Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles an Alphabettery

October 15, 2018

Becket (The Blood Vivicanti), a former assistant to horror master Rice, compiles a meticulous guide to all 15 novels in the seminal "Vampire Chronicles" (1976-2018), tracing the people, places, and monsters populating this intricate world, from the lowliest human to the most powerful vampire. Revealing Becket's clear admiration for the subject matter, this volume will most likely be read by those already familiar with the stories, as very specific plot outlines offer complex introductions to tales that some will have yet to read. For instance, ten highly detailed pages dedicated to the vampire Lestat, a major character, can feel daunting to those navigating this expansive series for the first time. This is not necessarily negative, but it does narrow the book's appeal. VERDICT Rice's fans will savor this lovingly crafted and painstakingly precise work. But given its specificity, it's best for larger collections or where Rice's novels are popular.--Matthew Gallagher, Victoria, BC

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2018
Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles now number thirteen titles (beginning with Interview with the Vampire, 1976) and consist of a complex fictional universe. Rice contributes the introduction, which explains her process in developing her cadre of the undead and gives insights into her dreamworld. About a dozen black-and-white illustrations by Mark Edward Geyer dot the volume. The entry categories include characters and groups, individual book titles with very short summaries, locations, idioms and sobriquets, items, phenomena, and events. Alphabetically arranged entries range in length from two sentences on up; Lestat de Lioncourt gets nine pages. Each entry includes its category designation, description, the books in which it occurs, and selective cross-references to associated entries. The writing by Becket, a former assistant to Rice, is clear and objective, avoiding editorializing. The plot points for the major characters are especially well detailed and easy to follow. The decorative font choice fits the stories, and the two-column layout facilitates reading. Newcomers to the series will welcome this guide, and faithful readers will also enjoy the one-stop handbook.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)