Archive for December, 2008
Best Fantasy Books: Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
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Because the HBO series, True Blood, was so incredibly popular with my readers and since the first season is based on Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris’ first fantasy book in the Southern Vampire Mysteries series, I think it makes sense to review that book so you can compare it to the series.
In Dead Until Dark we’re first introduced to Sookie Stackhouse, the plucky, sometimes outspoken waitress from Bon Temps, Louisiana. We learn early on that Sookie has a gift: she can read the minds of others. Although this might sound like a cool thing to do we discover that it’s sometimes more of a curse than a blessing. Imagine being able to hear the thoughts of several people at once. It’s a gift that could turn someone mad if not properly controlled. Thus, Sookie works hard to block out the thoughts of others and only occasionally looks into someone’s mind.
Enter Bill Compton.
A few years prior, vampires came out of the closet to the world and announced their existence. Since then they’ve worked hard to convince humans that they can exist without resorting to violence. A Japanese company even developed a synthetic blood product called True Blood which “mainstreaming” vampires (those that choose to co-exist with humans) consume in order to maintain their strength. Being a small town, Bon Temps had never experienced vampires. Until now. You see, Bill Compton is a vampire.
What draws Sookie to Bill is that she can’t read his mind. Yup, when she’s around him she hears nothing but silence. To someone like Sookie this is fantastic. She can let down her mental guard and just be herself. The attraction soon leads to a more serious relationship which allows Charlaine Harris to provide social commentary on prejudice, racism, and intolerance for cultural differences.
The supporting characters in the book help flesh out the story and provide insight into the Bon Temps community:
First up is Sam Merlotte, Sookie’s boss and the owner of Merlotte’s, the bar where Sookie works. Sam is a great guy who happens to have a crush on Sookie. Sam has a secret that, during the course of the book, Sookie discovers. I won’t reveal it here for those that haven’t read the book or watched True Blood. Suffice it to say, it illustrates to Sookie that her world is inhabited by more supernatural creatures than just vampires.
Sookie’s brother, Jason Stackhouse, is a fun-loving womanizer who doesn’t really spend much time with his sister. Jason’s conquests are primarily spoken of, not shown, unlike what we see in the True Blood series.
Eric Northman is Bill’s boss and the vampire owner of a bar called Fangtasis, located in Shreveport. Here’s Charlaine Harris’ description of Eric from the book:
“the vampire was handsome, in fact he was radiant. Blond and blue-eyed, tall and broad shouldered.”
In Dead Until Dark, Eric asks Sookie to use her mind reading talent to determine the identity of the person that’s stealing from him at Fangtasia. Sookie agrees and is successful in identifying the thief, but is almost killed in the process. Note: Eric is my favorite character in the series.
Other characters with more minor roles are Lafayette Reynolds, the gay, wise-cracking African American cook at Merlotte’s; Arlene Fowler, a waitress at Merlotte’s who makes unwise choices when it comes to men; Rene Lenier, Arlene’s latest boyfriend and fiance; Terry Bellefluer, another cook at Merlotte’s who’s been mentally damaged by the war; Andy Bellefluer, Terry’s cousin who’s also the local detective; and Pam, a female vampire who helps Eric run Fangtasia.
This urban fantasy book primarily focuses on Sookie and Bill’s developing relationship but the backdrop to their story involves a recent string of murders in which several local women are being brutally killed. These women have two things in common: they’re former “fangbangers” who had intimate relations with vampires and they’re former girlfriends of Jason. Because of the latter, Jason eventually moves from being a “person of interest” status to being the prime suspect. When he gets arrested Sookie takes it upon herself to prove his innocence by reading the minds of the people that frequent Merlotte’s.
During the course of the book we learn that Bill is a kind and caring individual who, unlike many other vampires, hasn’t totally lost his humanity. He and Sookie make a great couple because both of them have strong southern manners and treat one another with respect. Charlaine Harris does a great job developing the central characters in this book and therefore, Sookie and Bill’s relationship is entirely believable.
This book is well written and highly recommended by me. The dialogue has a natural flow to it, the story moves along at a steady pace, the suspense leading up to the climax (which reveals the identity of the killer)
After reading a book there are several questions I ask myself when determining whether a fantasy book is worth recommending:
Character Development: are the characters and their relationships believable? Do I care about the outcome of the main characters?
World Building: can I envision the environment in which the story takes place? Even though this is a fantasy book, is the setting believable?
