True Blood - HBO

I just saw a bit of information on Comic Book Resources about an upcoming HBO TV series called True Blood. It's a vampire drama, if you didn't guess that by the title.

I've enjoyed a vampire story or two in my day. Read the Ann Rice Vampire books, and Dracula of course. I've meant to check out Laurel Hamilton's Anita Blake novels, but the closest I've gotten is the comic book series.

True Blood is based on vampire books by Charlaine Harris, whom I've not heard of before. But accordining to the article they're popular. Have you read any of them? Are they any good? Charlaine's web site is here.

HBO has a page set up just for the show, and it looks like there is a lot of information there: interviews, community, merchandise. There is even a weekly web comic. I couldn't read it very well - for some reason the lettering isn't clear, or else my eyes are too tired from reading overdraft reports.

Sounds like there will be lots of sex on the show - as is typical for HBO. Even more than in the books, according to the CBR interview.

The plot of the show:

Thanks to a Japanese scientist's invention of synthetic blood, vampires have progressed from legendary monsters to fellow citizens overnight. And while humans have been safely removed from the menu, many remain apprehensive about these creatures "coming out of the coffin." Religious leaders and government officials around the world have chosen their sides, but in the small Louisiana town of Bon Temps, the jury is still out.

Local waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), however, knows how it feels to be an outcast. "Cursed" with the ability to listen in on people's thoughts, she's also open-minded about the integration of vampires — particularly when it comes to Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), a handsome 173-year-old living up the road. But as Sookie is drawn into a series of mysteries surrounding Bill's arrival in Bon Temps, that tolerance will be put to the test.

The show is being created by Alan Ball, who created the HBO series Six Feet Under. I watched and enjoyed that show, for the most part. But it sure had it's WEIRD moments!

True Blood begins it's run on September 7th - I'll have to check it out. Not sure if it will make the cut, but I'll at least watch an episode or two and see if I like it. How about you? Will you tune in? Is this going to be Buffy for grown-ups? A vampire version of Sopranos? Time will tell.