Twilight (novel series)

Twilight
Industry	Publishing
Founded	2005; 21 years ago
Founder	Stephenie Meyer
Products	Fantasy romance novels, companion books, novella

Twilight comprises a collection of four vampire-centered fantasy romance novels, supplemented by two companion books and a novella, all authored by American writer Stephenie Meyer. Released yearly from 2005 through 2008, the principal storyline follows Bella Swan, a teenage girl who relocates to Forks, Washington, and develops a romantic relationship with Edward Cullen, a vampire aged 104 years. The plot is primarily narrated from Bella’s viewpoint, with segments presented from the perspective of Jacob Black, a werewolf. In 2010, the novella The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner was published. The series further expanded with The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide in 2011, followed by the gender-swapped reinterpretation Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined in 2015, and Midnight Sun in 2020, which retells the original novel from Edward’s perspective.

Since its initial release, the saga has enjoyed remarkable commercial success worldwide, especially among young adult readers. The novels have garnered numerous accolades, including the 2008 British Book Award for Children's Book of the Year awarded to Breaking Dawn, and the series secured the 2009 Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Book.

By August 2020, global sales surpassed 160 million copies, with translations into 49 languages. All four main installments dominated as the top-selling novels of 2008 according to the USA Today Best-Selling Books list and collectively remained on the New York Times Best Seller list for Children's Series Books for over 235 weeks.

Summit Entertainment adapted the novels into The Twilight Saga film franchise. The first three movies premiered between 2008 and 2010; the concluding book was divided into two films released in 2011 and 2012. Moreover, Netflix is currently developing an animated series inspired by Midnight Sun.

Twilight

Bella Swan relocates from Phoenix, Arizona to live with her father in Forks, Washington, while her mother travels alongside her new spouse, a minor league baseball player. In Forks, Bella becomes intrigued by Edward Cullen, a vampire who subsists on animal blood instead of human. Their mutual attraction grows into love; however, James—a ruthless vampire from another coven—targets Bella. The Cullens protect her; following a perilous encounter in Phoenix, Edward rescues Bella and she returns safely to Forks.

New Moon

Edward and his family depart Forks under the belief that their presence endangers Bella. Stricken with grief, Bella develops a close relationship with Jacob Black, a shapeshifting wolf who shields her from Victoria, a vampire seeking vengeance for James's death. When Edward mistakenly assumes Bella has died, he plans to take his own life in Volterra, Italy, but Bella and Edward's sister Alice intervene. They confront the influential Volturi, who release them on condition that Bella will soon transition into a vampire. Bella reunites with Edward and his family back in Forks.

Eclipse

Victoria raises an army of "newborn" vampires intent on killing Bella and confronting the Cullens. Facing a difficult decision between Edward and Jacob, Bella witnesses an alliance formed between the Cullen family and the werewolf pack to defeat Victoria’s forces. Ultimately, Bella chooses Edward and consents to marry him.

Breaking Dawn

Bella and Edward enter into marriage, but Bella's accelerated pregnancy threatens her survival. She nearly perishes during the birth of their daughter, Renesmee, who is a dhampir. To save Bella, Edward transforms her into a vampire. When another vampire clan misidentifies Renesmee as an unlawful "immortal child," the Cullens provide testimony to the Volturi to demonstrate that she is not dangerous. Following a tense standoff, the Volturi withdraw and leave them unharmed.

Life and Death

On October 6, 2015, Little, Brown and Company published the Twilight Tenth Anniversary/Life and Death Dual Edition, which includes an almost 400-page retelling of the original novel featuring gender-swapped lead characters Edythe and Beau. This version delivers a more conclusive ending, seemingly wrapping up the narrative without extending into the original sequel series.

Midnight Sun

Midnight Sun, released in 2020, serves as a companion novel to Stephenie Meyer's 2005 Twilight. It narrates the events of Twilight from Edward Cullen's viewpoint rather than Bella Swan’s. Meyer initially intended this to be the sole retelling from Edward’s perspective. To authentically portray Edward’s character, Meyer shared completed chapters with Catherine Hardwicke, director of the Twilight film, and Robert Pattinson, who portrayed Edward during filming. The book was officially published on August 4, 2020.

Future

In August 2020, Meyer revealed plans to write two more Twilight novels aimed at expanding the series’ universe after finishing an original novel first.

Graphic novels

On March 16, 2010, Yen Press released Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1, illustrated by Young Kim and adapted from the first book. In February 2011, it received the 2010 Gem Awards Best Manga of the Year honor. The follow-up volume, Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 2, launched on October 11, 2011, and debuted atop The New York Times Best Seller list for Hardcover Graphic Books.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

In March 2010, Meyer announced a novella titled The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, centered on a newly turned vampire featured in Eclipse. Published on June 5, 2010, it was made available both as a free electronic edition and in physical bookstores.

