Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter is a series of fantasy novels by Laurell K. Hamilton, narrated by the title character, Anita Blake. Anita lives in a fictional Saint Louis much like our own, save that, not only are things like vampires and shapeshifters real, but their presence is public knowledge and they are considered citizens of America, much like normal humans. The novels follow Anita's ongoing conflicts with the supernatural as she attempts to solve a variety of supernatural mysteries, come to terms with her own abilities, and navigate an increasingly complex series of romantic and political relationships.
In the early books, Anita considers vampires untrustworthy monsters. She fears and pities lycanthropes. Over time she meets and befriends vampires and lycanthropes. In book 1 she quips, "I don't date vampires. I kill them." By book 4 she has dated one.
Anita's increasing trust of the "monsters" parallels her learning more about their respective cultures and becoming more involved in their communities and politics. In the most recent books Anita has also acquired some lycanthrope and vampire abilities. As Hamilton has stated, "Anita is my eyes on her world, my camera." Throwing Anita deeper into magic, vampire, and lycanthrope experiences lets the reader explore these cultures vicariously.
Novels and novellas
- Guilty Pleasures (1993) ISBN 0-515-13449-X
- The Laughing Corpse (1994) ISBN 0-425-19200-8
- Circus Of The Damned (1995) ISBN 0-515-13448-1
- The Lunatic Cafe (1996) ISBN 0-425-20137-6
- Bloody Bones (1996) ISBN 0-425-20567-3
- The Killing Dance (1997) ISBN 0-425-20906-7
- Burnt Offerings (1998) ISBN 0-515-13447-3
- Blue Moon (1998) ISBN 0-515-13445-7
- Obsidian Butterfly (2000) ISBN 0-515-13450-3
- Narcissus In Chains (2001) ISBN 5-558-61270-3
- Cerulean Sins (2003) ISBN 0-515-13681-6
- Incubus Dreams (2004) ISBN 0-425-19824-3
- Micah (novella) (February 2006) ISBN 0-515-14087-2
- Danse Macabre (June 2006) ISBN 0-425-20797-8
- The Harlequin (2007) ISBN 978-0-425-21724-5
- Blood Noir (2008) ISBN 978-0-425-22219-5
- Skin Trade (2009) ISBN 978-0-425-22772-5
- Flirt (novella) (February 2010) ISBN 978-0425235676
- Bullet (June 2010) ISBN 978-0425234334
- Hit List (June 2011) ISBN 978-0515150896
- Beauty: An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Outtake (May 2012)ISBN 978-1-101-57930-5
- Kiss the Dead (June 2012) ISBN 978-0425247549
- Affliction (July 2013) ISBN 978-0425255704
- Dancing: An Anita Blake Novella (September 2013) ISBN 978-0-698-15643-2
- Shutdown (eShort) (October 2013)
- Jason (novella) (December 2014) ISBN 978-0-515-15607-2
- Dead Ice (June 2015) ISBN 978-0425255711
- Crimson Death (October 2016) ISBN 978-1101987735
Short story collections
- Out of This World (2001) ISBN 0-515-13109-1 (Contains chapters from Narcissus in Chains, the short story Magic Like Heat Across My Skin, and other short stories by other authors)
- Cravings (2004) ISBN 0-515-13681-6 (Contains the first 3 chapters of Incubus Dreams and 3 short stories by other authors).
- Bite (2004) ISBN 051513970X (Contains an original Anita Blake short story: The Girl who was Infatuated with Death - which occurs in the interval between Blue Moon and Obsidian Butterfly, and 3 short stories by other authors).
- Strange Candy (2006) ISBN 0-425-21201-7 (Contains an original Anita Blake short story - Those Who Seek Forgiveness - the very first story ever to include Anita Blake, and other short stories by the same author).
Comics
A monthly comic-book adaptation of the series began in October 2006. Issues have been written by Laurell K. Hamilton and Stacie M. Ritchie respectively, with illustrations by Brett Booth. The comic is published by Dabel Brothers Productions in a partnership with Marvel Comics.
On October 20, 2006, Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Guilty Pleasures #1 was released under Marvel’s collaboration with the Dabel Brothers. The issue sold out on the release date. Marvel and Dabel Brothers released a second printing with a limited edition print on November 15, 2006. A third printing with a new variant cover was released on February 21, 2007.
Until October 2007 (Issue #6), the book was published monthly (along with a Sourcebook, which spoiled the story's ending), until Marvel acquired Dabel's licenses and the two partners split amicably. When the series returned for the final half of the adaptation in March 2008, Ron Lim replaced Booth as of the seventh issue and Jess Ruffner replaced Ritchie.
TV Adaption
- Main article: TV Movie Adaptation
IFC and Lionsgate planned a feature-length TV movie adaptation of the book series, with plans for a 2010 airdate. Glen Morgan had been hired to write the script. In october 2009 Hamilton announced that the project had been canceled.