Publication
Arrow (2010), 416 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Literature. HTML:"STARTLING . . . FIENDISH . . . MEMNOCH'S TALE IS COMPELLING." �??New York Daily News "Like Interview with the Vampire, Memnoch has a half-maddened, fever-pitch intensity. . . . Narrated by Rice's most cherished character, the vampire Lestat, Memnoch tells a tale as old as Scripture's legends and as modern as today's religious strife." �??Rolling Stone "SENSUAL . . . BOLD, FAST-PACED." �??USA Today "Rice has penned an ambitious close to this long-running series. . . . Fans will no doubt devour this." �??The Washington Post Book World "MEMNOCH THE DEVIL OFFERS PASSAGES OF POETIC BRILLIANCE." �??Playboy "[MEMNOCH] is one of Rice's most intriguing and sympathetic characters to date. . . . Rice ups the ante, taking Lestat where few writers have ventured: into heaven and hell itself. She carries it off in top form." �??… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member surreality
Plot: Did it have one? The story seems to serve only as a background that keeps the chapters together. A rip-off of the Divine Comedy (without the good bits), topped with an ending that a) simply doesn't fit and b) makes very little sense.
Characters: Lestat is rather subdued in this one and it's
Style: This book is a religious rant of enormous proportions. Almost all of it is about catholicism and the philosophy connected to it, spread out in epic detail. The usal overabundance of description, but this time not offset by dialogue or plot. There are several hundred pages when the book is at a complete standstill and does not go anywhere.
Plus: It's the last book with the old Lestat, before Anne Rice turned him entirely strange.
Minus: Far too much religion and general weirdness.
Summary: Read it for completeness' sake only. There's no need to read this for comprehension of the later volumes in the series - the relevant facts are being summed up in each and every one of them.
Characters: Lestat is rather subdued in this one and it's
Show More
hard at times to connect him to the way he has been established in the series. Memnoch is flat and rather uninteresting - in his case a lot of potential is passed up. Style: This book is a religious rant of enormous proportions. Almost all of it is about catholicism and the philosophy connected to it, spread out in epic detail. The usal overabundance of description, but this time not offset by dialogue or plot. There are several hundred pages when the book is at a complete standstill and does not go anywhere.
Plus: It's the last book with the old Lestat, before Anne Rice turned him entirely strange.
Minus: Far too much religion and general weirdness.
Summary: Read it for completeness' sake only. There's no need to read this for comprehension of the later volumes in the series - the relevant facts are being summed up in each and every one of them.
Show Less
LibraryThing member EmScape
Memnoch the Devil is a tale far more philosophical and religious than any of Rice’s previous Vampire Chronicles. Her vampires have always wrestled with these questions of religion, philosophy and Their Place in the Grand Plan of ….whoever. In this book, Lestat meets the Devil himself. And, God
Those who are fans of the campy suspense of Queen of the Damned or Tale of the Body Thief: this is not the book for you. Those who are fans of the historical backstory and scholarly interests of The Mayfair Witches and The Vampire Lestat: this book is not for you. Those who actually like the broody, questioning Louis of Interview with the Vampire, and the introspective Taltos: you might enjoy this book. Those who obsessively read everything Ann Rice has ever written (including her pseudonymous works): this book is for you (and me).
Show More
Incarnate. With so many capitalized pronouns, Rice lays out a reimagining of the struggle between these two entities. Frankly, I’d like to believe it as Gospel Truth. But, of course, Lestat is the Damndest Creature and even he doesn’t believe what he experienced. So? What was the point of that, exactly? Those who are fans of the campy suspense of Queen of the Damned or Tale of the Body Thief: this is not the book for you. Those who are fans of the historical backstory and scholarly interests of The Mayfair Witches and The Vampire Lestat: this book is not for you. Those who actually like the broody, questioning Louis of Interview with the Vampire, and the introspective Taltos: you might enjoy this book. Those who obsessively read everything Ann Rice has ever written (including her pseudonymous works): this book is for you (and me).
Show Less
LibraryThing member Aerliss
This is my absolute favourite work by Anne Rice. Many disagree with me on this point. I enjoyed the exploration of faith, Christianity, good and evil, the alternate creation myth... that and Lestat goes completely off on one. A rather large cast list, but it's mostly Memnoch and Lestat.
LibraryThing member amharte
I really liked this book as a teenager, but a recent re-read has made me bring down the rating from 4 stars to 2.
Why?
The writing is vain, self-centred, annoying, focused more on clothing descriptions than on actual plot. Either that or it seems to be a lecture on religion. I like the ideas, I
Yes, I realize that Lestat is vain and self-centred, that the writing reflects his personality. This doesn't make it any less annoying.
