Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter

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Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter
List of novels
Author Laurell K. Hamilton
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre Urban Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Dark Fantasy
Publisher Ace Books, Berkley Books
Published1993–present

Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter is a series of urban fantasy novels, short stories, and comic books by Laurell K. Hamilton. The books have sold more than six million copies; many have made The New York Times Best Seller list. [1]

Contents

The series is narrated in the first person by Anita Blake, who works in St. Louis, Missouri, as a professional zombie raiser, vampire executioner and supernatural consultant for the police. The early novels focus predominantly on crime-solving and action; the later ones on Anita's personal and sexual-defender relationships and power.

Series synopsis

The series takes place in a parallel universe where supernatural creatures and powers are real and their presence is public knowledge. Supernatural beings are considered citizens with most of the rights of regular humans. The novels follow legal vampire executioner Anita Blake's ongoing conflicts with the supernatural as she attempts to solve a variety of mysteries, come to terms with her own abilities, and navigate an increasingly complex series of romantic and political relationships. As the series progresses, Anita's perspective on the supernatural changes; initially she sees preternatural beings simply as "monsters" to be fought, and later grows to see them as communities to be protected, as well as possible love interests.

Books in the series

  1. Guilty Pleasures (1993) ISBN   0-515-13449-X
  2. The Laughing Corpse (Sep 1994) ISBN   0-425-19200-8
  3. Circus of the Damned (1995) ISBN   0-515-13448-1
  4. The Lunatic Cafe (1996) ISBN   0-425-20137-6
  5. Bloody Bones (1996) ISBN   0-425-20567-3
  6. The Killing Dance (1997) ISBN   0-425-20906-7
  7. Burnt Offerings (1998) ISBN   0-515-13447-3
  8. Blue Moon (1998) ISBN   0-515-13445-7
  9. Obsidian Butterfly (2000) ISBN   0-515-13450-3
  10. Narcissus in Chains (2001) ISBN   5-558-61270-3
  11. Cerulean Sins (2003) ISBN   0-515-13681-6
  12. Incubus Dreams (2004) ISBN   0-515-13975-0
  13. Micah (2006) ISBN   0-515-14087-2
  14. Danse Macabre (June 2006) ISBN   0-425-20797-8
  15. The Harlequin (June 2007) ISBN   978-0-425-21724-5
  16. Blood Noir (May 2008) ISBN   978-0-425-22219-5
  17. Skin Trade (June 2009) ISBN   978-0-425-22772-5
  18. Flirt (February 2010) ISBN   978-0-425-23567-6
  19. Bullet (June 2010) ISBN   978-0-425-23433-4
  20. Hit List (June 2011) ISBN   978-0-425-24113-4
  21. Kiss the Dead (June 2012) ISBN   978-0-425-24754-9
  22. Affliction (July 2013) ISBN   978-0-425-25570-4
  23. Jason (December 2014) ISBN   978-0-515-15607-2
  24. Dead Ice (June 2015) ISBN   978-0-425-25571-1 (The title was created by a fan during a contest Hamilton held)
  25. Crimson Death (October 2016) ISBN   978-1-101-98773-5
  26. Serpentine (August 7, 2018) ISBN   978-0-425-25568-1
  27. Sucker Punch (August 4, 2020) ISBN   978-1-984-80443-3
  28. Rafael (February 9, 2021) ISBN   978-0-593-33291-7
  29. Smolder (March 21, 2023) ISBN   978-1-984-80449-5
  30. Slay (Expected publication November 7, 2023) ISBN   978-0-593-63784-5

Novellas and short-story collections

  1. Out of This World (2001) ISBN   0-515-13109-1 (contains chapters from Narcissus in Chains, "Magic Like Heat Across My Skin", and short stories by other authors)
  2. Strange Candy (2006) ISBN   0-425-21201-7 (contains original Anita Blake short story "Those Who Seek Forgiveness" (the very first story featuring Blake), "The Girl Who Was Infatuated with Death", and other short stories by Hamilton)
  3. Beauty: An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Outtake (May 2012) ISBN   978-1-101-57930-5 (#20.5)
  4. Dancing: An Anita Blake Novella (September 2013) ISBN   978-0-698-15643-2 (#22.5)
  5. Shutdown (October 2013)(#22.6) [2]
  6. A Girl, a Goat, and a Zombie (November 2016), an eShort story available for download through Laurell K. Hamilton's website.
  7. Wounded (December 2016) (#24.5)
  8. Sweet Seduction (original short story/novelette; collected in Noir Fatale, May 2019 [3] )
  9. Zombie Dearest (original short story/novelette; collected in Fantastic Hope, April 2020) ISBN   978-1-101-57930-5 (#26.5)

Marvel Comics series

Marvel's license started under Dabel Brothers Publishing, and when they acquired that company's rights, they continued until their rights expired (which were contractually obligated through the first three novels).

