Literary Vampires
Anne Rice
Interview with the Vampire - Anne Rice
The first in the Vampire Chronicles, this tale is told by the the point of view of Louis to a reporter in the city of San Francisco. Louis recounts the tale of his death as a human and birth into the life of a vampire in the city of New Orleans. He quickly grows discontented with his maker Lestat, until Lestat creates a child vampire, Claudia. Then, the novel travels to Europe for an introduction to the Theatre Des Vampires and other vampires. Also a movie, which can be explored from the films page.
The Vampire Lestat - Anne Rice
In this novel, the central figure is Lestat himself, and this is his counter tale to Louis'. We discover Lestat's humanhood, his own making into a vampire, his exploits with the vampire theater, and a different side of his life with Louis and Claudia. Much of the novel takes place in the past, but there are sections set in modern day America in which Lestat mounts his claim to fame in the guise of a rock 'n roll band. We are introduced to such characters as the Queen and King of the Vampires, Marius, Gabrielle and Pandora, of which more is told in later novels.
The Queen of the Damned - Anne Rice
Through this third vampire chronicles novel, we are again the companion to Lestat. Much of this story regards the origination of the vampire, through the tale of the red-haired twins and their encounter with Enkil and Akasha. We meet some of the First Brood vampires, and get a more enhanced view of some of the other vampires we have already come to know.
The Tale of the Body Thief - Anne Rice
Again, we see the story through the eyes of Lestat, as on an impulse he agrees to exchange his vampire body with that of a young man who knows the trick to stealing bodies. Lestat is human and then desperately tries to get his vampire body back. There is very little of the other vampires in this story, but we do get to know David, from the Talamasca, a great deal more.
Memnoch the Devil - Anne Rice
Fifth in the line of the vampire chronicles, this one picks up the tale of Lestat as his search for the vampire's meaning of life becomes more focused. Lestat travels to hell with Memnoch to see how it compares to Heaven, where Lestat also meets God. This novel delves quite deeply into theology, philosophy and has some very interesting interpretations of the Christian faith.
Pandora - Anne Rice
This is the 6th installment of the vampire novels, but listed as separate from the main 5 about Lestat. This particular one chronicles the before-vampire life of the ageless Pandora, how she meets Marius, becomes a vampire, and why she is the way she is. I know I'll get killed for the opinion, but I just didn't like this one as much as the others. It just seemed drier, more of a history lesson than a story. But, it is still a good read, and still about vampires.
The Vampire Armand - Anne Rice
This novel centers on the vampire Armand/Amadeo and how he becomes a vampire under the care of Marius. He is separated from Marius and introduced to the life he was living when Lestat met him, and then the theater, and then Louis and then the present day. These last two novels are the tales of the other vampires, but take place in the time after Lestat has brought back Veronica's Veil.
Vittorio - Anne Rice
The next in the line of the new vampire stories, this one concentrates on a vampire none of the others knows or has spoke of before. Entailing Italy, angels, devils, art, history and vampires, I found this novel a refreshing change from Armand. This one has very little, almost nothing, to do with Lestat and the others and therefore can stand alone - and it does.
