This is the story about The Vampire Chronicles.

Time heals all wounds, unless, of course, you're a vampire. Cuts may heal, burns vanish, limbs reattach, but for the "blood god," the wounds of the heart sometimes stay open and raw for centuries. So it is for Marius, Anne Rice's oft-mentioned and beloved scholar. We've heard parts of his tale in past volumes of the Vampire Chronicles, but never so completely and never from his own lips. In Blood and Gold, Rice mostly (but not entirely) avoids the danger of treading worn ground as she fills out the life and character of Marius the Lonely, the Disenchanted, the Heartsick--a 2,000-year-old vampire "with all the conviction of a mortal man."

Plucked from his beloved Rome in the prime of his life and forced into solitude as keeper of the vampire queen and king, Marius has never forgiven the injustice of his mortal death. Thousands of years later, he still seethes over his losses. Immortality for Marius is both a blessing and a curse--he bears "witness to all splendid and beautiful things human," yet is unable to engage in relationships for fear of revealing his burden.

New readers to the Chronicles may wish for a more fleshed-out, less introspective hero, but Rice's legions of devoted fans will recognize Blood and Gold for what it is: a love song to Marius the Wanderer, whose story reveals the complexities and limitations of eternal existence.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　--Daphne Durham

After a long, deep sleep, the vampire Thorne looks to centuries-old Marius for guidance as he comes back into the world. Thorne is curious about Marius's life and his relationship to others in the community of Blood Drinkers, and Marius consents to tell all. It is this story that makes up the bulk of Rice's newest entry to the "Vampire Chronicles," the first of which was Interview with the Vampire. This complex tale presents the history of vampires through the eyes of Marius, who offers his perspective on several characters, most of whom have appeared in earlier volumes. Marius, who is something of an erudite philosopher, brings his own spin to the stories of the various undead he has met in his long existence. Though it is not as engrossing as the earlier books perhaps because so much of the story has already been told devoted followers of the series will find new information about familiar characters, and new readers will find this a good introduction to Rice's world of the vampire. Most public libraries will want to purchase.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　- Patricia Altner, Information Seekers, Columbia, MD

Rice's new Vampire Chronicle tells the story of Marius, a mentor to Lestat, the creator of Armand, and the lover of Pandora. He has appeared in almost all the other chronicles, which presents Rice the task of maintaining continuity without treading too much old ground. The first 100 pages here are somewhat flat, especially for series neophytes, who may be confused by the detailed backstory. Once on new ground, the story picks up. For a while, Marius travels with the vampires Avicus and Mael, the latter of whom is responsible for Marius being turned into a vampire. Marius' own strict ethics allow him to feed only on those who have committed crimes. He also carries the serious burden of guarding the very first vampires, the Parents, and that somehow always separates him from any happiness and deep companionship he finds. The middle of the yarn is much more compelling than the beginning and the end, too, which contains more old news. Since this probably isn't the last Vampire Chronicle, let's hope Rice finds some new blood before the next installment.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Kristine Huntley

length: (cm)20.8 　　　 　　　　　 　　　　　 width:(cm)13.9