Question

[lacelocket]

How different is the book series from the TV show?

I've finally come to terms with the fact that this awesome show will never come back, so I wanted to check out the books. But I'd rather not waste time reading them only to find out that they're drastically different (as often happens with adaptations).

Comments

[bronx_baroness]

The books are fabulously better. Just get them all and start reading- you won't be disappointed!

[lacelocket]

Alright! Thanks :)

[ide_cyan]

There are a few things the show did better than the books: adding Coreen as a regular supporting character, for one, was a decision that Tanya Huff herself said she wishes she'd thought of. And the books don't have the episode-by-episode incrementation to draw out character interactions, so things move more quickly. But the books are bolder than the TV series in several respects, notably regarding the characters' sexualities, and they are great, kick-ass fun books (which get very dark at some points), which also begat a spin-off series of books that are metatextually delicious. And Tanya Huff was a creative consultant on the show, so it stayed fairly consistent with her work.

[ourdramaqueen]

a spin-off series of books that are metatextually delicious

That's the first I hear of these spin-off books - could you tell me more about them?

[ide_cyan]

Those would be the Smoke books. There are three of them, also by Huff. They center on a minor character from the Blood books, who becomes the protagonist. His name is Tony Foster. He wasn't in the TV series because there was some hope of selling the adaptation rights to the Smoke books separately from the Blood books, which couldn't have happened if they'd kept him in for Blood Ties.

In the Blood and Smoke books, Henry is explicitly bisexual, and polyamorous, and Tony, who is gay, is one of his lovers (Vicki introduced them!). Tony eventually moves to Vancouver before the start of the Smoke books, and takes a job as a PA on a television show about... a vampire detective. Hence the delicious, delicious meta.

[ourdramaqueen]

Ha! Yes I remember Tony from the books - very cool that he got his own book series! I may have to check them out too. Thanks! :D

[vamp_ress]

Oh, you absolutely have to start reading! The books are really fabulous. A lot of stuff is different, of course (Coreen has been mentioned already). And while the show took some cues from the books (if you squint really hard to can see bits of the books in the eps "Wrapped", "Wild Blood" and of course "Blood Price"), those eps go different ways with the theme of mummy of wereanimal. So you won't be bored reading the books.

[lacelocket]

Thanks for the info!

[fiveforsilver]

I saw the show first and then I found the books and I love both. Definitely recommended.

[lacelocket]

Will check them out, thanks :D

[isha_chan]

I have to say, I like the books more.
I really enjoyed reading and watched the series to have finally some pictures fitting to the story in my head... my imaginary cahracters I liked better^^

So if you liked the series give the books a try. You won't be disappointed.

[lacelocket]

Really? I didn't think anything could be better than the show. Will definitely check them out, thanks!