From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, No. 8)

As a reader I'm often driven by various reading projects. Last August I decided that I wanted to read my way through the more significant and critically acclaimed (e.g., Bram Stoker, Theodore Sturgeon, Richard Matheson, Poppy Brite, George R. R. Martin) and less significant but very popular (Anne Rice, Laurell K. Hamilton, Stephanie Meyer) writers. There were a couple of writers that I couldn't quite place in either camp. One was F. Paul Wilson, who I have yet to read. Another was Charlaine Harris. My initial fear was that she was going to be another Laurell K. Hamilton, who had started with a great initial premise but seemed completely clueless as to what to do next, making one misstep after another in destroying what could have been a very good series (and indeed, with a couple of books, like OBSIDIAN BUTTERFLY -- interestingly completely divorced from the dreadful St. Louis social setting that destroyed most of her other books -- she did show us something of what the Anita Blake books might have become). There were a long string of interesting parallels, including a protagonist with supernatural powers and a supernatural lineage becoming socially and romantically involved with vampires and were creatures. But while the Anita Blake books were increasingly less and less imaginative and more and more nothing short of pornographic, the Sookie Stackhouse books are unceasingly fresh, fun, and surprising. Everything that the Anita Blake books do wrong, the Sookie Stackhouse books do correctly.

I'm not in a position to predict whether the Sookie Stackhouse books will be regarded thirty years from now as highly as are vampire novels by Theodore Sturgeon or Richard Matheson (Sturgeon's SOME OF YOUR BLOOD and Matheson's I AM LEGEND redefined the way vampire novels could be written), but I will assert baldly that as a series they are definitely far, far better on every level than both the Anne Rice vampire series and the Anita Blake series. Harris is an infinitely better writer than Rice, who frequently struggles with basic composition and is weak at narrative. While Hamilton is somewhat better than Rice as a stylist (though she can write some surreally awful sentences) and much better at narrative, she can't come close to Harris for the deft and intelligent decisions he has made in moving her story forward.

There are just so many things I like about the Sookie Stackhouse books. Most popular writers engaging in long series usually have a number (sometimes a large number) of cringe worthy elements. I can honestly say that while I haven't loved every element in the Sookie books, I haven't experienced a moment where I was embarrassed to be reading one of the books. I like nearly all of the many characters who populate the books (though I never warmed up to Quinn) and have found all of the stories to be quite entertaining. I love Sookie's narrative voice, the ordinariness of most of her life, and the nice contrast of normal everyday life with her unusual supernatural adventures.

I also very much love the way that Harris has very, very patiently developed her storylines. For instance, the affair between Bill and Sookie lasted less than a third of the novels published so far (the fraction depending on whether you consider them broken up in CLUB DEAD). Instead of getting them back together, Harris had their relationship, what was left of it, get worse and worse, to the point where Sookie wouldn't even acknowledge Bill's presence in a room. In the most recent two novels, however, Harris has very, very gradually been healing some of the worst elements of their relationship. I don't know if they will rekindle their affair, but it does now appear that they will now at least be talking to one another. They are, after all, neighbors. We have also been learning a bit in the past few books about Sookie's supernatural lineage. We even meet in this latest novel her fairy great-grandfather Niall (a name I find interesting because on several boards and in several MMRPGs I have taken the handle of Njal -- there are many linguistic similarities between Old Irish and Old Icelandic and I'd like to think they are variants of the same name -- my source for my handle is the Icelandic saga NJAL'S SAGA, a translation of which is published by Penguin). In other words, Harris is very good about not impatiently rushing to the next elements in the story. At the same time, storywise the novels feel pretty full. A lot of things happen in them. There are always good "B" plots, and often good "C" and "D" plots as well. If the main plots in this book was the were war and the hostile takeover of post-Katrina Louisiana by vampires from Las Vegas, then the "B" plot was the introduction of Sookie's great-grandfather Niall, and the "C" plot her brother Jason's divorce. At the same time, being introduced to Sookie's "nephew," who has the same abilities that she has, sets up more story lines for the future.

