I just finished A Touch of Dead: Sookie Stackhouse, the Complete Stories by Charlaine Harris. The book contains five previously published short stories set the Southern Vampire universe. My brief description and review below has minimal spoilers."Fairy Dust." Claudine and Claude ask Sookie to read minds in order to solve the murder of their triplet sister, Claudette. Takes place after Dead to the World.
"Dracula Night." It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown but with Eric, who goes nuts trying to lure the real Dracula to Fangtasia on Dracula Night -- one of the two holidays that vampires celebrate. Takes place before Dead as a Doornail.
"One Word Answer." About cousin Hadley. Takes place after Dead as a Doornail.
"Lucky." Sookie and Amelia do their too lucky insurance agent Greg Aubert a favor. Takes place after All Together Dead.
"Gift Wrap." Sookie is alone and lonely on Christmas Eve, when something interesting and unexpected happens to her. Takes place before Dead and Gone.
All of the stories are fun to read, which I expected. I definitely liked "Dracula Night" the best because of my love for Eric and Pam. "Gift Wrap" is probably my second favorite. It's also worth noting that Sookie meets three continuing characters in the books for the first time, not in the books but in these stories: Claude, Mr. Cataliades, and the Queen of Louisiana. And "One Word Answer" in particular fills in a noticeable plot hole in one of the books: I always thought the existence of Hadley sort of came in out of nowhere, and I wouldn't have thought so if I'd read the short story first.
I'm planning to re-read the series before the next book comes out in the spring (and before the third season begins), and I'm definitely going to re-read these stories when I do, in their intended order.
Billie
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Billie Doux loves good television and spends way too much time writing about it.
I'm about to start the sixth book and I'm really enjoying the book range as much as the series. Claude and Claudine are fun.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Shawn. I loved the books before I saw the series. In fact, I was reluctant to watch the series because I loved the books so much.
ReplyDeleteI loved the book but it was way to short! cant get enoff of CH. laughed my back end off about the part where sookie finds out someone she knows had a very close SHAVE :P hope thats cryptic enoff not to be a spoiler.
ReplyDeleteThanks a ton Billie. I started reading the 6th book and I actually thought I must have skipped a book in between cos I seem to have missed a whole murder mystery. Checked your blog to confirm ,as always, and got the problem :) :)
ReplyDeleteBTW I have been following your blog for some months but this is my first comment. LOVE the reviews, specially buffy reviews. You seem to mention almost everything I was thinking during the review. And the reason I started watching true blood is cos you praised it in the reviews :)
Keep the pen rolling :)
You're very welcome, Shruti! And thanks for your comment.
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