Anne Rice - The Vampire Chronicles Collection: Volume I

Unrelentingly erotic Sometimes beautiful, and always unforgettable.

The Washington Post

Bona fide blockbuster Audacious, erotic, and unforgettable An unmitigated terror trip not meant for the weak of heart His ghastly initiation into the netherworld is as mesmeric as is the discovery he is not alone in the nightly search for warm fresh blood.

The Cincinnati Enquirer

If you surrender and go with her you have surrendered to enchantment, as in a voluptuous dream.

The Boston Globe

A chilling, thought-provoking tale, beautifully frightening, sensuous and utterly unnerving.

The Hartford Courant

Sensational and fantastic Woven with uncanny magic Hypnotically poetic in tone, rich in sensory imagery, and dense with the darkness that lies behind the veil of human thought.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A masterful suspense story [that] plumbs the deepest recesses of human sensuality From the beginning we are seduced, hypnotized by the voice of the vampire.

Chicago Tribune

Fiercely ambitious, nothing less than a complete unnatural history of vampires.

The Village Voice

Brilliant Its undead characters are utterly alive.

The New York Times Book Review

Luxuriantly created and richly told.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer

Here, then, is the vampire Lestat come to dreadful and dazzling life, holding the power to haunt our imaginations and beckoning us to some sense of magic inside ourselves. Vive Lestat!

The Houston Post

A worthy successor to Interview She may very well be this centurys Mary Shelley.

The Kansas City Star

Fascinating A novel to be savored A rich and unforgettable tale of dazzling scenes and vivid personalities.

Library Journal

A wonderful web of dark-side mythology Mesmerizing.

San Francisco Chronicle

Exhilarating Rice is equally adept at evoking rainswept Paris streets, concert-hall mayhem, and ramshackle mansions in New Orleans. Shes a very sensual writer.

Newsday

Imaginative Intelligently written This is popular fiction of the highest order.

USA Today

A welcome chance to catch up with old fiends Fascinating When we emerge from its folds, theres good news on the last page: The chronicle of the vampires will continue. Yum.

The Philadelphia Inquirer

A tour de force.

The Boston Globe

BY ANNE RICE

The Vampire Chronicles

Interview with the Vampire
The Vampire Lestat
The Queen of the Damned
The Tale of the Body Thief
Memnoch the Devil
The Vampire Armand
Blood and Gold
Blackwood Farm

Lives of the Mayfair Witches

The Witching Hour
Lasher
Taltos

A Vampire/Witches Chronicle

Merrick

New Tales of the Vampires

Pandora
Vittorio, The Vampire
The Feast of All Saints
Cry to Heaven
The Mummy: Or Ramses the Damned
Servant of the Bones
Violin

UNDER THE NAME ANNE RAMPLING:

Exit to Eden
Belinda

EROTICA UNDER THE NAME A. N. ROQUELAURE:

The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty
Beautys Punishment
Beautys Release

Published by Ballantine Books

A Ballantine Book
Published by The Random House Publishing Group

Interview with the Vampire copyright 1976 by Anne OBrien Rice
The Vampire Lestat copyright 1985 by Anne OBrien Rice
The Queen of the Damned copyright 1988 by Anne OBrien Rice

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Ballantine Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited Toronto.

Interview with the Vampire was originally published by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc., in 1976. The Vampire Lestat was originally published by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc., in 1985. The Queen of the Damned was originally published by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc., in 1988.

Portions of The Vampire Lestat originally appeared in The Twilight Zone magazine

Poems by Stan Rice quoted in The Queen of the Damned were originally published in:

Some Lamb by Stan Rice 1975 by Stan Rice. Published by The Figures Reprinted by permission of Stan Rice.
Whiteboy by Stan Rice 1976 by Stan Rice. Published by Mudra. Reprinted by permission of Stan Rice.
Body of Work by Stan Rice 1983 by Stan Rice. Reprinted by permission of Lost Roads Publishers.

Untitled poem by Stan Rice in The Queen of the Damned copyright 1988 by Stan Rice

Ballantine and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

www.ballantinebooks.com

Library of Congress Control Number: 2002092626

eISBN: 978-0-307-76254-2

This edition published by arrangement with Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc.

v3.1

I SEE said the vampire thoughtfully, and slowly he walked across the room towards the window. For a long time he stood there against the dim light from Divisadero Street and the passing beams of traffic. The boy could see the furnishings of the room more clearly now, the round oak table, the chairs. A wash basin hung on one wall with a mirror. He set his briefcase on the table and waited.

But how much tape do you have with you? asked the vampire, turning now so the boy could see his profile. Enough for the story of a life?

Sure, if its a good life. Sometimes I interview as many as three or four people a night if Im lucky. But it has to be a good story. Thats only fair, isnt it?

Admirably fair, the vampire answered. I would like to tell you the story of my life, then. I would like to do that very much.

Great, said the boy. And quickly he removed the small tape recorder from his briefcase, making a check of the cassette and the batteries. Im really anxious to hear why you believe this, why you

No, said the vampire abruptly. We cant begin that way. Is your equipment ready?

Yes, said the boy.

Then sit down. Im going to turn on the overhead light.

But I thought vampires didnt like light, said the boy. If you think the dark adds to the atmosphere But then he stopped. The vampire was watching him with his back to the window. The boy could make out nothing of his face now, and something about the still figure there distracted him. He started to say something again but he said nothing. And then he sighed with relief when the vampire moved towards the table and reached for the overhead cord.

At once the room was flooded with a harsh yellow light. And the boy, staring up at the vampire, could not repress a gasp. His fingers danced backwards on the table to grasp the edge. Dear God! he whispered, and then he gazed, speechless, at the vampire.