So, now I've finished all the Sookie Stackhouse books that have been published so far. Unfortunately Charlaine Harris has not announced any additional Sookie Stackhouse books. Instead, the next year or so apparently will be dedicated to one or another of her other series. The success of the TV series TRUE BLOOD, based on the Sookie Stackhouse book, might cause her to reevaluate how quickly she resumes writing the next book in the sequel. Her other heroines are all well and good, but I doubt if any will generate the kind of public interest another Sookie book would. Although she has consistently produced yearly a new Sookie novel for the past several years, it looks like we will get Season Two of TRUE BLOOD (tentatively scheduled for the summer of 2009) before we get another Sookie Stackhouse novel. Whenever it arrives, I definitely will be taking a look.

Oddly enough, I had poor expectations when I started reading this book due to the negative reviews here on Amazon, plus the lackluster writing of the previous book. Most of the complaints seem to deal with the fact that there was no single event to tie the entire book together. Instead, we are treated to various mini crises interspersed with the tying up of the various plot points that have been remaining in the series.

However, I found that to the contrary, these sequence of events actually made the story much more interesting, as the thing that ties all these events together is Sookie herself, giving her a chance to develop her character further through various situations. Basically, this gives more of a 'slice-of-life' feeling to the book which I highly enjoyed.

In addition, with alot of the remaining loose ends being tied, this book feels like a major turning point in the series, if not a transition. If there was one quibble though, I guess it had to do with the abruptness with which she broke off her relationship with Quinn. I thought it (and he) deserved a better send off, instead of the 1 to 2 pages devoted to it.

From Dead to Worse (2008) is the eighth fantasy novel in the Southern Vampire series, following All Together Dead. In the previous volume, Sookie Stackhouse finally realized what was going on and organized an evacuation party from the human workers. Cecile set off the fire alarm and other humans started downstairs.

Sookie managed to get Erik Northman up and the two of them got Pam into her coffin and then pushed it out the window. Sookie told the EMTs how to handle the vampires and then acted as a spotter for the rescue teams. Then she found Andre buried under some rubble.

In this novel, just about everybody in town is present for the double wedding of Portia Bellefleur to Glen Vick and Halleigh Robinson to Andy Bellefleur. The ceremony has been scheduled after dark so that the vampires can attend. The Weres are represented by Calvin Norris and Tanya Grissom. Sookie is not very pleased to see Tanya again.

Sookie was invited as a guest, but both Sam Merlotte and herself are working the bar since the intended bartender was injured in an auto accident. Then one of Halleigh's bridesmaids is taken to the hospital and Sookie is asked to fill in for her. Sookie rushes upstairs and changes out of her barmaid outfit.

The bridesmaid dress is a little tight and the shoes are a half size too small. Luckily she won't have to rush around while wearing them. Getting downstairs to the garden is going to be the worst part.

The wedding goes well and the two couples are married without any mishaps (except for the missing bartender and bridesmaid). The photographer takes pictures of Halleigh's bridesmaids first so that Sookie can get back to work. She quickly changes clothes and her toes sigh with relief.

As Sookie is handing out drinks, she meets an oriental vampire who says that he is called Jonathan since his real name is not pronounceable by most people. She notices a Nevada driver license in his billfold as he leaves a tip. He bows to her and she bows back.

Sookie also notices an older man at the edge of the woods. He sees her looking at him and steps forward as he gazes back at her. When he comes forward, all the vampires look his way simultaneously, bow slightly, and then go back their ongoing conversations. The man looks withered, but beautiful.

Sam asks Sookie about Tanya Grissom as they work the bar. Sam has gotten the impression that Sookie doesn't like Tanya. Of course, he is correct; Sookie had some bad experiences with Tanya when she was hired by the Van Pelt family. But Sookie knows that Sam likes Tanya and doesn't feel quite right about spreading her prejudices to her boss.

When Sookie gets home, Amelia Broadway is waiting at the kitchen table to hear about the wedding. She is living with Sookie, but is not really a member of the local social circle and was not invited to the wedding. Amelia also has something else to discuss with Sookie. Her father -- a rich contractor in New Orleans -- wishes to visit Amelia and wants to meet Sookie.

In this story, Copley Carmichael tries to act as like a good old boy, but Amelia's father is obviously used to being a local power broker. Amelia loves the old man, but is also afraid of him. She just can't say no to him.

Eric calls Sookie and asks her to go out with him for a dinner meeting. It is not a date, for Eric intends to escort her to the meeting and then wait outside until she is done. Sookie finds that the lovely, but withered, man is waiting for her. She soon finds out that he is a Fairy prince and also her great-grandfather.

