Which of the variations of the Vampire series do you like better?

The chronicles have gained a large fanbase since the publication of the first volume in the 1970s. The first five books, which feature Lestat prominently, are especially popular; the later books have been criticized as having lost some of the sparkle and vitality of the earlier worksAnne Rice's vampires are different in several ways from classic vampires like Dracula. Rice's creatures are not affected by the usual weapons against classic vampires: garlic, crosses or silver, and they cannot be killed with wooden stakes.

They need blood, but not every night. Human blood is preferred as it is more nutritious, but animal blood is also used. They do not age physically (instead becoming more "statuesque" as they age), in all but a few cases, vampires younger than a thousand years old can usually be killed by exposure to sunlight or fire.

They do not possess stereotypically "vampiric" magical powers, such as changing into bats or casting spells, but some of the stronger, older ones do have the power to fly. Most of them also have the power to read thoughts of mortals and weaker vampires. They have other physical abilities: they can move very quickly (faster than human eyes can see), possess great strength and extremely keen senses. Very old vampires or ones who have been made or strengthened by feeding on blood that is close to the root of the vampiric mother may have additional gifts like the ability to move matter with the mind (Mind Gift) and the ability to set things ablaze by the force of will (Fire Gift). They have many artistic talents, like singing, painting and acting.

The main characteristic of Rice's vampires is that they are all excessively emotional, sensitive, and sensual, being easy prey to intense emotional suffering and aesthetic passions. They are usually very beautiful, as older vampires avoid making new ones out of old or ugly mortals.

The Vampire Chronicles

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)

New Tales of the Vampires

Pandora (1998)

Vittorio, the Vampire (2001)

Blood

Blood is seen as the ultimate relief. Through blood-taking, the vampires experience the only relief and rapture that they can know. It may also be seen as a substitute for sex and other mortal pleasures that are not available to vampires, a tradition that has many precedents in vampire literature. In particular, vampires who are in love (e.g., Marius and Pandora) exchange their blood in a manner that suggests sexual intercourse.

With the taking of the blood, it is also possible for the vampire to learn about the lives of their victims; a kind of instant life review, the vampire can experience the key parts of the victim's life.

Many of the vampires struggle to find some "higher purpose" in their existence. Lestat and Armand turn to religious revelation. Talbot becomes a chronicler, attempting to write the histories of all the vampires. Marius, for most of his time on earth, was the custodian of Those Who Must Be Kept.

Even more jaded characters, as the Chronicles progress, find some belief they want to cling to. Only a handful (such as Pandora) have actually embraced their entire nature, and are able to kill innocent people for blood without remorse.

Practically all the vampires are extremely materialistic, and revel in expensive houses, clothes, technology, cars, entire islands, etc. One exception would be Louis, who constantly criticizes Lestat for his crass consumerism. However, Louis is also rather unhappy with himself.

Anne Rice is one of the best. I own ALL of The Vampire Chronicles. But I think Linda did all the explaining for me.

L.A. Banks is an awesome vampire writer with a modern and "urban" (for lack of a better word) twist on her characters. I highly recommend her series "A Vampire Huntress Legend." Great stuff.

I do like the way Anne Rice portrays Vampires...so much power and strength. The Blade Series also has some good points (I like the DayWalker idea). The two should be combined.

I rather do like Anne Rice myself... but right now I'm reading The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. It's not a chronicle, but more a romantic historical search for the real Drakulya and "reality based" vampirism. Kind of neat actually... definitely different.

I guess I like these authors (Rice and Kostova) because there is a reality base to their works and the stories actually take place in areas that I have traveled to, so it makes the romantic and fearsome idea of vampires all the more real! (And scary then too!)

Laurell K. Hamilton has a pretty good vampire series. Christine Feehan also has a series out that has a variation of the vampire theme. I like the sensual side of the vampire better than the blood and gore side. Hopeless romatic at heart, I guess.

Okay, I'm working on a book right now and to be honest, I like the vampires in Laurell K. Hamiltons books. I like the idea of Blade though, not being the typical vampire, the one that intrigues me the most though, is in Underworld where the guy derives of both vampire and werewolf. I think that was a nice touch, interesting to because wouldn't you be your own worst enemy in that situation?

Flip of the coin between the early Antia Blake series by Laurell K Hamilton, before they became meaningless sex for the portrayal of vampires and the Anno Dracula series by Kim Newman just for themindshift I got in reading them.

Anne Rice's have always been my favorite. I was actually moved to tears when I found out that she was no longer going to write any new books in the series.

Definitely Anne Rice, she's so romantic and mystical. I loved Lestat-hated to love him. He was such a pompous jerk, but he was also so smooth and classic, I couldn't help fall in love. I also fell in love with Armand, Pandora, and even David Talbot. All of her characters-even the ones she wrote that were outside of her vampire chronicles were beautifully written, and were a joy to read.

Although, Jeanne Kalogridis's trilogy was really good, too.

One awesome series is the Saga of the Noble dead by Barb and J.C. Hendee. not your usual vampire book like dracula, but a medieval spn to include elvish races along with a fey wolf. its pretty awesome. much suggested.