Pacing: are there arcs within the story that keep the book interesting?
Climax: was I surprised at the solution to the main mystery in the book? Was it suspenseful?
Overall: do I want to read more about the characters in future books?
If most of my answers are Yes the book is usually worth reading. I’m happy to report that I answered Yes to all of the questions above. Folks, I read a LOT of vampire and fantasy books; most of them never get a written review from me because their execution of many of the elements outlined above is poor. However this fantasy book excels in all areas. When I first read this book I immediately purchased the next book in the series. I’ve since purchased all of Charlaine Harris’ fantasy books and eagerly await the 9th book, Dead and Gone, which will be released in May 2009. Dead Until Dark gets two thumbs up from me.
Note: the entire first season of True Blood (based on Dead Until Dark) will be released on DVD on May 12, 2009. Until then you can watch True Blood online for free at different websites.
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Sookie Stackhouse Books: A Quick Summary
New Fantasy Books for December 2008
Posted by: | CommentsHere’s the list of new fantasy books for December 2008. I’ve noticed that the number of new fantasy books being released each month is growing at a steady pace. Many of the books being released fall into the “epic” or “high” fantasy books genre but I’ve sifted through them and selected those that qualify as contemporary or urban fantasy books.
The Unnatural Inquirer (Nightside, Book 8), by Simon R. Green
The engaging eighth book in Green’s popular offbeat Nightside series drops another paranormal mystery in the lap of series hero John Taylor, a PI in the shadowy realm of Nightside. Pen Donavon, who claims to have a DVD depicting actual footage of the afterlife, has vanished shortly after signing an exclusive deal with a tabloid newspaper. Various factions seeking to control the Nightside are leaving a considerable body count behind as they hunt for him. Accompanied by sexy half-demon reporter Bettie Divine, Taylor navigates the treacherous terrain with his typical skill before tracking down the real force behind Donavon’s disappearance. Green skillfully blends action and humor, and shows no sign of running out of ideas. This installment will undoubtedly rope in new readers who enjoy his blend of dark humor and the supernatural. Check Prices
In the Blood, by Adrian Phoenix
Vampire. Rock star. Begotten son of the fallen angel Lucien. Dante Baptiste still struggles with nightmares and seizures, searching for the truth about his past. It is a quest as seductive as his kiss, as uncontrollable as his thirst, and as unforgiving as his determination to protect one mortal woman at any cost. FBI Special Agent Heather Wallace now knows the extent of the Bureau corruption that surrounds her, but worries she is losing the battle. And when Dante and his band Inferno come to Seattle on tour, Heather can’t help but be drawn back to the beautiful, dangerous nightkind. But what Heather and Dante don’t know is that new enemies lurk in the shadows, closer than they think…and even deadlier than they fear. Note: I just added this one to my Amazon Shopping cart. Check Prices
On the Prowl (Tales of an Urban Werewolf, Book 2), by Karen MacInerney
Talk about a bad-hair day! Sophie Garou is a master at taming her inner beast, which comes in handy since she’s a werewolf. With a big promotion at work and a supersexy boyfriend, Heath (whom she recently spotted leaving a jewelry store with a beguiling ring box), she’s one happy girl.
But when Heath starts spending long nights at the office with his new associate–a dead-ringer for Career Day Barbie–Sophie smells trouble. And when her professional relationship with her big new client–who also happens to be Texas’s brilliantly blue-eyed most eligible bachelor–begins to sizzle, she wonders if her animal instincts are leading her in the wrong direction. Just when it seems that things can’t get any more complicated, they do. The Houston werewolf pack has sniffed Sophie out, and their message is chillingly clear: you’re either with us or against us. And unless she can prove that she’s with them, the next full moon may just be her last. Check Prices
The Atrocity Archives, by Charles Gross
This wonderfully offbeat book offers two related novellas, “The Atrocity Archive” and “The Concrete Jungle.” With often hilarious results, the author mixes the occult and the mundane, the truly weird and the petty. Bob Howard is a computer-hacker desk jockey, who has more than enough trouble keeping up with the endless paperwork he has to do on a daily basis. He should never be called on to do anything remotely heroic. But for some reason, he is.
