Short Stories (Side Jobs and Brief Cases)

Jim has written a number of short stories in the world of the Dresden Files! The first anthology, Side Jobs, came out in 2010. The second collection, Brief Cases, was released June 5th, 2018.

Uncollected Shorts

“Fugitive” was published 3/7/2023 in Instinct: An Animal Lovers Anthology.  Book sale profits are donated to Lifeline Puppy Rescue.

“The Law” (Dresden Files novella set after Battle Ground), available on Audible and Kindle. The audiobook is read by Jim himself.

“Little Things” — Starring Toot-Toot and published in Heroic Hearts, a multi-author anthology.

Christmas Eve was posted on jim-butcher.com as a gift to his fans on December 24th, 2018.  Read the illustrated edition here!

“Monsters” — from Parallel Worlds, edited by L.J. Hachmeister and R.R. Virdi
Goodman Grey takes a job from an unlikely client.
Set some time after Skin Game. Released October 8, 2019.

Microfiction

The Good People — Set months after Battle Ground, concurrent with “Christmas Eve.”

Mike — Dresden Drop for 1/7/20.  A visit to the mechanic.  Set between White Night and Small Favor–shortly after the graphic novel Wild Card.

Journal — Dresden Drop for 2/4/20.  An insight into Morgan’s thoughts during the events of Turn Coat.  Contains major spoilers for Turn Coat, Changes, and Cold Days.

Goodbye — Dresden Drop for 3/10/20. The other side of Harry’s phone call in Changes. Contains RADIOACTIVE-LEVEL SPOILERS for Changes and Ghost Story.

Job Placement — Dresden Drop for 5/5/20.  Nothing says “cozy, domestic cuteness” like a white court vampire and the scion of Bigfoot. Set between Skin Game and Peace Talks. Contains spoilers for “Bigfoot on Campus.”

Everything the Light Touches — Dresden Drop for 8/4/20. A short comic chronicling a typical morning for Mister. Set between Skin Game and Peace Talks. Contains major spoilers for Changes and minor spoilers for Skin Game.

Stories in Side Jobs

“Restoration of Faith” (read it for free on Jim-Butcher.com!)
Takes place before Storm Front

“Vignette” (read it for free on Jim-Butcher.com!)
Takes place between Death Masks and Blood Rites

“Something Borrowed” — from My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding, edited by P.N. Elrod
Sinister forces interfere with Billy and Georgia’s wedding.
Takes place between Dead Beat and Proven Guilty.

“It’s My Birthday Too” — from Many Bloody Returns, edited by Charlaine Harris
Harry and Molly’s mission to deliver Thomas’ birthday gift goes awry.
Takes place between White Night and Small Favor.

“Heorot” — from My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon, edited by P.N. Elrod
Harry teams up with Miss Gard to find a missing bride.
Takes place between White Night and Small Favor

“Day Off” — from Blood Lite, edited by Kevin J Anderson
All Harry wants is a quiet, relaxing day off…
Takes place between Small Favor and Turn Coat.

Backup — novelette from Thomas’ POV, originally published by Subterranean Press
Harry is being used by an ancient evil, and Thomas must put a stop to it without him noticing.
Takes place between Small Favor and Turn Coat
Note: Side Jobs does NOT include the illustrations by Mike Mignola that accompanied the Subterranean Press release.

The Warrior — novelette from Mean Streets
Reveals what happens to the Carpenter family after the events of Small Favor.
Takes place between Small Favor and Turn Coat

“Last Call” — from Strange Brew, edited by P.N. Elrod
Harry takes on the darkest of dark powers–the ones who dare to mess with this favorite beer.
Takes place between Small Favor and Turn Coat

“Love Hurts” — from Songs of Love and Death, edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois
Harry and Murphy investigate a series of love spells with deadly consequences.
Takes place between Turn Coat and Changes.

Aftermath — post-Changes novelette from Murphy’s POV, EXCLUSIVE to this anthology!

Stories in Brief Cases

The following stories are NOT included in Side Jobs. You can find them in the sequel anthology, Brief Cases, which was released June 5th, 2018:

“Curses” — from The Naked City, edited by Ellen Datlow. Republished in Magic City: Recent Spells, edited by Paula Guran.
Takes place between Small Favor and Turn Coat.

“AAAA Wizardry” — from the Dresden Files RPG, published by Evil Hat
Harry teaches a group of young Wardens his procedure for dealing with supernatural nasties.
Takes place between Dead Beat and Proven Guilty.

“Even Hand” — originally from Dark and Stormy Knights, edited by Pat Elrod. Reprinted in Beyond the Pale, edited by Henry Herz, and Urban Enemies, edited by Joseph Nassise.
Gentleman Johnnie Marcone clashes with a rival supernatural power. Told from Marcone’s point of view.
Takes place between Turn Coat and Changes.

“B is for Bigfoot” — from Under My Hat: Tales From the Cauldron, edited by Jonathan Strahan. Republished in Working for Bigfoot.
Takes place between Fool Moon and Grave Peril.

“I Was A Teenage Bigfoot” — from Blood Lite 3: Aftertaste, edited by Kevin J. Anderson. Republished in Working for Bigfoot.
Takes place circa Dead Beat.

“Bigfoot on Campus” — from Hex Appeal, edited by P.N. Elrod. Republished in Working for Bigfoot.
Takes place between Turn Coat and Changes.

“Bombshells” — Molly-POV novella from Dangerous Women, edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Duzois.
Molly teams up with Justine and Andi to thwart a Fomor plot.
Takes place between Ghost Story and Cold Days.

“Jury Duty” — short story for Unbound, edited by Shawn Speakman.
Harry endures Jury Duty.
Set after Skin Game.

“Cold Case” — short story from Shadowed Souls, edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie Hughes.
In Molly’s first job in her new role, she teams up with Ramirez to take on a Lovecraft-esque cult.
Takes place shortly after Cold Days.

“Day One” — short story for Unfettered II, edited by Shawn Speakman.
Butters’ first mission.
Set after Skin Game.

“A Fistful of Warlocks” — short story for Straight Outta Tombstone, edited by David Boop.
Luccio takes on necromancers in the Wild West.
Set long before the events of the series.

“Zoo Day”
Exclusive bonus novella for Brief Cases.
A Rashomon-style story that chronicles a family trip to the zoo from Harry, Maggie, and Mouse’s points of view.
Set after Skin Game.

Praise for Side Jobs

The first short story collection in the #1 New York Times bestselling series-including a brand-new Harry Dresden novella!

Here, together for the first time, are the shorter works of #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher–a compendium of cases that Harry and his cadre of allies managed to close in record time. The tales range from the deadly serious to the absurdly hilarious. Also included is a new, never-before-published novella that takes place after the cliff-hanger ending of the new April 2010 hardcover, Changes. This is a must-have collection for every devoted Harry Dresden fan as well as a perfect introduction for readers ready to meet Chicago’s only professional wizard.

“Witty, fast-moving and well worked-out. Butcher’s yarns go along with the standard supernatural repertory while providing enough twists to keep things fresh and intriguing.” –Kirkus, Starred Review

“Die-hard fans who can’t wait for next year’s Ghost Story will want to rush to the final novella, “Aftermath,” starring Harry’s friend Karrin Murphy, but there are many others here worth reading… Adding value to this title are Butcher’s introductions to each story, filling the reader in on its place in the Dresden-verse time line and offering insight into the author’s intentions.” –Library Journal

Released in hardcover from Roc publishing, October 2010.