 2008-11-16 - Fantastic, but then I knew what I was getting into
I've seen a lot of negative or ambivalent reviews for Backup and I think they are misrepresenting the demographic. I knew that it was a short 70 page novelette and a companion book to the Dresden Files, I think anyone who was confused about it could have easily learned everything they wanted to know by doing a simple google search.
As for the story itself, I really liked "seeing" the DF world from a perspective other than Harry's. I think Thomas is a good narrator and while Backup gave me more confidence that Thomas wasn't going to turn on Harry, I still am unsure about the whole Oblivion War. I'm excited to learn more and I'm sure it will become important in later novels.
My only complaint is that it's too short, but as a fan I think all the books are too short and want another the instant I finish.
Bravo, Mr. Butcher. Keep up the good work.
 2008-11-14 - Disappointing
I am a huge fan of Harry Dresden, and I looked forward towards reading this book. When the book arrived I was extremely disappointed by the small scope of the book!
This book is ONLY 70 pages long, and 60 net. In the anthology Many Bloody Returns, there is a short story by Jim Butcher, that is 46 pages long. I am not a fan of anthology books as a rule. I prefer a collection of the same author in one book. Thus, one can put three or four stories by the author, and the reader gets a much better value.
The story itself is a nice way to give us a different perspective on harry's world. I give the story 4.5 stars. I give the book 3 stars.
2008-11-11 - Wowzas
First of all, this book is amazing. Thomas is an excellent character and just as likable as Harry. His internal struggle with the Hunger of the White Court is vividly expressed in this short work, as is his love for his younger half-brother. If you're a fan of the Dresden Files, this is a MUST read, but you should look into it even if you just enjoy a fantasy book once in a while.
The only con, you can finish this book in about a hour if you're not careful, so make sure to read a chapter a day or something.
 2008-11-09 - The Magic is Gone
One would think after nearly a dozen superb and successful Dresden novels, Jim Butcher would have socked enough magical energy away not to foist this childish trash on his unsuspecting fans in the form of a "Novella of the Dresden Files". First, it's doesn't come close to a novella--its an overly long unedited short story, in large 12 point font, double spaced with blank pages between chapters to stretch it to 70 pages, packaged in hard cover, to justify its outrageous price.
The story itself demonstrates none of the suspense, action, compelling reading, or character development as in the least of the Dresden novels. The story is trite, the plot weak, the writing at a sixth grade level, and the climax anticlimactic.
Not only should Butcher and his publishers be embarrassed at pricing this as a legitimate book, they should be embarrassed more at the inferior quality of the work.
 2008-11-09 - Not Butcher's Best
70 pages at 16-18 pt type should be your first clue that this is not going to be a meaty or particularly thoughtful work from Butcher. A prolific author, perhaps he cuts corners on his shorter works so he can keep up his workrate.
Thomas has been my favorite character in the Dresden Files for several books now. This book doesn't do him justice - at least, it doesn't jibe with the man I THOUGHT Butcher was writing. He's emo, predictable, and sad to say, a bit of a carbon copy of all the other 'moral' vampires out there. But at least he'll hit a chick.
The story starts poorly but gets more entertaining as Butcher strives to show us the differences between Thomas and his brother Harry - there aren't many, other than smacking ladies around. The story is interesting, but sadly it is only approximately as interesting as you'd expect for 70 pages.
This is one for completists, not explorers.
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