Why?
The writing is vain, self-centred, annoying, focused more on clothing descriptions than on actual plot. Either that or it seems to be a lecture on religion. I like the ideas, I
Show More
enjoyed the story, but the writing style left me unsatisfied.Yes, I realize that Lestat is vain and self-centred, that the writing reflects his personality. This doesn't make it any less annoying.
Show Less
LibraryThing member celestialfingerpaint
Books about Lestat tend to be well written, but not my favorites. This book is an exception to that rule. I understand why Lestat is in it, but the story could have done just fine without him. It's not really about him. It's about the question, "What if everything you've been told about the devil
Show More
held only a hint of truth, and the real truth was that he's on our side?" That's the case Memnoch presents for himself, but in the end, the question isn't really answered. Which is really just fine. People don't want answers about that kind of thing. They want their own beliefs, as illustrated by some of the minor characters in the story. Show Less
LibraryThing member hermit_9
To quote Buffy, “I think I speak for all of us here when I say, ‘Huh?’” This is a really bizarre diversion. It is worth reading, but leaves you unsatisfied. It raises many questions and answers few. Perhaps that is as it should be.
LibraryThing member leodione
Bad, bad Anne Rice..The most long winded book she's ever written.
LibraryThing member bookwitch
The last in the series of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, but the first I’ve read. An extraordinarily ambitious novel in which the author attempts to describe and explain not only Creation but Heaven and Hell; Memnoch is told in the words of the Vampire Lestat, a brilliant device in itself. The
The Victim and his daughter, Dora, a televangelist, are both wonderfully over-the-top and well imagined, and Lestat himself manages to be engaging in spite of the horror of his acts. But it’s the wondrously imagined and worked out central section of the book – Lestat’s guided tour of Heaven and Hell by Memnoch (a contemporary Divine Comedy) – that kept me turning the pages, and I had the feeling that this was the heart of the novel and could almost have stood alone, that the beginning and end of the story were there merely to serve it, and might even have been written quite separately at a later date.
Memnoch himself is wonderfully seductive, far more so than God, but both are ambiguous; this is an incredibly clever novel that actually offers answers to those persistent questions and contradictions about the nature and existence of God himself – no mean feat.
Show More
novel begins with Lestat stalking a prospective victim and becoming aware that he himself is being stalked. This first section features some characters from the previous books in the series and unfolds fairly slowly; the author drops in many references to past events – perhaps too many – I wondered at one point if she was trying to hook new readers into buying previous books. The Victim and his daughter, Dora, a televangelist, are both wonderfully over-the-top and well imagined, and Lestat himself manages to be engaging in spite of the horror of his acts. But it’s the wondrously imagined and worked out central section of the book – Lestat’s guided tour of Heaven and Hell by Memnoch (a contemporary Divine Comedy) – that kept me turning the pages, and I had the feeling that this was the heart of the novel and could almost have stood alone, that the beginning and end of the story were there merely to serve it, and might even have been written quite separately at a later date.
Memnoch himself is wonderfully seductive, far more so than God, but both are ambiguous; this is an incredibly clever novel that actually offers answers to those persistent questions and contradictions about the nature and existence of God himself – no mean feat.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Carl_Alves
After writing the two best novels in her Vampire Chronicles, Anne Rice puts out a dud in this fifth installment. In this novel, the Devil, Memnoch, recruits Rice’s vampire bad boy Lestat, to fight God. Perhaps the premise was too far reaching for an effective novel, but the novel had too much
This is the point in Anne Rice’s writing of her Vampire Chronicles that she starts to lose her way. Her previous novels were gripping and intriguing. This one really falls flats. The novel is overwritten. She could tell the same story with far fewer words and it would be much tighter. Lestat, normally entertaining and intriguing loses his luster. Not one of Anne Rice’s better novels.
Carl Alves – author of Blood Street
Show More
backstory, and not enough actual story. Too much of the novel focuses on the story of creation and Memnoch’s fall from grace as an angel, who believes his damnation happened because he refused to accept that human suffering should be part of God’s plan. God and the Devil often take human form and get into philosophical debates. Meanwhile, Lestat is just there for the ride, more of a passive observer than an active participant.This is the point in Anne Rice’s writing of her Vampire Chronicles that she starts to lose her way. Her previous novels were gripping and intriguing. This one really falls flats. The novel is overwritten. She could tell the same story with far fewer words and it would be much tighter. Lestat, normally entertaining and intriguing loses his luster. Not one of Anne Rice’s better novels.
