I've been pretty quiet on this thread, other than my initial response.

I respect that some authors *really* don't want their character's co-opted for any reason. And I do honestly respect their wishes. PN Elrod, for one, has issues with it. They may be legal, they may be personal - doesn't matter to me. I wrote *one* fanfic for her series and, because of her wishes, it has never been seen by anyone but me. I wouldn't dream of putting it anywhere where anyone could see it. It doesn't matter to me, the joy was in the writing and I don't particularly care that I can't show it to anyone.

I find it a particularly bizarre turn that a fanfic author would attempt to sue an author over a fanfic story. I don't doubt that it's happened and I don't think that Anne McCaffery was the only victim. Personally, I don't care if a story I wrote (I write fic for Stargate SG-1) showed up verbatim on the show or in one of the tie-in novels. I wouldn't dream of bringing suit. 

I have no delusions of any kind of ownership. Even if another fan took one of my stories and twisted it all out of shape, I don't feel I have any right to bitch. I might not be thrilled, but I'd get over it. And hell, I might even be flattered!

Fanfic itself is sort of a legal gray area. The best I can do is respect the creator's wishes, if they make them known. Most, though not all, fannish franchises sort of recognize that it doesn't diminish their stake  so much as add value to it for fans. For legal reasons, they can't openly condone it, but many will not pursue legal remedies, either, unless someone gets really in their face about it. Most of us know better than that.

I think the TV show captures the essence of the characters of Dresden, Murphy, Bob and Morgan pretty well. They played a bit loose with Ancient Mai and Bianca. I think the reasons we like the books better is that there is more background in what are the limits of power of each character in the Dresden universe.

I agree completely. I'd even go so far as to sort of assume that Heather (from Hair of the Dog - or whatever) was sort of an amalgam of Susan, etc. But I have no real problem with that.

I think they've captured the spirit of the series quite well. Yes, they play fast and loose with a few detail, but it's a necessity. They need to establish quite a bit without the luxury of the book-verse.

I too came to the books through the series and I love both for different reasons.

If Jim doesn't have his beard, do me a favor...tell him to stop shaving.

I'm seeing him on Weds & I don't think my tender psyche could take him without it.

No worries, the beard was there  Jim was looking quite fine IMHO.

I'd actually heard some buzz about Dresden around some sci-fi circles before I knew the television show was coming out.

I immediately put The Dresden Files on a Season Pass on Tivo. Loved what I saw in the first couple of eps, so took myself off to Borders to buy a couple of books.

I read Storm Front in a day. Couldn't put it down. I've begun Grave Peril (Borders didn't have #2) but work, etc., have kept me from devoting endless time to it. All the better to savor it, I guess.

Plan on buying more of the book series as time permits. This is exactly my cup of tea!