Illustrated Guide

Little, Brown and Company announced in October 2010 the release of The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide, an extensive resource containing character biographies, deleted scenes, interviews with Meyer, family trees, maps, and nearly one hundred full-color illustrations. After multiple delays since its initial announcement in 2008, it was finally published on April 12, 2011. The guide debuted at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list for three consecutive weeks and reached number four on the USA Today Best Seller list.

Main characters

Bella Swan: The central figure of the series; Bella is an awkward adolescent with dark brown hair and eyes. She battles with low confidence and initially struggles to comprehend Edward’s affection. Uniquely immune to supernatural mental abilities such as Edward’s telepathy while human, Bella gains the power to shield herself and others from psychic attacks after her transformation into a vampire in the fourth book.
Edward Cullen: A vampire who lives with the Cullen family that subsists on animal blood instead of humans. Edward falls deeply in love with Bella; they marry and have a child together. Although initially antagonistic toward Jacob Black due to his feelings for Bella, Edward eventually accepts Jacob as both brother and friend. His supernatural gift is telepathic mind reading within a limited radius; while Bella is immune before becoming a vampire, she learns to lower her mental defenses following her transformation.
Jacob Black: First introduced as a minor character from the Quileute tribe, Jacob becomes Bella’s closest friend and an important presence in her life during New Moon. He possesses the ability to shapeshift into a wolf. Despite his romantic feelings for Bella, she remains devoted to Edward. In Breaking Dawn, Jacob imprints on Renesmee—Bella and Edward’s daughter—ending his romantic pursuit of Bella.

Setting

The storyline is primarily set in Forks, Washington, where Bella and her father, Charlie Swan, reside. Additional locations within Washington featured include Port Angeles, Olympia, Seattle, and La Push. Significant moments also take place beyond Washington’s borders: Bella’s childhood in Phoenix, Arizona; Edward’s attempted suicide in Volterra, Italy (New Moon); visits to Bella’s mother in Jacksonville, Florida (Twilight and Eclipse); and Seattle’s involvement in Breaking Dawn, which covers Jacob’s emotional turmoil alongside the vampire infant killings from Eclipse. During Breaking Dawn, Bella and Edward honeymoon on the fictional "Isle Esme," located off the coast of Brazil.

Structure and genre

The Twilight saga is generally classified as young adult, fantasy, and romance. However, Meyer described the initial book as a blend of "suspense romance horror comedy," ultimately viewing the series as predominantly "romance." The plot revolves around the unconventional love story between human Bella and vampire Edward, complicated by a love triangle involving Jacob, a werewolf. The novels deliberately avoid explicit material, reflecting Meyer’s conviction that adolescent readers do not require graphic sexual content.

Some critics categorize the series within gothic literature due to its portrayal of supernatural beings and complex emotional relationships. Gothic fiction often uses dark symbolism to explore abstract ideas; Meyer’s depiction of vampires embodies "repressed familiarity," enabling readers to connect with the characters. Dreams play a significant role in gothic themes; notably, Twilight originated from a dream much like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Unlike traditional gothic tales where horror or disgust dominates, Bella’s empathy toward Edward propels the narrative.

The books employ a first-person narrative style, primarily through Bella’s viewpoint, with later installments incorporating Jacob’s perspective. Meyer found it difficult to assign her work to a single genre since it features vampires and teenagers but does not conform strictly to established genre conventions.

Meyer’s vampires differ from classic folklore: they possess sharp teeth instead of fangs, sparkle under sunlight rather than combusting, and feed on both animal and human blood. Unfamiliar with traditional vampire myths during writing, Meyer chose to maintain her original interpretation to preserve the story’s integrity rather than adhere to conventional tropes.

Inspiration and themes

The author states that her novels emphasize "life, not death" and "love, not lust." Each book draws from renowned literary works: Twilight echoes Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, New Moon parallels Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Eclipse reflects Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, and Breaking Dawn takes inspiration from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream. Meyer also acknowledges influences such as Orson Scott Card, L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, her family experiences, and characters from X-Men: The Animated Series. Other sources include Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, HGTV programming, and films like Iron Man (2008), Somewhere in Time (1980), and Stranger than Fiction (2006).

Themes central to the series include personal choice and free will; Meyer highlights how characters actively shape their destinies. The vampires’ self-control serves as an allegory for opting toward different life paths despite adversity.

Meyer’s Mormon beliefs influence her storytelling, informing characters’ contemplation of origins and fate. The series delves into Christian ethical questions, especially through Edward's internal conflict with temptation, symbolizing the concept of "overcoming the natural man." Mormon ideas about immortality and eternal life are woven throughout; vampires have immortal bodies but seek deep connections, while Bella achieves both immortality and eternal life by becoming a vampire alongside her family. Meyer consciously excludes explicit scenes, guided by her values to keep the narrative lighthearted rather than indulge in graphic content.