  1. Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: The First Death 1–2 (7/2007 and 12/2007)
  2. Anita Blake Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures 1–12 (12/2006 – 8/2008)
  3. Guilty Pleasures Handbook (2007)

The Laughing Corpse adaptation

  1. Anita Blake: The Laughing Corpse—Animator 1–5 (10/2008 – 2/2009)
  2. Anita Blake: The Laughing Corpse—Necromancer 1–5 (4/2009 – 9/2009)
  3. Anita Blake: The Laughing Corpse—Executioner 1–5 (9/2009 – 3/2010)

Circus of the Damned adaptation

  1. Anita Blake: Circus of the Damned—The Charmer 1–5 (5/2010 – 10/2010)
  2. Anita Blake: Circus of the Damned—The Ingenue 1–5 (1/2011 – 5/2011)
  3. Anita Blake: Circus of the Damned—The Scoundrel 1–5 (9/2011 – 5/2012)

Adaptations

Comic books

Issue 1 cover. AnitaGP 01 cvrB.jpg
Issue 1 cover.

In 2006 Marvel Comics and Dabel Brothers Productions began production on a graphic novel adaptation of the first three books in the series, beginning with Guilty Pleasures. [4] Hamilton worked with Stacie M. Ritchie on the comic scripts, with Brett Booth illustrating the series until 2008. [5] [6]

The first adaptation was well received, [7] [8] [9] with the first volume of The Laughing Corpse being a New York Times bestseller in the graphic novel category. [10] Interest in the series declined, but Marvel completed its contract for the first three novel adaptations in 2012. Within the Marvel Comics multiverse, the Anita Blake reality is designated as Earth-97534. [11]

Television

In March 2009 news sources began reporting that Hamilton had signed a deal with IFC to adapt the series for a full-length movie and potential television series. [12] [13] Shortly after, Hamilton announced that the reports were not rumors and that the series had officially been optioned. [14] Despite initial planning, Hamilton later announced that the plans for the series had been dropped. [15]

Reception

Critical reception to the series has been mixed to positive, [16] with Monsters and Critics praising many of the books in the series. [17] [18] The St. Louis Post-Dispatch praised Kiss the Dead while RT Book Reviews overall panned the novel. [19] [20]

Fan reaction has been mixed, [21] with some readers disliking the series' departure from crime noir thriller to focus more on the sexual dynamics in the series. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Anita Blake is the title and viewpoint character of the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton. The series takes place in a parallel world in which supernatural characters like vampires and werewolves exist alongside regular humans, with Blake's jobs including the re-animation of the dead as well as the hunting and executing of supernatural creatures that have broken the law. Hamilton stated that she created the character after perceiving a gender inequality in detective fiction, with female characters rarely getting the same treatment as male heroes of the genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurell K. Hamilton</span> American fantasy and romance writer

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<i>Guilty Pleasures</i> (novel) 1993 novel by Laurell K. Hamilton

Guilty Pleasures is a 1993 horror and mystery novel by American writer Laurell K. Hamilton. It is the first book in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. Guilty Pleasures introduces the character of Anita Blake, a vampire hunter and necromancer, who works in an alternate universe where magic, vampires, werewolves and other supernatural elements exist. The novel blends elements of supernatural and hardboiled detective fiction.

<i>The Laughing Corpse</i> 1994 novel by Laurell K. Hamilton

The Laughing Corpse is a horror/mystery novel by American writer Laurell K. Hamilton, the second book in her Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. It continues the adventures of Anita Blake, as she attempts to solve a particularly grisly set of murders, while simultaneously avoiding two potential threats to her life from people interested in using her talents as a zombie animator. Meanwhile, Anita continues to attempt to come to grips with her powers and her relationship with Jean-Claude, the vampire master of St. Louis and Anita's would be lover/master.

<i>Circus of the Damned</i> 1995 novel by Laurell K. Hamilton

Circus of the Damned is a horror/mystery novel by American writer Laurell K. Hamilton, the third book in her Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. Within the novel, the "Circus of the Damned" is the name of a supernatural circus that operated by Jean-Claude and serves as one of the main locations within the book. Hamilton employed the practice of titling the novels after a location within each novel for most of the books in the series.

<i>Burnt Offerings</i> (Hamilton novel)

Burnt Offerings is the seventh in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series of horror/mystery/erotica novels by Laurell K. Hamilton.

<i>Blue Moon</i> (Hamilton novel)

Blue Moon is the eighth in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series of horror/mystery/erotica novels by Laurell K. Hamilton.

