Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter Explained

Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter
Author:Laurell K. Hamilton
Country:United States
Language:English
Genre:Urban Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Dark Fantasy, Occult detective
Publisher:Ace Books, Berkley Books
Pub Date:1993–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]

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)
  2. The Laughing Corpse (Sep 1994)
  3. Circus of the Damned (1995)
  4. The Lunatic Cafe (1996)
  5. Bloody Bones (1996)
  6. The Killing Dance (1997)
  7. Burnt Offerings (1998)
  8. Blue Moon (1998)
  9. Obsidian Butterfly (2000)
  10. Narcissus in Chains (2001)
  11. Cerulean Sins (2003)
  12. Incubus Dreams (2004)
  13. Micah (2006)
  14. Danse Macabre (June 2006)
  15. The Harlequin (June 2007)
  16. Blood Noir (May 2008)
  17. Skin Trade (June 2009)
  18. Flirt (February 2010)
  19. Bullet (June 2010)
  20. Hit List (June 2011)
  21. Kiss the Dead (June 2012)
  22. Affliction (July 2013)
  23. Jason (December 2014)
  24. Dead Ice (June 2015) (The title was created by a fan during a contest Hamilton held)
  25. Crimson Death (October 2016)
  26. Serpentine (August 7, 2018)
  27. Sucker Punch (August 4, 2020)
  28. Rafael (February 9, 2021)
  29. Smolder (March 21, 2023)
  30. Slay (Expected publication November 7, 2023)

Novellas and short-story collections

  1. Out of This World (2001) (contains chapters from Narcissus in Chains, "Magic Like Heat Across My Skin", and short stories by other authors)
  2. Strange Candy (2006) (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) (#20.5)
  4. Dancing: An Anita Blake Novella (September 2013) (#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) (#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

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Works by Laurell K Hamilton . 6 October 2010.
  2. https://www.laurellkhamilton.com/shutdown-press-release/ Shutdown press release
  3. Book: Larry . Correia . Larry Correia . Ezell . Kacey . 2019 . Noir Fatale . Sweet Seduction . https://books.google.com/books?id=j3eUDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT197 . Riverdale, NY . Baen Books . 127–153 . 9781481483971 . 1056742830.
  4. Web site: Maury. Laurel. Anita Blake Stakes Out Comics. Publishers Weekly. 19 August 2012.
  5. Web site: Furey. Emmett. Bump In the Night: Hamilton Talks "Anita Blake". 19 October 2006. Comic Book Resources. 17 August 2012.
  6. Web site: Weiland. Jonah. Publisher Dan Buckley Talks Marvel/Dabel Brothers Deal. 11 September 2006. Comic Book Resources. 17 August 2012.
  7. Web site: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: The Laughing Corpse, Book 1: Animator. Bookreporter.com. 19 August 2012.
  8. Web site: Krista's Graphic Novel Reviews: "Anita Blake – The Laughing Corpse Vol 1" by Laurell K. Hamilton. 23 February 2012. Marianne de Pierres. 19 August 2012.
  9. News: GUSTINES. GEORGE. A 'Vampire Hunter' Fix. New York Times. 5 July 2007. 17 August 2012.
  10. News: Gustines. George. Graphic Books Best Seller List: June 6. 19 August 2012. New York Times. June 12, 2009.
  11. Web site: earthteaz. www.marvunapp.com.
  12. Web site: Hibberd. James. IFC adapting 'Anita Blake' vampire novel. 31 March 2009. Hollywood Reporter. 19 August 2012.
  13. Web site: Frankel. Daniel. IFC greenlights vampire telepic. Variety. 19 August 2012.
  14. Web site: Hamilton. Laurell. No Foolin' Its for real.. Laurell K Hamilton. 19 August 2012.
  15. Web site: Hamilton. Laurell. The TV Show On IFC is Not Happening. Laurell K Hamilton. 19 August 2012.
  16. Web site: Review: Kiss the Dead. 5 June 2012 . Publishers Weekly. 19 August 2012.
  17. Web site: Amazeen . Sandy . Book Review: Micah by Laurell K. Hamilton . https://archive.today/20130129002938/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/books/science_fiction_fantasy/reviews/article_1130597.php/Book_Review_Micah_by_Laurell_K_Hamilton . dead . 29 January 2013 . Monsters and Critics . 19 August 2012 .
  18. Web site: Amazeen . Sandy . Book Review: Danse Macabre by Laurell K. Hamilton . Monsters and Critics . 19 August 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140222215335/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/books/science_fiction_fantasy/reviews/article_1171739.php/Book_Review_Danse_Macabre_by_Laurell_K._Hamilton . 22 February 2014 .
  19. Web site: Bolhafner. J. Stephen. After 21 books, Anita Blake still in turmoil. St Louis Post-Dispatch. 2 June 2012 . 19 August 2012.
  20. Web site: Tobler. Elise. Review: Kiss the Dead. RT Book Reviews. 19 August 2012.
  21. Web site: Davies. Sue. Flirt (the 18th Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novel) by Laurell K. Hamilton. SF Crowsnest. 19 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130130235543/http://www.sfcrowsnest.com/articles/books/2012/Flirt-the-18th-Anita-Blake-Vampire-Hunter-novel-by-Laurell-K-Hamilton-16924.php. 30 January 2013. dead.
  22. Book: Benefiel, Candace. Reading Laurell K. Hamilton. 2011. Libraries Unlimited. 978-0313378355.

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