The Sookie Stackhouse Companion (49 page)
Read The Sookie Stackhouse Companion Online
Authors: Charlaine Harris
Would you ever consider bringing someone from the Sookieverse into a different author’s books? Maybe Dresden Files . . . Amelia could be in the Witch Network for New Orleans. . . .
—KRISTINA MINCEY
Jim Butcher would have a few things to say about that, and so would his lawyer. As much fun as such a crossover sounds, not only would I have to agree with the other writer on how such a “visit” would be accomplished, but we’d have to figure out how to blend two different worlds in a seamless way and reconcile two separate publishers (in some cases, though Jim and I have the same publishing house), two separate agents, and two separate contracts. There’s a lot more to consider than the fun of it—which would be considerable.
Would you ever do a spin-off series based on any of the characters in your books?
—JOHN BONFIGLIO
I don’t have any plans for that right now, but I certainly don’t rule it out. I will not write the same story from another point of view, which is a related question I get frequently.
As a writer, is it hard to “not bring the work home”? Do you plot literary murders over breakfast? Take a pause to write down an idea while watching a movie? Miss sleep while wondering how to tie up a loose end?
—SILJE ARSETH
I do plot murders over breakfast, and while I’m in the car, and while I’m on planes. I have ideas all the time—when I’m showering, when I’m doing the dishes, when I’m having phone conversations . . . and I apologize to the person on the other end of the conversation, here and now. I don’t miss a lot of sleep, but sometimes I think over what I’ve written during the day as I’m drifting off to sleep or just waking up, and I’ve gotten some resolutions to problems at those times. The trick is remembering them long enough to get them into the book.
I’ve just finished reading
Dead in the Family
, and I was somewhat confused that Sookie can feel Eric, Alexei, and Appius Livius Ocella in the bond—but not Pam. If they are all from the same blood, surely Pam should be present in the bond between Eric and Sookie.
Dead in the Family
, and I was somewhat confused that Sookie can feel Eric, Alexei, and Appius Livius Ocella in the bond—but not Pam. If they are all from the same blood, surely Pam should be present in the bond between Eric and Sookie.
—PATRICIA DE VRIES
The bond works “up.” Sookie can feel the one she’s bonded with (Eric) and his maker, and therefore the maker’s other child (Alexei) . . . but she can’t feel “down,” which would be Eric’s children or Alexei’s child, if he’d ever sired one.
In Sookie’s world, can vampires be brought back to human life once they are made vampire?
—SALLY JOHNS
No. They’ve already died, so life is not an option for them.
If a vampire has been publicly found guilty of killing a human, will he or she be tried in human court?
—BRIAN COTTRELL
Yes, unless the vampires catch him or her first. They don’t want bad publicity, and such a trial would definitely be detrimental to the image they’re trying to project—if the guilty vampire simply killed from overfeeding or for the pleasure of it. However, if the vampire was being attacked by a group of Drainers, the vampire hierarchy would be glad to see the trial, since it would send a message to those who were thinking of doing the same thing.
It is well-known that when vamps cry, it is blood. So my question is, Do vamps go to the bathroom? We also know that vamps are very sexually active, so if they cry blood, what is in place of their “other” bodily fluids? Is this why Sookie couldn’t get pregnant?
—JENNIFER VAN HORN
I got lots of questions about vampire bodily fluids, so I guess I have to respond. Vampires do cry blood. Their sexual emissions are tinged with blood, too. Males and females are sterile because birth (and engendering birth) are processes of living, as is using the bathroom. Vampires only ingest blood (though they may occasionally sip a nonblood drink), and they use every bit of the blood as fuel.
During the ride to look for Bill, Alcide tells Sookie that bitten Weres, or the half-man, half-wolf Weres, “don’t live long, poor things.” Does this apply to the werepanthers as well? What does it mean for Jason?
—SANDY SMITH
In some packs, the halfies are killed as soon as they’re discovered. Other packs allow them to live, but running with the pack engenders a lot of wear and tear on bodies that don’t heal as quickly as pureblood bodies. (By the way, this is where the legend of the Yeti and of Bigfoot came from: sightings of halfies.) Though Jason has a good chance of remaining a very healthy and vigorous man when his friends are starting to slow down, his life span will not be as long as if he had not been bitten.