In “Atrocity,” Bob, a low-level computer fix-it guy for the Laundry, a supersecret British agency that defends the world from occult happenings, finds himself promoted to fieldwork after he bravely saves the day during a routine demonstration gone awry. With his Palm, aka his Hand of Glory (a severed hand that, when ignited, renders the holder invisible), and his smarts, he saves the world from a powerful external force seeking to enter our universe to suck it dry. In “Jungle,” Bob teams up with a cop, Josephine, to save the Laundry from a powermonger who seeks to stage an internal coup by using zombies as her minions. Amid all the bizarre happenings are the everyday trappings of a British bureaucracy. For example, Bob gets called on the carpet by his bosses because he requested backup during an emergency without first filling out the requisite forms. The world he creates is wonderful fun.Check Prices
The Darkness (Vampire Huntress Legends), by LA Banks
Description: After the battle at Masada, the Neteru team returns to San Diego believing forty-thousand demons had been eradicated and that Lilith’s spawn has been killed. But somehow the treacherous little creature got away. Just as had been prophesized at the dawn of the Armageddon, the antichrist has been born…and will soon rise to power. Check Prices
Demon’s Hunger by Eve Silver
Description: Forensic anthropologist Vivien Cairn fears she’s losing her mind. Her libido has kicked into overdrive, and she’s blacking out, leaving hours of her life unaccounted for and no memory of where she’s been or what she’s done. But when a sexy stranger rescues her from a demon attack, Vivien realizes there’s more than just her sanity at stake. A seductive killer is luring victims, and Sorcerer Dain Hawkins finds himself walking a dangerous line between ancient duty and sizzling desire when the brotherhood–and Vivien herself–begins to suspect that her mysterious symptoms may connect her to the crimes. Can Dain save Vivien from the evil that threatens to claim her? Or will they both succumb . . Check Prices
Mr. Gaunt and Other Uneasy Encounters, by John Langan
The richly atmospheric title story evokes the weird fiction of both Henry James and M.R. James in its account of a family cursed with a demonic familiar with a ravenous appetite for disobedient children. A man plays an audiotape left for him by his late father and is initiated into a family story of monstrous deeds. A student learns frightening lessons in a surreal tutoring center. A young couple struggles to make their stand against a group of inhuman pursuers in a ravaged landscape. The five tales run the gamut from supernatural satire (Tutorial) to apocalyptic nightmare (Episode Seven), but whatever their theme or tone, Langan shows uncommon skill at balancing character, plot and mood to achieve the perfect pitch for each. Check Prices
Unclean Spirits: Book One of the Black Sun’s Daughter, by M.L.N. Hanover
Plucky heroine Jayné Heller stumbles into a world of dangerous magic when she inherits a distant uncle’s fortune and his difficulties with a clan of malicious supernatural beings. Jayné likewise gains her uncles loose conglomerate of useful friends, all of whom have about one character trait apiece (the chef, the Frenchman, the ex-Jesuit), and she plots with them to destroy her uncles murderer, the sinister Randolph Coin. When trouble threatens, Jayné displays startling monster-fighting abilities, belatedly attributed to her uncle’s blessing. Check Prices
Unusual Suspects: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy, by Dana Stabenow
This follow-up to Powers of Detection showcases bestselling and award-winning names from Simon Green to Laurie King to Sharon Shinn—with original stories featuring otherworldly investigators trailing uncanny criminals across fantastical realms. From video game characters seeking civil rights and a cave dragon loan shark pondering an investment, to Santa Claus’s Australian vacation and an enemy of Sam Spade’s out for revenge—plus visits to the Nightside and Sookie Stackhouse’s hometown— these stories will take readers around the world on a magical mystery tour. Check Prices
Blue Moon (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter), by Laurell K. Hamilton
In Blue Moon, Anita’s ex-boyfriend Richard is jailed in Tennessee, accused of rape. When Anita arrives with a lawyer and an entourage of vampires and werewolves supplied by Jean-Claude, it’s clear that something is rotten in Myerton. The local cops are corrupt, and the trolls Richard was studying are threatened. But if she sticks around to investigate, the local Master vampire will attack her and her friends. The local werewolf clan isn’t rushing to welcome her either, and her self-control is going to the, um, wolves. Be warned–there’s steamy sex and graphic violence here, though Anita does reflect on her moral position. But if dark urban fantasy featuring those who hunt the night appeals, pounce on this series. Check Prices
The Return: The Dark Stalker Journals, by Byron N. Morrison
