Memnoch The Devil - Ann Rice

I am rather surprised that Anne Rice hasn’t already been hung by a mob of religious zealots, or been branded a ‘devil on earth’ by the Pope for her unique and often disturbing novel, ‘Memnoch the Devil.’ For the uninitiated, or for those who haven’t seen either ‘Interview with the Vampire’ or ‘Queen of the Damned’ it’s broadly about vampires (come on, I’m not going to do a complete synopsis of the story so far!). So, the story so far (ok, ok)…. Lestat the vampire is a very bad vamp indeed. Not only does he kill people to drink their blood (excusable for a vampire I ...  Read the complete review

Lestat goes to hell. When I first heard about the premise for this book, I laughed - what else could the brat Prince do having unconvered the secrets of vampirism, but attempt to unlock the truth about heaven, hell, god, the devil and creation? Anne Rice's fifth Vampire Chronical is am ambitious piece indeed. (I strongly recomend that you read the other four before trying this, as there are too many long standing characters and it just isn't going to make much sense otherwise. You have to understand how Lestat is to make any sense of what he does.) What would you do if someone approached you claiming to be the devil and offered you a tour of ...  Read the complete review

This is a novel, which shall have you questioning the very foundations of your religion, full stop. Although Anne Rice's favourite antagonist is not a major player in the novel, this surprisingly is not a downfall of the novel and I believe readers shall event thrive from this fact as Anne Rice continues to grow as an author? It was always going to be a hard and treacherous road when undertaking the desire to describe and challenge various religious beliefs to which the very foundation of our society is built upon. I don't know how but Anne Rice tackles the challenge set with class and sophistication. The plot of the novel is one which ...  Read the complete review

This is the fifth book in Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, and her favourite, so she says. I have to disagree, and say that the previous Chronicles were much better. I found myself bored halfway through, and just continued to read it so that I could get it finished. Lestat, our dark hero, after having survived the Body Thief (the fourth Chronicle), finds himself faced with his most amazing offer so far. To go on a tour of Heaven and Hell. Memnoch the Devil, has been watching Lestat, and wants him to be his lieutenant. He tells him that the choice is his and after the tour he will be returned unharmed, if he should decide to decline the offer. ...  Read the complete review

This book was rich in detail with beautifully described locations and characters. Anne Rice's explanation of God and the Devil was intelligent and very interesting and the description of Hell in particular was vivid and gruesome. I would advise however, not to read this book first if you haven't before read one of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. The vampire element only lasted for half the book, after which point the narrative turned completely to creation, Heaven, hell and so forth. Lestat is again the central character which makes the whole story more accesable. Lestat makes the ideal person from which to see the story unfold, and by the end the reader has ...  Read the complete review