Hit List (novel)

Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter

Cover of Guilty Pleasures, Ace edition
List of novels Guilty Pleasures, The Laughing Corpse, Circus of the Damned, The Lunatic Cafe, Bloody Bones, The Killing Dance, Burnt Offerings, Blue Moon, Obsidian Butterfly, Narcissus in Chains, Cerulean Sins, Incubus Dreams, Micah, Danse Macabre, The Harlequin, Blood Noir, Skin Trade, Flirt, Bullet, Hit List, Beauty, Kiss the Dead, Affliction, Dancing, Jason, Dead Ice, Crimson Death
Author	Laurell K. Hamilton
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Urban Fantasy
Publisher	Ace Books, Berkley Books
Published	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.

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 relationships and powers.

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.

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).

The Laughing Corpse Adaptation

Circus Of The Damned Adaptation

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. Hamilton worked with Stacie M. Ritchie on the comic scripts, with Brett Booth illustrating the series until 2008.

The first adaptation was well received, with the first volume of The Laughing Corpse being a New York Times bestseller in the graphic novel category. Interest in the series declined, but Marvel completed its contract for the first three novel adaptations in 2012.