Memnoch the Devil

Rating:
Summary: This book makes for an excellent theological debate
Review: I must confess that I hated this book the first time I read it but after reading the entire book a few more times, I grew to love it. I thought Anne's concept of the character Memnoch (aka Satan) was believable. Just like all human beings, he is flawed as is the almighty God who was portrayed as ruler who rules heaven with an iron fist. As I have read this book over and over, I have come to a conclusion that God isn't all that Christianity has made him to be and he is just as fallible as the Lucifer but this is just my humble opinion. I find this book exceptionally compelling is that it brings up the subject in subtle tones the relationship of God and Memnoch. I personally didn't find the scene of Lestat taking a drink of God's blood shocking as most people would. I thought it was just part of the storyline of the battle between God and Memnoch. Whether Anne Rice meant it to be shocking or not is difficult for me to say. Only Anne would know. In conclusion, Anne Rice has remained my favorite author to this very day. She has proven with this book her articulate writing abilities and obviously shows the readers the amount of research she put into her stories like "Memnoch the Devil".

Rating:
Summary: compelling
Review: i am only 14 years old and i understand the whole undercurrent of the book Memnoch the Devil. i found it extremely fascinating to get to know Memnoch and i think Lestat was the best character out of all in the vampire chronicles to undergo this soul searching with memnoch. i won't bore you with details about what more i think about this novel but i will tell you this: out of all the troubled souls anne rice has written about i like this one best!

Rating:
Summary: Not original, not well-executed, not worth reading
Review: Anne Rice was clearly bursting with pride at her novel and radical novels set forth in "Memnoch the Devil," so much so that she never really bothered to put much of a plot in. When you've got the devil as a nice guy telling the true story of the Fall and Lestat meeting Jesus, why would anyone need more?

And, judging by the reviews here, I guess the Anne Rice True Believers don't. But for those of us who don't find the core concepts of "Memnoch the Devil" all that radical -- lord knows that they've shown up enough in genre fiction, television, movies and comics for the novelty to wear off -- tend to find "Memnoch the Devil" so thin, it's transparent.

Even the gawd awful "Taltos" didn't wean me off Anne Rice, but "Memnoch the Devil" finally did. I winnowed down my collection of her books to the really good ones and "Memnoch" didn't merit a moment's thought.

Borrow this from the library if you feel you absolutely must read it.

Rating:
Summary: Ricke's Vision of Heaven and Hell
Review: This the fifth in the author's vampire chronicles, and it is a verydifferent reading experience. The beautiful and strong vampire, Lestat finds himself stalked by someone or something terrifying and sinister. The shadowy figure is Memnoch, an archangel evicted from heaven when he challenged God's indifference to the suffering of humanity. Memnoch is horrified by the anguish and pain of the human condition.

Rice cleverly has Memnoch seek out Lestat and it is their conversations that make up the bulk of the story. Memnoch takes Lestat through a verbal history of heaven and hell and leaves the reader bowled over by the sheer courage of Rice's writing. She has created a vision of creation and salvation with such lucidity and power that I thought about the book long after I read the last page. This is the strength of this book. It leaves you pondering our existence, the prophecies of the Bible, and the strength of Satan.

The dialogue is beautifully written, Lestat's character continues to be fleshed out and Rice pushes the boundaries of fiction and religion. The indifferent God is such a plausible one that I felt some relief. If humanity is completely responsible for what happens to them, it is much more reassuring than the image of a benevolent God who picks and chooses who will have an easy life and who will face repeated tragedies and hardships.

Rating:
Summary: Memnoch Got a Bad Rap From Reviewers
Review: Reviewers who were hoping for more atmospheric "Interview" musings (first book in series) or revisting rockin' "Lestat" (book two) were disappointed. However, I absolutely loved this book: It's Anne Rice's RANT against God! The vampire part is almost not important. I highly suggest you read this book back-to-back with Richard Matheson's "What Dreams May Come" (very different from the film)... These two books will give you a glimpse into how different the theology is of kids raised Catholic and those raised Protestant, but even more interesting, they both explore the afterlife in FASCINATING depth.

Rating:
Summary: Say what?!
Review: I don't get it. I really, really, really don't get it.

What's the point? What does this book have to do with the rest of the Vampire series? Why does Ann repeat the obvious facts we already know about these characters (that they're beautfiul, full of themselves, etc.,etc.,etc.)? Why is Lestat such a dull character now?

I enjoyed the character of Memnoch greatly, but what exactly was the point? This whole thing wasn't so much a story as just one long philisophical theory, which is fine, except it ain't all that brilliant or origional, or even well written. Lestat acts nothing like himself and more or less every character seems ignored with the exception of Memnoch himself (and we see maybe just a bit TOO much of him)

At least the ending kept me captivated, if only for a few minutes; and at least "The Vampire Armand" added some depth to this nonsensical rubble of a story. Also, the storyline that takes place involving the daughter of one of Lestat's victims was fairly interesting as well. I fail to understand what Rice was thinking overlapping these two stories (which, with one or two tiny exceptions, have NOTHING to do with each other) and turning everything into one big mess.

