I'm reading two series that are so far apart genre-wise as for anyone to wonder what similarities they have. I can answer that one: politics.
When I began reading these series, I was impressed by the characters intestinal fortitude to Get Things Done no matter what the cost to themselves - and, on occasion, others. You know the saying, there is no greater love than to give your life... for someone who probably doesn't appreciate the sacrifce and will resent the hell out of you for the rest of their lives because of the guilt. Hmm. Nothing noble there. Why do they do it? Something about honour, justice and love, I suppose. Although, it would twist a enemy character, wouldn't it, to know that a hero died to save them. "Damn their eyes! How dare they be more worthy than I? How dare they take my victory away by sailing between me and that rogue asteroid/out-of-control-ship/terraton-alien-missile/fighting-the-monster-to-the-last-breath?" Something to ruminate on for the rest of their naturally embittered life.
But I digress. The similarity. Politics. From starship commander to an Admiral of two two fleets, Honor Harrington is now more involved in the politics of fighting a resumed war than actually getting out there and kicking butt; from feared vampire hunter to fuck-bunny, Anita Blake is now more involved in the politics of monsters than in solving crimes and killing beasties. For those readers who enjoy the political side of these characters, it must be a relief to get away from all that nasty violence. For those of us who like the violence - within reason - in the pursuit of a stunning, dramatic conclusion to a book, it's a sad down turn of some truly original books.
Could it change back? Well, no. Characters need to grow and develop. Unfortunately, while Honor Harrington has maintained the code of Manticore, Anita Blake has, for one reason or another, betrayed her own code of honour and descended into the very depths of depravity she swore she would not succumb to. Hah. We have followed Anita's demise, some readers agree it is a natural progression, others do not. I'm in both camps, giving the author time to consider motives and reasonings; nothing changed. The character continued to plunge into the abyss.
Politics have stripped the original vampire hunter of humanity. It was that very part of her identity that made the Anita Blake series such a good one. Now, it is steeped in sex for very specious reasons, and with no emotional consequences, no thought to the betrayal of fundamental morals.
For me, there are things I absolutely will not do for any reason or any lure. I will not betray myself or my honor in the pursuit of power or for the betterment of someone else just because I think I love them. It's not about them, it's about what I can live with. Sadly, Laurell K. Hamilton's character is all too willing to prostitute herself for others needs, rather than her own. And yes, it has all come about by her own choices. She's taken the easy way out because it became too hard to fight against.
For David Weber's Honor Harrington, nothing would convince her to betray everything she believed in, even when the enemy was her own government. I don't know that I agree with the recent developments - White Haven is too old, forty years is too big an age gap even with prolong - but the characters are happy, well-adjusted, people. And yes, Harrington is well aware that she is a stone-cold killer, just as Blake is. The difference is attitude; the difference is how each dealt with the politics of the situation. One stood firm, held honor in both hands and earned unwanted political power; the other slipped, gave in to temptation, turned and embraced that which she abhors and accepted the darkness.
What will be the results of all this? Only the authors know that. But it brings up an interesting thought: Which is the more intriguing scenario? The rise or fall of a hero?
One clue is always whether new readers are attracted, or whether fan readers are repelled. For both Harrington and Blake, the juries, luckily, are still out.
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