A Guide to the World of Sookie Stackhouse
BY VICTORIA KOSKI
Codes for Sookie Stackhouse novels:
DUD:
Dead Until Dark
Dead Until Dark
LDID:
Living Dead in Dallas
Living Dead in Dallas
CD:
Club Dead
Club Dead
DTTW:
Dead to the World
Dead to the World
DAAD:
Dead as a Doornail
Dead as a Doornail
DD:
Definitely Dead
Definitely Dead
ATD:
All Together Dead
All Together Dead
FDTW:
From Dead to Worse
From Dead to Worse
DAG:
Dead and Gone
Dead and Gone
DITF:
Dead in the Family
Dead in the Family
DR:
Dead Reckoning
Dead Reckoning
Codes for Sookie Stackhouse stories:
FD:
“Fairy Dust”
“Fairy Dust”
DN:
“Dracula Night”
“Dracula Night”
OWA:
“One Word Answer”
“One Word Answer”
L:
“Lucky”
“Lucky”
GW:
“Gift Wrap”
“Gift Wrap”
TB:
“Two Blondes”
“Two Blondes”
STW:
“Small-Town Wedding”
“Small-Town Wedding”
IIHAH:
“If I Had a Hammer”
“If I Had a Hammer”
If a character was deceased before the series started, the word “deceased” immediately follows the entry. The novels and stories in which a character appears are listed in the preceding codes. If a character is only mentioned in a work and does not appear, the word “mentioned” precedes the code. If a character dies in a work, the word “dies” precedes the code.
Unless otherwise indicated, characters are human . . . as far as Sookie knows. But she doesn’t always read everyone she meets, so you just never know.
A:Akiro (vampire):
No other name given. Akiro takes Bruno’s place as Victor’s second-in-command just in time for the assassination party at Fangtasia. He reacts quickly when Eric attempts to stake Victor, bringing his sword down on Eric’s arm and hewing through Mindy Simpson’s shoulder on the way, killing her almost instantly. He is attacked by Thalia, who manages to do some damage before he cuts off her arm, and is finally killed by Eric after refusing to surrender. (Dies DR)
No other name given. Akiro takes Bruno’s place as Victor’s second-in-command just in time for the assassination party at Fangtasia. He reacts quickly when Eric attempts to stake Victor, bringing his sword down on Eric’s arm and hewing through Mindy Simpson’s shoulder on the way, killing her almost instantly. He is attacked by Thalia, who manages to do some damage before he cuts off her arm, and is finally killed by Eric after refusing to surrender. (Dies DR)
Alain (vampire):
No last name given. A former priest turned into a vampire, Alain discovers Sophie-Anne and Clovis in the woods and, after feeding on Clovis, promises to bring Sophie-Anne over but decides instead to use her in the same way that Clovis had, selling her “services” when he needs money. When Alain is captured in a village that he had visited before and now recognizes him for what he is, Sophie-Anne seeks to rescue him but first has him fulfill his promise and turn her. The village priest returns before she can rise to free Alain, and he meets the dawn at the hands of the villagers. (Deceased; mentioned DD)
No last name given. A former priest turned into a vampire, Alain discovers Sophie-Anne and Clovis in the woods and, after feeding on Clovis, promises to bring Sophie-Anne over but decides instead to use her in the same way that Clovis had, selling her “services” when he needs money. When Alain is captured in a village that he had visited before and now recognizes him for what he is, Sophie-Anne seeks to rescue him but first has him fulfill his promise and turn her. The village priest returns before she can rise to free Alain, and he meets the dawn at the hands of the villagers. (Deceased; mentioned DD)
Albanese, Marcia:
As a member of the Bon Temps school board, Marcia is familiar with the teaching staff and offers to host Halleigh’s bridal shower at her home. She is one of the few residents to see Bob after he is returned to his human form, witnessing his awkward behavior when Sookie takes him to Wal-Mart. (ATD, FDTW; mentioned DR)