<i>Narcissus in Chains</i> 2001 novel by Laurell K. Hamilton

Narcissus in Chains is the tenth book in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series of horror/mystery/erotica novels by Laurell K. Hamilton.

<i>Incubus Dreams</i> 2004 novel by Laurell K. Hamilton

Incubus Dreams is a horror/mystery/erotica novel by American writer Laurell K. Hamilton, the twelfth book in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series.

<i>Micah</i> (novel)

Micah is a horror/mystery/erotica novel by American writer Laurell K. Hamilton, the thirteenth book in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series.

<i>Flirt</i> (novel) 2010 erotic thriller by Laurell K. Hamilton

Flirt is a 2010 New York Times bestselling erotic thriller by novelist Laurell K. Hamilton. The novella was published on February 2, 2010, by Berkley Hardcover and is the eighteenth book in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. The afterword of Flirt contains several pages of discussion about Hamilton's inspiration for the novella as well as a comic by Jennie Breeden.

<i>Bullet</i> (novel) 2010 novel by Laurell K. Hamilton

Bullet is the nineteenth book in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series of horror/mystery/erotica novels by Laurell K. Hamilton. It debuted at #2 on The New York Times Best Seller list for Hardcover Fiction.

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<i>Kiss the Dead</i> Novel by Laurell K. Hamilton

Kiss the Dead is a 2012 erotic thriller by American writer Laurell K. Hamilton. The book was published on June 5, 2012 by Berkley Hardcover and is the twenty first book in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series.

<i>Affliction</i> (novel)

Affliction is a 2013 urban fantasy novel by American writer Laurell K. Hamilton, the 22nd book in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. The novel follows Anita Blake and her various lovers as she travels to Colorado and works to uncover a series of murders and infections involving flesh-eating zombies.

The Merry Gentry series is a series of urban fantasy novels by New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton. The series is narrated in first person format through the eyes of the series' title character Meredith "Merry" Gentry, a faerie princess turned private investigator in a world where faeries exist and are known to the general public. The first book in the series, A Kiss of Shadows, was released by Del Rey on October 3, 2000. There are nine books in the series.

<i>Bone Song</i> 2007 novel by John Meaney

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References

  1. ↑ "Works by Laurell K Hamilton" . Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  2. ↑ Shutdown press release laurellkhamilton.com
  3. ↑ Correia, Larry; Ezell, Kacey, eds. (2019). "Sweet Seduction". Noir Fatale. Riverdale, NY: Baen Books. pp. 127–153. ISBN   9781481483971. OCLC   1056742830.
  4. ↑ Maury, Laurel. "Anita Blake Stakes Out Comics". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  5. ↑ Furey, Emmett (October 19, 2006). "Bump In the Night: Hamilton Talks "Anita Blake"". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  6. ↑ Weiland, Jonah (September 11, 2006). "Publisher Dan Buckley Talks Marvel/Dabel Brothers Deal". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: The Laughing Corpse, Book 1: Animator". Bookreporter.com. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Krista's Graphic Novel Reviews: "Anita Blake – The Laughing Corpse Vol 1" by Laurell K. Hamilton". Marianne de Pierres. February 23, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  9. ↑ GUSTINES, GEORGE (July 5, 2007). "A 'Vampire Hunter' Fix". New York Times. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  10. ↑ Gustines, George (June 12, 2009). "Graphic Books Best Seller List: June 6". New York Times. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  11. ↑ "earthteaz". www.marvunapp.com.
  12. ↑ Hibberd, James (March 31, 2009). "IFC adapting 'Anita Blake' vampire novel". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  13. ↑ Frankel, Daniel. "IFC greenlights vampire telepic". Variety. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  14. ↑ Hamilton, Laurell. "No Foolin' Its for real". Laurell K Hamilton. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  15. ↑ Hamilton, Laurell. "The TV Show On IFC is Not Happening". Laurell K Hamilton. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Review: Kiss the Dead". Publishers Weekly. June 5, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  17. ↑ Amazeen, Sandy. "Book Review: Micah by Laurell K. Hamilton". Monsters and Critics. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  18. ↑ Amazeen, Sandy. "Book Review: Danse Macabre by Laurell K. Hamilton". Monsters and Critics. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  19. ↑ Bolhafner, J. Stephen (June 2, 2012). "After 21 books, Anita Blake still in turmoil". St Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  20. ↑ Tobler, Elise. "Review: Kiss the Dead". RT Book Reviews. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  21. ↑ Davies, Sue. "Flirt (the 18th Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novel) by Laurell K. Hamilton". SF Crowsnest. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  22. ↑ Benefiel, Candace (2011). Reading Laurell K. Hamilton. Libraries Unlimited. ISBN   978-0313378355.
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