Origins and publishing history

Stephenie Meyer envisioned Twilight after experiencing a dream on June 2, 2003, involving a human female and a vampire who loved her yet desired her blood. Despite having minimal prior writing experience, she completed the manuscript within three months. Meyer secured a contract for three books with Little, Brown and Company valued at $750,000—an exceptionally large advance for a first-time author. Her agent, Jodi Reamer of Writers House, was drawn to the manuscript partly because its length surpassed standard young adult novel expectations. Editor Megan Tingley identified its potential to become a bestseller midway through reading it. The novel was officially released in 2005.

Following the triumph of Twilight, Meyer extended the narrative with three sequels: New Moon (2006), Eclipse (2007), and Breaking Dawn (2008). Upon release, New Moon entered the New York Times Best Seller List for Children's Chapter Books at number five and quickly ascended to number one in its second week, holding that spot for eleven consecutive weeks and remaining on the list for over fifty weeks in total. After Eclipse was published, the first three installments collectively spent 143 weeks on the bestseller list. The final volume, Breaking Dawn, launched with an initial print run of 3.7 million copies and sold more than 1.3 million copies on its opening day, establishing a first-day sales record for Hachette Book Group USA. Meyer confirmed that this installment would mark the conclusion of Bella Swan’s narrative viewpoint.

In both 2008 and 2009, all four books occupied the top four positions on USA Today's year-end bestseller rankings, making Meyer the first author to achieve such a feat. Additionally, the series won the 2009 Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Book, competing against the Harry Potter series.

Reception

The reception of Twilight has been varied; while it gained widespread popularity, it also attracted significant debate.

Positive reception

The novel earned praise for resonating strongly with its intended audience. The Times commended it for authentically portraying "the teenage experience of sexual tension and alienation." Critics described it as an "exquisite fantasy" and an engaging "fusion of romance and horror." Lev Grossman of Time remarked on its "soft quality" reminiscent of online fan fiction but applauded its immersive world-building, likening it to works such as The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter: Template:Blockquote

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer labeled it a "trending new teen novel," while Entertainment Weekly referred to Meyer as "the most popular vampire novelist since Anne Rice." The The New York Times called Twilight a "literary phenomenon," with the Daily Herald noting it as "the hottest publishing sensation" since Harry Potter. The series cultivated a large and diverse online fanbase often described as "cult-like," attracting not only teenage girls but also young boys and adults.

Meyer and her work have frequently been compared to J. K. Rowling and her Harry Potter series. The Phoenix New Times likened Meyer's fandom to Harry Potter hysteria, while the The Daily Telegraph dubbed Twilight the "spiritual heir to Harry Potter." Rebekah Bradford from The Post and Courier emphasized its wide-ranging crossover appeal akin to Rowling’s literature. According to the Daily Telegraph, Meyer achieved remarkable success across English-speaking nations and Europe, filling a niche left by Rowling’s series conclusion. Meyer expressed appreciation for these comparisons but highlighted that Rowling's phenomenon remains unique, noting parallels in fan devotion.

Economically, Forks, Washington—the setting of the series—reaped considerable benefits from tourism generated by fans, attracting approximately 8,000 visitors each month and becoming a pilgrimage site for "Twilighters." Enthusiasts actively contributed to local projects such as fundraising campaigns aimed at preserving Forks High School’s historic brick exterior.

On November 5, 2019, the BBC News included The Twilight Series among the 100 most influential novels. In 2020, the series was inducted into the Library of Congress, designated for preservation due to its cultural significance.

Negative reception

Critics have challenged both the literary merit of the series and its portrayal of relationships.

A number of reviewers dismissed the writing quality as subpar. Comparing Stephenie Meyer with J. K. Rowling, Stephen King remarked, "the fundamental difference [between Rowling and Meyer] is that Rowling is an exceptional writer, whereas Meyer lacks writing skill." Nevertheless, King acknowledged that the series resonates with a generation of girls by offering a safe exploration of romance and sexuality that is thrilling without being explicit.

Robin Browne contrasted the themes in both series: "While 'Harry Potter' explores confronting fears, discovering inner strength, and making moral choices under adversity... 'Twilight' centers on how crucial it is to have a boyfriend."

Laura Miller from Salon.com criticized the characters as underdeveloped and argued that excessive focus is placed on Edward's superficial traits rather than substantive themes. Elizabeth Hand of The Washington Post described Meyer's prose as functional but burdened by heavy-handed plotting. A Yahoo! Shine article echoed these critiques by stating that although Twilight touches upon motifs like longing and alienation, it lacks emotional depth and sophisticated language present in more critically acclaimed literature, providing escapism rather than meaningful literary substance.