Oh well, at least the writing was excellent, as always

(But then again, I HATE the way she writes as Lestat. The boy's been around for what? 300 years? You'd think he'd know decent english by now...)

Rating:
Summary: Courageous Chronicle!
Review: Another brilliant addition to the Vampire Chronicles. In Memnoch the Devil, Lestat seems to show signs of a conscience and recognition of his own faults and possible vulnerabilities, which helps the reader to care for him.

The story is far reaching and challenges readers to open their minds. Ms. Rice's imagination is awe-inspiring. Memnoch's feelings about God's relationship to humanity, being indifferent, struck a chord with me as I'm sure it will many other readers.

The book was a surprise in that an author would take on this subject matter. Ms. Rice does so with her usual creative flair and writes a book that will long stay on my bookshelf. If you are a fan of Ms. Rice's work or have read the other vampire chronicles, you will enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Is this really a Vampire chronicle?
Review: I was left wondering why Lestat was even in this tale. The story seemed more about the Devil whining that God was an insensitive so & so than a tale of the vampires I have grown to love. Throughout my reading I was either bored, or (more often) offended. I am not prudish, but I did not like the way the God I and many others believe in was reduced to an indifferent, bumbling fool. I grew tired of Memnoch's retelling of the Biblical creation. I kept wishing Lestat would do something other than go on and on about how beautiful the Devil looked. Personally I think Anne Rice set Lestat up against God and the Devil because he had no other antagonists left. What next, Lestat in space?

Rating:
Summary: A Religious Treatise Masquarading as a Vampire Novel
Review: Ever since I first read INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, I have had a particular fondness for Anne Rice. Her subsequent novels have never fully realized the same literary levels as INTERVIEW, but I have enjoyed them all. With the exception of MEMNOCH.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a religuous fanatic. My criticism is not based on an alternate view of religious beliefs (in fact, I greatly enjoy anyone with the nerve to question established dogma). I am also not offended by any of the liberties Rice takes with the usual, less sympathetic depiction of the Devil.

What offends me is that this is NOT a vampire novel.

Rice's conceit is to take Lestat, the vampire hero of several previous novels, and place him in direct contact with evil incarnate. Now, this is a hell of an idea.

But MEMNOCH only uses this theme as a device to explore the Devil's soul. This is also an admirable idea. But the two ideas never mesh. While I found the novel somewhat entertaining, I also found it incomplete.

I believe Rice intended a different book. I believe she attempted to write a book solely about the Devil. And then, when it was apparent that she didn't have enough imagination to sustain the theme, she grafted Lestat onto the plot, and rushed the novel to market before anyone realized. Either that, or her agent insisted on an appearance by Lestat so that her fans would buy it on that premise.

The Devil is a fascinating character. Much literature has been conceived around the notion of a sympathetic demon. But Rice doesn't pull it off. Lestat is too much of a whiner to compete with Satan. The Devil is too strong a character to be made a secondary member of a VAMPIRE novel. Read Clive Barker's A HISTORY OF THE DEVIL instead. It's a wonderful play, and it gives the Devil his due.

Rating:
Summary: Brave, but falls short
Review: Once again, Rice has put forth a commendable effort in her Vampire Chronicles. Unfortnuately, the attempt again falls short of what could have been. Of all six in the series, this is one of the least enjoyable -- along with Queen and Thief. Interview set a standard very difficult to follow and this one certainly does not come close.

The novel does have strong points. The prose is again romantic, beautiful and often haunting. Lestat seems to show signs of a conscience and recognition of his own faults and fallibilty, which helps the reader to again care for him. The hints at further and important character development are precious, but sadly imcomplete. Rice's writing is again laden with incredible detail -- one of her greatest strengths. However, in this one, that detail often mires the actual flow of the story.

It is a very brave tale, told with spunk and determination. The implications are vast and endlessly interesting. However, the metaphor is heavy handed when it should be subtle -- leaving the intelligent reader feeling guided and constrained.

The characters show sparks of possibilty, which is promising after the disappointing Thief. Yet, once again, the old characters seemed hollow shells of their former well rounded selves. Espeically Armand. The new characters are, for the most part, forgetable.

The conclusion is realistic in some aspects, but dreadfully frustrating in others. Many events are out of character and make little sense, leaving the reader disappointed and confused.

If you are a vampire chronicle fan and determined to finish what you have started, definately read this one -- and think ahead to Armand. Or, if you are a dedicated Rice fan, this one is probably worth your while. If neither of the above apply, don't waste your time.