Carl Alves – author of Blood Street
Show Less
LibraryThing member jshillingford
Unfortunately, I just could not enjoy this book. I loved the original Vampire Chronicles trilogy, but this wasn't even close to the standard they set. It may be because I am Catholic; I can easily envision Satan "making a case" for his actions against God. There's a reason he's called the Prince of
Show More
Lies by so many. Also, I found Lestat's character totally out of sync with his actions and personality from the previous novels. It seemed that Rice was trying to wax philosophical here, and I just didn't care. I want the fun, unrepentant Lestat back, please. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rae_Sedin
I’m sad to say that this is the first Anne Rice book that I REALLY disliked. From the first moment I picked up Interview With the Vampire I became a crazy Anne Rice fan and I loved every one of her books that I read since. It took me forever to get through Memnoch the Devil; I started reading it
Show More
about a year ago and then put it down because I couldn’t stand all of the religious drivel. I finally decided that I had read enough of the series that I needed to finish it no matter how painful it was. I personally don’t want to read a story that revolves so entirely around the Christian religion, as I happen to be an atheist. Putting my dislike for religion aside, this book felt preachy. Memnoch talked for far too long about his speculation on evolution, the nature of human beings, theology, and every other monotonous detail of the Christian religion. My only consolation was that by the end of the book Lestat still hated god and the devil though I would have preferred that they had remained out of the story altogether. I only read this book so that I could understand the rest of the story, even though I thought it was extremely boring. I makes me truly sad to know that Anne Rice has since gone on to become Catholic and write about Christ in earnest. I would definitely NOT recommend this book even for Anne Rice fans, it isn’t worth it! Show Less
LibraryThing member Arymilla
I loved this book. I believe it's the best one she ever done.
LibraryThing member sweetcatastrophe
Absolutely beautifully written. This is my favorite book in the vampire chronicles. It is so richly detailed and developed. I was completely swept away by it and it really made me think. Amazing.
LibraryThing member lecari
I skipped through a lot of this book - I just couldn't get it into it. It's very religious and long winded, and I just wasn't interested. Quite a disappointment, when the others are so good!
LibraryThing member clparson
This book, I could not put down. I am a slow reader (and I mean slow) and I finished this book in two days. In this book, Rice illustrates the age old battle between good and evil. Lestat must decide what side he wants to be on. Though I did not see as much symbolism (though it has been a long time
Show More
since I have read it), the story still had more to offer than the average formula fiction. The metaphor Rice created in her first book, Interview with a Vampire, is still strong in this book. Though Lestat is a vampire, he can be anyone. He represents the everyday person fighting his own battles. Sure, his battles are a little more supernatural, but the conflict remains the same. Good or Evil. Show Less
LibraryThing member PigOfHappiness
In the fifth installment of the vampire chronicles, Lestat meets the devil. Presenting a poetic view of heaven and hell, Rice attempts to give form to religious beliefs. While it fits along the general storyline of the vampire chronicles, this installment showcases Rice's religious attitudes more
Show More
than any other of the previous books. Appropriate for high school and beyond. Show Less
LibraryThing member oelusiveone
I sobbed through a good portion of this book. Her sympathetic portrayal of Jesus in this book was obviously a precursor to her recent religious fiction.
LibraryThing member Seshen
It was a very interesting perspective on the Devil, coming from a character who is supposedly damned. I enjoyed this work.
LibraryThing member MoiraStirling
Exquisite. My favorite of the Chronicles. Perfect, beautiful imagery...superbly written.
LibraryThing member oraclejenn
In this 5th book of The Vampire Chronicles, the vampire Lestat is brought into direct confrontation with God and the Devil and is offered his most dazzling opportunity for redemption yet. In past books, Rice has summoned fantastic worlds as real and immediate as our own. Now she takes us, with
Show More
Lestat, into the mythic world of our own theology. (from Barnes&Noble.com) Show Less
LibraryThing member ck2935
Eh, I liked this book in some respects, but I thought it went a little far with the religious implications. Once you have the answers to death, what else is there?
LibraryThing member Flamika
At first I was on the fence about this novel. I didn't enjoy it so much when I first read it. It's heavy on theology and the Catholic faith as Lestat meets the Devil himself and agrees to hear and experience his story. Upon reflection, it really is a good novel that really makes you think.
LibraryThing member ragwaine
Couldn't put it down, but not enough was different from the bible.
LibraryThing member isabelx
Too much religious philosophising for my tastes.
LibraryThing member sdtaylor555
This was different than the previous vampire chronicles. I really liked it. Lestat goes to heaven and hell! Neato. Lestat's last book of any consequence.
Language
Original publication date
1995-07-03
Physical description
416 p.; 7.8 inches
ISBN
0099548135 / 9780099548133