Vampire—past and future

Press, 24 April 1987, Page 19

Vampire —past and future

The Vampin Lestat. By Anna Rica. Marketing Services, 1987. 599 pp. $14.99 (paperback). This is the second part of a trilogy — “Chronicles of the Vampires” — planned by Anne Rice. She introduces a new breed of vampire, capable of being accepted as human, and not restricted to the same degree as others of their kind who must confine their activities to the dark hours. However, vampires like Lestat are no different from the others in that they need fresh infusions of blood to renew their life-force. Befriended by one of the “Old Ones” from the eighteenth century, Lestat is taken on a journey back through time, to observe and take part in the

demonic rites and customs used by vampires throughout the ages. But Lestat has modernistic attitudes — and his unconventionality creates enemies among traditional vampires who try to eliminate him as he performs, as a super star, at an openair concert before thousands of frenzied rock fans. Only timely intervention by the "Old One” who had befriended him saves Lestat, but he is acutely aware he has somehow created a mysterious enemy, more powerful than any other presence he can comprehend. An alien from his journey into the past? Who knows? Perhaps that mystery will be solved with the last in the series of “Chronicles of the Vampires.” — Jim Donlon.