Merrick
By Anne Rice
Knopf/$26.95
Rice readers have waited years for a new addition to the author's Vampire Chronicles. Unfortunately, Merrick is a shaky effort at best, and many fans will be none too pleased with the little it has to offer.
Merrick begins with David Talbot, former Talamascan and Lestat's fledgling from Tale of the Body Thief, who shares the tale of another Talamascan, Merrick Mayfair. Merrick, possibly the most powerful of the Mayfair witches (although she barely knows, and does not associate with, her famous family), is called upon by Talbot to grant a favor for his dear vampire friend, Louis. That's right, Louis de Pointe du Lac is back, still whiny, still morally human and still winning the love and devotion of everyone who crosses his path (including Merrick). Louis wishes for Merrick to call the spirit of Claudia, the beautiful vampire child whose image has haunted his every moment since she perished in Interview With the Vampire. Merrick agrees, partly because of her fascination with Louis and partly to fulfill her own agenda. When Claudia does appear, as one might expect, she's pissed.
The story certainly is adventurous, if nothing else, taking the reader from New Orleans to the jungles of Guatemala, exploring centuries-old Mayan ruins and civilizations not yet known. Oh yeah, and Lestat de Lionheart is back, but he just lies in a trance-like state on the floor of an abandoned convent throughout most of the book.
A last-minute plot twist sets readers up for an eighth installment in the Vampire Chronicles, but the series already seems as ancient as Rice's immortal characters. Bring back the old Lestat, bring back the ancients and the page-turning thrill instead of 300 pages flaunting the author's research skills, and maybe fans will have something to get excited about.
—Kelli K
This article appears in Mar 22-28, 2001.