The Brilliance of Pt. IV Chapter 3 of “The Vampire Lestat”
Puttering along in my audiobook re-read of TVL and this morning I had the pleasure of making it to the aforementioned chapter and discovering anew what makes this book, and this character, so special.
Lestat’s conversation with the Children of Satan is a perfect distillation of everything Anne Rice did to turn this genre on its head.
I’m not sure if she was aware of it when she was writing it, but it’s kind of insane the kind of perspective hindsight gives you here.
Think of it, Armand,” I pressed carefully. “Why should Death lurk in the shadows? Why should Death wait at the gate? There is no bedchamber, no ballroom that I cannot enter. Death in the glow of the hearth, Death on tiptoe in the corridor, that is what I am. Speak to me of the Dark Gifts—I use them. I’m Gentleman Death in silk and lace, come to put out the candles. The canker in the heart of the rose.
“It is a new age. It requires a new evil. And I am that new evil.” I paused, watching him. “I am the vampire for these times.”
There’s really not much more to say on the subject, the novel and this section in particular, speaks for itself.
Keep It To Your Shelf 