests.