[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Filark

What new thread? <looks around>

I am into the exciting part of Fool Moon now. I keep getting distracted (life! MobileRead! ) but am still enjoying Harry's world again. I had forgotten how badly he and Murphy got along in these early books! (Is that too much of a spoiler??)

A few posts back <yes I could look it up if I weren't so lazy> someone compared Harry Dresden to Harry Potter. I've been wanting to discuss the two. Their worlds feel very different to me, yet when I try to pinpoint the differences, I keep noting the similarities instead:

Both worlds have a magical community and a non-magical community that either doesn't know or doesn't want to know about the magical element.

Wizards in both worlds have to study in order to develop their talent. Wizarding is work. It's physically and intellectually demanding and a wizard doesn't always get it right, or get praised when he/she does!

There are creatures right under their noses that humans or muggles know nothing about -- and it's better that way!

What else? Anyone??

Originally Posted by RemusLupinFan on http://www.cosforums.com/ May 22nd, 2009

Here are my general thoughts/comparisons on HP vs. Dresden:

1. There is a difference in the way magic is done, in that in HP, the words a person says dictates the effect of the magic. In Harry Dresden, words are only used in order to focus magical energy while thoughts are used to direct the magic. So in the Dresden world you could say a bunch of nonsense words and work powerful magic, while in Harry Potter you must speak the words of the spell exactly right or the spell won't work. In general, the mechanisms of magic are explained in a lot more (logical) detail in the Dresden world. I really like that Butcher's magic agrees with physics, for example, he mentions impacts from Dresden's shields being transformed into heat and light. I dig that as a scientist- makes the story more believable.

2. One similarity is that in both worlds, magical folk have secrecy laws in place which prevent non-magical folk from knowing about their world. But HP is different in that a big distinction is made by many between being a wizard and being a muggle; the state of your blood is also a big deal. This doesn't seem to be focused on very much in Dresden. Also, in HP, many of the magical community frown upon those without magical powers, but in Dresden, the supernatural community realizes that ordinary mortals can be very dangerous for them. It's interesting that in both books, wizards live longer than ordinary folk, but only in HD do we get a scientific explanation of why.

3. The Cardinal Laws of Magic, as they were, are pretty similar in both stories. In HP, there's the Unforgivables, which are killing, forcing someone to do what you want, and causing pain. The Seven Laws of Magic in HD are comparable. But the wizards in the Dresden world are a lot less tolerant of violation of these rules, as they're ready to execute Harry for killing in self-defense. Both magical worlds also have a governing body to enforce the rules, both with varying degrees of corruption.

4. In Dresden, there is a greater diversity of magical creatures, many of which have much more power than mortal wizards, and many of which are immortal beings from the Nevernever (ie Sidhe, ogres, demons, etc). Conversely, in HP there really weren't any creatures from the spirit world except ghosts.

5. The concept of magical bindings is present in both worlds. In the Potterverse, there are magical contracts such as the Unbreakable Vow and the life debt that are binding, which have dire consequences if broken. In Dresden, the deals made with the Sidhe cause Harry physical harm when he breaks them.

6. There's an interesting similarity with magical swords in both stories. In the Potterverse, we've got Gryffindor's sword, which can only be pulled out of the Sorting Hat by a true Gryffindor, and which can be used to destroy very evil things like Voldemort's horcruxes. In Dresden, there's the three swords of the Knights of the Cross, which also destroy very evil things (like demons). It's interesting that those three swords are named after Faith (Fidelaccius), Hope (Esperacchius) and Love (Amoracchius). I wonder if Gryffindor's sword had a name.

7. The power of love is very, well, powerful in both series. In HP, the love that Lily has for Harry protects him from being killed. It causes Quirrelmort to get burned when he touches Harry. Harry's love for his friends and Ginny allows him to live in DH, and helps with Voldemort's undoing, as Voldy now has some of Harry's love-infested blood inside of him. With Dresden, his love for Susan protects him against the seduction of the White Court vampires - similar to HP, it burns them when they try to touch someone who has experienced strong love.

8. The magic in Dresden doesn't seem to have many everyday uses like it does in HP. Most of the magic in Dresden is for defense/offense, though there are tracking spells and the like. It seems the spells are not used for mundane things as much as they are in HP.