Amelia's witch mentor shows up at the house to speak with her errant student. Amelia has been avoiding Octavia Fant since Bob Jessup was turned into a cat during some exotic sex with Amelia. Of course, Amelia is really not eager to face Octavia and admit that she still hasn't been able to reverse the transformation.

Alcide Herveaux calls Sookie to ask for a favor. One his fellow Weres has been murdered and he would like Amelia to perform an ectoplasmic reconstruction of the killing. Octavia goes along to help Amelia with the spell.

This tale soon has Sookie facing attempts to murder her. On two separate occasions, an unknown Were tries to kill her and no one knows why. Alcide believes that Patrick Furnan -- the new packmaster -- is responsible for the murders and murder attempts.

Sookie blames these troubles on Hurricane Katrina. All Louisiana has been disrupted by the storm. The vampire hierarchy in the state has been greatly weakened and even the werewolves are having problems.

Then there are Sookie's personal problems. Jason is having troubles with his wife Crystal and is not handling it well; Tanya is not helping the situation. Arlene is still hanging around with the local Fellowship of the Sun group and now hates Sookie. Bill Compton is still professing love for her and Eric is still trying to find out what happened when he lost his memory.

The story has some depressing times and moments of pure terror, with occasional flashes of joy. It is just one thing after another in the life of Sookie Stackhouse. Enjoy!

Highly recommended for Harris fans and anyone else who enjoys tales of telepathic disabilities, preternatural creatures, and tangled romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Sookie Stackhouse, telepath and friend to supernatural's everywhere, has several situations exploding all around her. Her boyfriend Quinn is MIA, the Were community is at odds as is the Vampire community, her bother's marriage seems to be off to a rocky start, and Sookie seems to be front and center when it all comes to a head.

With attempts on her life and the deaths of some of her friends, Sookie's world is getting more and more dangerous. Yet in the midst of all the danger, Sookie finds some unexpected happy surprises.

I loved this book with a capital L! So much is going on with the supernatural folk that Sookie associates with; it's non stop action from cover to cover. Some of things I have been dying to see happen, finally do. While chaos surrounds Sookie, she starts putting some order in her life, and she and Eric, her former Vamp lover, almost have a REAL conversation. *gasp*

This is a book that has Sookie going through a lot of changes and making all sorts of discoveries in her life. I was all consumed in this book from page one and when I reached the last page I debated on whether or not to start reading it all over again. Had it not been for my impatiently waiting sister, I would have.

Charlaine Harris is a fabulous author, no question. Her style of writing is so engaging, so descriptive and entertaining; it takes only about a page of reading before I feel like I have been transplanted to Bon Temps, Louisiana. I have been counting down the days till this books release, greedy to get my hands on it, and I was not disappointed in the least; she always delivers. The last two pages have me already eagerly anticipating the next in the series...and hoping she inherits a little vampire speed while writing so I don't have to wait so long!

Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse)
Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 2)
Club Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 3)
Dead to the World (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 4)
Dead as a Doornail (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 5)
Definitely Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 6)
All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 7)

Cherise Everhard, May 2008

No question, From Dead to Worse is a bridge book in the Southern Vampire series. I am one fan who thinks that is just peachy keen fine. I thought this was an excellent book, very engaging, by which I mean I read it all in one sitting, no stopping. While it's true that this book is episodic in nature, my feeling is that going along with the characters on these episodes is high entertainment. As I get older, I find it becomes harder to concentrate, and that Charlaine Harris continues to hold my attention eight books into this series is just wonderful. The truth is, if you are going to read this series, you need to start with the first book. Read them in order, and don't start with this one, because you need to know all the back story to fully appreciate how far the characters have come. (And can I just say: Sookie needs a vacation! Ms. Harris, send her off to a beautiful island where she can relax, forget her cares for a while, sip some rum punch on nice beach, and maybe go limbo-ing with some nice fella who doesn't want anything more than the pleasure of her company.)

I think this book is for the fans who have fallen in love with these characters. We've spent the last year since the release of All Together Dead wondering what was going to happen next, and musing about the paths the characters would take. From Dead to Worse tells us some great stories, fills in some of the personal details we've all been aching to know, and sets the stage for what will be I hope many more books to come. I think From Dead to Worse was fabulous. Brava, Ms. Harris!