As a member of the Bon Temps school board, Marcia is familiar with the teaching staff and offers to host Halleigh’s bridal shower at her home. She is one of the few residents to see Bob after he is returned to his human form, witnessing his awkward behavior when Sookie takes him to Wal-Mart. (ATD, FDTW; mentioned DR)
All-vampire cast of
Hello Dolly!,
the:
Enough said. (Mentioned ATD)
Hello Dolly!,
the:
Enough said. (Mentioned ATD)
al Saud, Basim (wolf):
Basim moves to Shreveport from the Houston pack after accidentally killing a human friend of the pack who attacked him with a hoe. Trying to earn the money to pay the blood debt he owes for the killing, he is pulled into fairy Colman’s plan to implicate Sookie in a crime so that she will be sent to jail. Basim decides he will not murder again and will instead find a body to fulfill the bargain, but he is murdered by Ham and Patricia. In a twist of irony, it is his body that is buried on Sookie’s land. Fortunately, it is found and moved before local law enforcement arrives for a search based on an “anonymous tip.” (Dies DITF)
Basim moves to Shreveport from the Houston pack after accidentally killing a human friend of the pack who attacked him with a hoe. Trying to earn the money to pay the blood debt he owes for the killing, he is pulled into fairy Colman’s plan to implicate Sookie in a crime so that she will be sent to jail. Basim decides he will not murder again and will instead find a body to fulfill the bargain, but he is murdered by Ham and Patricia. In a twist of irony, it is his body that is buried on Sookie’s land. Fortunately, it is found and moved before local law enforcement arrives for a search based on an “anonymous tip.” (Dies DITF)
Ancient Pythoness (vampire):
The original Oracle consulted by Alexander the Great, the Ancient Pythoness was so revered that she was brought over even in her old age and is now cared for by her handmaidens. She sits in judgment at the trial of Sophie-Anne at the summit in Rhodes, ruling in Sophie-Anne’s favor after hearing Sookie’s testimony. (ATD)
The original Oracle consulted by Alexander the Great, the Ancient Pythoness was so revered that she was brought over even in her old age and is now cared for by her handmaidens. She sits in judgment at the trial of Sophie-Anne at the summit in Rhodes, ruling in Sophie-Anne’s favor after hearing Sookie’s testimony. (ATD)
Antonio (vampire):
No last name given. Leather-clad Antonio and Luis are mentally nicknamed the bondage Bobbsey Twins by Sookie as they take her, Eric, and Pam to Victor’s table at Vampire’s Kiss. After the meeting, he and Luis usher the trio out to the parking lot and make a claim of dissatisfaction with Victor to tempt Eric into betraying their regent, but an astute Eric denies them, believing it is a trap.
No last name given. Leather-clad Antonio and Luis are mentally nicknamed the bondage Bobbsey Twins by Sookie as they take her, Eric, and Pam to Victor’s table at Vampire’s Kiss. After the meeting, he and Luis usher the trio out to the parking lot and make a claim of dissatisfaction with Victor to tempt Eric into betraying their regent, but an astute Eric denies them, believing it is a trap.
Luis and Antonio attend Bubba’s performance, entering Fangtasia first to secure the bar for Victor’s arrival. Both are entranced as they watch the concert from their positions guarding the front door. When the attack begins, Antonio struggles with Palomino and is staked in the back by Maxwell Lee. (Dies DR)
Anubis Airlines:
Established to fly vampires safely both day and night, Anubis Airlines planes are designed and outfitted for sleeping vampires, who are transported in their coffins in large bays that line the walls. Some planes have a few rows of seats for the occasional human passengers and provide flight attendants to check on their comfort.
Established to fly vampires safely both day and night, Anubis Airlines planes are designed and outfitted for sleeping vampires, who are transported in their coffins in large bays that line the walls. Some planes have a few rows of seats for the occasional human passengers and provide flight attendants to check on their comfort.
