Memnoch the Devil

By: Anne Rice

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 15 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

"Like Interview with the Vampire, Memnoch has a half-maddened, fever-pitch intensity. . . . Narrated by Rice's most cherished character, the vampire Lestat, Memnoch tells a tale as old as Scripture's legends and as modern as today's religious strife."(Rolling Stone)

"Sensual...bold, fast-paced." (USA Today)

"Rice has penned an ambitious close to this long-running series. . . . Fans will no doubt devour this."(The Washington Post Book World )

"[Memnoch] is one of Rice's most intriguing and sympathetic characters to date. . . . Rice ups the ante, taking Lestat where few writers have ventured: into heaven and hell itself. She carries it off in top form."(The Seattle Times)

©2014 Anne Rice; 2010 Random House Audio

You'll question everything you ever believed!

What made the experience of listening to Memnoch the Devil the most enjoyable?

I'd been looking forward to getting to this book in the Vampire Chronicles for a long time, and it did not disappoint. It is indeed much more philosophical than many readers might be prepared for, but I was sitting there with rapt attention, jaw hanging open, fully absorbed and fascinated by every word Memnoch had to say! Honestly, this might be the best book I've ever experienced. I'm already listening to it a second time so my boyfriend can experience it. He's the type to roll his eyes over anything involving vampires, so it was a hard sell, but he's just as entrenched in it as I was.

Memnoch delves into the fascinating origins of life as we know it and the evolution of religion on a scale that is difficult to encapsulate in a short review. If you want a true Vampire Story, you really won't find much of one here, but what you will find is a haunting, mesmerizing tale that is unlike anything you've ever heard before.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES! I normally listen to my audiobooks while driving, and found I was just so engulfed with this one that driving became difficult. I gobbled it up with lightning speed!

Any additional comments?

Like I and other reviews have said- if you just want a Vampire Story, skip it. If you are a fan of physchologically introspective, philosophically compelling tales or find the subject of theology fascinating (I'm not Christian/religious at all, but find the origins or religion to be a very compelling subject) you must give this a try. Just embrace the story for what it is and you will find yourself questioning everything you ever believed, thought you didn't believe, or were told to believe.

Fantastic!

I almost did not purchase after reading previous reviews!

In hindsight, the negative reviews appear petty and unwarranted.

The amount of detail provided in such a short period of time is outstanding. The message is perverse, but Anne Rice delivers an unapologetic version of historical possibilities through the eyes of a Vampire...

Not my cup of tea

Any additional comments?

I have read or listened to just about every Anne Rice book--including the two Christ the Lord books--but this is the first book that I actually hated. The storyline that included Dora and Roger was my usual favorite Anne Rice, but the book took a turn to the left when Memnoch entered the picture, and I just couldn't get with where it was going. Oh well, on to the next one...

More Philisophical than Vampire Story

Narration: Very well done EXCEPT for the voice of Lestat. The narrator was supposed to inflect a French accent but instead opted for a Transylvanian one.

Overall: The story is fine but could have used a nice editing job by deleting four chapters in the middle. I really did not need to hear for 1 1/2 hours of the "13 levels of evolution"... Really? This is a vampire story., but Rice manages to squeeze in her own opinions of creation and the the purpose of good and evil. I don't mind a good philisophical discussion but not while I think I'm reading a fictional vampire story.

To heaven, to hell with it...!

Would you listen to Memnoch the Devil again? Why?

Yes. In another 10 years, when I partially forget the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Memnoch the Devil?

Memnoch's allure lies in it's tantalizing and strange vision of heaven and hell, God and the devil. Is her view of the cosmos correct? Probably not. But, it sure is detailed.

Any additional comments?

Memnoch the Devil is among the most strangley alluring books ever written. Anne Rice gives us a vision of heaven, hell, God and the devil. It's compelling, challenging and so descriptive you almost believe it.

Incredible!!!

Life Changing! Anne Rice provokes higher thought in this book! One of her best! A must read!

Really terrible

This is absolutely one of the worst, most self-indulgent pieces of writing I have ever tried to suffer through. There is absolutely NO story, the characters are wholly one-dimensional (by now, Rice should be giving us more than Lestat is blonde, Louisiana French and stylish); the rest of the book (well, 7 hours ... I gave up after that) is nothing but her expositive theory about heaven, God, and the angels ... and their counterpoints who have “fallen”. Even at that the exposition is terrible. Worse than a high school “what I did on my summer vacation” blurb. Save your credit and money.

Filler, filler and more filler

Dud, Simon Vance made this worth Listing to from start to finish. Some parts were almost interesting but interview was her winner.

Long and hard to get through....

I’ve liked Anne Rice’s previous works including the vampire chronicles and the tale of the body thief, but this just wasn’t up to par. The book itself is slow moving and only has a handful of chapters that made it worth while. It was a different take on god and the devil and had its moments. I honestly wouldn’t recommend this tho. Simon Vance was great as always and was a bright spot in this not so good novel.

Couldn't Finish

I couldn't get into this book? I don't know why. It just seemed slow and dragged on?