First: from Jessica A, SmartPop has an essay up about the language of sex, specifically looking at sex in the Anita Blake series, and how authors approach sexuality and sexual depictions. You can read it online at the SmartPop site.
I don’t know how author Marella Sands wrote about the sex scenes in the Blake series. There are hardly any.
Want to watch videos about awesome? Carrie Lofty has two for you. They’re older, but they’re teh winsome.
First, The Nostalgia Chick talks about token chicks, with the default and the deviation of the default/gender alternative. Well worth watching and thinking about it.
Key moment: “AND SHE’s PIIINK!”
Then Nostalgia Chick, Lindsay Ellis, takes a look at villainesses.
I love analysis of pop culture SO MUCH. This RULES. Thanks Carrie!
Finally, Leah alerts me to an awesome line in Seducing the Vampire, by Bonnie Vanak, the free Online Reads at eHarlequin: “a silent tsunami of stealth.” That would make a great name for a blog, wouldn’t it?
At least there’s one euphemism I’d never heard before:
removing the training wheels from the bicycle?
“There are hardly any”?? How far did you read? Anita Blake goes from the most annoying prude ever (Books 1-6) to a prude who’s all conflicted about her acquired nymphomania. I mean, srsly, some of the later books have no plot besides “Anita MUST have sex. But Anita doesn’t WANT to have sex. But Anita MUST have sex.” And let me tell you, that “plot” has more than one climax!
Now me, I read that as sarcasm. You know, does Anita have sex -is water wet?
Word added95, yes Anita has probally had 95 lovers since I last read the books.
“A silent tsunami of stealth” arose
As she gazed at the crotch of his pants
But alas! T’was only purple prose
(insert name here)‘s (name of object) was no bigger than an ant’s.
🙂
Good article, but I can’t help but wonder at someone who thinks L Hamilton writes sexy well. I find her clunky, awkward and pretty darn unsexy once she started venturing into the sex of the story (venturing off a big, tall cliff maybe). A phrase like “modified push-up position” used once, let alone re-used is rather a buzz-kill! And so much screaming during the big “O”s that I couldn’t buy it. I keep waiting for an aneurism or at least a burst blood vessel in an eye and if you’re thinking of that, you’re not in the moment in the way you need to be. Just sayin…
@Pamelia – Yep, agree with you on all points. I think the series was actually sexier before all the sex…
Ain’t it the truth. I used to love Anita, but the books are just boring now. It’s so sad to see that happen to a character I used to like.
Oh, Bonnie, your poem is priceless!
Love your attitude.
Loved the bit about “equating a woman’s genitals with something that bites”. It made me think of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods – literal biting. ::shudder::
That post about Anita Blake broke my heart a little. The earlier books in that series were so good. I think I’ll mourn the loss of that series to the arduer for the rest of my days…
captcha: public24 (Yes, yes. We know our poor Anita has gotten it on in public with no less than 24 preternatural beasties.)
I was totally being sarcastic – I’m sorry that didn’t come across (HA) clearly. Someone here wisely once called Anita a Glistening Orifice™ because all she does is humperate.
I think she started getting too much sex when she stopped being a terrible dresser. I miss her matching socks and fanny pack.
I loved the early Anita Blake books, but lately they are just frustrating to read. There is too much boring talking, talking, talking among the characters.
I liked the vampire hunts, the murder investigations, the clubs and the dating outside of her species.
Nostalgia Chick is hilarious. Her deconstruction of “Showgirls” (in two parts) actually redeems the time I once lost to watching that movie.
@ktg, the article made me sad too! But alas, I suppose it’s better to have loved and lost a great series than never to have had that series at all, right?
Like others have said, the Anita Blake series went downhill fast after the sex took over. I stopped reading the books when sex became a substitute for plot development.
P.A. Loved the essay.
@Lilly, I think you’re right. I also think it’s a constant reminder that even a great series is a few “modified push-ups” and “rainmaking” from being a disaster. (And that maybe a planned out ending is a good idea…)
Nostalgia Chick is golden.
How have I missed her before now? How did she crawl into my brain and say what I’ve been saying?
I totally have to turn her onto pain reliever commercials (if you want true, subtle misogyny). 😛
OMG. Nostalgia Chick.
I totally have a straight-girl crush on Nostalgia Chick now! My 4 year old is running saying “and she’s PIIIIIIINK!” She’s a great spokesperson for my generation.