After several “incidents” on board commercial flights, most vampires are willing to pay extra for the additional security Anubis offers, which often includes safe transportation of the coffin to its final destination once on the ground. However, although security is tight, it is not infallible, as Sookie discovers when she is accosted while waiting for Bill’s coffin to be unloaded in Dallas, and again when his coffin is stolen in Mississippi. (LDID, ATD; mentioned CD)
Arlene Fowler’s aunt:
No name given. Arlene’s elderly aunt lives in nearby Clarice. (Mentioned DAG)
No name given. Arlene’s elderly aunt lives in nearby Clarice. (Mentioned DAG)
Arnett, Pinkie:
Pinkie bought the Crawdad Diner and the original recipes from Ralph Tooten with the provision that the name remain the same. (DITF)
Pinkie bought the Crawdad Diner and the original recipes from Ralph Tooten with the provision that the name remain the same. (DITF)
Arrowsmith, Bart:
Brother Arrowsmith is the pastor at the Gethsemane Baptist Church in Wright, Texas, and presides over Craig and Deidra’s wedding. He is a good man but is still questioning the revelation of the shifters and their place in his theology. Whatever his own personal feelings, he is horrified when his son joins the protesters and tries to throw a stink bomb into Bernie’s house. During the ceremony, he leads the wedding party in prayer, knowing the crowd outside can hear him over the speaker and hoping the words will sink in. (STW)
Brother Arrowsmith is the pastor at the Gethsemane Baptist Church in Wright, Texas, and presides over Craig and Deidra’s wedding. He is a good man but is still questioning the revelation of the shifters and their place in his theology. Whatever his own personal feelings, he is horrified when his son joins the protesters and tries to throw a stink bomb into Bernie’s house. During the ceremony, he leads the wedding party in prayer, knowing the crowd outside can hear him over the speaker and hoping the words will sink in. (STW)
Arrowsmith, Mrs.:
No first name given. Mrs. Arrowsmith forces her humiliated and ashamed son to attend the Lisle-Merlotte wedding in a show of solidarity with her husband. (STW)
No first name given. Mrs. Arrowsmith forces her humiliated and ashamed son to attend the Lisle-Merlotte wedding in a show of solidarity with her husband. (STW)
Arrowsmith, Nathan:
The only child of Pastor and Mrs. Arrowsmith, Nathan attempts to throw a stink bomb into Bernie Merlotte’s house through the back door while other protesters distract the family at the front of the house. The police are called after his arm is broken by a baseball bat–wielding Sookie, and Nathan admits his guilt. (STW)
The only child of Pastor and Mrs. Arrowsmith, Nathan attempts to throw a stink bomb into Bernie Merlotte’s house through the back door while other protesters distract the family at the front of the house. The police are called after his arm is broken by a baseball bat–wielding Sookie, and Nathan admits his guilt. (STW)
Art:
No last name given. A waiter at the Pyramid in Rhodes, Art dies in the ruins of the hotel even as the rescuers are digging him out. (Dies ATD)
No last name given. A waiter at the Pyramid in Rhodes, Art dies in the ruins of the hotel even as the rescuers are digging him out. (Dies ATD)
Arturo:
No last name given. A room-service waiter at the Silent Shore Hotel, Arturo is well trained to deal with the vampire clientele. (LDID)
No last name given. A room-service waiter at the Silent Shore Hotel, Arturo is well trained to deal with the vampire clientele. (LDID)
Auberjunois, Bill:
Arlene wonders if Sookie is dating Bill Auberjunois when Sookie says she has been with Bill, but then Sam announces it is Bill Compton, pulling down Sookie’s collar to show the bite marks. (Mentioned DUD)
Arlene wonders if Sookie is dating Bill Auberjunois when Sookie says she has been with Bill, but then Sam announces it is Bill Compton, pulling down Sookie’s collar to show the bite marks. (Mentioned DUD)
Aubert, Christy:
Christy works part-time for her husband, Greg. (L)
Christy works part-time for her husband, Greg. (L)
Aubert, Greg (witch):
Greg, the local Pelican State Insurance agent, has a thriving client list with very few claims. People say he’s a lucky man and that it rubs off on his clients. Actually, Greg is a witch, a talent he inherited from his mother, who educated him in spellcasting. He uses these spells to keep his clients and their properties safer. Unfortunately, by doing so he uses up the luck of the other agents in town, who all suffer more than their fair share of losses—literally. When he realizes his mistake, Greg takes on his share of bad luck, freeing up some of the good fortune for the other agents and their clients. (DAAD, L, DITF)
Greg, the local Pelican State Insurance agent, has a thriving client list with very few claims. People say he’s a lucky man and that it rubs off on his clients. Actually, Greg is a witch, a talent he inherited from his mother, who educated him in spellcasting. He uses these spells to keep his clients and their properties safer. Unfortunately, by doing so he uses up the luck of the other agents in town, who all suffer more than their fair share of losses—literally. When he realizes his mistake, Greg takes on his share of bad luck, freeing up some of the good fortune for the other agents and their clients. (DAAD, L, DITF)
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