blogflog: title for Anita #16

[sharkbytes.livejournal.com]

 I haven't really flogged a blog in a long time, but I couldn't resist when I read the latest offering from the desk of Laurell K. Hamilton.  It seems she's got a title for that Jason book that's been giving her fits.....  

LKH blog in bold
Me, quivering in pain.  
URL: http://blog.laurellkhamilton.org/2007/09/title-at-last.html

I'm running out of time to do the research for the Jason book, oh, we have a title now. I keep forgetting. Blood Noir is officially the title for Anita Blake # 16.

BLOOD NOIR.  Let me say it again, because I sure needed to hear that twice:  BLOOD NOIR.  

To be fair, I think it's very difficult to characterize anything as Noir these days.  Part of the reason that the genre is so appealing is that there isn't any set formula.  However, the framework is now, and has always been, based on the old style of hardboiled detective and crime fiction.  Guys like Dashiell Hammett, James M. Cain, and Raymond Chandler, or even more recently, Mickey Spillane and Lawrence Block, have good reason to be characterized as such.  It isn't limited to male writers at all; in fact, Christa Faust is a fantastic writer and also has the title of being the sole female published by Hard Case.  They write/wrote hardboiled, gritty characters.  


Moreover, fans of Noir and Crime Fiction are a Dedicated Bunch.  There's something sinister and romantic about a tough lead character, shady business dealings, and gangsters who really knew how to be gangsters.  There's recently been a surge of what I'll refer to as Neo-Noir (not because I'm trying to coin a term; I just really have no idea what to call it) and the sad truth is, most of it fails miserably because it just doesn't capture that magic element.    There have been some great ones though:  I consider David Lynch's films to be a form of noir, and they're usually spectacular.  


The sheer arrogance of LKH to insinuate that Anita is in any way a Noir character is just mind-blowing.  Noir has plot twists, and complicated story lines.   As far as i'm concerned, figuring out which of the eleven males in your harem will be dinner for the evening doesn't constitute a plot twist.  


 I could be wrong, she could have just chosen the title because it sounds omg!soDarkandFrench.  But if that's the case, then she made a serious error in judgment because it opens her up to all manner of criticism from genre afficianados.  


This wasn't much of a flog as it was an opinion, but I'd love to hear how all of you feel about it.  Am I being too harsh? 

Comments

[dkphoenix.livejournal.com]

It seems particularly unsuited for a book that's supposed to feature Jason, who is neither French, a vampire, or very noir-ish. For that matter, he's one of the least "dark" characters in the entire series. (And oh lord, I hope he stays that way after "his" book.)

[rin-x-x.livejournal.com]

Pretty sure she just chose it for the omg!soDarkandFrench-ness of it all.

[poor-toms-acold.livejournal.com]

I'm going with the darkitydarkityFrenchness of it all being the reason, but what really bugged me about that blog entry was her 'running out of time to do research for the Jason book' bit. Isn't the book almost finished? Shouldn't most of the research be waaaay done already? Unless she meant she needs to start saving for all the 2008 calenders that are about to go on sale...

[poor-toms-acold.livejournal.com]

On a related note: although I wish I could unread CR, ID and DM I find myself looking foward to (shudder) Blood Noir - I mean, Jason!. And furthurmore I'm finding myself strangle compelled to read The Harlequin (Edward! Olaf! Less sex!). Do I need help, or is there the slight possibility my delicate brain meats may survive such self-imposed torture?

[http://users.livejournal.com/belladonna_/]

Research? What research??! It's not like she's writing about the Revolutionary War. She's just making this shit up!

[sharkbytes.livejournal.com]

I just won't even be able to take it if that happens. When I first started typing this up and criticizing the title, I was worried that maybe I was just over-reacting. But my first instinct was that she deliberately chose it to evoke that noir-feeling, and I thought it was so *tacky*

The Noir Community frowns upon her shenanigans, lol

[belledewinter.livejournal.com]

I think she picked it because it sounds 'omg!soDarkandFrench'. I don't think, considering her previous books, that she's even close to pulling an actual Noir. *eyeroll*

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

Okay, my question is, why would she choose that name for someone as American...let me repeat that...AMERICAN, as Jason? I mean, blond haired, blue-eyed, college student, likes to party and fuck around? Sounds almost Californian.

Thing is, I know a lot of people hate Jason, but I never did. I liked him from day one, cause he messed Anita's shit up every time he saw her. Trying to get into her pants, but never really serious. Willing to stand up to Richard, which was probably one of the best parts of Cerulean Sins, and garnering the wrath of the pack for it. He was loyal to those that looked after him, and let's face it, Richard wasn't. We was too busy being democratic. It's with that thought that I'd like to read the book, even though I KNOW she's gonna turn him into a character worth really hating. It's like watching a train wreck, I can't help it.

[atypia.livejournal.com]

I love Jason :D He's a big dork and he's great :D

[ex-naomi-ja.livejournal.com]

Let me guess ... Blood Noir is the name of JC's brand spanking new bondage club?

[foolish.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be surprised, not at all.

[putana.livejournal.com]

LKH probably just went - vampires = Blood; Noir = Dark! and that was it. I really doubt she puts too much thought into her titles. They usually are quite shoddy.

Perhaps the fact that she is running out of time means she should SLOW DOWN. *sigh* But she just wants the fame and money rather than putting out quality books.

[maladaptive.livejournal.com]

"Blood Noir" is about as ridiculous as you can get. Next up, Dark Noir. Or Murder Mystery Noir!

I always thought her titles were getting pretty dumb, but Blood Noir just sets my teeth on edge. Yes, dear, most of us know that noir is a thing of well-characterized, gritty sort of darkity dark. Putting blood in front makes it sound like a badly chosen AOL RP screen name.

