| Laurell Kaye Hamilton | |
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Laurell K. Hamilton in March 2010 |
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| Born | Laurell Kaye Hamilton February 19, 1963 Heber Springs, Arkansas, US |
| Pen name | Laurell K. Hamilton |
| Occupation | Writer, Novelist |
| Nationality | American |
| Period | 1993–present |
| Genres | Fantasy, Erotica, Romance, Horror, Science Fiction |
| Notable work(s) | Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter Merry Gentry series |
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www.laurellkhamilton.org |
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Laurell Kaye Hamilton (born February 19, 1963) is an American fantasy and romance writer. She is the author of two series of stories. Hamilton is known for her New York Times-bestselling Anita Blake series, featuring a professional zombie raiser/supernatural consultant for the police. The series has 20 novels, several short story collections, and other media tie-ins such as comic books. 6 million copies of Anita Blake novels are printed.[1] Also notable is her Merry Gentry series, an urban fantasy in which the world of fairy interacts with the "real world".
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Laurell Kaye Hamilton was born in Heber Springs, Arkansas but grew up in Sims, Indiana with her grandmother Laura Gentry. Her education includes degrees in English and biology from Marion (now Indiana Wesleyan University), a private Evangelical Christian liberal arts college in Marion, Indiana that is affiliated with the Wesleyan Church denomination.[2]
Hamilton is involved with a number of animal charities, particularly supporting dog rescue efforts and wolf preservation.[3][4]
Hamilton lives in St. Louis County, Missouri with husband Jonathon Green and daughter Trinity.
Laurell K. Hamilton is the author of two major series, spin-off comic books, various anthologies and other stand-alone titles:
In Narcissus in Chains (book 10), the character Anita Blake becomes infected with the ardeur, a supernatural hunger making the victim feed it (via direct or vicarious sexual energy) and added metaphysical powers. The ardeur is essentially cited as being an unconvincing deus ex machina device, and even a metaphysical date rape drug, used to force Anita Blake and her partners into increasingly gratuitous sexual encounters as well as magically solve all problems through sex or lust. However it was seen in book 14, The Harlequin, that Anita can solve problems using love. Some readers contend that these situations occur without the development of character or plot, and also force sex and dependency on a formerly independent female character.[5] Others have commented upon the exploitation of sexual abuse, incest, and rape through its casual use in later books.[6]
Reviewers have also commented on the amount of sex in later books. A March 26, 2006 review in the Boston Globe of Micah was largely negative: "...we were not impressed. Hamilton no doubt appeals to romance and erotica lovers, but it does not take long for the clichés and the constant droning about sex to become tiresome."[7] Robert Folsom of the Kansas City Star wrote a critical review, stating:" After 13 erotically charged books, boredom has reared its ugly head for the 14th novel in Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series, as eroticism becomes mere description..."[8]
Publishers Weekly described the 2008 16th book, Blood Noir, as "florid" but credits Hamilton with giving Anita "a case to solve between wild orgies with wereanimals." The review ends with a comment on the direction the series is taking: "Hamilton chronicles Anita's escapades with a growing air of ennui, which longtime readers can't help sharing as sex increasingly takes the place of plot and character development".[9] Blood Noir debuted at the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list;[10][11] by early July, it was at number 25.[12]
In contrast, a Denver Post review of Danse Macabre took a more positive view of the eroticism in Hamilton's work. Although it noted that "[t]hose looking for mystery and mayhem on this Anita adventure are out of luck" it also stated that "the main attraction of the Anita Blake novels in the past five years has been their erotic novelty," and "[f]ew, if any, mainstream novels delve so deeply into pure, unadulterated erotica."[13]
In a December 2006 post in her blog, apparently aimed at an ever-increasing number of participants on the Laurell K. Hamilton forums,[14] Hamilton acknowledged readers who, disappointed in recent Anita Blake novels, have chosen to stop reading her work altogether. She added that "life is too short to read books you don't like." Hamilton then asserted that, aside from this group, there exists a number of "negative fans" who, claiming to have made this decision, continue to discuss later books in detail; she suggests that these individuals are either "closet readers" or comment based on others' opinions. However, Hamilton suggested that sales figures establish the popularity of the series.[15]
Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter
Merry Gentry series
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Marvel Comics series(in Anita's chronological order)
Others
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