Charlaine Harris's characters are a bit drug-like, as is the Alan Ball series (True Blood) based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels. True Blood has serious ups and downs of quality - episodes towards the beginning and middle of each season are sometimes sublimely well done, but the season always ends with a flurry of ill-conceived over-the-topness. Harris's novels are just about always over-the-top. But the characters - no, let's be honest, mostly Eric the Viking Vampire (who is the heart of True Blood's sublimeness as well) - just won't let you go, curse them. So on and on I go, devouring these rather appalling novels. (By the by, I try to be general here to avoid becoming a spoilery spoiler. But just in case I fail, the more spoiler-squeamish among you might want to skip the next paragraph.)

This year, Harris has kindly (and profitably) released a collection of short stories to tide us over between longer novels and seasons of True Blood. But sadly these are very slight stories, in which we barely glimpse the characters and issues that are so integral to the novels' appeal. Oddly, some of these stories do make sense of minor plot points which were utterly baffling in the novels, like when exactly Sookie's vampire cousin became a part of the story, or how a whole family of fairies becomes entwined with Sookie's life. In the novels, these characters just appear, with the assumption that we are all already acquainted with the events of stories published in relatively obscure volumes. I kept flipping back to the "Books by Charlaine Harris" list at the front of the novels, thinking I had missed a book. This raises a key question: Why is it that in each novel in the series, loyal readers have to slog through rehashing of central plot points ("And then I saw my ex-boyfriend, Vampire Bill. Bill and I had a history, with a capital H. You see..."), but no one ever bothers to fill us in on the obscure but important events of these short stories?? Grrr.

The TV show and the novels are best when they attempt to fuse the world of vampires with the gothic realism of southern culture. Better NOT to go over the top with a huge cast of characters doing the supernatural cancan and wreaking havoc all over Bon Temps, guys. Keep it simple, and explore how these normal people's lives are affected by the supernatural in real and detailed ways. This is the delight of the Hoyt plot line in True Blood and in the Eric-amnesia strand of the novels.

Excerpted from my blog: http://sycoraxpine.blogspot.com/2009/... ( )

A great Sookie snack - not substantial but diverting. ( )

A Touch Of Dead is a collection of five short stories from the Sookie Stackhouse series that has been published here together for the first time.

"Fairy Dust" takes place after Dead To The World.
Claudine enlists Sookie's help to find a murderer. A fairy has been murdered and only Sookie has the skills to discover who murdered the fairy, and why? But will she be able to discover the truth before the fairies decide to take matters into their own hands?

"Dracula Night" takes place before Dead As A Doornail.
Eric is excited, it's his favourite time of the year, and a huge party has been planed for the event. Sookie has received an invitation to a birthday at Fangtasia, but it is not Eric's, its Dracula's, and rumour has it this year he just might show up...

"One Word Answer" takes place after Dead As A Doornail.
News of Sookie's cousin Hadley arrives in the form of a demonic lawyer, and he's not alone; he comes with vampires. Sookie is about to discover what has become of Hadley, she is also set a task that seems almost impossible to her. But is this one offer she can't refuse?

"Lucky" takes place after All Together Dead.
A mystery has landed on Sookie's doorstep in the form of an insurance agent with magical powers. It's a simple case, or so detective Stackhouse and her partner inspector Broadway thought. But even with a telepath and a witch on the case, they are going to have to be more then good to crack this mystery, they are going to have to be lucky.

"Gift Wrap" takes place before Dead And Gone.
Sookie has accepted the fact that this year she is spending Christmas alone; or so she thought. Someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to make this Christmas one Sookie will never forget; but will it be the killer Were on her doorstep, the naked man in her living room, or the surprise guest for dinner that is the most memorable this Christmas?

This book is invaluable to any Sookie Stackhouse fan, and if you're not a fan you should be. So many hidden gems from the Sookie Stackhouse universe are revealed as we learn all those glorious bits of inconsequential snippets of the lives affecting our heroin, Sookie. These are the background stories that enrich the series, a must read. ( )

A Touch of Dead consists of 5 short stories that fall in various places in the Southern Vampire Series, featuring heroine Sookie Stackhouse. I absolutely love that Harris has collected up all of the Sookie short stories into one volume. Now I really wish all the other series that I read would do the same thing!

The stories in A Touch of Dead are thoughtfully given to us in chronological order, making it easier to place them in their correct spot in the series as you read. Some give us a little more back-story about events that we’ve read about in the series, while others just tell a fun little Sookie side-story.

The stories in the order the occur in Sookie’s life are “Fairy Dust” (from Powers of Detection), “Dracula Night” (from Many Bloody Returns), “One Word Answer” (from Bite), “Lucky” (from Unusual Suspects), and “Gift Wrap” (from Wolfsbane and Mistletoe). I’m assuming these stories were also written in that same order because they get better and better as they go along.

“Fairy Dust” tells the story of how fairies Claudine and Claude lost their triplet Claudette. While I enjoyed getting back-story on the Fairy twins, I found the mystery to be a bit confusing. I was tired when I read this story, so that could have something to do with it, but this was my least favourite of the bunch.

“Dracula Night” is a fun little story that has Sookie joining Eric and Pam at Fangtasia to celebrate Dracula’s birthday. No real information in relation to the series, but a cute story nonetheless.

“One Word Answer” gives us much-wanted back-story on how Sookie learned of her cousin Hadley’s death. I was thrilled to finally learn how Hadley’s death fit into the greater story told in the Southern Vampire novels.

“Lucky” is another cute story that doesn’t have much bearing in the series, but is still a very enjoyable read. Featuring Sookie and her new housemate Amelia, “Lucky” has the two ladies playing a little supernatural detective as they try to uncover who has been messing with the local insurance agents. Fun stuff that had me wishing Sookie played detective more often!

“Gift Wrap”, the final story in the collection tells the story of Sookie’s most recent Christmas. A great little story that had me smiling, “Gift Wrap” features a new character that I’d love to see more of – despite the fact that that doesn’t seem likely to happen, and a bit of twist that made for a great ending.

Overall, A Touch of Dead is a very enjoyable read, and a must have for any Sookie lover! ( )

I am a fan of the Sookie Stackhouse series - not so much a fan of short stories. But I decided to read this anyway since it is a long time still until the next book in the series comes out.

The collection reminded me of the deleted scenes from a DVD's extras. (and usually there is a reason they are deleted)

If you are reading this becasue you can't get enough of the Sookie Bill/Eric story - you will be disappointed. This book is what it is - 5 short stories taken from various points in the series. They are fun and enjoyable reads.

Again - really like the series but glad that I borrowed the book instead of buying it :) ( )