Gentleman Death has come in silk and lace to put out the candle of one of our most beloved writers. Anne Rice’s son Christopher announced to her fans via Facebook late Saturday night that the Vampire Chronicles author has passed away due to complications from a stroke. But much like her creations, Anne Rice is truly immortal—in the sense that her literary impact will continue to affect writers and readers for generations to come.
Anne Rice is so central to the modern vampire genre that I included her Vampire Chronicles books in my post on the Vampire Literary Canon alongside such works as Carmilla and Dracula. This series is largely responsible for transforming the figure of the vampire in public consciousness from horror movie monster to the sympathetic and romantic figure of paranormal fantasy. With the publication of Interview with the Vampire in 1976, Anne Rice took us inside the mind of a tormented and reluctant vampire named Louis. Nearly a decade later, in 1985, Rice rocked the literary world again by giving the villain of Louis’s tale a chance to tell his own story in The Vampire Lestat. Thus began the cult following of the rock star Brat Prince vampire, who remains a favorite among many fans of the genre today, and whose story now extends into over a dozen novels.
I first encountered Anne Rice’s works in sixth or seventh grade. I had just fallen head-first into my vampire obsession phase (which has never quite ended), and was reading every vampire book I could get my hands on. I quickly realized that if I was going to gain a full appreciation of the genre, I would need to read the foundational, classic works—including Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. I absolutely devoured Interview with the Vampire and quickly followed it up with The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned. I was so enamored that I remember choosing Anne Rice as the subject of my research paper on the life of an author for what was probably the big final paper of eighth grade. (And let me tell you, researching Anne Rice’s life was certainly an educational experience for a thirteen/fourteen-year-old.) I read a few more Vampire Chronicles books in the years that followed, but lost interest after Memnoch the Devil got a bit too bizarre for me. A few years ago, though, I was inspired to revisit the series when the Vampire Chronicles Alphabettery was published and I got the amazing opportunity to interview her personal assistant, Becket. I dove back into the series with The Vampire Armand and was pleasantly surprised by how it recaptured my love for the earlier books in the series.
Since starting this blog, I’ve also branched out into reading Anne Rice’s more recent books outside of her Vampire Chronicles series. Many of her recent works feature other species of supernatural beings, such as werewolves in The Wolf Gift and mummies in Ramses the Damned: The Passion of Cleopatra. But if you’re a die-hard vampire fan, do give these other books a try. Rice’s werewolves and mummies are all tormented immortals that feel almost like her vampires minus the drinking of blood. It is fun to see her play around with a different set of myths, though. In fact, I was already planning on reading and reviewing the next book in Rice’s Ramses the Damned series, The Reign of Osiris, which comes out in February. I had made arrangements to interview Anne Rice for this blog in the lead-up to that release, and I will forever be mourning that missed opportunity.
But while Anne Rice will certainly be missed, her legacy continues—not only through her vast oeuvre of published works, but also through her son Christopher, with whom she had co-written many of her recent works and who continues to carry on his mother’s mantle. And her legacy will also carry on through her innumerable fans, many of whom have also since gone on to produce their own creative works. I will always be grateful that I discovered Anne Rice’s books at such a formative time in my life, and I look forward to continuing to explore the extensive array of her books that I still have yet to read.
Please share your experiences with Rice’s works in the comments below and help celebrate the life and legacy of this groundbreaking author.
I was 10 years old and at the time the movie “Interview with the vampire” came out. At the time was intrigued and confused about the whole thing (lol). It wasn’t until I was in middle school I came across the book in a public library and had the thought “Oh it’s that movie.” From there it was history. Reading Anne Rices books were always a thrill. I met my best friend because of common interest with her books. I also go into her “Sleeping Beauty” novels. Which if you have not read, you will not be disappointed (very graphic). One dream I had was to go to New Orleans for the Vampire Ball…which now I will be looking forward to her celebration of life. RIP my vampire mother/storyteller. Thank you for all your amazing talent.
I made it into my early twenties having not read a single book cover to cover. Then a girlfriend suggested I read The Vampire Lestat. I’m on my late forties and am still reading voraciously. Sometimes I feel like I was barely literate until I “met” Anne Rice.