In this book a team of special men and women called Dark Stalkers are assembled to combat evil forces. Witches, lycanthropes, and vampires have been identified and allowed to live among humans secretly, providing they live in peace. A secret bill has recently been passed to have these creatures licensed and regulated because some would use their strange abilities for death and destruction. At ththe turn of the century, evil has moved its focus to a town called Reading, Pennsylvania, looking for a demon of great power. It holds knowledge that could plunge the entire human existence into a hellish nightmare that could force them to live as cattle or fodder to the ruling denizens. Check Prices
Ghostlight, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Truth Jourdemayne, parapsychologist and illegitimate child of celebrated vanished occultist Thorne Blackburn, decides to write a book about her much-hated father; to begin her research, she visits his estate, Shadow’s Gate, nestled in the Hudson River valley. There Truth meets a group continuing Blackburn’s occult “Work,” led by the exciting and mysterious Julian Pilgrim. Truth lost her parents in the late 1960s to an occultist experiment. Now, a quarter-century later, some New Agers mess around with the same experiment, and Truth ends up with the job of preventing a second disaster. Bradley is a master storyteller, and her latest proves thoroughly absorbing. Check Prices
Escape From Hell!, by Hal Duncan
A hitman, a hooker, a homosexual kid, and a hobo suicide make the ultimate prison break…escape from Hell itself! But when news of their attempted escape gets out, the souls of the damned are transformed into a rioting mob, and all Hell truly does break loose. It’s Escape from New York meets Jacob’s Ladder, by one of fantasy’s rising stars. Check Prices
Tamarisk: A Novel by Lou Aronica,
In this heartfelt fantasy of love and loss, a young girl’s tragic illness leads her on a journey to a mystical dreamland, revealing truths that force her family to make the most difficult choice of their lives. Check Prices
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Movies Based on Fantasy Books – The Spirit
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Have you noticed how many movies and TV shows are based on fantasy books? I did a little research and there are at least 4 movies being released in the next few months that are adapted from fantasy books. First up is a movie called “The Spirit.” This movie hits theaters December 25th and stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, and Eva Mendes.
The film, adapted from Will Eisner’s popular graphic novels, falls into the action-adventure/romance genre. It’s directed by Frank Miller, the guy responsible for the movies Sin City and 300. The story centers around a former cop (The Spirit) who mysteriously returns from the dead to fight crime. His primary mission is to locate and kill an insane megalomaniac called the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson) who’s hell bent on destroying the city where The Spirit resides while attempting to achieve immortality. Along the way The Spirit comes into contact with several beautiful women, in keeping with the detective noir aspect of the film. Here’s what the director has to say about The Spirit and the women in the movie:
“The character has a terrifying side to him. This is a man who’s died and come back to life. So it twists into fantasy. And of course there are tons of women in it. There have to be — it’s the Spirit. They’re all in love with him, and he’s in love with all of them.”
However, not all of these ladies are to be trusted; some of them would like to see The Spirit killed. In particular, a flirtatious secretary named Silken Floss (portrayed by Scarlett Johannson) is actually working for The Octopus and Sand Saref (played by Eva Mendes) is The Spirit’s former love who’s now on the wrong side of the law.
Although the graphic novel is set in the 40’s and early 50’s, the movie set will convey “an alternate past with modern technologies.” Therefore expect to see women dressed as if they stepped out of a Philip Marlowe movie alongside men weilding futuristic weapons.
One of the things I really loved about the films Sin City and 300 was the set design and lighting. Both films have a wonderful otherworldly surreal look-and-feel. The Spirit was shot in a similar fashion and therefore will be a great film to see on the big screen.
I’m looking forward to seeing this movie soon after it’s released; it will be interesting to see how closely it follows the original fantasy books.
Check out these cool movie posters by Ignition Print.
Pushing Daisies Episode 10: The Norwegians
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I just discovered a great fantasy show. It’s not new (this is Season 2) but I’ve never seen it before. It’s called Pushing Daisies and it’s unlike any show I’ve ever seen.
Here’s the premise: A guy named Ned has a special power – if he touches a dead body he can bring the person back to life. For 1 minute. He’s required to touch the person again within the one minute deadline so the person can die permanently. If he doesn’t touch the person again within one minute they stay alive BUT someone else will die unexpectedly. I guess this is nature’s way of keeping things balanced.
Even if Ned decides to let the person remain alive, if he ever touches them again they die permanently.