[alex-lebeau.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see you mentioning AOL RP. Good times, old old memories. Blood Noir would not only have been an SN, but a guild name, likely for White Wolf vampires who are all, somehow, 3rd gen.

[vmisery.livejournal.com]

There's recently been a surge of what I'll refer to as Neo-Noir and the sad truth is, most of it fails miserably because it just doesn't capture that magic element.

I'm curious who she's taking a dig at with this line. It sounds a bit catty to me, specifically because it brings to mind another author who does urban fantasy far, far better than she does with a strong noir feel.

[parafan.livejournal.com]

LOL I think everyone is forgetting how literal and unsophisticated LKH is. While a reasonable person might expect a novel with Noir in the title to have a lets say "Noir" atmosphere, in LKH's case I bet she is being absolutely literal. Noir=black. Therefore black blood. There is probably a vampire in the story that has black blood or is looking for black blood or is color blind or only bites African Americans (no disrespect intended). You get the point. But to write a true Noir novel? NO WAY !

[chubling.livejournal.com]

I think you're probably right. I don't think she was thinking about the Noir as a style, I think she was trying to be omgsocoolandfrench! Because, you know, that Jason. He's so darn French.

And, you know. French is the new black for Goths. Or something. But I think the title is supposed to be referring to Black Blood. Which is....lame.


..........


She isn't going to make Jason a vampire, is she?

[ainjul.livejournal.com]

Well lesse... Noir, as far as I can tell means "black" or "dark" maybe, hopefully shes going for a literal translation here becasue shes OMGdarkgawthgothy? Please?

[princessblaise.livejournal.com]

So I'm not up to date....she's coming out with another Merry book, a 16th Anita book, AND a Jason book? Or is the 16th Anita book gonna be focused on Jason? Is the Jason book styled like the Micah one?


No matter what it is that title is terrible. I would really love to see some of the old school noir writers rip on her for it.

[freyalorelei.livejournal.com]

I think she mentioned that the book she's currently writing was going to be the Jason "novel-lite" (as she so cutesily terms them), but ballooned into the 16th full-length novel. I'm partly of the opinion that it's because "Jason" as a title isn't as evocative as "Micah" and not up to her oh-so-gawth standards, so she switched to the darkity darkness that is *snerk* Blood Noir.

And dude, for fuck's sake, if you're going to give it a Frenchish title, why not go all the way? Like Sang de Noir or something. Give your audience at least some credit and assume they're smart enough to translate.

[nimnix.livejournal.com]

IIRC, LKH is a fan of hard-boiled detective fiction, right? I think it was part of her original inspiration for the Anita Blake series. Also, she could be using it to tie the title into Marmee Noir.

Anita's avataring it up. It seems like Anita is becoming Blood of Marmee's Blood, hence Blood Noir. Hey, if you want a new mommie, get adopted by Mommie Dearest, eh?

Of course, this may be a tad too logical for LKH. So go with the dark-goth-OMGfrench explanation.

[http://users.livejournal.com/belladonna_/]

But Jason=Rhys, and we all know that Rhys, unlike all the other imaginary fairy gigolos, owns a tv and is obsessed with Humphrey Bogart. Hence Jason=Noir.

[cicipsychobunny.livejournal.com]

Zing!

[dominanefret.livejournal.com]

My guess is that she is just using noir to mean black and doesn't know the other implications of the word.

[ditaykan.livejournal.com]

So... the title of the new book is "Blood Black"?

[easol.livejournal.com]

Alas, I think that she doesn't mean "black" when she writes "noir." I think she really does consider Whorenita just a sexier, liberated female version of Bogie (retches), because she lives in a DARKITY-DARK world and has trouble with cops. Thing is, "Maltese Falcon" and "Big Sleep" focused on things OTHER than who Bogie was shagging -- like moral ambiguity, crime, twisty mystery, etc.

Not to mention dialogue that is STILL considered awesome today ("Fuck me while I'm tight" versus "What can I do for you? I can do what? Where? Oh, no, I wouldn't like that and neither would my daughter!").

Anita ain't Bogie. She's more Carmen Sternwood -- a creepy, immature nympho who murders men who won't have sex with her.

[chucklingcorpse.livejournal.com]

She doesn't hit rockbottom does she? She just keeps falling and falling...

[ravenhaley.livejournal.com]

First I love the icon.

Second I wonder when the next Chris is going to cry on youtube for people to leave LKH alone.

Third ... Jason's book is going to be just as dumb as the other.

[easol.livejournal.com]

I'm going to regret asking this, I just know it. Who is Chris?

[dwg.livejournal.com]

Well, LKH still maintains that Anita was originaly "hard boiled" detective fiction. Which is totally untrue, but then, LKH also claims to write "political thriller" for the MG series. *headdesk*

As for your term, I know Simon R Green used the phrase "Neon Noir" in his Nightside novels, and it seems apt because the world's a strange mix of past, present, and future.

But seriously -- WTF? Blood...black? Maybe it's her way of trying to describe black bile...which is a symptom of ebola, specially when your liver shuts down. I read books, I learn stuff. Yes.

[easol.livejournal.com]

POLITICAL THRILLER? Surely she jests. What's so political about "I fuck everything with a penis, and they get new powers, and if I get preggers I get to be queen"?

As for "black blood," I really don't think it goes any deeper than "it's got vampires, so it has lots of blood... and NOIR means dark, which means it's darkity-dark and has BLOOD! SO GAWTH!"

"Neon Noir"? Cool. Yeah, I could see that in the Nightside books...

[silent-sybil.livejournal.com]

AT LEAST say "Sang Noir." PLEASE?