Controversy

The series has drawn criticism for allegedly endorsing emotionally and physically abusive relationships. Sci-fi website io9 pointed out that Bella and Edward’s relationship fulfills all fifteen abuse criteria outlined by the National Domestic Violence Hotline. L. Lee Butler from the Young Adult Library Services Association expressed hesitation about including these books in libraries due to their normalization of stalking and abusive conduct. Feminist platforms such as Jezebel, The Frisky, and Salon.com condemned the series for conveying anti-woman messages. The magazine Bitch characterized the novels as spawning a genre dubbed "abstinence porn," portraying Bella’s virginity loss as synonymous with losing her identity and life itself. Meanwhile, Ms. magazine identified an anti-abortion undertone alongside depictions of physical abuse; however, Angela Aleiss from Religion News Service noted that Bella’s decisions reflect Mormon family values rather than an explicit anti-abortion stance.

Psychologists have concurred on labeling Bella and Edward's relationship as abusive. Melissa Henson, Director of Communication for the Parents Television Council, warned that romanticizing domestic violence through this narrative sends damaging signals to teenagers that abuse equates with love.

Mainstream media outlets including Entertainment Weekly, Movieline, and Mediabistro.com have reiterated concerns regarding abusive elements within their relationship.

Author Stephenie Meyer has rebutted these critiques by asserting that her story focuses on Bella’s autonomy—a fundamental feminist ideal—and that Bella’s vulnerability arises from her humanity rather than weakness. Meyer stated: "Just because [Bella] doesn’t practice martial arts or prepares meals for her father doesn’t justify such criticism." Similarly, Shannon Simcox from The Daily Collegian highlighted Bella’s agency in making decisions like relocating to Forks or aspiring to become a vampire as evidence of empowerment rather than passivity.

Legal issues

In December 2010, singer Matthew Smith (known professionally as Matt Heart) filed suit against Summit Entertainment in Smith v. Summit Entertainment LLC, concerning his song "Eternal Knight," which Summit alleged infringed upon its use of "Twilight" font style in cover artwork. Smith prevailed on four out of seven claims, including retaining rights to distribute his song provided all references to "Twilight" or "Twilight Saga" were removed.

Book challenges

In 2009, the American Library Association ranked the Twilight series fifth among its Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books list due to allegations of being "Sexually Explicit," inappropriate for certain age groups ("Unsuited to Age Group"), and containing contentious "Religious Viewpoint" content.

Film adaptations

Melissa Rosenberg adapted Stephenie Meyer's novel into a screenplay under Summit Entertainment. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the film starred Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan alongside Robert Pattinson portraying Edward Cullen. It premiered across U.S. theaters on November 21, 2008. Shortly before release, Mark Cotta Vaz published Twilight: The Complete Illustrated Movie Companion.

Afterward, buoyed by strong box office returns from ‘’Twilight,’’ Summit announced production of a sequel: ‘’The Twilight Saga: New Moon,’’ based on Meyer's second book; it premiered on November 20, 2009. The DVD and Blu-ray editions were released March 20, 2010—coinciding with midnight launch events—and included ‘’Twilight in Forks,’’ a documentary exploring key filming locations within Forks city limits. Topics Entertainment issued another related documentary titled ‘’Forks: Bitten by Twilight’’ in March 2010.

The third installment titled ‘’The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,’’ debuted June 30, 2010; it set records for single-day Wednesday openings at cinemas nationwide. The fourth film split into two parts: ‘’The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1,’’ released November 18, 2011; followed by ‘’The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2,’’ which premiered November 16, 2012.

Impact

The influence of the ‘’Twilight’’ franchise extends prominently into fan conventions such as ComicCon, alongside dedicated gatherings like 2009’s TwiCon, as well as multiple “Official Twilight Conventions” organized by Creation Entertainment.

Since 2007, Forks hosts an annual event known as ‘’Forever Twilight in Forks,’’ coinciding with protagonist Bella Swan's birthday on September 13th. Originally called ‘’Stephenie Meyer's Day,’’ this festival was renamed by local business groups but remains pivotal in driving tourism growth locally. Fans flock there to visit iconic filming sites including Forks High School, Bella's residence, Cullen family home, Newton hardware store, and La Push Beach—with many attendees dressing up as beloved characters from the saga.

In popular culture

The vampire horror movie released in 2010 titled ‘’Lost Boys: The Thirst,’’ features an invented vampire book series named ‘’Eternity Kiss,’’ clearly parodying ‘’Twilight.’’ This fictional work is authored by character Gwen Lieber (portrayed by South African actress Tanit Phoenix) within the film’s storyline. Vampire hunter Edgar Frog (played by Corey Feldman) criticizes Gwen’s poorly received novels during dialogue scenes.

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