As a child this “talent” was more a curse than a gift but Ned found a way to use his powers to help others. Case in point he occasionally helps a private investigator (Emerson, who has a tendency to wear flamboyant scarves) solve murders. Ned touches the murder victim, questions him/her to discover the identity of the killer, and then touches the victim again so they’ll return to their state of deadness. Okay, I don’t think “state of deadness” is grammatically correct but you get the point. Since some of these cases offer rewards to people who have information that lead to the capture of the murderer, Ned and Emerson are able to make a bit of money working together. Oh, by the way, Ned’s day job entails owning and managing a pie shop.
Pushing Daisies has a cast of quirky and funny supporting characters:
Charlotte “Chuck” Charles: Chuck was Ned’s childhood sweetheart. She was recently killed but was brought back to life permanently with Ned’s touch. Unfortunately, the person that died in her place was her father. Chuck usually helps Ned and Emerson solve murders.
Olive Snook: Olive, portrayed perfectly by Kristen Chenoweth, is one of the funniest characters on the show. Olive works at the pie shop and also helps Ned, Emerson, and Chuck solve murders; she doesn’t know about Ned’s secret gift though.
Lily: Lily is another wild character on the show. Swoosie Kurtz does a great job portraying Lily as a martini swigging, eye patch wearing, wacky town resident.
For those of you that haven’t seen Pushing Daisies, scroll to the bottom to view the video trailer for Season 2.
Okay, now on to Episode 10: The Norwegians
Vivian (one of the regulars on Pushing Daisies) hires Emerson to find former suitor of hers, Dwight Dixon. She suspects foul play is afoot. Emerson knows that Dwight is actually dead; he was a victim of Ned’s 1 minute time limit. Remember, if (within 1 minute) Ned doesn’t “re-touch” someone he brings back to life, someone else dies in their place. Dwight was a collateral death. As such, Emerson attempts to dissuade Vivian from pursuing an investigation.
Emerson then heads over to the Pie Hole (the pie shop that Ned owns) to tell Ned and Chuck about Vivian’s inquiries.
They’re soon visited by 3 hilarious “Norweigan” private investigators who inform them that they’re investigating Dwight’s disappearance. These guys, dressed in clothing that proudly displays their country’s flag, do a great job spoofing shows like CSI. They work in an RV crime lab they lovingly call “Mother” and appear to have the ability to pull clues out of thin air.
When they leave, Ned, Emerson, and Chuck decide to solicit Olive’s assistance in convincing Vivian to halt the investigation. Olive agrees, but she knows something’s afoot. When she tries to get Ned and the gang to fess up about Dwight, she’s met with a stone wall. She decides to team up with the Norwegians in order to find out what’s going on.
The rest of the show is spent following the Norweigans and watching Ned and the gang attempt to cover their tracks. The show is one of those fast edit deals where the camera quickly jumps from scene to scene. So, in a nutshell, what follows is:
-the Norwegians exhume Dwight’s grave and find his body missing;
-Olive hasn’t really allied herself with the Norwegians; she’s working undercover trying to thwart their work;
-Ned and Olive steal “Mother” and almost die in a car accident;
-Dwight’s body is eventually found in a motel bed with stolen items under the bed;
-Ned decides not to “touch” any more dead people;
-It looks like Ned’s father is alive and working behind to scenes to protect him.
This is a wacky show but I love it. It’s shot with really bright, somewhat surreal lighting that makes everything look really vivid. The set design and wardrobe choices are great as well. Watching this show in High Definition must be akin to technicolor heaven.
The good news is that the first season of Pushing Daisies is available on DVD and several of this season’s episodes are available online. The bad news is that ABC has decided not to film any episodes past this season. However, fantasy fans will probably like the show. If you’re interested in learning more about the show, check out the video trailer below:
Pushing Daisies Season 2: Video Trailer
True Blood Limerick: Sam and Tara’s First Time
Posted by: | CommentsIf you’re a frequent visitor at this site you know I’m a lover of limericks. To refresh your memory, limericks always follow this pattern:
a
a
b
b
a
Since the True Blood series is so popular I thought it would be fun to create a limerick about 2 of its characters, Sam and Tara. Here’s a limerick for Episode 3 – Mine:
_______________________________________________
While singing the “My Life Sucks” blues,
Tara made Sam an offer he couldn’t refuse.
She said “we’re not perfectly matched”,
“But let’s have sex – no strings attached”,
“We can blame everything on the booze.”
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