The Vampire Chronicles is a series of novels written by Anne Rice between 1976 and 2003. Each one features the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt, who was transformed into a vampire by Magnus in the 18th Century.

The following titles comprise The Vampire Chronicles (each link takes you to Amazon):

• Interview with the Vampire (1976)
• The Vampire Lestat (1985)
• The Queen of the Damned (1988)
• The Tale of the Body Thief (1992)
• Memnoch the Devil (1995)
• The Vampire Armand (1998)
• Merrick (2000)
• Blood and Gold (2001)
• Blackwood Farm (2002)
• Blood Canticle (2003)

This collection of vampire fiction gained huge popularity in the 1970s. Many of the books are written from Lestat's perspective, in first person, and Interview with the Vampire is written as Lestat's autobiography.

Vampire Characteristics

Unlike traditional vampires, such as Bram Stoker's Dracula, the ones found in The Vampire Chronicles are a little more resilient. They are unaffectd by the usual weapons such as garlic, crosses and wooden stakes through the heart. However, they suffer the same vulnerability to sunlight, choosing to sleep through the day and go hunting at night. A curious deviation from the classic vampire exists in that the dawn often triggers sleep whether they want it or not, and when they do sleep they become dead bodies.

Future Additions To The Vampire Chronicles

In a recent interview with TIME magazine, Anne Rice stated that she was working with possible ideas for a final installment in her popular series. In her interview, Rice explained that the book would be a Christian novel, following her return to faith, dealing with Lestat and the Talamasca and with a prominent theme of redemption and possible salvation for the vampire hero. Though Rice did not give an official name for the book, she hinted at the name "Angel Time" as a possibility on her website. She later changed her mind yet again and issued a statement on her website denying she would write such a book. However..... now on her website it says that Angel Time will be the first novel in the Songs Of The Seraphim series. Due out on October 27th 2009.