It was the kind of sudden, unexpected twist that drives detail-oriented readers over the edge.
In the July 10 episode of True Blood, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Alan Balls trippy TV adaptation of the Sookie Stackhouse series of novels by Charlaine Harris, fans of the books were shocked when Claudine, Sookies fairy godmother, had her blood sucked dry by the dashing vampire and unrepentant ladies man Eric Northman, played in the series by Alexander Skarsgard.
Claudines sudden demise was a radical departure from the books, which kept her around much longer.
Then again, its not the first time True Blood has played with readers expectations.
Lafayette Reynolds, the short-order cook played by Nelsan Ellis in the TV version, was killed at the end of the first novel, but he remains very much alive — and one of True Bloods most beloved characters — in the HBO series fourth season.
Most novelists would willingly drive a stake through the heart of any TV scribe or screenwriter who changes the story in such a dramatic way in the screen version, but not Harris.
In a candid, free-flowing conversation with Postmedia News, the native of Tunica, Mississippi, and author of 11 Sookie Stackhouse novels — beginning with 2001s Dead Until Dark — said she trusts Ball implicitly to do what he thinks is right for the TV series.
Harris herself doesnt know whats going to happen in the TV version until she sees it with her own eyes, usually in the form of an advance screener. Ironically, she says, I did not see this weeks episode, because she was attending the Polaris science-fiction convention in Toronto, and, Hotels in Canada do not have HBO.
Horrors.
Dont tell me what happened, Harris says, dryly. Usually, I like not to be quite so ignorant, so I can answer intelligently when people say, Did you anticipate that? I can say, Yes, I absolutely did.
Harris likes to be surprised as much as anyone. And, so far, the surprises havent alarmed her — not in any life-threatening way, anyway — even though some fans of the novels have been inclined to be incandescent with rage.
Harriss advice: Relax. True Blood, the TV show, is better than anyone, even the author of the original novels, had a right to expect.
As an author, if you pick someone you trust to handle the material, the outcome is much more likely to be something you can live with, than if you take a deal because it was the only one you were offered, or because its so much money, you cant resist, Harris explains. I dont disdain taking an offer because its a lot of money — let me make that clear. In my case, though, I trusted Alan, and I dont think that trust was misplaced at all. Ive been very happy with the adaptation.
Harris says its clear that Ball is, well, having a ball making True Blood. The same is true of Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer and everyone else involved in bringing the TV adaptation to life. Theyre having fun, Harris said, and it shows. If they looked as if they were in pain, or just going through the motions, True Blood wouldnt be nearly as much fun to watch.
I dont think theres competition between the show and the books. They complement each other.
Reading books will always be a different experience than watching a screen adaptation, Harris says, but each has its purpose.
The writer has the ability and privilege to get inside the characters thoughts. On the screen, they have to verbalize their thoughts or telegraph them some other way. We can go inside the characters heads, tell people whats there, tell people what they intend to do, and it doesnt have to be conscious; it doesnt have to show. Its internal. And I think thats a huge advantage.
Filmmakers, of course, can show everything thats happening, and sometimes in much more explicit detail than (what) lies on the page, if that suits the story. The books are all told from Sookies point of view, which is a limitation that does not bind Alan.
Harris created the character of Sookie Stackhouse; she had a strong idea of what Sookie would look like and sound like. Whoever that person was, it was not Paquin. And yet, Paquin has been a revelation in the role, Harris said. A divine revelation, if you will.
I had seen lots of pictures of young women who were trying out for the role, and I was completely astonished when Anna Paquin tried out, Harris recalled. I was delighted she wanted the role, but surprised. In hindsight, I think its been a very good thing for her, for Alan and for me. I think shes doing a marvellous job.
While the TV adaptation of True Blood is just getting started four seasons in, the writing is on the wall, so to speak, for the novels. Harris estimates she has two books left in her before she calls it quits on the Sookie Stackhouse series.
As for the old chicken-and-egg question — should one read the Sookie Stackhouse books first, and then watch True Blood, or vice versa — Harris laughs out loud and says, Of course, I want them to read the Sookie books first. Im certainly self-serving enough for that. Seriously, though, I would say its a completely different experience.
True Blood airs Sundays on HBO at 9 pm ET/8 pm PT.
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