Pardon for interrupting the Heroes talk, but can someone who's familiar with the books explain something about Dresden Files to me? What's the deal with Bob? I get that he's a ghost who's "stuck" with his skull and can't go far away from it. But where did he come from? Who made him like that, and why? Was he a magician too? Could someone else who was able to see ghosts in general see him too, or can only Harry see him? I'm sure all these questions will be answered, but I don't want to wait. I also don't want to read the books. Sorry.

crazy person considering writing fanfic again

In the books I think he's just the skull. The apparition we see was to make it more engaging for TV.

As for seeing--I wondered that. The skinwalker definitely could, and they're not good sorcerers, he said. No one else registered him, I don't think.

Zenkitty,

In the books, Bob is actually a spirit of air and intellect. He was bound into the skull centuries ago by some wizard or another and basically functions as a magical computer, as he has a pretty-much unlimited memory and remembers everything he reads or is told. He's also got an unhealthy obsession with human sexual relations. Harry often gives him gifts of romance novels, Victoria Secret catalogues and the like in exchange for his services.

Bob's natural form is simply a cloud of orange light, though existing in the material world tires him, so he mostly spends his time living in his skull and speaks through it when he converses with Harry. He does have the ability to take possession of physical bodies, but Harry rarely gives him permission to possess anything beyond Harry's cat Mister when Harry needs Bob to investigate something for him.

Bob also apparently seriously pissed off Queen Mab (who is the ruler of the Unseelie faeries) at one point in his existance, but he hasn't told Harry what he actually did to earn her wrath.

Harry picked Bob's skull out of the ashes of Justin DuMorne's home after Harry burned it down around the head of his foster-father when Justin tried to magically enthrall Harry.

In the TV series, Bob is the ghost of Hrothbert of something or other, a medival wizard who turned to using black magic and was executed by the High Council for violating the Laws of Magic. His spirit was then bound into his skull, for reasons that haven't been explained so far. The skull eventually came into the possession of Justin Morningway, and was apparently claimed by Harry after Harry "self-defensed him to death" (or not.)

Thank you for posting the youtube link, Sumi!

Oh, that's an episode clip from next week. It looks way cool and thus I will not watch it because this show is SO much better unspoiled!

Are you sure it's from next week? That entire Heroes clip is identical to this week's online comic.

It says episode 13. This was episode 12. I haven't been reading the online comics.

Ahh, I didn't bother to read the youtube description. I think the person who posted the clip is wrong. NBC never said it was from next week's episode. I thought it was supposed to be independent of that.

Also, reviewing the latest online comic, the comic is a little different and has a bit more in it than the video clip.

Kalshane, thanks! Where did you get the info about the series versdion of Bob? Upon just rewatching, both Melissa and the skinwalker could see and converse with Bob, so I'm guessing anyone with magical/psychic abilities can.

cracks fanfic knuckles

I had seen the clip during the Deal thing show. I had to watch because SIL is trying out for it and I promised to go to LA to be one of her people if she gets on. I thought I should see what I had signed up for. Oh my. Well, at least I'll get to see the LAistas. Anyway, the clip was quite a surprise. Excellent surprise in the midst of torture.

ita -- that's hilarious -- Rena Sofer has been typecast in a very odd way.