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Twilight (novel series)

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The Twilight series is a collection of fantasy romance novels written by American author Stephenie Meyer.

Twilight books
Twilight books

The series is primarily categorized as young adult fiction. It focuses on the complicated romance between a human girl and a vampire. Meyer has also described her work using terms like suspense, romance, horror, and comedy. Some readers also classify the series as gothic literature. This is because the stories use dark themes and monsters to explore human feelings. The books follow the lives of several supernatural beings and the humans they interact with.

The main story follows Bella Swan as she moves from Phoenix, Arizona, to Forks, Washington.

Forks WA
Forks WA

There, she meets Edward Cullen, a 104-year-old vampire. Edward belongs to a coven of vampires known as the Cullens. Unlike most vampires, the Cullens choose to drink animal blood instead of human blood. The plot moves through several intense stages of conflict and discovery. First, Bella must navigate her attraction to Edward while learning his secret. In the second novel, Edward leaves Forks to protect Bella, leading to her depression. She eventually finds comfort in Jacob Black, a member of the Quileute tribe who can shape-shift into a wolf.

"No Vampires" sign in La Push, Washington
"No Vampires" sign in La Push, Washington

The story reaches a climax when Bella and Edward marry and Bella becomes a vampire herself.

The series is structured around four main novels released annually from 2005 to 2008. These are Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. Beyond these, Meyer has published several companion works to expand the universe. In 2010, she released a novella titled The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. This story focuses on a newborn vampire mentioned in the book Eclipse. In 2015, she published Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined for the tenth anniversary. This version switches the genders of the main characters, making them Edythe and Beau. In 2020, she released Midnight Sun, which retells the first book from Edward's perspective.

Stephenie Meyer has significantly expanded the reach of her characters through different media. The novels were adapted into a film series by Summit Entertainment. The first three books were turned into movies in 2008, 2009, and 2010. The fourth novel was adapted into two separate films released in 2011 and 2012.

Twilight saga poster 1
Twilight saga poster 1

There are also graphic novel versions of the story created by artist Young Kim. One volume even won a 2010 Gem Award for Best Manga of the Year. Additionally, an animated television series based on Midnight Sun is currently in development at Netflix.

The commercial success of the series is immense and measurable by several figures. As of August 2020, the series had sold over 160 million copies worldwide. These books have been translated into 49 different languages.

The series has also shown great longevity on bestseller lists. The four main books set records as the biggest-selling novels of 2008 on the USA Today list. They have spent more than 235 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list for Children's Series Books. The series has also earned prestigious awards. Breaking Dawn won the 2008 British Book Award for Children's Book of the Year. The entire series won the 2009 Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Book.

Specific details about the characters help define the different elements of the story. Bella Swan is the protagonist and is often described as a "danger magnet" due to her clumsiness. She possesses a unique immunity to supernatural mental abilities. Edward Cullen is a vampire with the ability to read minds within a specific radius. His relationship with Jacob Black changes over time, moving from mutual hatred to a sense of brotherhood. The setting also plays a vital role in the atmosphere of the books. Most of the action occurs in the rainy town of Forks, Washington, or nearby locations like La Push. Other locations include Volterra, Italy, and a fictional place called Isle Esme.

The Twilight saga connects to broader literary and cultural concepts. By using vampires and werewolves, the series engages with the tradition of gothic literature. This allows readers to examine abstract ideas through the use of monsters. The series also explores the concept of the "uncanny," a term used by neurologist Sigmund Freud. This relates to how people find familiarity in things that are also unsettling. Through its blend of romance and supernatural elements, the series has become a major part of modern young adult pop culture.

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File:Forks WA.jpg
Forks WA.jpg
File:"No Vampires" sign in La Push, Washington.jpg
"No Vampires" sign in La Push, Washington.jpg
File:Twilight books.jpg
Twilight books.jpg
File:Twilight saga poster 1.jpg
Twilight saga poster 1.jpg
File:2009-0606-Forks-Twilight.jpg
2009-0606-Forks-Twilight.jpg
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