Ardeur edited by Laurell K. Hamilton
Paperback, 240 Pages
2009, Benbella Books
ISBN: 193377147X
Synopsis
Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series is a literary sensation, thanks to its strong female hero, well-fleshed (both literally and literarily) characters and unabashed attitude toward sex. The world Hamilton has created is powerfully compelling and stunningly complex—and it gets deeper, richer and more perilous, with every book.
Straddling the series’ dominant themes of sex and power, Ardeur gives Anita fans a deeper look into the dynamics, both personal political, that have kept readers fascinated throughout the run of the series. Why is the ardeur the very best thing that could have happened to Anita, personally (aside from all the sex it requires her to have with hot men)? How is Anita’s alternate United States a logical legal extension of our own? And as the series continues, what other bargains might Anita have to make with herself and others in order to keep the people she loves safe from harm?
The collection includes essay introductions by Hamilton, giving context and extra insight into each essay’s subject.
Review
I'm a huge fan of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series and reading essays focusing on many different aspects of the series was a wonderful experience. While most of the contributing authors were unknown to me, all had interesting viewpoints on the series.
Having Laurell K. Hamilton herself edit the book concerned me. I felt that her involvement in the project may have caused the book to be less candid than it could have been. The Anita Blake series often invokes strong feelings, for and against Anita's actions. While the subject of her sexuality was touched upon on a few occasions, there was never a strong voice against how the series has progressed, which made me wonder if that just wasn't allowed.
I did enjoy Hamilton's introductions to each essay. She spoke about personal times in her life that seemed to influence the topic each contributor was speaking about. Hamilton is known for being very open about her personal life and these introductions are on par with what fans know of her personality.
The essays will vary in interest according to the reader. Some focus more on the series itself while others focus on the comparisons to either other literary works or "the real world." As I mentioned earlier, all are interesting, but some will be more relevant to fans than others.
Ardeur is a fun look at the entirety of the Anita Blake series, often delving deep into a variety of topics. Much of what is covered in these essays will cause readers to consider aspects of the series in entirely new ways. A must for any Anita Blake fan.
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