A Taste of True Blood: The Fangbanger's Guide [Paperback]

Leah Wilson (Editor), Jacob Clifton (Contributor), Maria Lima (Contributor), Nick Mamatas (Contributor), Bev Katz Rosenbaum (Contributor), Peg Aloi (Contributor), Alisa Kwitney (Contributor), Kirsty Walker (Contributor), Vera Nazarian (Contributor), Joseph McCabe (Contributor), Paula Rogers (Contributor), Daniel M. Kimmel (Contributor), Peter B. Lloyd (Contributor), Jonna Rubin (Contributor), Philippa Ballantine (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 29, 2010

True Blood, Alan Ball’s critically acclaimed television adaptation of Charlaine Harris’ bestselling Southern Vampire mysteries, is HBO’s most-watched show since The Sopranos, averaging over 12 million viewers an episode in its second season. Thanks to its large, dedicated fanbase, it won the People’s Choice “Favorite TV Obsession” award in early 2010.

A Taste of True Blood: The Fangbanger’s Guide gives those fans something to savor between episodes—and whets their appetite for more. Covering the show’s first two seasons and released just in time for the third (with real-time online updates from the book’s contributors throughout season three), the book includes pieces on:

• Vampire Bill’s season 2 slide from hot to not
• Sookie’s mind-reading talents as a critique of our oversharing Facebook culture
• What a Louisiana setting adds to the traditional vampire myth
• Why the television series had to differ from the books (co-written by the Southern Vampire mysteries’ editor Ginjer Buchanan)
• And much more, from shapeshifters to maenads to Merlotte’s

A Taste of True Blood also includes a quick reference guide to the show’s first two seasons.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Leah Wilson graduated from Duke University with a degree in Culture and Modern Fiction and is currently Editor-in-Chief of Smart Pop at BenBella Books. Leah is the editor of Perfectly Plum and Ardeur and the co-editor on Immortal, Coffee at Luke’s, and Serenity Found, among other Smart Pop titles. She lives in Cambridge, Mass.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Smart Pop; 1 edition (June 29, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1935251961
• ISBN-13: 978-1935251965
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #911,017 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Ideas about True Blood, August 9, 2010

By 

Heather Butterfield (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Taste of True Blood: The Fangbanger's Guide (Paperback)

In A Taste of True Blood's introduction, the book's editor, Leah Wilson, writes: "...it's our goal to be a book that has something for all True Blood fans, no matter why they watch...[to] give you a taste of what others see when they watch the show--and give you a few new reasons to watch, too." After marathon reading my copy, I think I can safely say mission accomplished.

I started watching the show because, well, hunky men are great, and, more importantly, because I liked Anna Paquin's feisty portrayal of Sookie. It was fun to read essays from the book that addressed these topics, but it was even greater to read the essays containing entirely new ideas. For example, the conclusion in Daniel Kimmel's "Vampire Porn"? Brilliant! Another favorite is Nick Mamatas' "Working Class Heroes," which discusses Marxism in the context of the show. Jonna Rubin's "SOOKEH! Bee-ill! and the Downfall of William T. Compton is hilarious, and after reading Peg Aloi's "Night is the Color of Blood" I can't stop looking at the colors in Sookie and Tara's outfits while watching season three episodes. If I listed all of my favorites, you'd basically be looking at the table of contents.

All in all, it's a well-rounded collection that shows True Blood isn't just vampire porn. While I didn't always agree with the essay authors, I applaud their ability to share new ideas about a brilliant show.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Light (Red) Reading, August 8, 2010

By 

netherfield "netherfield" (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Taste of True Blood: The Fangbanger's Guide (Paperback)

I took this book on a business trip. The stares I got on the airplane after looking at the cover were interesting. It's light reading, although some of the authors do take themselves a little too seriously sometimes. Academia, and half page ADA-type references, has its place, but this isn't it. I would have liked it if they had included things about the Southern Vampire Mystery (Sookie Stackhouse) books series.

Good for beach-type reading, even though the topics discussed are dark.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bridget's Review, November 29, 2010

By 

bridget3420 "Bridget Hopper" (KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Taste of True Blood: The Fangbanger's Guide (Paperback)

I'm a True Blood fanatic and this is a must have for any fan. I enjoyed reading A Taste of True Blood because it got to the heart and soul of the show. It made me want to watch the seasons again because all of the things I learned, so I'll probably do that soon. This would be the perfect gift for your die-hard True Blood pals.